The Rural Voice, 2005-07, Page 11Leslie
Hawken
& Son...
is a welding and fabricating business which celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2004.
Leslie Hawken farmed at Lot 12 Conc. 12 Euphrasia Township, at R.R. #3, Markdale (now part
of Grey Highlands) and in 1954 the farming business was diversified with the conversion of a
double garage into a workshop that became a sales outlet for Allis Chalmers and New Idea farm
equipment, as well as McCullough chainsaws. This continued until the early '70s.
Jim, Leslie's son, became involved in the business in the 70s and the company started to change
to a manufacturing business. Jim credits Art Helm (Helm Welding in Lucknow) for getting him
started. They were selling Lucknow snowblowers and when they went to pick some up, Jim would
buy small pieces of steel from Art which led to his welding business. From that humble beginning
the manufacturing business grew and in 1983 Jim built a new 72' x 112' shop. It contains all the
equipment and some of the stock of steel.
The new shop now houses a brake and shear so metal fabrication can be done on-site. The
product line started mainly as gates but now has branched out to include' such things as loader
buckets, bale feeders, wagon racks and square bale wagons, water troughs, and portable
bleachers. Of course, they still do custom fabrication. Two years ago he built the parade float for
the IPM 2004 and last year he built a bridge for a local snowmobile club.
Jim's son, Jamie, has now become active in the business and runs the brake, shear and a laser
cutter continuing the 51 year family business tradition of serving the livestock industry.
Leslie Hawken & Son - a part of The Rural Voice since 1995
TheR30 ural Voice
THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE
Serving the Agricultural Heartland of Ontario for 30 Years
JULY 2005 7