Silica Kiln and Railcar

Silica Kiln

Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Postcard - Silica
Click on the link below to view and hear the CPR Silica Postcard
https://www.cpr.org/show-eipsode/silica

The Roxborough Area Historical Society would like to thank the Roxborough Park Foundation, History Colorado (the source of the majority of funding), and Colorado Preservation, Inc., for all their assistance in moving this project forward. RAHS also wants to thank everyone who generously supported the drive to raise matching funds. Without these dollars, there would be no “Save the Kiln.” Stay tuned for more information about this project!

In 2018, we used a grant from the State Historical Fund to stabilize the kiln and additional funds will continue to be raised to add safety enclosures, pathways and educational signage for visitors to enjoy and learn about the history and significance of the Kiln.

On behalf of the Silica Kiln, the Roxborough Area Historical Society wants to thank each and every one of the individuals and families of Roxborough; Douglas County Libraries; Northwest Economic Development Corporation; Sterling Ranch; RE/MAX Edge; Eagle Home Mortgage; Hasson Financial, Inc.; Roxborough Park Foundation and the Art Committee; Charter Financial Services (Memory Lane); Safeway; Subway; Domino's; Garlic Knot; Historic Douglas County, Inc.; West Metro Fire Station #15; Seven Stones Chatfield Cemetery; Roxborough Liquors; Cardel Homes; our fantastic Elementary School Students; and so very many others who contributed money & their time to reach the goal of raising the necessary matching funds for the $102,543.00 grant from The State Historical Fund.

A very special thank you goes out to Art Tonelli, Susie Trumble and Colorado Preservation, Inc. who carried the torch for years, tenaciously and tirelessly working behind the scenes to research & preserve the history, submit the grants (multiple years) and coordinate with all the necessary entities to make this happen.

For those of you who may not know, one of the area's main industries was the Silicated Brick Company that produced distinctive white bricks. The bricks were made with sand excavated from the nearby hogback to the south and west of the kiln that contained feldspar deposits mixed with calcium silicates. The kiln burned limestone into lime which was added to silica sand. The bricks were not baked, but cured by a process using high pressure steam. The Kiln site was designated as a Douglas County Historical Landmark on August 22, 2007. The small community named Silica located in the area supported the miners and brickyard workers. There was even a narrow gauge rail spur, the Silica Branch, of the Colorado and Southern Railway (formerly the Denver South Park & Pacific) which was used to transport the bricks.

The Railroad at the Silica Kiln

The Site for the railcar has been prepared by grading and leveling the area on which the rail ties, track and railcar will be placed. The rail ties were placed on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. RAHS volunteers cut 16 ties to the 6'6" length of a narrow-gauge rail tie and placed them on the pad. Then on Thursday, July 17, 2025, a team of volunteers from RAHS, the Como Roundhouse, and the Colorado Railroad Museum placed two 30' rails, weighing 650 pounds each, on the ties. The final step before the railcar arrives is to put ballast down on the rail bed. This is scheduled for the week of July 28, 2025, and will ready the site for the placement of the historic railcar on the rails.

The railcar itself will require extensive restoration work including new wooden timbers, hardware and paint. The RAHS team includes a historic railroad expert who will guide us in the restoration work. If you would like to volunteer to help in the restoration, please send an email to: [email protected] giving us your contact information.

RAHS will also be installing an interpretive sign that presents information on the Silica Branch of the Colorado & Southern Railway. The sign is now in production and should be installed in mid August.

We hope you find this project as exciting as we do. Please come to the kiln site to see our progress and let us know if you would like to lend a hand. We will be posting updates as they happen.