The W.C. Smith House, pictured above, was built by W.C. Smith
and his wife(shown with son Carl) in about 1872, just up the River Road from
the lime kiln, which Smith used as his livelihood for years. Utilizing the
lime rock in the hilltop behind the kiln, Smith, his two sons and an occasional
employee quarried stone both for the kiln and for rock foundations and basements.
They would also cut quantities of trees for burning, then haul both firewood
and limerock to the kiln. The rock was dumped into the kiln from the top
while the sood was used for a continuous fire under the rock. Mounting a
continual vigil for several days and nights of constant heating, the men
achieved the end product. The burned rock with moisture removed from it was
ready to be extracted as powdery chalk from the kiln. The burned lime, which
was a strang irritant when breathed, was called quicklime or unslacked lime.
Packed in barrels, it was necessary to protect the product from rain and
moisture. If water contacted the quicklime, it would heat, sizzle and boil,
so the barrels of lime were stored in a warehouse, then shipped out on the
adjacent St. Joseph and Grand Island Railroad. The kiln was used for the
last time in 1896.
The Jefferson County Historical Society received the house and limekiln in 1972 and the seven-room house was restored in 1976. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features exhibits explaining the lime industry, as well as period furniture. The house is open to the public Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day or by appointment by e-mailing fairburyridepot@alltel.net.