Guelph has been home to many textile companies over the years. Several were short-lived affairs; others remained in the city for decades. While many may remember or have heard of Canadian Textiles, Tolton Manufacturing Co., Royal Knitting (Carter’s Knitting Mill), Zephyr Looms and Guelph Elastic Hosiery, others remain obscure. In this latter group are the Landers Brothers (silk hosiery), Weldrest Hosiery, Westminster Hosiery and the Dominion Fibre Company. These are companies that were in Guelph from the 1910s to the 1930s.

Dominion Fibre Manufacturing Company

The company was initially owned and operated in Doon as J. T. Huber & Co. In 1916, it changed its name to Dominion Fibre. For that year, the Management team consisted of:

• H. McNally, president
• Maurice J. Huber, vice-president
• Homer V. Huber, secretary
• James T. Huber, manager, buyer and supervisor

The line-up changed with the move to Guelph in 1917. McNally, J. T. Huber’s son-in-law, was no longer with the company. James T. Huber was now president and manager. His son, Homer V. Huber was vice-president and secretary-treasurer.

Dominion Fibre set up business in the former Grundy Stove Foundry properties. At that time, Wellington Street made a curve towards Gow’s Bridge and ended at Water Street. The old stove foundry provided sufficient space for this operation. At that time, it had

• Six cards
• 4 pickers

Electricity powered the small factory.

The product was listed in textile directories of the time as wool stocks, spinning stocks, carbonizing, battings and flocks. They prepared and dyed the wool.

Unfortunately, things did not get off to a great start. In November 1917, James T. Huber died in Guelph. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener. His son, Homer V. Huber remained with the company as VP and secretary-treasurer. It was James T Huber’s older son, Maurice J. Huber, who became president and manager. He had been a soldier while his father and brother ran the company. The two brothers struggled along until 1920, when Dominion Fibre went into receivership.

For Sale

This was not the end of the company; it was bought by a local, Louis Brown. He renamed it the Guelph Fibre Manufacturing Company. By 1922, he had 7 employees. One of them was Homer Huber. He was the foreman at the plant. The factory still had 6 woollen cards but had reduced the pickers by one. A boiler and a 70HP motor are now listed as equipment. Like many other local industries, it provided the Ontario Reformatory, through the provincial government, with items.

From 1923 to 1925, the owners and equipment remained constant. The only change was the addition of cotton to the wool that was used as raw material.

The End of the Company

Guelph Fibre was gone by 1927. However, Louis Brown continued to operate businesses in  Guelph. He still owned Wellington Metal and Waste Company, which was located next to Guelph Fibre on Wellington Street. He had also started a new venture, Brown’s Excelsior Manufacturing Company.