The Saugeen Times

Lime Kiln Resort a major part of Inverhuron's past
By Liz Dadson

Heritage

Lime Kiln cottages include the former recreation hall at back and a former restaurant

Welcome to Lime Kiln Resort

The lime kiln in Inverhuron is a major part of the area's history and has been beautifully maintained for visitors and locals to view.

Part of the Doors Open Kincardine event on the weekend (Oct. 17-18), the kiln is located in the Lime Kiln Resort on Victoria Street where Jill and Terry Funston rent out cottages.

The lime kiln was built by John Holms in 1901, and then John Smith took it over and operated it successfully from 1901-1925. It was one of several along the coast of Lake Huron. Limestone was taken from the beach, stacked in the kiln, and fired continuously for three days and three nights. At this time the stone was a red glow. It was covered and allowed to cool. Then the lime was shovelled into a wheelbarrow and stored in the Lime House. It sold in the beginning for 10 cents per bushel.

When lime is mixed with sand and water, it sets up a rock-solid binder. Lime has been used for at least 14,000 years as a binder and as a facing for mud brick or stone walls and then painted upon. Throughout history, lime mortars were used for major construction projects, such as the Great Wall of China, Minoan, Greek and Roman construction. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel was built with the aid of lime mortar and the very wall he painted on was made of lime plaster.

The Inverhuron lime kilns provided lime for the construction boom that followed the rapid settlement from the 1850s onward. The current kiln has been restored for a second time, but during its lifetime, it had to be constantly rebuilt because limestone is burned at extremely high temperatures to create lime.

The Funstons have owned the Lime Kiln Resort for five years. They love the history of it and enjoy sharing that with visitors.

Initially, there were 31 small cottages on the site, each with a bed and a night stand. There was a large septic bed which serviced three washrooms and three showers for the men and three washrooms and three showers for the women.

Mrs. Perry opened the business in 1930 and ran it until 1959. It was then operated by Harry Edwards and Jack Preston. Then Coffee and Bob Martin, the Grummett family in the 1960s, Mr. Peterman, Rudy and Helen Leis, Gord of Gord's Lock and Key, and Lyle and Lois Osborne, before the Funstons bought it.

The Grummetts built the house, the Osbornes added to it, and the Funstons put another addition on it.

There are now only eight large cottages on the site, including the former recreation building and an octagonal cottage. The cottages continue to be numbered 1-5 and 10-12. The four in the middle were severed off and are now residential homes close to the lake.

The Funstons have re-cribbed the lime kiln, meaning all the earth was removed, new cement was poured, the logs (old hydro poles) were built up again and it was filled with dirt. A door at the bottom seals off the kiln for safety purposes.
Beside the kiln is a wood carving of two brown bears with a fish and a small bear beneath. A maple tree had to be removed so the Funstons had chainsaw-carver Peter Mogensen of Mount Forest turn the stump into this marvellous creation.

The octagonal cottage