01
A company built on limestone
Alfred M. Martin opened the White Lime Company in 1888 a few miles south of Round Rock. As demand for limestone increased, the quarry and production operation expanded.
The company became a major feature of the land around Quick Hill. Its quarry, plant, and remaining structures help explain the industrial landscape surrounding the family-house and grandparents-house properties.
02
Kilns, cedar, and hand labor
The early kilns used cedar logs to burn moisture from the quarried stone. Large areas of cedar were needed to keep the operation running, and local residents also traded cedar for goods.
Much of the work was done by hand, from cutting wood to quarrying rock. By 1894, between thirty and fifty workers were producing approximately 300 barrels of lime each day.
Another kiln was added by 1901, increasing daily production to roughly 500 barrels.
03
The company community
The operation included a company store where employees could purchase necessities and gather. The store also contained a post office and used company tokens marked “Austin White Lime Company.”
Alfred Robinson joined the company in 1912, and his sons later assumed control of the business. The operation remained connected to the Robinson family for generations and grew into a substantial local employer.
The original kilns and equipment are no longer in service, although portions of the historic structures survived near the McNeil area. The company remains an important part of Round Rock’s industrial history.
