Brockville Museum #TBT Former Phillips Property – PHOTOS

Brockville – This week’s #TBT continues our theme of changing local landscapes.

After being vacant for over twenty-five years, a new Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) elementary school is currently being built on this site.

But it was just over 100 years ago, in 1922, that the Eugene F. Phillips Electrical Works opened a factory here manufacturing copper rod and wire. When it opened, it was home to Canada’s first copper rod-rolling mill. (The Brockville Museum has both the first and last rolled copper rod manufactured here on display).

Over the next fifty years, the factory expanded and diversified its products several times. In 1964 the company became known as Phillips Cables Limited. At its peak, the factory employed over 1,000 people. It closed in 1996 and the site was demolished in 2008. (But several former workers went on to establish Northern Cables, which is still in operation in Brockville today).

Across the street from the old Phillips/new school site is St. Lawrence Park. The park was created in 1908 when the City purchased 13 acres of land from the Malloch family. The park was expanded in 1958 with the purchase of lands on the east side of the park from the Rivers family. (Note the adjacent street name, Rivers Avenue). The City’s new waterworks was built here in 1960 (replacing the one at the east end of Water Street).

Around 2016 the Brock Trail formally extended along the east side of the Phillips property, connecting St. Lawrence Park to the rest of the trail system at Church Street.

Photos: 1930, 1970, and 1993.

What are your memories of this site?