Jacob Cooke was born in England in 1908 and emigrated to Canada in 1927, eventually settling in Burlington, Ontario. He worked as a carpenter’s helper for Pigott Construction (based in Hamilton, Ontario), and later specialized in the laying of hardwood floors. In 1935, he purchased a hand operated block making machine and began manufacturing concrete blocks in the evenings in a shed at the back of his home at 3 New Street (now 2109 New Street). The blocks were to be used as bases for Christmas trees that decorated Brant Street that Christmas season.
In 1937, he installed his first power-operated block machine. He purchased sand and gravel from Frank Scheer on St. Matthew’s Avenue. The demand for concrete blocks continued, so what had begun as a small cottage industry expanded to larger premises on St. Matthew’s Avenue in Aldershot, on lands purchased from George Filman. An adjacent 55 acre gravel pit provided the raw materials needed for the rapidly expanding operation.
Jacob Cooke purchased property in Aldershot, Oakville and Hamilton. He and employee Brant Coleman developed these properties and sold them to builders. In 1952, they developed the Glen Acres survey (Birdland) on the Filman property. The streets were named after birds in honour of William Filman, who used to have a bird sanctuary on the property. As the business expanded, Jacob Cooke purchased Joe DeLuca’s farm which became the site of the Cooke Business Park at 35 Plains Road E.
By 1953, J. Cooke Concrete Blocks was the largest producer of concrete blocks in Canada, each day producing enough to build 30 houses. The company was in operation around the clock and produced ten million eight-inch blocks per year. Jacob Cooke, retaining the land development company, sold the concrete block business in 1958. His son William (Bill) stayed on to manage the company with his brother Eugene Barrymore (Barry) as Plant Manager. The company was sold again in 1977 and 1998.
At the age of 62, Jacob Cooke visited family in Australia and decided to pursue opportunities there. Convincing his son Barry to join him, Jacob purchased, cleared and planted thousands of acres of land. Jacob Cooke died in Australia on 6 November 1976.
William Jacob Cooke (Bill) was born on Maple Avenue in Burlington on 1 June 1931. He and his brother Eugene Barrymore (Barry) attended Maplehurst Public School and Waterdown High School. Bill married Mary Elizabeth Gray (Bette) on 19 February 1955. Bill carried on the concrete block business after his father and brother moved to Australia, and also became involved with land development.
Some of the areas developed in Aldershot by the Cooke family are Birdland, Harbour Heights, Oaklands Estates, Fairwood Place West, and the Cooke Business Park adjacent to the former concrete block plant. The Cooke family developed over 800 residential lots in the Aldershot area. The property now known as Oaklands Estates on Burlington Bay was purchased by Jacob Cooke in the early 1950s and was later developed into a residential street by Bill. Bill lived at 160 Oaklands Park Court, the home he built there in 1959. In the Fairwood Acres survey on North Shore Boulevard, Bill named the streets after his children: Daryl, David, Lynn and Lee. Bill’s wife Mary died in 2000; he later married Louise Oates. He died in Burlington on 12 May 2005 at the age of 74.
published
Final
2012-004
BHS
Title based on contents of fonds
Fonds consists of material relating to J. Cooke Concrete and to William Jacob Cooke, and includes deeds and other legal documents relating to lands; correspondence; ephemera; news clippings; maps and plans; notes on biographical and administrative history; photographs; and artifacts.
Fonds is arranged in eleven series: 1)Legal Documents; 2)Carlisle Development; 3)J. Cooke Business Papers; 4)Correspondence; 5)W.J. Cooke Personal Papers; 6)Ephemera; 7) News Clippings; 8)Maps & Plans; 9)Research Notes; 10)Photographs; 11)Artifacts.
Material was donated in 2012 by Louise Oates Cooke, wife of William Jacob Cooke
Associated material includes a plan of Oaklands,1874; and segments in the publication Burlington: The Growing Years.
None
Series level descriptions available.
published
Series consists of legal records primarily relating to land transactions. Series includes indentures, deeds, land title documents, purchase agreements, survey information, and land descriptions.
published
Series consists of records relating to the development of Carlisle by the Cooke family in the 1970s. Series includes deeds; details of gas, water and road services; grade sheets; and contour plans.
published
Series consists of documents relating to Jacob Cooke’s property development business and includes correspondence, mortgage application questionnaires, National Housing Act specifications, materials and parts lists, receipts, Worker’s Compensation documents, purchase agreements, and cashed cheques. Series includes an operator’s manual for 1941 Chevrolet and Maple Leaf trucks.
published
Series consists of letters written by William J. Cooke and others in support of the Trillium Award for the Aldershot community.
published
Series consists of documents collected by William Jacob (Bill) Cooke relating to his personal interests. Subjects include flying, Rotary Club, and a sauna room design.
published
Series consists of visitor maps of Burlington; advertisements and manuals for appliances, furniture, and Mack trucks; Burlington Centennial promotional material; concrete industry-related magazines and articles; and invitations and greeting cards. Series includes a Hamilton Forum program, 1961; a history of St. Matthew’s Church, 1951; and a historic tour of Aldershot, 2002.
published
Series consists of articles relating to W.J. Cooke and his involvement in the concrete industry; his work with the Rotary Club and other organizations; Cooke concrete plant history; development projects; Oaklands, Aldershot, and other local history; and the concrete industry.
published
Series consists of survey plans including Flamborough and Oaklands, and interior and exterior house plans. Series includes a US Coast and Geodetic survey, 1941.
published
Series consists of notes compiled on the Cooke family and their business ventures. Series includes W.J. Cooke biographical information, J. Cooke Concrete general history, and the history of Oaklands.
published
Series consists of images relating to the Cooke family and businesses. Subjects include J. Cooke Concrete history (possibly compiled for a book), Grimsby Brick & Tile Co., concrete plant demolition, the Townsend home, and Oaklands.