Pioneer Lime Kiln Foundations

On a trail in the middle of the wood obviously, insects such as mosquitos and ticks will be a problem, especially during Summer. Animals could be a problem, but most likely not.

1833- Archibald Cameron moved from Perthshire, Scotland, and settled on 100 acres of land in Mountsberg.

Sometime later- His son, Duncan bought the property adjacent to his and Donald purchased two parcels of land next to these. Duncan Cameron purchased the 100 acres to the east of his father’s lot and started his homestead there.

1857 - Duncan built a stone house and a barn, both of which remain today on the Mountsberg conservation area near the railroad tracks.

1879- The Credit Valley Railroad was constructed near the house when the Milton line was extended to Galt.

Around 1860 - The lime kiln which is seen in the albums is built and used by the family for lime production and sale most likely. See location #18405 for how a lime kiln works.

1960 - The Camerons sell the property

1962- James Cameron, Duncan’s son passes away

…The farm changed hands a couple of times

1964 - The property was purchased by The Halton Region Conservation Authority.  

1966- The Mounstberg Dam is built on the Mountsberg creek to create a reservoir on what was previously a farmer’s field, with the old railroad above the waterline

December 2nd, 1970 - The Canadian Champion newspaper shows that the lime kiln is nothing but a foundation, being the oldest photograph I can find of the lime kiln.

1974 - The Mountsberg Wildlife Centre is built and established

As pioneer methods of lime extraction become more antiquated and less used in favor of more modern refined lime extractions, slowly family lime kilns and other lime kilns all across Ontario were slowly abandoned as resources in the area were depleted. Most likely between its construction and the purchase of the property by the conservation authority in 1964 the lime kiln was used less frequently and slowly allowed to decay. It could not have been a very big kiln based on the foundation footprint. I’d estimate between 7-10 ft tall, it’s just peculiar that no other stones are around the kiln from the walls. They were most likely cleaned up by the conservation authority, unfortunately.