Sunshine Waterloo Building (1943). Click the photo for more details.

In July 1930, the contract for the construction of the Sunshine Waterloo Company’s factory was awarded to John V. Gray and Company of Toronto, with the steel construction work going to the Dominion Bridge Company of Toronto. General Manager, A.T. Thom, regretted that the local construction companies could not offer low enough tenders, but insisted that the Toronto companies employ local men whenever possible. ¹¹ In preparation for the project, the town engineer made improvements to streets surrounding the factory site, which included paved roads and new sidewalks for Dietz Avenue, Rudy Street (now Roslin Avenue) and the new Sunshine Street (later Avenue), which ran parallel to Erb Street. These improvements also included new water, gas and sewer mains along the roads which would lead to the building site. The new Sunshine Waterloo factory would be located at 1 Sunshine Avenue. ¹²

Property map published in Waterloo Chronicle (August 1930). Click the photo to see the full newspaper page.

The ground breaking at 1 Sunshine Avenue took place in early August 1930 and the construction of the Sunshine Waterloo Company began.¹³ The plant had seven main buildings. The largest building was the assembly shop (about 450 feet by 100 feet), which was attached to the forge shop. Other buildings included the general stores, sheet metal assembly, boiler house, storage house and an office. All of the buildings were one story tall, except for the office, which was two stories. The plant’s chimney was 115 feet tall and had the word “Sunshine” printed on it. The Waterloo Chronicle described the construction as “completely modern.” ¹⁴

Sunshine Waterloo's Office Building (1943). Click the photo for more details.

Interior view of machine shop (1943). Click the photo for more details.

The construction of the Sunshine Waterloo factory was completed in January 1931. The formal opening of the plant was combined with the Waterloo Board of Trade annual meeting where the company was praised and credited with starting a “new era of industrial expansion in this progressive municipality.” ¹⁵ Mayor Uffelmann of Waterloo said this about the new company:

This stupendous industry of which this town of ours was in sore need is now a reality and will prove a boon for this community, both from a labor and a building standpoint. Through the building of this new industry, local improvements were undertaken which will not only serve the heavy industries of that area but will serve the west ward` as far back as McDougall Avenue and north to Dearborn street. While the town may not reap the results in a year or two, the future will reap vast dividends through the opening of the Sunshine plant…” ¹⁶