Eastburn-Jeanes Limekilns, On Papermill Road & on Pike Creek Road, Newark, New Castle County, DE

Significance: The limestone/marble deposits in the Pike Creek Valley of New Castle County are the largest in the State of Delaware. During the first third of the 19th century they became the center of an extensive commercial lime-burning industry which continued for over 85 years. By the 1830s, the Jeanes and Eastburn families had opened two quarries and erected a number of limekilns. The rapid growth of demand for lime as fertilizer and mortar made the Eastburn enterprise a profitable one until eclipsed by larger, more efficient suppliers after 1900. The site reflects the growth and organization of lime burning from a supplementary agricultural pursuit to a commercial operation. Eight of the original limekilns remain, as do the quarries and a number of auxiliary structures which comprised the Eastburn-Jeanes lime-burning complex in the early 19th century.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-1
Survey number: HAER DE-2
Building/structure dates: 1850 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: after 1900
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 77000389