William Hand, born in Hereford England, received his professional training as a chemist and pyrotechnical expert at the famous Woolwich Royal Arsenal in London. In 1872, he made the business decision to apply his skills overseas, moving to Newark, New Jersey and then, the next year, relocating to Thorold, Ontario. He would later explain that he preferred to live in a country still tied to Britain. Once in Thorold, he quickly began establishing his operation, becoming the first – and for many years to come – exclusive manufacturer of fireworks in Canada. Working with explosives is obviously hazardous and to mitigate the potential for loss his “factory” actually consisted of several small huts, distanced from each other, rather than operating from one large building. This strategy would later prove prudent!
The uniqueness and quality of his product and showmanship skills quickly gained local attention and were rewarded, in 1874, when he was commissioned to provide the fireworks
for a major celebration planned, for Montebello Park in St. Catharines, in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday. You will note from the flyer for the event that Thorold was represented in other ways as well – Thorold’s Brass and Quadrille Bands also being part of the festivities! Inevitably, the occasion was a huge success and produced valuable publicity for Hand. This led to his second major commission, providing the fireworks for a fireman’s tournament being held in Hamilton.
The success of that show and the prospects of larger markets ultimately prompted Hand to move his operations to Hamilton, opening in 1877. Located in the developing west end at King and Head Streets, the site consisted of a small factory and approximately 40 small huts. Business continued to grow, but it should be noted that not everyone was a fan!
For example, a nearby neighbour – a Mrs. Oliver – complained, “I thought it would come to this. I was entertaining some company and had just gone out to feed the pigs, when ker-slam went the powder and knocked my spectacles off…Many a time last summer when I was hoeing potatoes in my garden have I heard the ker-swish of the rockets into the air, when they’d be sending them up on their trial trip, but its mighty exhausting for one of my years to be dodging the ugly sticks as they come down, bad cess to them!”
Even more unfortunate, however, not all of the “ker-slams” were planned, the first accidental explosion taking place in 1878, with a second occurring the next year. While resulting in some property damage, but no loss of life, such occurrences would ultimately prompt the company, in 1900, to move part of its operations to a site in Westdale, eventually becoming the location of the George R Allan/Cootes Paradise Elementary School.
In the early 1890’s William Hand officially retired, leaving the daily operation of the business to his son, Thomas William Hand, and a business partner, named Walter Teale. They had actually purchased controlling interest in the company in 1888. Thomas, while now taking on a broader responsibility, had certainly already been an active part of the business for years, having assisted his father from the age of 9! Under Thomas, business continued to thrive, one of its most popular, signature performances being something they billed as “Spectacular Dramas”; shows involving huge, scenic paintings as background for performances combining actors and fireworks. These extravaganzas began in 1893 and went by such names as “The Burning of Moscow”, “The Siege of Santiago” and “The Relief of Lucknow”. Such shows would ultimately lead the company, in 1905, to replace a prominent English firm with responsibility for the fireworks displays at the Toronto Exhibition. They would continue in this role for a number of years.
Perhaps inevitably, given the nature of the work, tragedy struck in 1900 when a third explosion occurred, instantly killing Walter Teale. This was followed a year later with yet another explosion, this time killing William Hand himself! With its founder now gone, the company nevertheless carried on under the direction of his son, in 1931 seeing the addition of William’s grandsons, Hugh and Bill, as directors. After acquiring control of Dominion Fireworks Co. – Hand’s major competition – the decision was made to move operations from Hamilton to Cooksville, where it remained for a number of years, before being compelled to move once again, as a result of a bylaw being passed which banned the manufacture of explosives within City limits. The main fireworks operation was therefore moved to Papineauville, Quebec. Still other moves would follow, yet the company continued to diversify and prosper. It remained in the Hand family until the company’s sale
by Hugh Hand in 1976 – closing a 100 year chapter. No doubt William Hand would be proud that his family name will be forever linked with spectacular fireworks displays, the 24th of May and, undoubtedly the dearest to children’s hearts, the classic burning schoolhouse!
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