The kilns are constructed from locally produced red brick, and are known as Schoefer vertical kilns. They were shut down in 1904, and the Coplay Cement Company then donated them and the surrounding land to Lehigh County in 1975, which was used in creating a cement industry museum celebrating the important role the company and cement played in the area's early economic development. It is operated as a partnership between Lehigh County, which owns and maintains the site, and the Lehigh County Historical Society, which provides educational services.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]
The Saylor Cement Museum honors David Saylor (1827-1884), the father of the American Portland cement industry, and the people who built this industry into one of the most important in the Lehigh Valley and the nation. Lehigh County was a natural spot for cement production. Cement is made from rocks containing lime, silica, and alumina; Lehigh County limestone “cement rock” contains all three ingredients.
In 1866, David O. Saylor helped found Coplay Cement Company. In 1871, he received the first American patent for Portland cement, which is much stronger than the natural cement that had previously been produced in this country. Saylor's Portland cement built bridges, docks, jetties, roads, aqueducts, subways, and skyscrapers. By 1900, the Lehigh Valley made 72% of Portland cement produced in this country.[3]
The first kiln at the Coplay Cement Company was a dome kiln. Dome kilns were inefficient; they had to shut down often. In 1893 Coplay Cement built Mill B, containing the Schoefer kilns standing today. Originally enclosed in a large building, Schoefer kilns could run continuously. Soon, however, the even more efficient rotary kilns came into use. Mill B's outdated Schoefer kilns shut down in 1904, and Coplay Cement later used Mill B's buildings for storage.[3]
^. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2012-03-07. Note: This includes Mahlon H. Hellerich and Ralph J. Christian (March 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Coplay Cement Company Kilns" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-05. and Keast & Hood, Co. (1989). "Historic Structure Report: Coplay Cement Company Kilns" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-05.
coplay, cement, company, kilns, also, known, saylor, park, industrial, museum, open, historic, site, located, coplay, pennsylvania, lehigh, county, pennsylvania, nine, kilns, were, built, between, 1892, 1893, used, production, portland, cement, national, regis. Coplay Cement Company Kilns also known as the Saylor Park Industrial Museum is an open air historic site located at Coplay Pennsylvania in Lehigh County Pennsylvania The nine kilns were built between 1892 and 1893 and used for the production of Portland cement Coplay Cement Company KilnsU S National Register of Historic PlacesCoplay Cement Company Kilns September 2012Show map of PennsylvaniaShow map of the United StatesLocationN 2nd St Coplay PennsylvaniaCoordinates40 40 34 N 75 29 42 W 40 67611 N 75 49500 W 40 67611 75 49500Area2 6 acres 1 1 ha Built1892 1893Built byCoplay Cement Co Architectural styleSchoefer verticalNRHP reference No 80003556 1 Added to NRHPSeptember 2 1980 The kilns are constructed from locally produced red brick and are known as Schoefer vertical kilns They were shut down in 1904 and the Coplay Cement Company then donated them and the surrounding land to Lehigh County in 1975 which was used in creating a cement industry museum celebrating the important role the company and cement played in the area s early economic development It is operated as a partnership between Lehigh County which owns and maintains the site and the Lehigh County Historical Society which provides educational services 2 It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 1 The Saylor Cement Museum honors David Saylor 1827 1884 the father of the American Portland cement industry and the people who built this industry into one of the most important in the Lehigh Valley and the nation Lehigh County was a natural spot for cement production Cement is made from rocks containing lime silica and alumina Lehigh County limestone cement rock contains all three ingredients In 1866 David O Saylor helped found Coplay Cement Company In 1871 he received the first American patent for Portland cement which is much stronger than the natural cement that had previously been produced in this country Saylor s Portland cement built bridges docks jetties roads aqueducts subways and skyscrapers By 1900 the Lehigh Valley made 72 of Portland cement produced in this country 3 The first kiln at the Coplay Cement Company was a dome kiln Dome kilns were inefficient they had to shut down often In 1893 Coplay Cement built Mill B containing the Schoefer kilns standing today Originally enclosed in a large building Schoefer kilns could run continuously Soon however the even more efficient rotary kilns came into use Mill B s outdated Schoefer kilns shut down in 1904 and Coplay Cement later used Mill B s buildings for storage 3 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 National Historic Landmarks amp National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania CRGIS Cultural Resources Geographic Information System Archived from the original Searchable database on 2007 07 21 Retrieved 2012 03 07 Note This includes Mahlon H Hellerich and Ralph J Christian March 1978 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Coplay Cement Company Kilns PDF Retrieved 2012 03 05 and Keast amp Hood Co 1989 Historic Structure Report Coplay Cement Company Kilns PDF Retrieved 2012 03 05 a b Saylor Cement Museum Brochure External links editCoplay Cement Company Kilns at American Heritage Saylor Park at Lehigh County website The Saylor Kilns at the Historical Marker Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coplay Cement Company Kilns amp oldid 1191383403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
