Seirer_171105_0250.jpgHillside Kiln An imposing kiln, made of limestone in the late 1800s, stands vacant on a steep hillside near Alma. The kiln was a project of entrepreneurial brothers John F. and G.W. Limerick, who built it to make Portland cement from the plentiful limestone in the area. A paste of limestone aggregate was fed into the high-temperature kiln and the resulting "clinkers" were later ground into cement powder. Tom Parish of Emporia, who has researched and photographed Flint Hills history, says John Limerick's motivation was economic development for Alma, where he served for a time as mayor. The cement plant employed more than 40 workers before it was shut down in the early 1900s.

An imposing kiln, made of limestone in the late 1800s, stands vacant on a steep hillside near Alma. The kiln was a project of entrepreneurial brothers John F. and G.W. Limerick, who built it to make Portland cement from the plentiful limestone in the area. A paste of limestone aggregate was fed into the high-temperature kiln and the resulting "clinkers" were later ground into cement powder. Tom Parish of Emporia, who has researched and photographed Flint Hills history, says John Limerick's motivation was economic development for Alma, where he served for a time as mayor. The cement plant employed more than 40 workers before it was shut down in the early 1900s.