THE HEART OF THE CITY
ADAM CLARK
50 James Street South
Adam
Clark was a plumber and contractor who established one of the longest lasting businesses
in Hamilton history. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland in 1844, and moved to Canada with
his family in 1849. Not much is known about his childhood, except that he spent two years
in an orphan asylum. His mother admitted him and his siblings to the Hamilton Orphan
Asylum on November 25, 1853. They were released back into their mothers care on
April 30, 1855.
Clark is most famous for starting the Adam Clark Company. In 1874, the company opened as a plumbing and heating installation shop. He had a brief partnership in 1882, but by 1885 he was back in business by himself. His business continued to grow and be successful. In 1891, Clarks work included plumbing and steam fitting, hot water, gas fitting and installation of fire-extinguishing apparatus. By 1899, business was so good that Clark moved from 36 James Street South to a larger store on Main Street West and added the service of installing electric fixtures. Seven years later, he began dealing wholesale in iron and plumbing supplies. After World War I, Clarks business expanded again, this time to include industrial markets. Two of his most prestigious contracts were with the Bank of Hamilton building and the Federal Life building. According to clients, work always stood "the test of severe inspection."
Clark was devoted to home life. He took no part in civic affairs. Two of his sons were
listed as Managers of the company in 1906. On October 17, 1919 after a long
illness, Adam Clark passed away in his Brantford home. He left his entire estate worth
$131,809 to his widow. The company remained a family business. His son, William James,
took over from his father at the turn of the century. Williams son, Adam H. Clark,
took over from him in 1920. Even in the 1970s, the company was still successful and
still run by a member of the Clark family, Adams great-grandson.