Tragedy at Standard White Lime

Archivist Liz Dommasch uncovers the story of a tragic event involving an employee of the Standard White Lime Company of Beachville in 1914.

By Liz Dommasch, County Archivist

Often times when we are doing research on one topic at the archives we come across people, businesses and/or events that pique our interest and lead us to research something else. This was the case, this past week, while I was doing research on a particular inmate for our upcoming online exhibit on the history of the Gaol. The Archives maintains a large collection of records related to the County’s Administration and Justice and those records not only include information related to criminal trials, but records concerning autopsies as well. One autopsy caught my eye and I thought I’d share the story with you. It is a bit gruesome. However, it provides a bit of insight into business practices at the time and, as you shall see, ties into some other records the Archives holds.

In March 1914, employees of the Standard White Lime Company of Beachville were using dynamite to break the ice in the Thames River adjacent to the lime works. Sadly, William Farrell was killed instantly when the dynamite he was holding exploded before he could reach the shore. Manager W.W. Wallace was also slightly injured, but was well enough to be able to accompany the remains of the deceased back home to North Hastings County.

The report provided by Coroner J.B. Coleridge stated that all the men were used to handling dynamite and that every precaution was taken to prevent an explosion, including disconnecting the wires between each discharge. All were at a loss to explain in what manner the circuit was made that caused the untimely explosion. Ultimately, Coroner Coleridge would deem an inquest unnecessary and the death accidental.

What’s interesting is that this one piece of paper signed by Coroner Coleridge led me to our Woodstock Sentinel-Review microfilm collection to find the newspaper article on the accident. It next led me to our collection of records related to the Village of Beachville, where I discovered that the Standard White Lime Company began operations at the west end of the Village around 1900. Around the same time, the Beachville White Lime Company started quarry operations farther west. Later these operations became the holdings of the Gypsum Lime and Alabastine Company (later Domtar Ltd.) and is presently known as Cyanamid of Canada.

Operations of the quarries in the early 1900s would have required horses, water wheels and coal to help extract the lime from the pits and to operate their kilns, and therefore it makes sense that the men would need access to running water around the lime works. In addition, dynamite was a fast and effective way to blow things up and had been popular in the various mining industries since its inception in the 1860s. I imagine such accidents were a common place occurrence, as safety procedures were not as strictly regulated and enforced as they are today.

Beachville quarry workers, early 1900s - 1037ph

Furthermore, what’s fascinating is the Archives holds records related to J.B. Coleridge consisting of correspondence and receipts, created and received by him, in the years leading up to his death in July 1914. Although, there are no records related to this particular accident in his fonds, it does help provide an interesting insight into the Coroner himself. Not only was Coleridge a physician and medical examiner, he also served as Ingersoll Mayor from 1912-1913.

More often than not, information on a particular person or event isn’t always kept together. Instead, it takes a bit of sleuthing on our part to pull records from a variety of sources to form a complete story. Often times its stories we weren’t intending to tell but discover while in the midst of working on something else. Other times, we’ve been able to find missing information for questions asked previously. It’s because of moments like these that I love working in an archives – the chance to discover something new and fascinating and being able to share it with others!

Although the Archives is still currently closed due to the COVID pandemic, staff are more than happy to assist with all your research questions. Who knows, maybe we’ll discover something new and intriguing while doing so! Archives staff may be reached at archives@oxfordcounty.ca