The New Idria Time Line

1942, July – 200 soldiers are sent from Fort Ord to battle a wildfire that threatens to burn New Idria.

1948 – Quicksilver production rates plummet and the company lays off 125 men. By November, only sixteen men were working at the mines.

1951, April – The New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company changed its name to the New Idria Mining and Chemical Company and begins mining on August 1.

1965 – The company modernized its telephone system replacing the old hand-cranked telephone with fifty-one new dial telephones.

1968 – The New Idria Mining and Chemical Company purchase the New Almaden Mine and the Guadalupe Mine in Santa Clara County.

1972, April – The mines shut down, but they hope to reopen again in 1973 but falling quicksilver prices and new environmental standards make reopening the mine unlikely.

1973, May – The New Idria Mining and Chemical Company declared its 4,200 acres of land at New Almaden as surplus property.

1973, November – The company held public auctions to sell its equipment at both Idria and New Almaden. More than 1,300 pieces of machinery valued at $725,000 were available to buyers who were interested enough to travel to Idria. The sale began early in the morning and lasted until 11:00 P.M. that night.