14

Fire destroys the original Merritt Brothers Basket Factory
1921 - 1927
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.

15

Merritt Brothers Second Grimsby Basket Factory in VanDykes Evaporator Building
20th Century, Circa 1927
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

16

Merritt Brothers Basket Factory Office
20th Century, Circa 1940
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.

17

Employees of Merritt Brothers Basket Factory
20th Century, Circa 1927
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

18

Employees of Merritt Brothers Basket Factory
20th Century, Circa 1930
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Grimsby Museum Collection

19

In 1931 there was a fire, causing $100,000 damage and destroying the manufacturing section and the veneer storage. The firemen arrived within ten minutes of being called. Although the fire was intense, they were able to keep the storage warehouse, which was full of baskets, from catching fire. The business did not close after this fire; rather it expanded.

When the local fruit industry was at its prime, many of the factories were kept busy day and night, and some all year round, producing six-quart and eleven-quart baskets for pears and peaches as well as tomato hampers and meat baskets.

20

Lois Merritt, Daughter of Bert Merritt Describes the Items Maufactured by the Merritt Bros. Factory
11 February 2009
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.
Grimsby Museum Collection

21

Lois Merritt Explains how Baskets were Made in the Factory
11 February 2009
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.

22

Lois Merritt Explains that the Women in the Basket Factory Worked by Piece Work
11 February 2009
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.
Grimsby Museum Collection

23

Once the baskets were manufactured they were taken from the factory by horse and wagon or truck to destinations across the Niagara region.

24

Lois Merritt Explains how Merritt Brothers Baskets were Delivered
11 February 2009
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.
Grimsby Museum Collection

25

First Truck used at the Merritt Brothers Basket Factory
20th Century, Circa 1930
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Jim

26

In 1944 the Merritt Brothers cut down more trees for the making of fruit and vegetable baskets than had ever been recorded in the province. The wood came from Algonquin Park and the total length of the boards cut was two million feet. Three-quarters of this wood was used for making baskets and the rest was taken for the war effort. The basket factories used their wood at a fast pace, needing several train carloads of wood per week. The majority of the wood used in the factory came from Katrine, Ontario and the Merritt Brothers would travel the mills to oversee operations.

27

Piles of Timber waiting to be Processed at Merritt Brothers Basket Factory
20th Century, Circa 1930
Merritt Brothers Basket Factory, 18 Victoria Avenue, Grimsby, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Merritt, Lois E.