Lime industry is focus of Placer County Historical Society dinner

Jim Wood is the speaker on the History of the Lime Industry in Placer County at the next Historical Society Dinner at 6 p.m. April 3 at the Auburn Veterans Hall, 100 East St. Wood is a registered professional geologist in California and lives in Colfax. He has had a long- term interest in the mining and railroad history in the Sierra. His latest project is research about lime manufacturing and lime kilns in California. Wood has been involved in a number of nonprofit organizations related to historic preservation, such as the Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society, the California Lime Kiln Conservancy and the Colfax Lime Kiln Preserve. This presentation will be a slide show about the lime manufacturing business in Placer County in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. The talk will include topics such as the importance of lime to domestic life in the 1800s and its importance to agriculture and industrial processes. Wood will explain the different types of lime kilns that were built and where these were located in the county. He'll also discuss the importance of the Colfax Lime Kiln and Quarry that preserves the technology and culture of lime manufacturing in Placer County. Reservations required for dinner at Rsvp.pchs@gmail.com, and the deadline for RSVP is March 29. All are welcome to come only for the presentation at no charge. The presentation starts about 6:45.