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Server Time:
2024-05-11 16:09:06
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 mello
      
Location: Port Colborne
Gender: Female
tastes like chicken.
 |  |  | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 20 on 1/23/2009 12:42 AM >
|  | | | Well this was a nice surprise!!
http://www.thespec.com/article/499623
Paul Wilson
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 21, 2009)
On Saturday, at a service at Central Presbyterian Church where mourners weren't supposed to wear black, they said goodbye to Morgan Firestone.
He was 78, grandson of the man who founded a tire empire 109 years ago.
The passing comes as the name that once meant much in this city continues to slip away.
Firestone, the man:
Morgan Firestone didn't have much to do with tires for very long. He came to Hamilton in 1965. He became president of the Canadian operation, but in 1969 stepped away. It probably isn't easy running a business in granddad's shadow.
He moved out on his own to manufacture motorhomes in Oakville. But the tire heir liked Hamilton and lived in Ancaster -- home of the Morgan Firestone Arena, just Morgan to most.
And here he founded the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, another way the name does live on.
Firestone, the plant:
The Pigott-built headquarters that went up on a tract of bayfront farmland in 1922 is still there, off Burlington East, between Kenilworth and Strathearne.
In the beginning, 150 workers turned out 275 tires a day. By the 1970s, 2,000 workers produced 10,000 tires a day at that plant -- for everything from wheelbarrows to jumbo earthmoving machines.
Parts of that factory are used by the city for its Materials Recycling Facility. Convoys of trucks roll up all day.
Other parts of the complex are left to the spirits and the urban adventurers who file their photos online at Infiltration, "the zine about going places you're not supposed to go."
Contributor "Melly Beenz" has put up dozens of shots, some downright beautiful, of the old plant's interior. Dark stairwells, old scales, nighttime vistas through broken windows and even the plant raccoon, which trailed them all night.
But what of the name? You'll note in today's photo from the early days that it was high over the front entrance.
The other day, the sun shining on that section of the building, we tried to make out a ghost of the name, the way you can still see the big faded letters down Burlington Street that spell out Studebaker.
But here, nothing. It looks as though someone plastered over that history long ago.
Firestone, the vets:
When Firestone went down, 21 years ago this month, the chain reaction kicked in quickly.
The $42 million payroll for 1,300 workers was immediately missed at restaurants, theatres, stereo shops, car dealers. So was the $2.2 million Firestone paid in taxes to the city and school boards. And the $100 million a year Firestone spent in goods and services -- from rubber to cafeteria food.
The 60 disabled kids who went to the annual Christmas party at the Firestone War Veterans Club stood to lose out, too.
The Club owned a boxy brick building on Kenilworth North. They held on for a few years after the plant closed. Then someone got permission to use the name and started the Firestone Banquet Centre and Sports Bar.
But now it's gone, too. The original impressive entrance is bricked in, and a side door leads to the Crown Point Family Health Centre.
Firestone, the head office:
In 1986, city hall made a deal to provide free parking for 150 cars, and the Firestone name went up in downtown Hamilton at a new head office in the Standard Life building.
When the plant closed two years later, Firestone Canada -- now owned by Bridgestone -- said it would keep its head office here. But soon they had shuffled off to Mississauga, and the sign came down.
Firestone, the billboard:
For more than 25 years, Firestone maintained a huge sign at Main and Dundurn. It carried the company name in familiar red letters, and beneath it was space for community events -- everything from Daffodil Day to adult education -- to advertise to 70,000 passersby every day.
Firestone kept it going for a time. But in 1993, head office declared the sign "an administrative headache."
Firestone, the stores:
Hamilton used to have nine Firestone tire stores. Now there are just two that fly the big sign. One is out on Main West, the other on Main East.
The store in the east opened in 1954, making it a contender for oldest Firestone store in the country.
Simmo Piil owned it for some 35 years. Though he recently sold, the Firestone sign remains out front. The product inside now comes from Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Nashville.
If you're still driving around on Firestones made in Hamilton, congratulations. But it's probably time for some new rubber.
StreetBeat appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
[email protected]
905-526-3391
when you are here, you wish you were there. but once you're there, it soon becomes a here, and you again wish to be there instead of here...
we will never be completely satisfied. |
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mello
Location: Port Colborne
Gender: Female
tastes like chicken.
| | | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 22 on 1/23/2009 1:03 AM >
| | | | Posted by rob666
That's awesome! Congrats!
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Thanks! I was in shock, very unexpected 
when you are here, you wish you were there. but once you're there, it soon becomes a here, and you again wish to be there instead of here...
we will never be completely satisfied. |
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Axle
 
Location: Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 23 on 1/23/2009 4:10 AM >
| | | | Very cool!
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
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Axle
Location: Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 24 on 1/23/2009 2:28 PM >
| | | | So after years of searching...I finally found out the reason why the plant shut down and why there's no equipment left.
By the 1980s Firestone Hamilton was only producing two types of tires, both of these failed and were recalled. The plant was shut down in 1987, and closed it's doors and laid off 1300 workers in 1988.
In 1987, Firestone removed all the equipment ($500,000 worth).
What happened to it after closure? It was sold to one Stephen Mernick, he's the key to what happened to the plant after it's sale in '88.
More will come when I find it.
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
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Air
Location: Canada
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 25 on 1/23/2009 3:22 PM >
| | | | Posted by Axle
So after years of searching...I finally found out the reason why the plant shut down and why there's no equipment left.
By the 1980s Firestone Hamilton was only producing two types of tires, both of these failed and were recalled. The plant was shut down in 1987, and closed it's doors and laid off 1300 workers in 1988.
In 1987, Firestone removed all the equipment ($500,000 worth).
What happened to it after closure? It was sold to one Stephen Mernick, he's the key to what happened to the plant after it's sale in '88.
More will come when I find it.
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Thanks for adding that article, le_.
Axle there is a historical Hamilton website. It detailed Firestone as well as Westinghouse's history...I can't seem to find it right now. Its a local historical bent production, not exploring related at all.
[last edit 1/23/2009 3:24 PM by Air - edited 1 times]
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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electric eel
Location: Sarnia, Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 26 on 1/25/2009 10:23 PM >
| | | | A few months ago I had the chance to explore whats left of firestone and the boiler house. It's been pretty well explored "up top" but down below is what interest me. I had the chance and took it to venture down into the basement of firestone. It's still pretty flooded down there with about a foot and a half of water, if you don't mind walking through that and the built up silt it's quite neat down there. It's slow going and in the winter months the water gets obviously quite cold wich can start to limit how much time you spend down there, although I suspect that in warmer temps your looking at even more flooding and water to be down there. There were clearly stairs that led down to a second basement level as welll but obviously not accessable. How many basement levels are there? 2 at least but could be more. Also how far dose the basement extend, dose it continue under the garbage facility? More exploration is required.
eel
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s.l.o.t.h
Location: Hamilton, ON
Gender: Male
http://www.flick r.com/photos/slo thtree/
| | | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 27 on 1/26/2009 12:08 AM >
| | | | I was in there when it looked like they had just started draining the basements, you could see lines on the wall from the water levels falling. I don't know how many basement levels there are, but walked past a freight elevator shaft, looked like there were at least 2 levels below the level we were in. Then again, the water was murky, and I am a terrible judge of distance, lol. Great place though!
And congrats for the mention in that article, a rare honour I would imagine!
If you're having a stressed out day remember the sloth: They don't do shit and they haven't gone extinct; I'm sure you can afford to take a nap... |
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WICKED1
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Gender: Female
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 28 on 1/26/2009 8:43 AM >
| | | | From taking a trip down there a few weeks ago the basement is around the size of the entire building. I believe that the second basement leads to the boiler house along with Canada Fibers.
"It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don't break any."
-Mae West |
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TheDriver02
Location: Stoney Creek, Ontairo
Gender: Male
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 29 on 1/29/2009 12:02 AM >
| | | | Firestone is an awesome place to go. I remember in the early eighties when the plant was still in production touring through with my Grandpa. He was president of the retirees Association at Firestone. We have lots of Firestone stuff still kicking around, although I wish we had taken pictures. Comparing the now and then shots would be great to see. To anyone considering it, just go it will be an awesome time.
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unlisted
Gender: Male
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 30 on 1/29/2009 1:16 AM >
| | | | I heard the basement is frozen enough in places to skate on.. and can hold about 6 persons weight..
Really interesting place..
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Tamara
Location: Toronto
Gender: Female
Blindly Ever Onward
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 31 on 1/29/2009 1:58 AM >
| | | | fuck you all.
blindly ever onward |
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Stewie
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Gender: Male
kill your idols
| | | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 32 on 1/29/2009 4:54 AM >
| | | | Posted by Tamara
fuck you all.
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huh
edit - O LOL
[last edit 1/29/2009 4:55 AM by Stewie - edited 1 times]
> The hierarchy of power dictates that the person with the most power does the least amount of work and retains the highest benefit. |
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Wander Woman
Location: Northeastern Ontario
Gender: Female
| | | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 33 on 1/30/2009 2:45 AM >
| | | | Well, I don't get it. 
edit: Never mind.
[last edit 1/30/2009 2:56 AM by Wander Woman - edited 1 times]
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Tamara
Location: Toronto
Gender: Female
Blindly Ever Onward
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 34 on 2/2/2009 6:20 AM >
| | | | you wouldn't.
Anyways, EPIC time last saturday! thanks everyone. Should of taken photos though.
blindly ever onward |
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Honshu
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 35 on 2/2/2009 1:14 PM >
| | | | My son lives in Woodstock,Ontario, and each time I go pick him up to go back to Toronto for the weekend, I always pass by this sign and a factory beside it, next time I will take a pic.
The sign has the traditional FIRESTONE (but written like it would be written on a tire) but underneath it says TEXTILES, I wonder if this is a partial company or company owned by FIRESTONE.
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s.l.o.t.h
Location: Hamilton, ON
Gender: Male
http://www.flick r.com/photos/slo thtree/
| | | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 36 on 2/2/2009 2:11 PM >
| | | | Posted by Tamara
you wouldn't.
Anyways, EPIC time last saturday! thanks everyone. Should of taken photos though.
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It was an awesome time, might have even motivated me into buying my own skates even!
Posted by Honshu
My son lives in Woodstock,Ontario, and each time I go pick him up to go back to Toronto for the weekend, I always pass by this sign and a factory beside it, next time I will take a pic.
The sign has the traditional FIRESTONE (but written like it would be written on a tire) but underneath it says TEXTILES, I wonder if this is a partial company or company owned by FIRESTONE.
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"Firestone Textiles began production in Woodstock, Ontario in 1936 with the purchase of Oxford Knitting Mills. This enabled Firestone to produce its own tire cord fabric, which at the time was primarily cotton, to supply the Firestone Tire Plant located in Hamilton. As requirements for tire cord fabric increased by the mid 1960's it was apparent that additional capability would be needed. This resulted in the purchase of a parcel of land located in another area of Woodstock as there was no room for expansion at the existing Plant location."
Got that from http://www.bridges...file/woodstock.asp
So I guess even though the Hamilton Firestone went under, they kept producing cord for other plants... Alls I knows is that I didn't get the internship there. 
If you're having a stressed out day remember the sloth: They don't do shit and they haven't gone extinct; I'm sure you can afford to take a nap... |
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Calbeee
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 37 on 6/5/2009 5:45 PM >
| | | | Hey guys, what's the approx. address for this awesome place? I cant find it anywhere on the internet, only know it's in Hamilton!
[last edit 6/5/2009 5:52 PM by Calbeee - edited 1 times]
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G.U.
Location: Sudbury/Meaford, ON Canada QC
Gender: Male
Get your F****** towel ready.
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 38 on 6/5/2009 5:50 PM >
| | | | Posted by Calbeee
Hey guys, what's the address for this awesome place? I cant find it anywhere on the internet, only know it's in Hamilton!
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Oh it's ******* Street, #** in ******, ******
You should know better...
~"Why did the geologist take his girlfriend to the quarry? She wanted to get a little boulder, and He wanted to get his rocks off."~ ~When your hands are tied, Kick...Ass ~ My Flickr! |
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Calbeee
| | Re: Firestone - Hamilton
<Reply # 39 on 6/5/2009 6:03 PM >
| | | | Posted by G.U.
Oh it's ******* Street, #** in ******, ******
You should know better...
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i need a code breaker to find out are those ******** 
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