Water – cap off a 2“ x 3” downspout

Is there some particular reason not to put new holes in the bricks? My first inclination is to just drill new holes, and secure the spouts properly - after all, they did come off during a snow storm.

Do you have pictures of the existing mounts? Perhaps there is a way to retrofit something onto the existing hooks but still use a modern downspout.

Compression caps are available and suitable, but you do need to be fairly careful when fitting them that you tighten the joint just the right amount. You also need a reasonable amount of room to be able to turn the spanner/wrench.

Soldering will give you the most professional result and can be done in a fairly confined space - as long as you take the necessary precautions to avoid scorching/burning the surroundings.

If you really can't face the thought of soldering the joints then you can get push fit end caps that work very well. You need to make sure you've got a smooth, straight end to get a good fit, so a pipe cutter is the preferred cutting method. You can use a hacksaw, but you will need to then use emery paper on the end to remove the burr.