Drummondville history: The impact of the Aetna Explosives plant

The historical development of Drummondville, Quebec, was significantly shaped by the industrial demands of World War I. In 1916, the American company Aetna Explosives established a massive munitions complex in the area, known locally as "la Poudrière" (the Powder Keg).

The facility consisted of 130 buildings and was larger than the village itself at the time. This expansion was driven by a massive contract from the Russian Empire for 3 million kilograms of explosive cotton powder, facilitated by the Canadian federal government. This industrial influx acted as a catalyst for the town's rapid growth from a small village into a larger municipality.