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Rockbrune Movers

As well known movers today, the story of the Rockbrune Brothers began in the 1920’s. Farming was a tough way to make a living and even tougher for a young man with dreams of someday getting off the farm to make his way into the world. Robert Rockbrune was a restless teenager helping out his family on their land just outside Perth, Ontario. One day he packed up what little belongings he had and headed to a job in Oshawa, a city that was feeling its own growing pains in the automotive industry. As the 20’s came to a close Robert met Robina, who soon became his wife, and in the years ahead, he and Robina started a family, eventually having seven children, two daughters and five sons. At General Motors, where he worked, there were constant layoffs as the depression hit the country and money was tight. During these difficult times the couple came up with an idea. They bought an old truck to see if they could get some work from local farmers and businesses. They called it “City Cartage”. The year was 1931. Their first son, Robert Jr. remembers those day .”Mom and Dad were pretty resourceful”, he says. “You had to be back then. It was not a time to live, it was a time to survive.” They hauled hay for farmers, goods from the CP railway and whatever else they could. As word spread about City Cartage, the company grew. “Eventually they started moving houses too. Not just the contents, but the whole house,” explains Robert. “Dad had built the equipment for moving them. He was pretty ingenious.” Towards the end of the 40’s and into the 50’s the post war boom saw a huge growth in business and they added more trucks. They also received permission from the government for moving goods outside of the Oshawa area. They charged $2.00 an hour and that was enough to pay the bills and the people who worked for them. As the sons grew older they came into the business and today three of them – Robert, William and Joseph are still active in the business today, with 6 of Robert and Robina’s grandchildren helping lead Rockbrune Bros. Movers and their offices in Oshawa, Ajax, Newmarket and Barrie into the next generation. ×