Conklin Limestone Co.

In 1946 the business exclusively sold agricultural limestone.The business was purchased from the Harris family. The Harris family was operating the limestone quarry as far back as the 1650's, making our quarry one of the oldest in the country! The limestone in Lincoln, RI is as unique as the Conklin's. Limestone can vary in color from gray to white. The stone found here is some of the whitest stone in the country. When the Harris family ran the show the limestone was cooked in kilns which then created calcium oxide, or lime. Lime is a key ingredient in the process of making cement. Many of the homes built in the early years had stone fireplaces, foundations, and or entire stone walls. Cement is used to mortar the stone together. In the late 1800's kilns were heated by coal or wood. As other methods of heating the lime became more cost effective the kilns were no longer used.The limestone was then used primarily for agricultural purposes as it remains today.