The Start of the Big Three in Beachville

Between 1929 and 1930, Beachville’s largest quarries – Standard White Lime and Beachville White Lime – were transferred to new owners.

North American Cyanamid

North American Cyanamid, based out of the Niagara Region, purchased Beachville White Lime in 1929. The company had been purchasing limestone from Beachville’s quarries since 1907. To expand its range of cyanamide products, the company acquired Beachville White Lime to secure a constant source of stone.

The November cover for North American Cyanamid News magazine, 1953

Innerkip Lime and Stone Company

In the wake of this sale, The former shareholders of Beachville White Lime formed a new company in the early 1930s called the Innerkip Lime and Stone Company. The Innerkip plant was built west of American Cyanamid, and two new kilns were built on the site.

The plant and kilns at Innerkip Lime and Stone Company, circa 1934

Gypsum Lime and Alabastine Company

In 1930, the quarries that had made up the Standard White Lime Company were sold to Gypsum Lime and Alabastine Company. These sales occurred just as the Great Depression hit Canadians.

Lime businesses were not immune to the economic shock of the Great Depression. Layoffs at the 3 quarries left many of Beachville’s residents looking for work. The new kilns at Innerkip Lime and Stone could not operate. The Depression stalled progress at the new pit, and no stone was extracted for the first several years. It was not until 1936 that quarrying at the Innerkip site commenced. Recovery from the economic downswing further slowed when Beachville’s quarries were struck with disaster in April of 1937.