MADE IN HAMILTON
20TH CENTURY
INDUSTRIAL TRAIL

SITE 7
HAMILTON BLAST FURNACE COMPANY, 1895
STELCO

It is no coincidence that Stelco and International Harvester were located cheek-by-jowl on the waterfront. A number of American plants were attracted by Hamilton's ready supply of primary iron and steel.

Hamilton became Canada's premier iron city during the 19th century. Until 1895, however, Hamilton's metal shops had to import much of their iron from out-of-town. All this changed when local foundrymen opened the Hamilton Blast Furnace Company (HBFC) on this site.

This company soon merged with a number of other local and regional businesses to become Canada's largest supplier of primary iron and steel. In 1899, the HBFC joined the Ontario Rolling Mills at the foot of Queen Street to become the Hamilton Iron and Steel Company. In 1910, this company merged with locally-owned Canada Screw and a number of other metal producers in Ontario and Montreal to form the giant Steel Company of Canada (Stelco). Local 1005 of the United Steelworkers of America presently represents close to 5000 workers at Stelco's Hilton Works.

A major strike won by Stelco workers in 1946 helped set the basis for a national system of collective bargaining. They won union recognition, wage increases, a grievance system and other benefits. Their gains set a standard for Canadian workers for decades to come.

Workers at this plant are presently organized as United Steelworkers of America Local 1005 and Bricklayers Local 1.