Great West Felt Co. Elmira

• Name	Great West Felt Co. Elmira
  Born	1001	20 Arthur St. N., Elmira, Ontario
  Gender	Unknown
  Building	Bef 1950	20 Arthur St. N., Elmira, Ontario
  	Great West Felt Company
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I153	Properties
  Last Modified	27 Jul 2011

  
  

• Photos

  Great West Felt Co., Elmira abt 1910 from: The Toronto Refererence Library/Special Collections 2011

  
  

• Notes

  The Great West Felt Co. Ltd. The manufacture of Felt Footwear has become a very important industry and it means something when the statement that the largest factory in Canada of this class of goods is in Elmira.  The Great West Felt Co., Limited is to a large extent an Elmira owned concern and entirely owned by citizens of Waterloo County.  The president O. H. Vogt, Vice-President J. S. Weichel and Treasurer J. A. Schroder are natives of this town, as is M. L. Weber, director.  D. Ward Sutherland, born in Bothwell, Ont., has been a resident of Galt for many years, and T. F. Shurly is a native of Galt.  The Company was incorporated June 1910 and immediately commenced building the factory and the plant was ready for operation Jany. 1911.  The factory has a capacity of 1,000 pairs per day, the principal [sic] market for which is in Canada, extending from Halifax to the Yukon.  Some export trade had been developed in Siberia and Manchuria but unsettled conditions have hindered the expansion of this market though it is expected that it will be valuable in the future.  The goods manufactured by the Great West Felt Co. bear a very high reputation both for superior wearing qualities and practical cold proof in the severest climate.  The operatives in the factory are mostly skilled mechanics thus reflecting a handsome pay roll.  Steady employment is given to 100 operators who have the very material benefit of working in a shop that is thoroughly lighted, sanitary and modern in every respect and the most cordial relations exist between employer and employee.  The organization of the Great West Felt Co. is: - O.H. Vogt, President and Manager; J.S. Weichel, Vice President and Secretary; J.A. Schroder, Treasurer; M.L. Weber, D. Ward Sutherland and T. F. Shurly, Directors.1a 1aElmira Ontario Souvenir of Inauguration and Old Boys and Girls Reunion, Aug: 4-5-6-7-8, 1923, pg. 52      ______________________________ The Great West Felt Company Limited, Head Office and Factory No. 1, Elmira, Ontario The busy home of "Great West" and "Polar King" Brands of All Wool Felt Footwear Largest Manufacturers of All Wool Heavy Felt Footwear in the British Empire The Great West Felt Co. Limited are manufacturers of warm, all wool Felt Shoes for every member of the family... in black, or attractively colored..."Bonspieler" Curling Boots, worn by champions...finest quality Winter Riding Boots, used by riders of distinction...Ladies' and Children's De Luxe "Snow Queens" for the utmost in feminine style and winter comfort.2a 2aAdvertisement in Souvenir of the Elmira Old Boys and Girls Reunion, 1948, pg. 13 ____________________________ These twin houses were built by the well-known mason, Charles Wilken. (Wilken did the masonry on the Great West Felt factory at the north end of Elmira; it is still in excellent shape after eighty years.)3a 3aFrom Elmira Three Walking Tours, 1985, pg 18, for 17 & 19 Water St. East

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1001 - 20 Arthur St. N., Elmira, Ontario Building - Great West Felt Company - Bef 1950 - 20 Arthur St. N., Elmira, Ontario  = Link to Google Earth