Silverdale
Silverdale, Kansas is located nine miles east of Arkansas City, in
historic bluestem grass country. Texas cattle drovers fattening their
herds after coming up to the railheads had little notion that under
that prairie was one of nature's most beautiful building materials -
Silverdale Limestone.
Silverdale Limestone is nationally recognized as some of the finest
stone in the nation. It is known for its fine texture, color, durability and
versatility.
The area's history of limestone mining began in 1874 with a land
grant from the United States to John Algoe. It was first leased for
quarrying purposed in 1888. Drilling was done by hand. The lifting
and hauling was done by draft horses. In 1900 the first sawmill was
built to cut the limestone. It was powered by steam until 1922 when it
was converted to diesel power.
Today the stone is fabricated using circular saws, gang saws,
hydraulic splitting machines and polishers, as well as hand tools for
carving.
The limestone is found just beneath the surface of the prairie. Earth
moving equipment is used to clear the topsoil, then the stone is mined
by drilling and loaded on trucks for transport to the sawmill. There it
is cut to architectural sizes to be shipped to building sites nationwide.
Silverdale limestone is economical, and is has been used in the
building of churches, schools, and other public buildings, as well as
private homes. Some examples are the senior citizen hall in Arkansas
City, KS; Cowley County Courthouse in Winfield, KS; and
Farrell Library at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
The Silverdale Cut Stone Company was purchased in 1962 by Harold
J Born. It is still operated by the Born Family, now in its third
generation.
Stone is a heritage of the land itself, waiting for the ingenuity and
vision of man to discover its beauty and meaning.
"Without the toil, sweat and soul of man the stone would remain silent
and untouched."
H. J. Born
Silverdale, Kansas is located nine miles east of Arkansas City, in
historic bluestem grass country. Texas cattle drovers fattening their
herds after coming up to the railheads had little notion that under
that prairie was one of nature's most beautiful building materials -
Silverdale Limestone.
Silverdale Limestone is nationally recognized as some of the finest
stone in the nation. It is known for its fine texture, color, durability and
versatility.
The area's history of limestone mining began in 1874 with a land
grant from the United States to John Algoe. It was first leased for
quarrying purposed in 1888. Drilling was done by hand. The lifting
and hauling was done by draft horses. In 1900 the first sawmill was
built to cut the limestone. It was powered by steam until 1922 when it
was converted to diesel power.
Today the stone is fabricated using circular saws, gang saws,
hydraulic splitting machines and polishers, as well as hand tools for
carving.
The limestone is found just beneath the surface of the prairie. Earth
moving equipment is used to clear the topsoil, then the stone is mined
by drilling and loaded on trucks for transport to the sawmill. There it
is cut to architectural sizes to be shipped to building sites nationwide.
Silverdale limestone is economical, and is has been used in the
building of churches, schools, and other public buildings, as well as
private homes. Some examples are the senior citizen hall in Arkansas
City, KS; Cowley County Courthouse in Winfield, KS; and
Farrell Library at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
The Silverdale Cut Stone Company was purchased in 1962 by Harold
J Born. It is still operated by the Born Family, now in its third
generation.
Stone is a heritage of the land itself, waiting for the ingenuity and
vision of man to discover its beauty and meaning.
"Without the toil, sweat and soul of man the stone would remain silent
and untouched."
H. J. Born
Some History
of H J Born Stone
of H J Born Stone
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