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D.D. Hooker & Co., Bricks and Tile
[Souvenir of the Town of Welland, Issued August 22, 1902 by the Welland Telegraph, Sears & Sawle, Publishers]
Located at the foot of Fraser Street in Welland, is the brick yard of Messrs D.D. Hooker & Co., which was founded by Mr Hooker’s father, the late T.D. Hooker, in 1855, and which, since the decease of the latter, in 1893, has been conducted by Messrs D.D. Hooker & Co., The plant comprises some nine acres of rich clay land, upon which is located two brick kilns, and a drain tile kiln, for the firm manufacture both. There are a dozen drying racks, each of a capacity of from eight to ten thousand bricks, the annual output of which is about 1,000,000 of brick and 100,000 drain tile, of from two to six inches in diameter and a dozen inches in length, the latter being in demand by farmers and others for drainage purposes, and the call for which is continually on the increase. The manufacturing plant is thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and other facilities, including a mixer, sanding, compressing and moulding machines for both brick and drain tile. It is operated by a 15 h.p. engine, and employment is given to from twelve to fifteen hands, About five hundred cords of wood are required in a season. While pretty much all of the brick used for building purposes in Welland, including those utilized for the building of the town hall and many of the fine residences, are the product of this plant, yet many are shipped to other parts of the county, and even outside. The drain tile is used mostly by the farmers in and about Welland. Mr Hooker, aside from being a successful business man, is alive and progressive as to the development of Welland’s prosperity, and is a member of the present town council, besides having been a member of the same for several years prior thereto. He was Mayor of Welland in 1898-9, and for several years was a member of the Public School Board.
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