John Hoffman
Inducted In
1972
John Hoffman, who, like many other Waterloo County pioneers was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1837 had the unique distinction of erecting in Berlin the first furniture factory operated by horsepower. A few years later he built a furniture factory in which steam replaced the horses as a source of power.
A pioneer in many areas, Hoffman was a forerunner of modern town planning. In 1854 he and his son-in-law, Isaac Weaver, bought 400 acres of land between the K-W Collegiate Institute on King Street in Kitchener and the corner of Erb and King Streets in Waterloo and developed a town plan that they hoped would become a reality. He gave one acre to Mount Hope Cemetery.
Hoffman also established cattle, grain and produce markets in Waterloo.