In the late 1980’s, one of the last operating shaft kiln operations in the state of Wisconsin ceased operation. The lime plant at Nasbro was shut down as production moved to the east to the plant at Marblehead (Eden) where a new, modern rotary kiln operations was replacing production of the older shaft kilns. Most of the nearly two dozen homes in the small town of Nasbro were torn down, and only 5 limestone kilns stand today as a reminder of nearly a century of lime operations.
Lime operations in the iimmediate Nasbro area data back a decade or more prior to the Nast Brother’s kiln operations. The Happe Brothers of nearby Knowleton operated a quarry and single lime kiln the area around 1890.
Another operation, Andrae Lime Works also built and operated two shaft kilns in the 1890’s. These two shaft kilns were part of an operation that would become the Standard Lime company (described in previous posts) commenced sometime around or before 1890 under the name of Andrae Lime Works.
In 1897 the Nast Brothers, who operated a lime plant in Marblehead, purchased the Happe Brothers lime and quarry operation and began operations in Nasbro. A single shaft kiln was built in 1897 and the remaining 4 shaft kilns build by 1900. Production at the plant averaged 10 to 13 tons of lime per shaft per day. These are the lime kilns that stand sentinel today.
The Western Lime Company was formed in 1921 from the consolidation of the Nasbro Brother’s Lime and Cement Company and other several lime producing companies in east central Wisconsin.
The plant at Nasbro was one of a few lime production facilities that survived the economic downturn of the Great Depression. The nearby Standard Lime plant struggled to remain in business. Ultimately it succumbed to the downturn of business from the Great Depression.
The Nasbro plant remained in operation until the late 1980’s. Production was moved to the Western Lime plant at Marblehead. All but the five stone kilns were demolished in 1988.
