Logo Ruins of Howard Cement Company
Former town of Cement, near Kingston, GA		 All Text & Images:
Copyright (2013)

In the late 1840s, Charles W. Howard discovered a natural cement stone on his property north of Kingston.
Production was limited until after the Civil War, when the old Howard plant was sold to Howard's son-in-law.
The new Howard Hydraulic Cement Company was created in 1889, employing up to 50 men, and operating 6
kilns which reduced local rock to commercial cement. The quality of this cement had a national reputation and
was used to build the Brooklyn Bridge, among other structures.   Production ceased between 1910 and 1912.

This site was extremely overgrown with trees, underbrush, briars, etc.,
making it difficult to get images that convey the layout of the operation.
Double_kiln
A double-chambered lime kiln is the first hint of the operation to be seen.
Two_kilns
A crumbling circular kiln sits to the left of the double kiln.
Double_kiln
Front of the double kiln
Left_eye
Left kiln "eye" (air inlet)
Right_eye
Right kiln "eye"
Kiln_right_front
Right front corner of the kiln
Kiln_side
Two access openings are visible near base of right side.   (one behind dead tree)


Kiln_rear
Rear view
Kiln_interior
Lime kiln interior
Kiln_interior
View up from inside LH burning chamber
Through_chamber
Looking through interior wall breach into RH chamber
Kiln_interior_view
Wide view of interior
Brick_ruins
Brick foundation of some other adjacent structure
Circular_kiln
Interesting brick-stone construction of circular kiln
Two_kilns
Remains of circular kiln with double kiln in background
Circular_kiln_interior
Interior   (what's left of it)   of circular kiln
Stone_wall
Stone wall foundation of one of the processing buildings
Stone_wall_ruin
More mill foundation ruins
Stone_wall_ruin
Another thorn-choked stone foundation
Orange_thorns
I forgot to take a close-up of these hardy orange thorns, so this image is
cropped from another photo.   The thorns were 2-3" long, and sharp!
Howard_Cement_Production
This old image shows the circular kiln (center), double kiln (right), and the mill processing buildings (left).
From Geological Survey of Georgia, Limestones & Cement Matls. of North Georgia (1912)
Site Update - 2016
Kiln-cleared
In early 2016, the double kiln was cleared of underbrush, the site being under new ownership.
Per visitor Leah Starsky, nothing remains of the circular kiln (probably demolished for safety reasons).
Photo courtesy of Leah Enderley Starsky
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All Text & Images: Copyright 2013.