LIME
"The kiln will be emptied and repaired. Five workmen will be employed at the Kiln -- The captain, Mr. Henneboy, Funcheon, McNamara, and Henry Casey.
-- April 12, 1847
"More men will be hired for the Kilns."April 19, 1847
"The old lime as well as the new will be sold for 20 cents, contrary to the decision of the Council of Agriculture."Local Council, May 3, 1847
"Brother Lawrence shall try to find customers for the sale of our lime."
-- Local Council, May 29, 1848
" . . . A further clashing of interests arose from the maintenance of the mill privilege (See: "Lakes at Notre Dame"). The Brothers also began the manufacture of lime from their extensive marl deposits at the foot of the lower lake (St. Mary's), and alleged that their business was damaged by the back water of the dam. This complaint was made the cause of an action for trespass in our circuit court at the October term, 1848."
-- Leeper's Footprints, pg. 9 (1848)
"The community shall continue to make lime next year, but only by itself under the direction of one or two Brothers."
-- Local Council, Dec. 4, 1848
"The purchase of Mr. Graham's land was proposed . . . because it was calculated it would be a greater benefit to the Institution , this giving the chance: 1st, to lower the water of the lakes; 2nd, to sell marl for $200 a year; 3rd, to have a monopoly of the lime, and to make instead of 3 or 4 kilns of it every year, as is done now, a dozen kilns, on which there might be a benefit of $900."
-- Minor Chapter, November 27, 1848
"It was decided that the lime will be made by us next spring."
-- Local Council, (1855)
"That Mr. Young should be engaged to go to Chicago to introduce there our lime."
-- Local Council, (1855)
"As many Brother as possible shall be employed in our lime yard."
-- Local Council, March 29, 1858
"Less corn and potatoes shall be planted this year in order to give more hands to the lime yard."Local Council, April 5, 1858
"Utility seems to be the law of being in the 19th century, and accordingly the bed of one of the lakes (St. Mary's) is converted into quite a source of revenue. You see over the South Side quite a villa of shanties? Well, during seven months of the year active laborers are employed here making like out of the white marl which forms the floor of the lake. From recent comparative analysis it has been satisfactorily proved that this marl is superior for the manufacture of lime, to any that has yet been discovered; and since an improved method of working and burning it has been adopted, the entire surrounding country has been convinced of its superiority even to lime stone, especially for plastering purposes. Every year adds to its celebrity , so that it is now shipped by car loads to the neighboring cities, and before long, I doubt not, it will give rise to a very important trade.
-- Guide to Notre Dame du Lac(1859)
"Resolved to burn immediately all the bricks now struck and to make another kiln after this one of 180 or 200 thousand bricks if possible."
-- Local Council -- (1864)
"Brother Lawrence's trip to Milwaukee about lime not decisive."(1864)
"A molding machine for bricks bought."(1865)
"Two thousand bushels of Marl to be sold at Niles for 20 cents a bushel."
-- Local Council -- (1865)
"Proposal of Mr. McCabe to make the lime and brick, the lime at a cash profit to us of $70 per kiln and the bricks at a cost to us of $6 a thousand, was accepted.
-- Local Council (1868)
"Now we turn towards the west, walk along this smooth, level path or rather road; on our left is another extensive orchard, while to the right down the steep slope of that his stretching toward the Marly (St. Mary's) lake, as it is familiarly called, is a flourishing vineyard."Guide to Notre Dame du Lac
"The lime yard will be let to Mr. McCabe for twelve and one half cents a bushel; we furnish everything, such as wood, wheelbarrows, cart, shed; the horse alone excepted."
-- Local Council (1869)
"Decided lime should be made next season. December 1, 1871
"The offer of Miller and Co. to enter into a contract for taking marl at ten cents a barrel is not accepted. The sentiment of the Council favors the manufacture of Portland cement ourselves."Local Council August 23, 1878
"The following men will be on the lime yard: Brother William, Michael, Thomas, Cornelius, Oswald. . . . Local Council -- (1861)
"Our lime should be published at 22 cents a bushel."
-- Local Council (1861)
"Lime should be sold at 30 cents if possible."
-- Local Council (1863)
"Lime, henceforth, shall be sold at 50 cents a bushel retail, and 45 cents a bushel when taken in numbers exceeding 500 bushels."
-- Local Council July 18, 1864
"The council agrees to give as a gift to St. Joseph's Academy, South Bend, lime."
-- -- (1865)
"A carload of land plaster was allowed."
-- Local Council March 2, 1883
"From the first the Brothers thought they saw a great advantage in using the marl on the banks of the lakes from which to make lime. First years didn't pay expenses either because of ignorance as to how to work it or because of accidents. In 1845 they planted a vast reservoir where we could decant the lime from the furnace, in order not to stop the workmen in a good season, and as a means of improving the output. For this purpose they spent 300 francs. They also added a work yard for the workmen, but all this didn't flourish as they had hoped. To make lime, to measure, pay wages and sell the product was a constant source of worry and embarrassment. Only in 1847 and 1848 did we recognize clearly that for us to make lime was a barren enterprise. So it was decided to rent the marl beds and equipment even at a small charge, nevertheless, it will be remembered that the marl was a real resource for in it will be found a precious fertilizer. Then if the neighboring towns increase in population and Notre Dame can acquire the land which separates it from the river in one of the sections, this resource will be considerable since it will become a monopoly to be controlled only by a sense of justice."
-- Sorin Chronicles(1868)
"With its resources in land it could support itself without the least dependence on public patronage. Its little domain and its new lime and brick kilns afford it a surer source of existence that the number of its pupils."
-- Sorin Chronicles(1860)
"Brother Narcissus was given charge of the lime yard, it is resolved to make lime."
-- Local Council
"It was decided to accept the offer of the Stone Pipe Co., to rent one acre of marl for $500 for three years."Local Council November 26, 1880
"The council was of the opinion that a lime kiln on the farm would be highly valuable."Council of Administration of Brother of St. Joseph (1843)
"To defer the burning of the kiln of lime till the retreat is over."(1843)
"The Council of Administration agreed to pay $90 for making the first kiln of lime, say, 1500 bushels to be ready by the first of May next.
-- Local Council March 11, 1845
"That we would apply soon to a tanner to make profitable the hide we have."
-- Council of Administration July 14, 1845
"The Brother of the Community of St. Joseph beg leave to inform the public that they have an excellent quality of the above article for sale at Notre Dame de Lac. It may be procured on application to the steward for cash or merchandise."
-- St. Joseph Valley Register, I, p.4, col. 6
"Lastly (1856), in the merely material point of view, a new impulse was given to the manufacture of brick and lime on the Notre Dame ground."
-- Sorin Chronicles