Thornton Lime Kiln (mid 1800s) – Page

Photo of the Thornton Limekiln soon after it was restored in 1976. Photo from Bicentenial Tour 1976 Page 29 A Project of the Class of 1979 Sodus Central School. Under the Direction of David E. Cooper English Department. Published by Urban/Rural School Development Program

The following information is from Steve Heald

Located at the corner of South Geneva Road and Lime Kiln Road in South Sodus. (No longer exists)

The Thornton’s lime kiln was on the corner of South Geneva Road and Lime Kiln Road in South Sodus. Built in the mid-1800’s, it was removed when the intersection was redesigned about 2010. The most common by product of burning lime was quicklime, which was used to make plaster and mortar for building construction. It was also used in the pickling process for food, and by spreading it on soil to reduce the acidity and increase alkalinity. It also permits improved water penetration for acidic soils. Quicklime was a necessity in the maintenance of the “privy”, and the local undertaker made use of it in burials. In order to produce the quicklime, the stone was brought from the nearby quarries or outcropping. Logs were harvested year ‘round for the fire needed to heat the kiln to very high temperatures. The limestone was crushed into 1 inch to 2 1/2 inch chunks and was poured into the opening from above in successive layers of stone and wood. When loading was complete, the kiln was ignited at the bottom, and the fire gradually spread upwards through the charge. When burnt through, the lime was cooled and raked out through the base. Typically the kiln took a day to load, three days to fire, two days to cool, and a day to unload, resulting in a one-week turnaround.

A special Thanks to Bette Bugni for supplying the following info.

The attached 2 part info is from—-

Welcome to Sodus Local Studies Folder by Judith R. Davis 1986

title—Landmarks and Traditions of Sodus

Limekiln both photos by B. Huff

The Welcome to Sodus information is in a folder in the Ruth Mills room at Sodus Community Library.

Part 1:

pg.1 Landmarks by J.R. Davis

Part 2:

pg.2 & Traditions Limekiln

Regrettably after the Limekiln was restored in 1976, it was torn down around 2010 to make room for a road.

The following photo and information is from the 1979 book: “Wayne County: The Aesthetic Heritage of a Rural Area” by Stephen W. Jacobs with Photographs by David Plowden. Permission courtesy of the Wayne County Historical Society.

Mining, limestone

Limekiln, Sodus

At several points across the southern part of the town of Sodus the outcroppings of limestone were quarried and “burned” for lime in stone kilns. A landmark built into the hillside at the junction of south Geneva and Limekiln Road, this well-preserved relic was known as Thornton’s Limekiln. Blocks were carefully laid up to make the arched opening at the bottom and the stable tapered shape of the square exterior. The interior flue was probably cylindrical, similar to that of the partly dismantled limekiln of the General Crushed Stone Company on Quarry Road nearby. In deference to the Latinity that was regarded as evidence of superior culture in the nineteenth century and in honor of the limestone formation and its products, the nearby railway stop of the Sodus Point Division of the Northern Central Railroad was dubbed Calciana.

1976 Notation: The kiln was restored as a Bicentennial project of the town of Sodus. The Calciana station has been demolished.