Linus Yale Jr., the perfector of the pin tumbler lock, and partner Henry R. Towne founded the Yale Lock Manufacturing Company in Stamford, Connecticut in 1868. The company was later renamed to Yale & Towne thought the products and patents continued. Eight new patents would be developed between 1843 and 1857, these included the pin tumbler safe lock, a bank lock, a safe lock, the safe door bolt with padlock and the cylinder lock. These revolutionary locking mechanisms enabled the company to expand quickly, while acquisitions and purchases grew the company to employ over 12 000 people internationally.  

The company was a leader in the automotive industry, selling their lock systems to many automotive manufacturers until the 1930's when a diecast leaf tumbler system became cheaper and more available. Linus' M69 lock system helped with a revival in the automotive industry in the 1960's and then was adapted for security fitters on window locks to help prevent theft. These lock systems were used even through the early 1990's until electronic devices became more popular and affordable. The British Yale supplied the lock mechanisms to Rolls-Royce Motors until 199. Shortly before then in 1987, the company sold their British arm to the Valor Company, ultimately shutting down significant production facilities including their diecasting foundry.  

Eventually, Yale and Towne closed their original manufacturing plants and moved production outside of the U.S. The British arm of the business was sold to Assa Abloy and continues to develop fire alarm systems, broken glass detectors and burglar alarms.

The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company building was built in 1911 and U-Haul acquired the historic Yale & Towne property in 1995. La réutilisation adaptative des bâtiments permet à U-Haul de promouvoir l'aménagement intercalaire pour répondre aux besoins des citoyens tout en préservant les ressources naturelles et les terrains normalement nécessaires à une construction neuve. La réutilisation adaptative permet également de concentrer les ressources sur l'intégration d'éléments respectueux de l'environnement dans le bâtiment existant plutôt que de créer des déchets par la démolition et d'utiliser des ressources précieuses pour de nouvelles constructions.

Au service des clients depuis 1995, cet emplacement a été construit par réutilisation adaptative d'un bâtiment abandonné. Adaptive reuse promotes infill development in an effort to strengthen communities, with the following benefits achieved at this site: 

• 1,267 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented 
• le coulage de 4 223 tonnes de nouveau béton 
• 5 499 tonnes de débris de construction et de démolition 

Energy-efficiency and waste-reduction programs at this facility provide the following estimated benefits each year for the St. Catharines community:

• 6,781,395 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented 

• 

  Steel Production 1 267 tons (1 150 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date

• 

  Béton Coulage de 4 223 tonnes (3 832 tonnes) de nouveau béton évité à ce jour.

• 

  Émissions 6 781 395 lb (3 076 021 kgs) d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre ont été évitées

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  Débris pour les sites d'enfouissement 5 499 lb (2 494 kg) de débris de construction ont été évitées

• History of Yale Lock
• U-Haul Moving & Storage de Central St. Catharines