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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1837 | - 3 Nov 1837—1990: Distillery begins
The distillery is added to the mill and production begins. With the exception of the war years, when acetone and ketone were produced, the distillery is in continuous production until 1990.
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| 2 | 1842 | - 1842—2015: Little Trinity Church
William Gooderham and James G. Worts founded Trinity Church (known as Little Trinity) on King St E. They provided much of the land which even today, generates revenues to support the church. William was an Evangelical Anglican and served as warden for 35 years. His nephew James G. Worts met his wife, Sarah Bright through their activities at the church where he was a member for 39 years and also served as warden. William
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| 3 | 1846 | - 1846—1926: Gooderham Wharf
The Gooderham Wharf was built in 1846. The 5 story grain elevator on the wharf could store 80,000 bushels of grain. Between 1926 and 1937 the wharf and elevators disappeared as the city expanded southwards.
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| 4 | 1855 | - 18 Mar 1855—1969: Bank of Toronto
William Gooderham was instrumental in founding the Bank of Toronto to speed flour to market. Eventually merged with the Dominion Bank to become the Toronto Dominion Bank. Gooderham's served as directors until Henry S. Gooderham, George Gooderham's grandson, retired in 1969.
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| 5 | 1905 | - 1905: George Gooderham dies
George dies and his eldest sons take over: Albert Edward as Managing Director and William George as President
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| 6 | 1908 | - 1908—1919: G.H.G. is an MPP
George Horace Gooderham made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1905 and then served as an MPP 1908
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| 7 | 1914 | - 28 Jul 1914—11 Nov 1918: World War I
World War I begins
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| 8 | 1916 | - 1916—1923: Prohibition
Prohibition in Ontario against selling and possessing (but not manufacturing) alcohol. The government allowed numerous exceptions. Wineries were exempted from closure, and various breweries and distilleries remained open for the export market. The Ontario government ended prohibition in 1923 and created the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, permitting the sale of liquor in the province though under heavy regulation.
- 1916—1918: British Acetones
US price of acetone rises 75%. Government offers remuneration if G&W will make acetone. Instead they insist on doing it for free. Colonel Albert E. Gooderham and his son dedicate themselves and the distillery to production of acetone for the war under the name British Acetones.
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| 9 | 1918 | - 11 Nov 1918: World War I ends
World War I ends
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| 10 | 1919 | - Aug 1919: HRH Prince of Wales
HRH Prince of Wales (future Edward VIII) visited the RCYC in August 1919. And it was RCYC Commodore George Horace Gooderham who greeted him. At one point during the ball that evening, the prince excused himself. Eventually, he was discovered relaxing aboard the Oriole III, moored in a lagoon and surrounded by canoes and singing admirers.
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| 11 | 1920 | - 16 Jan 1920—5 Dec 1933: U.S. Prohibition
The National Prohibition Act in the US came into effect on January 16, 1920. Drinking itself was never illegal, although manufacturing and sale of alcoholic beverages was outlawed. Repeal of Prohibition was accomplished with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933. Under its terms, states were allowed to set their own laws for the control of alcohol.
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| 12 | 1923 | - 1923: Distillery sold
G&W sold to Harry C. Hatch who later merged it with Hiram Walker and Sons Limited. All efforts are focused on developing the successful Canadian Club brand so the bulk of operations shifts to the Walkerville plant in Windsor, Ontario. In 1957 Gooderham & Worts stop producing rye whiskey. It concentrates instead on the distilling of rum products. In 1986, the conglomerate Allied-Lyons, bought Hiram Walker
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| 13 | 1927 | - 1927: Prohibition ends
Prohibition ended in Ontario
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| 14 | 1946 | - 1946: Indian Agent
Ezekiel's son, George Hamilton Gooderham was promoted to Regional Supervisor of Indian Agencies in Alberta and NWT in 1946
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| 15 | 1949 | - 1949—1953: Secretary of State
Dean Acheson, a grandson of George Gooderham, was Secretary of State from 1949 to 1953 in the US under President Truman
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| 16 | 1955 | - 1955: Toronto Island homes demolished
George and his family had a number of cottages on Toronto Island. Many Gooderhams made their way over to the Island after George had established a beach head at 244 Lakeshore in the early 1880s. The Toronto Archives reveal connections to early cottages at: 238, 242, 244, 246, 270 and 274 Lakeshore
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| 17 | 1966 | - 19 Jun 1966: First family reunion
300 Gooderham and Worts descendants met at the York Club, originally the home of George Gooderham, for the first family reunion.
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| 18 | 1984 | - 1984: Second reunion
No info about this reunion...
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| 19 | 1990 | - 1990: Production ends
After 153 years of continuous production, the Gooderham & Worts Distillery finally ceases operations. During the
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| 20 | 1994 | - 1994: Third family reunion
The third reunion brought together over 1000 Gooderham and Worts descendants to celebrate at the RCYC, Enoch Turner schoolhouse and various other Gooderham related venues.
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| 21 | 2001 | - 2001: The Distillery is reborn
In December 2001 Cityscape Holdings Inc. purchased The Distillery, later partnering with Dundee Realty Corporation. They undertake an incredibly ambitious project to renovate the Distillery into an entertainment district and succeed. Today it is known as the Distillery District.
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1904 - 2012 (107 years)