Settlers used this pot kiln in the late 1800s to burn limestone and turn it into lime for mortar to build fireplaces, fill chinks in log houses, and fertilize farm fields. During firing, a limestone arch covered the kiln while cords of hardwood burned underneath for 48 hours. As the temperature rose to approximately 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, carbon dioxide escaped and lime remained. The kiln then cooled for another 48 hours, and lime from the last firing still rests on the bottom while the walls show melting from the intense heat.