Limestone County supported numerous pottery kilns because nearby outcroppings of kaolin, or potter's clay, within the Wilcox geologic formation favored the industry. Alberry Johnson began the county's first pottery in 1859 near Dooley Creek, using a groundhog kiln, a subterranean design with a doorway leading to a long underground passage lined with brick or rock, with a chimney at the end drawing heat from a firebox outside the door to bake pottery in the passageway. William Curtis Knox later moved Johnson's operation and established Pottersville, and the pottery, one of the largest in Texas, remained active until 1912; today Pottershop Cemetery marks the site. Other area kilns also provided work and income to supplement residents' farming efforts. Near this site, German immigrant Lee Kimik built a kiln that was active in the 1870s and 1880s, and records indicate it operated full time eight months of the year. Similar to other groundhog kilns, it had longer and deeper sidewalls, possibly reflecting European design influences. Unlike other area potters who marketed their work collectively, Kimik sold his wares directly to the community of Headsville, and he marked his pottery, a rare practice among his Texas peers. In 1984, archeologists documented the Kimik Kiln site, and archival research and archeological investigation revived Lee Kimik's story. The site has made significant contributions to understanding the industry and artistry of 19th century Texas.