Paris, Tenn.–The crews at Lhoist-Spinks Clay Co. in Routon have been busy cleaning up and moving the company’s old clay mining equipment and it is now on display at the company entrance on Hwy. 79S. The H.C. Spinks Co. began supplying ball clay worldwide in 1916 and today owns substantial mineral deposts throughout northwest Tennessee. The history of ball clay mining in our area has lengthy roots; Ball clay was first shipped in big quantities from an open pit mine in Henry County in October, 1894. During WWII, the property in Routon was the home of Camp Tyson, which was the only barrage balloon training facility in the U.S. After the war, the property was acquired by the H.C. Spinks Co. The accompanying photo shows the same equipment used by Spinks crews in 1930. The public can view the equipment at any time that the gates are open. (Shannon McFarlin photo).