Private: (T.G.B.)

Private: (T.G.B.)



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Timeline



 



 




   Date  Event(s)
1831 
  • 1831—1831: JG Worts arrives in York
    13 year old, JG Worts travels from England, to Montreal to York in 1831
1832 
  • 5 Oct 1832—13 Dec 1832: Mill begins operations
    The first run of flour milling begins
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.
1842 
  • 1842: 21,000 gal whisky sold
    Whisky sales of 21,000 gallons; gin, brandy and medicinal alcohol added
  • 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
1843 
  • 1843—1844: Dairy established
    G&W purchased 22 pigs in 1837 to use up the slops from distilling. The number of pigs had grown to 224 by 1839. In 1843 they established a dairy with the purchase of 22 cows and some calves in addition to some steers, 4 heifers and a yoke of oxen. By 1844 the dairy was outsourced to Archibald Cameron.
1845 
  • 1845—1884: J.G.Worts becomes partner
    Having begun his apprenticeship with his uncle WIlliam Gooderham some years prior, young James Gooderham Worts reached the age of majority in 1844 and assumed the helm of the operations as a full partner in 1845 until his death in 1884.
  • 1845—1880: Expansion
    G&W establishes mills all along the Credit River from Hillsborough in the north, to Streetsville in the south starting with William's purchase of a mill in Norval. Nearby a farm, a cooperage, a general store and an oak forest provided additional business opportunities and a secure supply of grain and wood. Three mills - at Hillsburgh, Streetsville and Meadowvale - remained the property of Gooderham and Worts until towards the end of the century.
  • 1845: 53,000 gal. whisky sold
    whisky sales of 53,000 gallons
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.
1849 
  • 1849—1864: York Mills Pastor
    Ezekiel Gooderham serves as pastor of York Mills Baptist Church in Toronto
1853 
  • 1853—1855: Alderman St. Lawrence
    William Gooderham served as alderman for St. Lawrence ward in 1853 and 1855
10 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.
11 1856 
  • 1856—1882: Toronto Harbour Commission
    J. G. Worts sat on the board of the Toronto Harbour Commission from 1856 to 1863 and was chairman from 1865 to 1882.
  • 1856: Bank of Toronto opens
    Bank of Toronto opens with capital of
  • 1856: A fleet of schooners
    G&W now operating a fleet of schooners and a period of rapid expansion begins
  • 1856: George becomes partner
    In 1856 George Gooderham joins his father William and cousin James G Worts as the third partner in G&W.
12 1857 
  • Jun 1857: Cdn. Ship Owners Assoc.
    J.G. Worts represented the firm of Gooderham and Worts at the first meeting of the Canadian Ship Owners
13 1859 
  • 1859: Rapid expansion
    Works begins on magnificent limestone distillery; automation of the mill and distillery; the Grand Trunk railway spur built to the distillery; distillery now feeds over 1000 head of cattle,
  • 1 Apr 1859—1861: Limestone Distillery built
    David Roberts was the architect of the new 4 story limestone distillery. It was cleverly designed so that a fire would only burn the floors and not destroy the outer structure. The mill and distillery are now automated.
14 1860 
  • 1860: WWI
    In 1860, when Canada threw out Britain
  • 1860: Meadowvale expansion
    In 1860 William foreclosed on Francis Silverthorn's grist mill and farm lands in Meadowvale. He also established a mercantile store. His sons, James and Charles Horace (Holly), and, in 1869, Ezekiel's son, George, managed these operations as well as, eventually, other acquisitions such as a linen mill in Streetsville.