Indiana limestone industry hits rocky times, ships internationally

The southern Indiana limestone industry has taken a significant hit in the down-turned economy.

B.G. Hoadley President David Fell said sales decreased 30 percent last year due to a slow construction market.

Evans Limestone Co. in Bedford didn’t release percentages, but Frank Ira, the company’s general manager, called the decrease “noticeable.”

“We are suppliers to the construction industry and if construction is down, naturally we would be, too,” Ira said. “There’s always peaks and valleys. We’re just at a valley right now.”

Lennie Strauser, vice president and co-owner of Strauser Construction Co., said his company is only experiencing a slight drop in sales, but he said he can see why other construction companies are having more difficulty.

“There’s a lack of projects to bid on,” Strauser said. “Even in Bloomington there’s been some outside competition that‘s had an effect.”

According to Fell, 90 percent of B.G. Hoadley’s stone is being shipped to Canada for masonry work. Fell said a lot of homes in the Ontario area have given the quarry some business.

Evans Limestone Co. has done work outside of the United States as well. Ira said the company has shipped limestone as far as Istanbul.

The Indiana Limestone Institute of America’s Web site claims limestone quarries began popping up in Indiana as early as 1827, most of which are in the Bloomington area.

According to Ken Pickett, CEO of American Limestone in Gosport, Ind., 80 percent of all U.S. limestone used in construction comes from Monroe and Lawrence counties.

IU geologist Brian Keith said a large portion of the limestone used in architecture across the world is called “Salem” or “Bedford” limestone, named for the two Indiana cities from which it came.

“Salem is very soft and easy to cut and shape,” Keith said. “That is why so many builders are attracted to it.”

The massive amount of limestone in the Bloomington area has provided job opportunities for years. Ira said many generations of families have been in the business since the quarries opened.

“I myself am fifth generation in the limestone business,” Ira said. “Limestone is something that has attracted many people to settle and live in this area.”

Fell said he’s confident there will be an upswing in the market in the near future.

“We’ve been bidding more work thus far,” Fell said. “We’re up from last year’s first quarter pace by about 30 percent.”

Strauser said he hopes to see an increase in the construction market, but he thinks change will be a bit more gradual.

“I don’t expect it to happen real soon,” he said, “but I really hope to see it better by the end of 2010.”