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.