Recently, Air Preheater Co., Raymond Operations of Lisle, Ill. held a contest to find the oldest operating Raymond roller mill. Specialty Minerals Inc. of Adams, Mass., won the contest and will receive a $5,000 credit toward parts and/or service for its 1918, 50-in. Raymond Roller Mill, shipped on May 13 of that year to New England Lime Co. in West Stockbridge, Mass.

Bob Pleines of Specialty explained that the Adams site has been in continuous operation as a lime and limestone producer since 1848. In 1910, 10 Connecticut and Western Massachusetts lime plants merged to for New England Lime Co. Pfizer bought the Adams site in 1961 to insure its supply of high-grade lime. In 1973, Specialty upgraded the control units with vent and modern controls installed. The major mill drive components were rebuilt in December 2003.