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2024-04-19 07:38:00
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 Phil G.
 
Location: Woodstock ON
Gender: Male
 |  |  | Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
< on 4/26/2008 6:11 AM >
|  | | | So this is a little report I wanted to do on a local abandonment, the Metal Technologies Foundry. I’ll be doing the history of the foundry itself and some history behind the companies that owned it. If any clarifications should be made or mistakes are found, give me a shout. Here we go and I hope you enjoy it:
Eureka Foundry And Manufacturing Company Ltd.
The Eureka Planter Company Limited was founded on December 30th, 1904 with a loan of $12,000 (~$225,200 in 2008) from the Corporation of the City of Woodstock. This loan was given to “Purchase a site” and “Erect buildings thereon and to place machinery therein” and was to be paid back over 20 years with 4% interest. The philosophy of the Eureka Planter Company was “Quality First”. The original location of the company is still standing and in use at the corner of Winnett St and Drew St, not too far from the abandoned foundry. The original location was serviced by trains from the adjacent tracks.
The product line at this operation was mainly farming equipment; in 1904 the focus was on potato and corn planters while in 1907 it was on “Horse drawn machines, hand seeders and cultivators, broadcast seeders, hay and stack pucks, hand and compressed air sprayers, Churns, plumbing supplies, and lawn mowers”.
1925 is the year from which things took a swing, this is the year that the Eureka Planter Company purchased Wayne Oil Tank and Pump Company. The Wayne Oil Tank and Pump Company was formed in 1913 on the former site of the Woodstock Amateur Athletics Association Grounds on Tecumseh St and the current site of the abandoned foundry. This company produced pumps for gas stations and did have a small attached rail line, which may still be seen today.
In 1928 the product line was again updated to include boiler stands, sink brackets, “Iron Stone Boat Fronts”, and custom castings (Available in gray iron, aluminum, or semi-steel). The company motto was also changed to something a bit more… forceful: “The Customer Must Be Satisfied”. They also apparently bought two more factory plants on Tecumseh St, but the details behind this are unknown. It could possible be a mistake in the records.
The post-war Forties show a great deal of the move to suburbia through the increased production of… lawn mowers. In 1947 they produced the first power lawn mower; it weighed in at a staggering 111 lbs. In 1948 they produced their famous improved power mower “The Canadian Clipper”. Some other mowers produced under the Eureka Brand are the “Special”, “Singer” and “Forest Glen”. They still produced farm equipment like power cultivators, cyclone seeders, lawn sweepers, something called “The Talking Doorbell”, and cast aluminum house markers. At this time the manufacturing plant on the corner of Winnett and Drew (Plant #1) was still in use and the plant on Tecumseh (Plant #2 [possibly #3 as well]) was strictly a foundry.
The Fifties were a period of great change for the company. In 1953 it changed its name from the Eureka Planter Company Limited to the Eureka Foundry and Manufacturing Company. They also shifted their production focus from farm materials to pump motors and washing machine parts. At this time the “long run” of production was 4 tons of iron per hour among 75 employees. In 1954 Eureka Foundry and Manufacturing purchased/ possibly expanded by 50,000 sq ft. This expansion included a lab, pattern making shop, grinding shop, cleaning shop, and inspection shop.
In 1959 the first of many hand changes occurred. The Eureka Foundry and Manufacturing Company was bought by Gunite Foundries of Rockford, Illinois. In 1960 Gunite Foundries was purchased by Kelsey-Hayes, therefore its subsidiary Eureka also came under the Kelsey-Hayes name as the Kelsey-Hayes Eureka Foundry.
Through the rest of the Sixties there is not much on record to note. There were the common union organized strikes and not much else. The main focus of the plant shifted to the production of brake drums and disk brakes. Kelsey-Hayes Eureka Foundry was responsible for a large amount of the North American disk brake requirements. It provided the Chrysler Corporation, American Motors, and International Harvester with their disk brakes. It should be noted that it is unknown how much of this was produced at a different plant in Woodstock that was also under the Kelsey-Hayes name, the Beard’s Lane Plant.
The Seventies were an era that was both filled with advancement and tragedy. In 1971 Kelsey-Hayes spent $250,000 (~ $1,373,170.73 in 2008) on a new pollution reduction system that removed around 3 cubic yards of sand, iron, and slag per day. The average pour of 1972 was 14 tons per hour with just over 250 employees, a great increase from the Fifties. The payroll combined with that of the Beard’s Lane Plant exceeded $3.5 million (~$18,245,370.37 in 2008)
The tragedy of this era was the only death at the foundry I could find. Kelsey-Hayes Eureka Foundry had the highest safety record with the fewest accidents in all Canadian foundries. However on January 11 1973 Stanley Lorenc died in an industrial accident. He was an employee of four years who died when removed sand from his dumper machine. The machine was on automatic operation and Mr. Lorenc did not have enough time to exit the machine. He sustained massive internal injuries and his death was caused by severe internal bleeding from a ruptured aorta. A worker on a similar machine said that they were never instructed to clean the sand but said that it was necessary for the machine to function.
There is not a lot of interesting things on record about the Eighties. There was the usual union strikes, negotiations, and fears about the future of the automotive industry. In 1986 a 5000 liter propane tank developed a leak and began shooting flames into the air which forced the evacuation of the factory and nearby homes.
Nothing found on record about the Nineties, probably because nobody bothered to update the file. Metal Technologies states that they purchased the “Eureka Foundry Corporation” in 2001 with the help of Kelsey-Hayes Canada Ltd. so a name change in the Nineties may be possible. Regardless, the foundry was renamed Metal Technologies Woodstock Ltd. and later renamed form that to Metal Technologies Woodstock Gray Iron Plant. The company closed the Woodstock foundry in December 2005.
Gallery
http://www.flickr....72157604736408909/
SOURCES (In order of appearance):
Loan Amount. (1904, Dec 24). The Daily Sentinel Review
Lomax, Philip (1988). Eureka/Kelsey Hayes. Notes from WPL.
Wayne Oil Tank and Pump Company. (1925, Sept 1). Sentinel Review
Kelsey-Hayes Canada Ltd. (1972). A Look At Kelsey-Hayes In Woodstock
Woodstock Bureau (1971, May 26). Pollutant System. The London Free Press
January 11th Accident. (1973, Feb 22). The Daily Sentinel Review
Burns, H (1986, Oct 2). Propane Fire. The London Free Press
Modern Casting (2001, Jul 1). Metal Technologies Buys Eureka Foundry. Retrieved April 26, 2008, from All Business Web site: http://www.allbusi...ring/800144-1.html
Foundry Management & Technology (2003, May 1). Firm renames metalcasting operations. Retrieved April 26, 2008, from All Business Web site: http://www.allbusi...ies/1116050-1.html
About the Company. Retrieved April 26, 2008, from Metal Technologies, Inc Web site: http://www.allbusi...ies/1116050-1.html
That is pretty much it for the history of the foundry and companies behind it. Some things to consider are the fact that the seats in the Capitol Theatre might have been made at the foundry (which I will confirm upon my entrance there) and that old farm machinery in local areas may have been made at the Eureka Foundry. Also, the amount in 2008 dollars of the loan is incredibly rough, the inflation calculator only has 1914 and up, so I had to use 1914. Use it as you please, so long as you give credit.
[last edit 4/26/2008 4:03 PM by Phil G. - edited 1 times]
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phrenzee
   
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 1 on 4/26/2008 11:07 AM >
| | | | Nice job Phil G.!
It's interesting to know the history behind the places we explore and attempt to preserve through photos.
I am wishing that I had "rescued" this photo when I had the chance (vandals had already smashed the glass):
http://picasaweb.g...121195943804562290
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Axle
 
Location: Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 2 on 4/26/2008 12:22 PM >
| | | | Nice job Phil! Very complete.
Phrenzee, that photo is freakin' awesome
Here's my gallery from the trip: http://www.flickr....72157604544589787/
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
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MonoxideChild
Location: Rockford, IL
Gender: Male
~creeper~
| |  | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 3 on 4/26/2008 3:25 PM >
| | | | just a reference.
its Gunite, not Gunrite.
there still quite a few of there buildings standings here in rockford also of gunite. it was VERY large at one point.
~Quote By Thomas Edison~
I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing.... |
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Phil G.
Location: Woodstock ON
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 4 on 4/26/2008 4:01 PM >
| | | | Ah excellent, I'll fix that right now. I'll be looking through the microfilm at the library when I have some time to get the 90's and 2000's done, hopefully there will be something in them. My next project will probably be a history the Capitol.
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TRAINS
Foaming at the Mouth
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
Ask me about my coupling equipment!
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 5 on 4/26/2008 4:50 PM >
| | | | I've acquired several employee newsletters from the late 90's that may yield some newsworthy items.
I also have photos and slides of the plant in operation, eventually I will get around to scanning them all in.
Nice work on the Article... I gave it a brief look over. I'll read it more throughly later when I have a bit more time.
The property is currently owned by TRW, which has an active plant on Beard's Lane in Woodstock. Interestingly enough the sign for the active plant still says Kelsey Hayes in a smaller font.
The railway spur into the plant was used up into the mid 90's, but I do not have an end date. I also don't know if raw material was shipped in by railcar, or finished product shipped out.
Baby like the way I wake her up, 'Cause I'm a gangsta, I grab her by the butt, Pull her to my side, I'm in deep, Woke that ass up just to put her to sleep |
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 6 on 10/14/2008 4:03 AM >
| | | |
whats up, i live in woodstock and i go to this place because a bunch of people i know built those ramps there, if your up for an updated tour id be willing to go there with you, i know most of the place pretty well right now
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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Shr-eddie
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 7 on 10/14/2008 4:41 AM >
| | | | Very interesting Phil. My favourite place in Woodstock.
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 8 on 10/14/2008 5:02 AM >
| | | |
It is very interesting let me tell you. I went in there with a few guys that were also interested(around my age, I am 17) and they thought nothing of it. I figured that the place we were in had so many years of history unknown to me, now because of that small article I now know much more than I did when I first went in there.
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 10 on 10/21/2008 2:55 AM >
| | | |
the Eureka Foundry? Its a cool place, I went in there way back before they boarded it up and a secret skatepark was built within its old walls
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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TRAINS
Foaming at the Mouth
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
Ask me about my coupling equipment!
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 11 on 10/21/2008 3:19 AM >
| | | | ...and I was in there before the skaters destroyed it.
For some reason, skaters and bikers can never be content with having a free skate park without smashing all the windows in a building, destroying equipment, and making a general mess of the place.
In fact, my favourite trip to the Foundry was before the place was even abandoned: http://jay.thegreb...lseyHayes2006.html
Baby like the way I wake her up, 'Cause I'm a gangsta, I grab her by the butt, Pull her to my side, I'm in deep, Woke that ass up just to put her to sleep |
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 12 on 10/21/2008 3:54 AM >
| | | | i know what you mean TRAINS, im one of those skaters who try to keep everything as I left it. I know the type of BMXers and skaters you are talking about though, they are the ones that give the rest of us a bad name.
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 13 on 10/27/2008 12:00 AM >
| | | | so i just found out there is a reward out to find the people who have been in the old foundry...anyone able to find and post the article from the paper?
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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Intrinsic
Location: Collingwood
Gender: Male
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 14 on 10/27/2008 12:41 AM >
| | | | Posted by UEUW
so i just found out there is a reward out to find the people who have been in the old foundry...anyone able to find and post the article from the paper?
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I've been in the old foundry and I admit it openly. I'd be willing to split the reward 50/50 if I am reported.
Note that I did not vandalize, tag, spit, crap, urinate or even pass gas while on the property.
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TRAINS
Foaming at the Mouth
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
Ask me about my coupling equipment!
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 15 on 10/27/2008 2:45 PM >
| | | | I'd also like to see whatever was posted in the Woodstock Sentinel Review newspaper...
I've no sympathy for the owners of the property. No significant measures were taken against theft/vandalism/trespassing. The place was wide open after it was abandoned.
Baby like the way I wake her up, 'Cause I'm a gangsta, I grab her by the butt, Pull her to my side, I'm in deep, Woke that ass up just to put her to sleep |
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 16 on 10/28/2008 3:44 AM >
| | | | Posted by TRAINS
I'd also like to see whatever was posted in the Woodstock Sentinel Review newspaper...
I've no sympathy for the owners of the property. No significant measures were taken against theft/vandalism/trespassing. The place was wide open after it was abandoned.
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no doubt, i know the bikers were somehow getting in real easy, along with other people like us and the vandals so they shouldnt be charging anyone when they took no precautions to lock it up tight.
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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Intrinsic
Location: Collingwood
Gender: Male
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 17 on 10/28/2008 5:38 AM >
| | | | Does anyone recognize this supposed abandoned store in Woodstock?
I surmise it is no longer abandoned but I've never actually seen it (unless it's the Walmart location?)
Source: http://www.firstli...hp?idPhoto=1938513
[last edit 10/28/2008 5:39 AM by Intrinsic - edited 1 times]
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UEUW
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Gender: Male
Don;t be afraid to do what you love. =)
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 18 on 10/28/2008 10:46 AM >
| | | | Posted by sudbury
Does anyone recognize this supposed abandoned store in Woodstock?
I surmise it is no longer abandoned but I've never actually seen it (unless it's the Walmart location?)
Source: http://www.firstli...hp?idPhoto=1938513
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the old walmart, its no longer there due to Toyota buying out all the land and building plants
~Make my enemy strong so that when defeated I will not feel ashamed.~
Explore, for if you don't you may never know what you are missing. |
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TRAINS
Foaming at the Mouth
Location: Canada
Gender: Male
Ask me about my coupling equipment!
| | Re: Eureka Foundry Woodstock Ontario- A History
<Reply # 19 on 10/28/2008 12:57 PM >
| | | | Of course the Toyota plant will be much more interesting to explore than the wal-mart ever was.
A tad higher risk though, I'd wager.
Baby like the way I wake her up, 'Cause I'm a gangsta, I grab her by the butt, Pull her to my side, I'm in deep, Woke that ass up just to put her to sleep |
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