This chemist was working at a pilot plant at Nossen laboratory in New Jersey to develop a way of extracting manganese from vast ore deposits in Aroostook County. At the time, Governor Burton M. Cross expected a "million dollar refinery" to be built in Aroostook County to extract the ore.

Manganese deposits are found in the Presque Isle-Ashland area, Maple Mountain, Hovey Mountain and Castle Hill.

Interest was high during the 1950s because the United States had no significant high-grade domestic deposits. Manganese is used in the manufacture of steel. No refining or processing plant was built to make use of these deposits.