The Kirbee Kiln is a historic site on the National Register of Historic Places in western Montgomery County. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the kiln is renowned for its size, once considered the largest of its kind in Texas. Archeologists David Brown and Meredith Mitchell Dreiss recently presented their findings on this critical piece of American history, providing insight into the craftsmanship and legacy of the kiln’s operation.
The Kirbee Kiln, a significant archeological site in Montgomery County, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and dates back to the mid-1800s. The Texas Historical Commission designated the Kirbee Kiln as the largest groundhog kiln excavated in Texas in the 1970s. It is situated in western Montgomery County. It continues to be one of the largest in the American South.
As part of the Genealogical Department's program, archeologists David Brown and Meredith Mitchell Dreiss presented their research on the site to patrons at Conroe's Central Library last week. Their presentation illuminated the historical significance of the kiln, which was previously employed in producing bricks and pottery.
Groundhog kilns are lengthy, rectangular tunnels that are partially dug into the ground or hillside, as explained by master potter Vernon Owens in a Craft in America feature. Although the site is not accessible to the public and there are few visible remnants of the operation, the Kirbee Kiln's significance in Texas history is well-established, providing a unique perspective on 19th-century craftsmanship.
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