People Archives | Page 2 of 2 | Bedrock of Beachville: The History of Our Limestone Quarries

Memories of the Quarry: Marion Kilcup

In this audio clip, Kilcup discusses childhood memories of growing up around the Beachville quarries at a public presentation circa 1975. This audio clip is property of the […]

Arthur Lightheart Recalls a Loose Load

In this audio clip, Lightheart describes a risky incident his brother and Fred Downing experienced going up a ramp with a load of stone to the top of […]

Cole & Hacker Quarry

Cole & Hacker was a recognized dealer in lime and building stone. The company hired hands to mine, burn, and transport limestone. It was heavily intertwined with other […]

A Spratt Family Affair

In this audio clip, Sandra Spratt speaks on Ted Spratt, her late husband and how he started as a quarry worker in Beachville. In the photo above stands […]

Early Quarry Pits

This image shows a team quarrying on land owned by John Downing. This land was east of the main road, known then as “Monroe Sideroad” and now County […]

Charles Edward Downing

This portrait shows Charles Edward Downing, the son of John and Henrietta Downing.

The Erie Steam Shovel

William Smith Otis (1813-1839) invented the “steam shovel” in 1836 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a revolutionary invention for the aggregate industry. Before Otis’ invention, almost all excavation projects were […]

John Downing on the Porch of his Home in Beachville

John Downing (April 1, 1849 – April 14, 1938) was born in Parkham, Devon. He immigrated to Canada with his family at age 2. As a schoolboy, he […]

Transportation by Team & Wagon

This image shows a work crew and a team of horses at the Downing-Bremner quarries east of Monroe Sideroad (now Oxford County Road 6). Records from early quarries […]

Beachville District Museum

Beachville District Museum operates out of one of Beachville’s historic limestone structures – the former residence of the Downing family. The first floor was constructed of colourful fieldstone […]