DELORO 1916 FROM THE EAST BANK OF RIVER. NOTE 1882 ARSENIC WORKS CENTRE STILL IN USE. ARSENIC BAG HOUSE ON RIGHT; COBALT OXIDES PLANT ON LEFT

While documents indicating mining activity in Deloro can be traced back to 1868 with the Severn Mine (Pearce Mine), it seems life in Deloro 100 years ago was an action packed going concern.

1916 saw a change in the name of the company from Deloro Mining and Reduction Company to Deloro Smelting and Refining Company. By the following year, the company, supporting the war effort with stellite, employed 400 men in a series of plants destined to irretrievably pollute the stretch of the Moira River they sat along, while manufacturing refined silver, refined arsenic, Cobalt oxide, metallic cobalt, nickel oxide and stellite.

The company was turning into a company town with company houses, a new school, an orchestra, a company bus, a company trading store and even a company thief!

"Extensive building operations are now under way by the Deloro Mining & Reduction Co. Curran and Clement have a contract for the erection of six double houses, a store and a new school. The buildings will be constructed of cement blocks. The company is also installing a sprinkling system for fire protection."

Marmora Herald, June 15, 1916

FOREIGNER ARRESTED
"A foreigner, who went by the names of Hill and also Lappe, came up before Judge Deroche on Wednesday of last week for stealing a quantity of silver from Deloro Mining & Reduction Company. He was sentenced to the Provincial Reformatory for two years less a day." February 3, 1916

On February 18, 1916, the Marmora Herald reported:

" On Tuesday night the general store at Delora, operated by P.J. Gillen & Son was totally destroyed by fire. The origin of the fire is unknown.