Anyone know anything about this?

In 1902, J.D. Storie purchased the Oshawa Stove Company from J. Bailes and worked under the name Oshawa Steam and Gas Fittings Ltd. It wasn't until 1910 that it became Fittings Ltd. In the beginning the business employed 15-20 men; by 1911 it employed 250 skilled mechanics and by 1927 it had 650 men working in the factory.

In 1936, J.D. Storie passed away and his son Alex took control of the business. With it's trademark diamond, Fittings Ltd. incorporated as a public company in 1946 and in 1956 purchased the Canadian Brass Ltd. of Galt. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 1962. In 1967, 800 out of the 1000 employees of Fittings worked in the Oshawa plant and employed one of the city's largest labour forces.

In August 1977, Fittings was sold to the Pedlar People Ltd. and Graeme Kirkland. Less than a year later, September 1978, the plumbing section of the factory closed. Fittings Ltd. was completely shut down in 1987. Although Fittings closed in 1987, the abandoned factory was back in the news in 1989 and again in 1990, both times due to fires. Controversy continued when accusations that there was contamination on the site where the factory was located. Former employees said that oil, gas, chemical tanks and old transformers were buried on the site. This permanently postponed any housing development planned by Reemark (the owners of the property) and there has never been any type of development built.

Hmmm...Ill look into this...I know an older lady whose lived near the fittings plant her whole life basically. She seemed to recall what you posted...contamination and a housing deal being put off due to it...

I remember the fires at the plant. I also remember walking by the plant when it was still active and the smell that was in the air. Like the GO trains in wet weather. I have some photos of the building being demolished in my archives (Just have to dig them out). Those were taken with a 110 camera. I hope the quality of them is sufficient. When I find them, I'll post them. And apparently my great grandfather (Mom's side) worked there back in the 20s.

And for the contamination, apparently in spots where the ground water seeped up to the surface, you were able to see slicks.

What was the address of this company? I've never seen or heard anything about this co. as I've only been in Durham since November '98.

Posted by rainman8889 I have some photos of the building being demolished in my archives

That was the main question, is there anything left. Doesn't sound like it from what you said...

Posted by lopix That was the main question, is there anything left. Doesn't sound like it from what you said...

Nothing is left. The entire complex was razed in 1990. It consisted of the factory and office sections. The first fire was in the office section (1989) and the second (and bigger) fire burnt down 1/3 of the factory section in 1990. Clean up started about three weeks later, took about a month to complete and demolition started immediately after. The entire property has been empty since 1990. What remains are sections of the concrete pads that made up the floors of the factory and some small bits of debris. I remember seeing four large trailers being removed from the property prior to demolition by the nice men in the moon suits along with several barrels.

That sucks...

Posted by lopix That sucks...

You got that right. That was a really cool place to check out.

Where was it?????????????????

Posted by CowboyPenner Where was it?????????????????

The place was on the south east corner of Bruce and Drew. West of Ritson and South of Athol. I did a little snooping and found the site that has the info lopix posted on this thread (good work lopix )

http://www.oshawam...dustries/front.htm

I was looking at the picture that was provided on the site and noticed something with the plant. If you look to the lower left hand corner of the plant area you will see an empty space between the office and plant. That had an addition that stood out like a sore thumb from the rest of the plant. That was where the second fire started in 1990. The first fire in 1989 started in the higher section of the office section.