Restoration of the historic Saylor Cement Kilns in Coplay has been set back by a flood of major Lehigh County projects.

Glenn Solt, county director of general services, said the brick kilns, which date back to 1892 and represent the country's first vertical cement kilns, have not been forgotten. However, they have been put on the back burner.

"I am committed to the project," Solt said. "It's absolutely not forgotten."

Other major projects under way by the county include a number of bridge projects such as the Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge.

Solt said he expects the county to seek requests for proposals from contractors for the kilns project.

Four of the remaining nine kilns were restored and capped by the county in 2000. Solt said previously the capping may have made the restoration useless because of the moisture it produced. Five kilns remain which were never restored or capped.

The county has more than $200,000 budgeted for the forthcoming restoration. More funds will be added if grants are awarded.

Coplay Cement Company manufactured the first Portland Cement in America in 1871. The following year, in order to meet the growing demand for cement, the company constructed eleven 93-feet tall Schoefer kilns, a modification of a kiln originally developed in Germany. The kilns were in use from 1893 to 1904 when replaced by the rotary kiln.

The Saylor kilns are said to be the only kilns of this type left in the nation. The kilns were originally protected from the weather by an outer building, which was demolished in the 1920s.