Following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Ned became a carpenter. Although able to support a family with this trade, he had larger ambitions and worked tirelessly to realize his dreams. City directories, listing his occupation variously as carpenter, wood worker, finisher, machine woodworker, foreman, lumberman, testify to his growing list of occupations.
In the late 1880s Ned walked the few blocks to work every day for Thackray Lumber, later Davidson and Thackray. The morning walk from his home in Mount Sherwood to the business in Lebreton Flats, provided a bracing start to the workday. The walk to work was pretty much all downhill, literally. Returning home, uphill, after a long workday required a little more effort. His enthusiasm for the job led him on a quick rise to becoming a foreman. His employer saw great potential in Ned and gave him increasing responsibilities. As he laboured each day, the wheels were turning in his head. How could he do even better? Could he be his own boss one day? Would there be an opportunity to considering adding another business?
In 1898, on the occasion of his employer’s retirement, Ned addressed the gathering. He and his good friend John Harris, were among those who signed a letter to the departing boss, on behalf of all of the employees. Mr Thackray apparently replied in verse, which must have greatly amused his staff. Unfortunately, the text of that poem is unavailable.
Branching out in 1906, Ned was a founder of the Capital Scale and Brass company, along with six others, including the son of his former boss. He was noted as a lumber dealer in the newspaper article announcing the new business in February of that year. The new company, the name listed in advertisements as ”Capital Scale, Brass and Iron Foundry”, had “a capital of $40,000 to engage in the manufacture of scales and weighing devices and to carry on a general foundry business”. The trades of the seven incorporators were: brass worker, scale maker, founder, barrister, deputy registrar and two lumber dealers: McGrath and Thackray. Sadly, William Thackray, who was by then president of the new company, died suddenly in December 1907, less than two years after the company was founded. By 1909 the president of the company was none other than E.P. McGrath.
Capital Brass advertised often - to attract customers and to recruit apprentices. As their specialty, they manufactured and repaired “weighing machines” but also offered repair services for lawn mowers and bicycles. Apprentices were trained in the business. The original location was 176 Rideau Street and within a year they had expanded to 436 Wellington Street - another McGrath shift from lowertown to uppertown Ottawa.
Concurrent with Capital Brass, Ned had his own lumber business which operated initially under his home address of 146 Lebreton Street. Not having a telephone at home, he used a phone at Thackray Davidson Lumber.
Ned, along with three partners, founded the Greater Ottawa Lumber Company in the summer of 1913, after learning the skills of running a business at Thackray's. The business was located on Parkdale Avenue at Wellington, the site of the present day west end market. They provided both rough and dressed lumber. That business had its share of issues contending with its neighbours in the late winter of 1913. In the mixed business and residential section of Ottawa, each thought its concerns should win out. One neighbour complained that the lumber company was piling wood on the street, in preparation for delivery. According to Ned’s defence when brought before city council, it was necessary to use the space to conduct its business. It did not impede the road which was seldom used anyway. However, it was a violation of the by-laws. City Council members decided to see for themselves in order to determine what should be done. Later that year, whatever the outcome of that decision, it turned out to be a non-issue, because of both water and fire.
It was in the years following 1910 when the residential areas were expanding rapidly westward, that the city began installing sewers but the process was slow and not all areas had the benefit of the drainage provided. This prevented flooding from damaging homes and businesses. The Greater Ottawa Lumber company had a close call according to this article in the Ottawa Citizen on March 25, 1913. They came within three inches of disaster.
Undeterred, the company continued in business until October 13,1913 when a headline in The Evening Journal in Ottawa reported “Fire Sweeps Big Lumber Mill in West End; Whole Plant Burns Quickly”. They were insured. Ned’s daughter Aggie always said that it was one of the partners who started the fire. Most of the loss, of lumber, the building and equipment, was covered by insurance. The owners vowed to rebuild. No additional references to the company have been found in local newspapers or archives.
In his later years, Ned operated the McGrath and Son Lumber Company with his son Eddie.
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