Life and Labor at a Small Quicklime Production Operation in Sierra Nevada

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Pre-Recorded Video Presentation Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Holmes' Colfax quicklime manufacturing site, located near Colfax in Sierra Nevada, was uncovered as a result of the River Fire in 2021. While the site is certainly important for addressing questions about technology, perhaps the more impressive aspect is the density and diversity of the artifact assemblage that can speak to questions about lifestyle during a critical time of change. The plant, part of the Holmes Lime and Cement Company based in Santa Cruz County, operated for only a few short years before increased fuel costs associated with the depletion of local timber stands, competition from the Pacific Northwest, and the introduction of Portland cement made the operation at Colfax no longer economically viable. This paper will provide a brief historical overview of the lime industry in California during the late 19th/early 20th centuries, give a quick tour of the site, and offer recommendations for future work.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Pre-Recorded Video Presentation Paper / Report Submission (2023 General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow