PROBUS Club of Blue Mountain

Steve Magill introduced Melissa Shaw, a Collingwood Museum for over 18 years.

Melissa’s presentation was that of the Smart Brothers who were the proprietors of a family-run market garden and canning business that was a fixture of the Collingwood economy from 1890 until it was dissolved in 1970. The company, which employed hundreds of local workers, was a central community pillar for 80 years.

The Smart family’s history in Collingwood began with John Smart, who emigrated from England in 1846. After working as a conductor for the Northern Railway, poor health prompted him to buy a seven-acre market garden on Campbell Street. His sons Norman and George (W.G) joined him and officially founded Smart Bros. Ltd.

The business grew quickly and within two decades the farm had expanded to 200 acres and eventually reached its peak of 500 acres. At one time, it was the largest fruit and vegetable farm in Ontario. They grew an enormous variety of produce, including asparagus, tomatoes, onions, strawberries, cherries and apples. In 1911, to handle the volume of produce, Smart Bros. built a canning factory on Campbell St. and by 1927 built another one on First St., with a can closing machine. The brothers also developed a water drainage system that allowed them to build greenhouses which led to the growing of flowers. In 1950, the Smart Brothers created s high grade irrigation system for their crops using a dam in Underwood Creek capable of pumping 250 gallons of water every minute over the nearby crops.

At its peak, the company was one of the town’s largest employers with over 500 people on the farm, in the cannery and its floral division. Also, many students were employed during the harvest season. During the Depression and WW11, Smart Bros. hired hundreds and hundreds of employees of all ages in which women made up the bulk of the workforce.

After a series of misfortunes, Smart Bros. was sold to Canada Vinegars with the company’s charter becoming officially dissolved in 1970 thus bringing an end to 80 years of family business that helped build and sustain the town of Collingwood.

The Collinwood Museum has commemorated the family and their business with many plaques of Smart history found around the town and an exhibit entitled Growing Roots: The Legacy of Smart Bros. Ltd. In Collingwood, 1890-1970. They also have tour maps of the Smart Bros. plaques, homes and businesses that people can drive around Collingwood to see.