‘Furious fires’ claimed early foundries
Machine works were a key part of the city’s early industrial growth
The Examiner toured in March 1873 the Whyte and Davis machine shop and foundry at the northeast corner of Brock and Aylmer. The brick building had been constructed during 1872 and its main building was three storeys tall. All were being equipped with new machinery for the growing business.
At this time, about 35 men were employed in repairing, making and finishing ploughs, mowers, reapers and other agricultural machinery and also bolts bridge construction. The company had 25 or 30 men engaged in their contract for bridge building with the Cobourg and Marmora Railway. The reporter calculated the annual wages for 60 men at about $20,000.
The reporter concluded, “Such men as Whyte and Davis are benefactors to the farming community and deserve their patronage and support …”
James Whyte was one of the founders of the local Mechanics Institute in 1868. The first trustees, who were also directors, included W. Beck; John Bertram; Henry Calcutt; John Carnegie, Jr.; Aaron Comstock; J.B. Dixon; David W. Dumble; James English; John English; William English; Donald Fraser; James Fraser; J.W. Gilmour; Grant and York; William Hamilton; William Helm; George Henderson; F. Hueback; William N. Kennedy; Robert Kincaid, MD.; T. Lannin; John Ludgate; William J. Martin; William McCullough; Nicholls and Hall; R. Renfrew; Robert Romaine; James Rose; James Stevenson; T.C. Tucker; James Whyte; and D. Williams.
In June 1876, J. Whyte and Co’s Agricultural Works opened new ware rooms in the building formerly used by E.C. Hill for a skating rink. This was across from Henthorn’s Livery Stable, and so would be on part of what is now the Commerce Building. The company was selling ploughs and other agricultural implements, some of which were made at the local factory on McDonnel Street, and some at the Whyte and Davis factory. As well, they were selling products of A. Harris, Son and Co. of Brantford (eventually part of Massey Harris).
Whyte and Company started a branch works in Campbellford in the summer of 1879. In June, William Johnston had the contract for the foundation and brick work of the new three-storey building. This part was nearly completed in August when the Campbellford Herald reported on progress on the very large structure. Clearly, Whyte’s business was expanding both locally to the large farming community around Campbellford and more widely. The Herald commented that the good-looking building added to the appearance of the street and that the company would be a welcome addition to the community.
In 1882, there was a “furious fire” at Whyte and Co. On Nov. 9, the newspaper commented: “… a destructive fire of doubtless incendiary origin, broke out in the blacksmith shop in the west end of Whyte and Co’s foundry, and before it could be stayed, the whole building was consumed together with Wilson’s Woollen factory about 100 feet to the south.” Because of “balky horses,” the fire brigade was slow to respond and the fire spread so rapidly “that little was saved.”
The loss on the foundry was placed at $11,000 and on the woolen mill at $3,000; insurance only covered $7,000. Wilson as the lessee of the mill suffered a loss of $1,000 of which insurance covered $500. The workmen lost tools valued at about $750, and about 40 people lost their employment.
John Whyte and Co.’s Foundry was hit by “Another Furious Fire” on May 5, 1887. The foundry was on MacDonnel where the railway tracks of the “Missing Link” crossed. The flames were noticed about 3:30 a.m. and neighbours sounded the alarm. The alarm bell rope was useless, but a small boy shinnied up the pole and used a large rock to sound the bell.
A Mr. Scott, a stranger in town, tried to deliver the fire message to the fire hall by horse but got lost, and unacquainted with the fire alarm system did the ring the town bell but instead went to the home of Terry Smith, the fire engine driver “who sleeps at the fire hall.” By the time the firemen and “Silaby” reached the site the foundry was “doomed.”
John Whyte was grateful that much was saved from the foundry because of the help of people; and the firemen were able to prevent the spread of the fire to neighboring buildings.
The fire was apparently started by sparks from a Grand Trunk locomotive that passed by about 20 minutes before the fire was noticed. The building was within 10 feet of the railway tracks which edged between the creek and the main factory building.
Whyte estimated the loss at about $8,000. As well George Bolton and McAndrew and Noble lost the patterns for their furnaces; these were valued at several hundred dollars. Charles Dawson, manufacturer of Dawson’s Patent Rotary and Steam Pumps, had his workshop at the foundry, and suffered considerable loss.
“The moulds for several iron pillars and doorsteps for Dunsford’s block on Water Street, were ready for casting at the foundry this afternoon, but were of course destroyed.”
The Examiner noted this fire was similar to the fire five years earlier and hoped that there would soon be electric fire bells in each ward which would eliminate some of the errors and delays just experienced.
In November 1883, John Whyte had an accident in Campbellford. “He had occasion to climb over a rail fence to superintend the work of some employees; when on the top of the fence, the rail turned and threw him to the ground.” He severely injured his back but the newspaper reported he was “a fair way to recovery.”
Earlier that year the Herald reported the death of John Whyte’s mother, then living with her son-in-law
James Fulford of Seymour Township. Mrs. Ann Whyte was the relict of Peter Whyte of Dunblane, Scotland.
In the 2000 history of Seymour township and Campbellford, there is a note that a fire caused damage in the moulding department at Whyte’s Campbellford foundry. Curiously, the only other reference suggests that in 1900 Clem Bayes moved his blacksmith shop to Whyte’s former planing mill, which he leased from William Doxsee who had acquired the building from Whyte.
The current building still standing in Campbellford that suggests the size of the Whyte branch plant there is a signature building at the southwest corner of Front and Bridge Street.
The Peterborough branch of Whyte’s Foundry, “The large foundry and machine works,” 401 McDonnel St. W., was sold to G. Walter Green. In 1908, the Electric City tabloid said, “Mr. Green manufactures saw mill, shingle and lath mill machinery, wood and iron pumps, steam fittings, and iron castings of all kinds. He has supplied the equipment of many of the first mills in the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and his iron castings are equal, if not superior to, any others made in Canada.” His signature building was built in 1904.
The paper commented that Green was a large property owner who promoted the welfare and prosperity of the town. St. Andrew’s Church (now Emmanuel West) has stained glass windows dedicated to Green and his wife. His daughter, Agnes Logan Green, was known to successive generations for her superb piano playing. The Greens lived at Cordach, the fine stone house built for the family to the Rev. J. M. Roger which was only about three blocks from the factory. Cordach was demolished in the 1950s.
The Canadian Ventilating Blinds Company occupied the site during the 1950s, and by the early 1960s, several businesses occupied the several buildings. Some businesses have changed, but the 1960s appearance is still very evident at the site today.
Remarkably, the site of our earliest foundries remains all these years later a significant heritage industrial site. Some of the early buildings have been reinvented, and the creek and the railway footprint are reminders of the basic requirements for success in running early industries. Elwood H. Jones, Archivist, Trent Valley Archives can be reached at elwood@trentvalleyarchives.com. Trent Valley Archives offers many interesting opportunities; check out their events at www.trentvalleyarchives.com Their open house will be on September 8, and all are welcome to see what is happening there. They will be highlighting the year 1818 and the end of World War I.