Conklin Changing with the Times
From limestone to stone walls and paths

LINCOLN, RI - Most people probably think of it as “the quarry,” a place where for generations

Fred Conklin, President

their families have gone to buy limestone for lawns, gardens and farmlands.  But it has evolved, this family-owned and run business, and is evolving still, into a full-blown “yardscaping center.”

“Anything to go in ‘yardscape’ is our new theme,” says Fred Conklin, great grandson of the founder of Conklin Limestone, who purchased the quarry in 1946 with the expectation that the land would yield limestone for 20 years.  Now, more than 50 years later, the quarry still produces “the whitest stone in the country; hard, pure white and marble,” according to Fred Conklin.  “Our limestone is high in calcium; you can eat this lime,” Conklin explained, “because it’s 89 to 90 percent pure calcium carbonate.”

Although the site has a long history of producing some of the finest limestone in the country for more than 300 years — it’s the oldest working quarry in the country — the focus of the business has undergone a dramatic change. Now customers come here not only to take care of their lawns and gardens but for their complete “yardscaping” needs.”

Today, Conklin Limestone carries products to build retaining walls, patios and walkways, as well as mulch, filter fabrics, burlap and geogrid, gardening tools, lawn ornaments, fountains and birdbaths. The also offer pool and water filter sand, sandbox sand, stone dust, colored stone, watergarden boulders, grass seed, fertilizers, edging, spreaders and even diamond blades for cutting stone and concrete. So what’s the latest in home landscaping? Conklin sees a trend in New England toward decorative driveways constructed with pavers and cobblestones, with some homeowners even installing heated driveways. “People think it’s more expensive than it really is,” said Conklin, referring to installing a decorative driveway. And there’s no comparison between the durability of pavers compared to regular asphalt blacktop for driveways, which requires a sealer coat every 4 to 5 years. “Pavers meet the freeze/thaw conditions here in the Northeast.”

One of the latest advances is permeable pavers, which help protect the environment by reducing rainwater runoff and allowing the rain to naturally filter through to the ground.  You can even select your stones to look like they’ve naturally weathered.

“People think it’s more expensive than it really is, “ said Conklin.

The latest blocks for retaining walls are preformed to fit together, some with tongue-in-groove, other with holding pins and precast lips, making the painstaking work of setting and mortaring virtually obsolete.  No matter what form your project takes, there are building blocks available to fit — rectangle, square, round, corner, half-corner, tapered with all sorts of geometrics and curves. And one manufacturer even offers retaining wall blocks in 28 colors!

For the do-it-yourself types, Conklin Limestone offers design ideas and installation tips. For those not so inclined, they offer a list of qualified installers and contractors from their Affiliate Contractor Program.  Conklin Limestone Company is located at Route 146 North

For the do-it-yourself types, Conklin Limestone offers design ideas and installation tips. For those not so inclined, they offer a list of qualified installers and contractors from their Affiliate Contractor Program.

and Wilbur Road. Locally, take Great Road in Lincoln to Wilbur Road.  [Click Here for Map] Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Expect to see extended summer hours. Their phone number is 401-334-2330.

The Valley Breeze (4/26/01)
Reprinted (Edited) with Permission