Gooderham and Worts
Encyclopedia
Gooderham and Worts was a Canadian company that was once the largest distiller of alcoholic beverage
s in Canada. Its former manufacturing facilities on the Toronto Waterfront
are today the well known Distillery District.
The company was founded by James Worts
and his brother in law William Gooderham
. Worts had owned a mill in Suffolk, England, moved to Toronto in 1831 and established himself in the same business. He built a prominent windmill at the Toronto waterfront near the mouth of the Don River
. The next year Gooderham joined him in Toronto and in the business. The business prospered, processing grain from Ontario farmers and then shipping it out via the port of Toronto. In 1834 Worts wife, Elizabeth, died during childbirth. Two weeks later Worts killed himself by throwing himself into the windmill's well and drowning.
Gooderham served as the sole manager of the business until 1845 when he made Worts' eldest son, James Gooderham Worts
, co-manager. With a surplus of wheat, in 1837 Gooderham expanded the company into brewing and distilling and soon this lucrative business became the firm's primary focus. In 1859 work began on a new distillery complex, the area that today is the Distillery District. It was built on the waterfront with easy access to Toronto's main train lines. In 1862, its first full year of production, the facility made some 700,000 imperial gallons of spirits. At that time it was a full quarter of all the spirits produced in Canada.
In the second half of the 19th century the firm rose to become one of Canada's most prominent industrial concerns. Under the control of William's son, George Horace Gooderham
, production increased to over 2 million gallons a year, half the production in Canada. The distillery itself expanded becoming one of Toronto's largest employers. As well as keeping interests in the milling and brewing trades, the company expanded into other ventures. It had a controlling interest in the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
, one of the main lines that transported grain from the rural regions north of Toronto. In 1892 the company constructed the Gooderham Building, still a notable Toronto landmark, as its new headquarters.
By the end of the nineteenth century the company's growth began to slow. Beer and wine became more popular in Canada, reducing sales of whisky. The rise of the temperance movement
also harmed the company with the Ontario Temperance Act
of 1916 banning the sale of alcohol in the province. The company survived by exporting alcohol beyond Ontario, such as to Quebec, where a good portion then would made its way back to Ontario. The firm also relied on its other ventures, most notably the production of antifreeze
, which was essential to the war effort and to the growing number of automobiles.
In 1923 the company was sold to Harry C. Hatch
for $1.5 million. The company gained a large share of the United States
market during prohibition, legally manufacturing it in Canada and then selling it to resellers who would smuggle it into the United States. In 1926 Hatch purchased Canada's second largest distiller, Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. the makers of Canadian Club
. The new company was named Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Ltd. It continued manufacturing spirits at the Toronto distillery, but production gradually declined. In 1987 the firm was sold to the British concern Allied Lyons. In 1990 the Gooderham and Worts distillery was closed, and was then converted into the Distillery District.
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
s in Canada. Its former manufacturing facilities on the Toronto Waterfront
Toronto waterfront
The Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the Rouge River in the East. The entire lakeshore has been significantly altered from its natural glaciated state prior to...
are today the well known Distillery District.
The company was founded by James Worts
James Worts
James Worts was one of the co-founders of the Gooderham and Worts partnership which, after his death, evolved from a simple mill into a prosperous distilling company, one which would eventually become the largest in the world....
and his brother in law William Gooderham
William Gooderham, Sr.
William Gooderham was a Canadian distiller, businessman, and banker, founder of the Gooderham and Worts company....
. Worts had owned a mill in Suffolk, England, moved to Toronto in 1831 and established himself in the same business. He built a prominent windmill at the Toronto waterfront near the mouth of the Don River
Don River (Toronto)
The Don River is one of two rivers bounding the original settled area of Toronto, Ontario along the shore of Lake Ontario, the other being the Humber River to the west. The Don is formed from two rivers, the East and West Branches, that meet about north of Lake Ontario while flowing southward into...
. The next year Gooderham joined him in Toronto and in the business. The business prospered, processing grain from Ontario farmers and then shipping it out via the port of Toronto. In 1834 Worts wife, Elizabeth, died during childbirth. Two weeks later Worts killed himself by throwing himself into the windmill's well and drowning.
Gooderham served as the sole manager of the business until 1845 when he made Worts' eldest son, James Gooderham Worts
James Gooderham Worts
James Gooderham Worts was the eldest son of James Worts and Elizabeth Gooderham. His father was a founder of a milling company in partnership with his brother-in-law which was operating at the time of his father's death in 1834....
, co-manager. With a surplus of wheat, in 1837 Gooderham expanded the company into brewing and distilling and soon this lucrative business became the firm's primary focus. In 1859 work began on a new distillery complex, the area that today is the Distillery District. It was built on the waterfront with easy access to Toronto's main train lines. In 1862, its first full year of production, the facility made some 700,000 imperial gallons of spirits. At that time it was a full quarter of all the spirits produced in Canada.
In the second half of the 19th century the firm rose to become one of Canada's most prominent industrial concerns. Under the control of William's son, George Horace Gooderham
George Horace Gooderham
George Horace Gooderham was an Ontario manufacturer and political figure. He represented Toronto South and then Toronto Southwest in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1908 to 1919 as a Conservative member....
, production increased to over 2 million gallons a year, half the production in Canada. The distillery itself expanded becoming one of Toronto's largest employers. As well as keeping interests in the milling and brewing trades, the company expanded into other ventures. It had a controlling interest in the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Toronto and Nipissing Railway
The Toronto and Nipissing Railway was chartered in 1868 to build a narrow gauge railway in Ontario, Canada from Toronto to Lake Nipissing, via York, Ontario, and Victoria Counties. It opened in 1871, with service between Scarborough and Uxbridge. By December 1872 it was extended to Coboconk...
, one of the main lines that transported grain from the rural regions north of Toronto. In 1892 the company constructed the Gooderham Building, still a notable Toronto landmark, as its new headquarters.
By the end of the nineteenth century the company's growth began to slow. Beer and wine became more popular in Canada, reducing sales of whisky. The rise of the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
also harmed the company with the Ontario Temperance Act
Ontario Temperance Act
Ontario Temperance Act was a law passed in Ontario in 1916 to prohibit the sale of alcohol, a period known as Prohibition. This meant the province remained dry in legal terms, but smugglers continued to import alcohol into the province. The cause was the demand of religious elements led by women...
of 1916 banning the sale of alcohol in the province. The company survived by exporting alcohol beyond Ontario, such as to Quebec, where a good portion then would made its way back to Ontario. The firm also relied on its other ventures, most notably the production of antifreeze
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a freeze preventive used in internal combustion engines and other heat transfer applications, such as HVAC chillers and solar water heaters....
, which was essential to the war effort and to the growing number of automobiles.
In 1923 the company was sold to Harry C. Hatch
Harry C. Hatch
Harold Clifford "Harry" Hatch was a self-made millionaire industrialist from Prince Edward County, Ontario specializing in the business of wine and spirits....
for $1.5 million. The company gained a large share of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market during prohibition, legally manufacturing it in Canada and then selling it to resellers who would smuggle it into the United States. In 1926 Hatch purchased Canada's second largest distiller, Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. the makers of Canadian Club
Canadian Club
Canadian Club is a brand of whisky from Canada. Popularly known as C.C., Canadian Club began production in 1858. It was established by Hiram Walker, and was known as Walker’s Club Whiskey. The brand is now produced by Beam Inc..-History:...
. The new company was named Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Ltd. It continued manufacturing spirits at the Toronto distillery, but production gradually declined. In 1987 the firm was sold to the British concern Allied Lyons. In 1990 the Gooderham and Worts distillery was closed, and was then converted into the Distillery District.