Welland in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Hooker Brick Company
Buildings & Industries
Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 18, 2024
1. The Hooker Brick Company Marker
Inscription.
In 1885, Mr. Thadius Hooker of New York was awarded a contract by Misters Bald and Helm to manufacture the bricks for additions to the new jail and courthouse. Mr. Hooker established himself on a nine acre parcel of land at the foot of Frazer St. and brought his machinery into Canada on wagons. By the time he had the factory up and running, production reached one million bricks and 100,000 drain tiles annually. Hooker bricks were known for their quality. Many of Welland's oldest businesses and brick homes were built with them. The plant employed 12 to 15 full time men and used large quantities of cordwood which was brought down the feeder and unloaded at their dock near the present day tennis club.,
In 1885, Mr. Thadius Hooker of New York was awarded a contract by Misters Bald and Helm to manufacture the bricks for additions to the new jail and courthouse. Mr. Hooker established himself on a nine acre parcel of land at the foot of Frazer St. and brought his machinery into Canada on wagons. By the time he had the factory up and running, production reached one million bricks and 100,000 drain tiles annually.
Hooker bricks were known for their quality. Many of Welland's oldest businesses and brick homes were built with them. The plant employed 12 to 15 full time men and used large quantities of cordwood which was brought down the feeder and unloaded at their dock near the present day tennis club.
En 1885, un contrat a ้t้ accord้ เ M. Thadius Hooker de New York, par Messieurs Bald et Helm, pour fabriquer des briques pour des ajouts เ la nouvelle prison et au palais de justice. ภ partir du moment o๙ l'usine entre en fonction, ils produiront un million de briques et 100 000 tuyaux d'argile annuellement. Les briques Hooker ้taient connues pour leur qualit้. ภ Welland, plusieurs des plus anciennes entreprises et des maisons en briques furent construites avec ses briques. L'usine employait pr่s de 15 hommes เ temps plein et utilisait de grandes quantit้s de bois de corde, transport้ par le canal d'alimentation, et d้charg้ เ leur quai pr่s de l'actuel club de tennis.
Topics.
Click or scan to see this page online
This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 42° 59.474′ N, 79° 15.054′ W. Marker is in Welland, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is at the intersection of King Street and East Main Street, on the right when traveling south on King Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 King Street, Welland ON L3B 3H9, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 19, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
