Sunday, February 1, 2009

Kilns for sure

When Barb, Abraham and EG mentioned kilns, I thought I might as well show what I know to be real kilns.

We were out for a drive and came up on these guys...this place is right beside the road in a small town about 15 or 20 miles north of here. The owners give tours, and I had planned for us to go back and get an actual tour and maybe even take notes or something till I could have lots to tell.

However that was September 1 of last year and we have yet to make it back up there on a weekday. I was so impressed with it that I was all eyes, trying to take pictures, and just so in awe of it all.

I did come away with a couple of facts that I remember for sure. This is a family owned business that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. It was very hot the day we were there and the heat coming from this place was intense. I worried about getting too close and the heat damaging my camera.

Though these pictures do not show it, there were heat waves surrounding the place. I cannot imagine doing this for 8 hours a day! The two guys did take turns digging out the clankers.

Anyway, the clay to make the bricks is right there on the property not far from the kilns. I am not sure of the word...do they call it digging clay, or is it mined...I don't know.

I still hope to go back someday and have a slower, more informed tour.

????


Earlier month during a drive over in Illinois, we came across these buildings...they were near the railroad. I have no clue what the round one would have been used for, do you?
If it had not been so cold and the wind so piercing, that was one time I would have been tempted to trespass and at least glance inside the round building. I don't know if we could find it again or not.