During a burn, temperatures inside each kiln reached 1500°-1700° Fahrenheit, chemically changing limestone through calcination into quicklime. In this process, calcium carbonate, also called limestone or bluestone, combined with heat to become calcium oxide, known as quicklime or burnt lime, and carbon dioxide. The procedure made the stone lighter in weight, reduced its impurities, and made it easier to pulverize into smaller sizes or powdered lime. The kilns are approximately twenty-one feet deep and eight feet in diameter. Woody Handley, who lived at the kilns from 1935-1950 and served for a time as kiln manager, recalled personally relining each kiln with new brick every couple years as the lining corroded and broke down.