The Winnipeg Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company was formed at Knappen House in Winnipeg on 18 February 1882, with a Charter of Incorporation gained via Letters Patent in the following month. Its founding partnership was comprised of John Northwood, Joseph M. Taylor, and Andrew Northwood, all of Chatham, Ontario, Fred W. Gibbs (Oshawa, Ontario), George W. Towner (Listowel, Ontario), and James A. Van Wart (Fredericton, New Brunswick), along with Winnipeg-based George F. Thompson, James S. Coolican, Hugh M. Cowper, John P. Grant, Prosper L. Knappen, and Alfred Jones. The venture held an initial capital stock of $100,000 with Northwood, Giibs, Thompson, Coolican, and Van Wart serving as the inaugural directors and W. H. Cooper as Secretary-Treasurer. A head office was opened in the Hargrave Block at 326 Main Street.
A brickyard was reportedly established at an unspecified location outside of the city limits, and near railway and river access. The company’s presence and whereabouts after 1883 remains to be determined.
Companies Office corporation documents (CCA 0059), 2W - Winnipeg Brick & Tile Manufacturing Company, GR6427, Archives of Manitoba.
“Special notice,” Winnipeg Sun, 20 February 1882, page 3.
“Special notice,” Winnipeg Sun, 22 February 1882, page 4.
“The official Gazette,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 25 March 1882, page 2.
“Articles wanted,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 28 May 1883, page 1.
Error processing SSI filePage revised: 21 October 2019
Manitoba Bricks and Blocks
A history of the manufacture of bricks and concrete blocks in Manitoba, based on research by Randy Rostecki for the Manitoba Historic Resources Branch and supplemented by information compiled by Gordon Goldsborough of the Manitoba Historical Society. .
Bricks | Blocks | People | Glossary
We thank Hugh Arklie, Gordon McDiarmid, and Heather Bertnick for their help in the development of this online guide. Financial support of the Thomas Sill Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. Additional information was provided by Ina Bramadat, David Butterfield, Neil Christoffersen, Frank Korvemaker, Ed Ledohowski, Ken Storie, Lynette Stow, and Tracey Winthrop-Meyers.
© 2010-2020
Randy Rostecki, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch, Gordon Goldsborough, and Manitoba Historical Society.
All rights reserved.
