Lime Rock, Rhode Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Limerock Village Historic District
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Valentine Whitman House, a stone ender near Lime Rock
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lincoln, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 248 acres (100 ha) |
| Architectural style | American Colonial, Federal, Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000052 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1974 |
Lime Rock is a special village and historic area in Lincoln, Rhode Island. It's located in Providence County, near Rhode Island Route 146. This village got its name from the many limestone quarries found there.
People started digging for limestone in Lime Rock way back in the 1600s. Even today, a company called Conklin Limestone Company still operates quarries in the area. Because there was so much limestone, many old houses in the village have huge chimneys made of stone. These unique homes are called "stone enders" and are a special style found mostly in Rhode Island.
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Discovering Lime Rock Village
Lime Rock is more than just a village; it's also a historic district. This means it's a special area with many old buildings and places that are important to history. The historic district covers about 248 acres (100 hectares). It includes 21 properties that are very important to the area's past.
The district stretches from Wilbur Road (which used to be called Jeremiah Smith Hill Road) all the way to Great Road. It also goes along Great Road as far as Simon Sayles Road.
The Story of Limestone
Limestone is a type of rock that was very important to the people who lived in Lime Rock. It was used for many things, like building houses and making lime. Lime is a material used in farming, building, and even making cement.
The quarries in Lime Rock have been active for centuries. They show how people used the natural resources around them to build their communities. The history of these quarries is a big part of the village's story.
Unique "Stone Ender" Homes
One of the coolest things about Lime Rock is its "stone ender" houses. These homes are easy to spot because they have one entire wall made of massive stones. This stone wall often includes a huge fireplace and chimney.
This building style was popular in early Rhode Island. It showed off the local limestone and provided strong, warm homes. The Valentine Whitman House, shown in the infobox, is a great example of a stone ender home.
Exploring the Historic District
When you visit the Lime Rock Historic District, you can see many interesting things. Besides the historic houses, there are three old quarries. These are the places where people dug up the limestone.
You can also find the ruins of three old lime kilns. A lime kiln is like a giant oven used to heat limestone. Heating the limestone turns it into lime, which was a valuable product. These ruins give us a peek into the industrial past of the village.
The Lime Rock Village Historic District was officially recognized for its importance in 1974. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect and celebrate places that are important to the history of the United States.
