Around the turn of the 19th century there were three lime kiln operations in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. These include Marblehead (still in production), Hamilton, and Oakfield, All these plants were located along the Niagara Escarpment, south of Fond cu Lac, which provided a seemingly unending supply of limestone for the production of lime and related products.
Many residents of the the area will likely recall the Oakfield brick works which was in operation from around 1910 until the mid 1980’s. Relatively few likely know much about the lime production that also occurred here.
The Standard Lime Company began producing lime sometime in the late 19th century. Two lime kilns were operated by the Standard Lime Company. Shortly before 1910 two kilns were in operation.
In the first decade of the 20th century, it was discovered that the shale underlying the Niagara lime stone was easily accessible. This shale, known to geologists as the Maquoketa formation, could be easily mined, and produced excellent bricks.
By 1910 production shifted from the production of lime to the production of brick. Standard Lime moved their operations to the Nasbro area (Knowlton in Dodge County). For a brief period of time lime operations continued under the name of Badger Lime.
The images posted here are Van Dyke brown prints made from images from Oakfield Historical society and from the archives of the Wisconsin Lime and Stone Industry.
Oakfield Historical Society posted a Youtube Video lecture by former Oakfield teacher Al Nester. on the Oakfield Brick yard.
https://youtu.be/HWmY3RWl5Gc