The 1970’s and 1980’s witnessed major changes in lime production and the companies that produced lime. Major consolidations, such as the one that formed by the consolidation of several companies into Western Lime had already taken place (in the 1920’s), and by the 1970’s operations were reduced to a few plants. Western Lime was down to three operating plants in the 1970’s. These included operations in Green Bay, Knowles (Nasbro), and Eden (Marblehead). In the 1980’s Western Lime closed the Nasbro plant, moving staff and operations to Marblehead.
At one time, several companies, including Western Lime were in operation in the Marblehead area. Western Lime and Union Lime were the only surviving operations in the mid-1900’s. In the 1970’s the Union facilities, including the crusher, hydration plant, and kilns were removed, leaving only the Western Lime facility in operation. In the 1980’s Western Lime’s stone kilns were removed as lime was produced in more efficient rotary kilns that remain in operation to this day.
The photographs shown here were made in the winter of 1976/77 while I was still living in Fond du Lac. In the 1960’s my brother and several friends often biked from Fond du Lac to Marblehead. I clearly remember the crushing plant was still standing, but I do not remember the lime kilns or other buildings. On one trip we stopped at a store in town, and had the owner sign his name to our atlas to prove we made it there. I do not remember the name of the person or the store, but he was a bit amused at the request,
The images here show the dilapidated lime kilns and cement chimney along with the crushing mechanism from the crushing plant. In the distance the lime kilns from Western Lime were still in operation.
Today, very little remains of the of the extensive lime operations that occurred here for over 160 years. All that remain are a few old kilns on nearby private property. and in the memories of those who lived and worked here.
Crusher Mechanism among the debris from the torn down crusher plant, 1977
Union Lime Plant Kilns, Marblehead Wisconsin 1977
Union Lime Plant location (foreground) with Western Lime Kilns in background. 1977.
Building interior from Union Lime Plant., 1977
Tunnel. Marblehead, Wisconsin.