 | Object number: 1989.83.1079
Gallery: Industry
Object Name: photograph
Title: Rescue of Fred J. Esson from the Smokestack at T. McAvity & Sons Limited, Saint John, New Brunswick
Artist: Louis Merritt Harrison
Date: 14 August 1954
Medium: silver print
Dimensions: overall: 20.6 x 25.5 cm
Credit Line: Louis Merritt Harrison Collection
Notes: Hardware dealers, engineers and manufacturers of Brass & Iron Goods: Office and store located at 13-17 King Street, later a plant constructed on Rothesay Avenue, which is the present-day site of the Real Atlantic Superstore.
Thomas McAvity, born in Ireland, began business on May 19, 1834 first as a dry goods and wholesale hardware firm. He established a brass foundry around 1863. The business was originally located on Princess Street, then moved to Broad Street where they stayed until 1890 when they relocated to Water Street. T.McAvity & Sons remained at this location until the 1950s.
Construction of the McAvity plant on Rothesay Avenue began on April 26, 1916 and opened August 1 1916. During WWI, the firm produced ammunition for the U.S. government as the Maritime Manufacturing Company (may have received funding from the U.S. government for this). T. McAvity & Sons returned to making valves and other hardware but it was the fire hydrant which made the company famous. This plant was demolished in 1985.
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