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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1831 | - 1831—1831: JG Worts arrives in York
13 year old, JG Worts travels from England, to Montreal to York in 1831
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| 2 | 1832 | - 5 Oct 1832—13 Dec 1832: Mill begins operations
The first run of flour milling begins
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| 3 | 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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| 4 | 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
- 1842: 21,000 gal whisky sold
Whisky sales of 21,000 gallons; gin, brandy and medicinal alcohol added
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| 5 | 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.
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| 6 | 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: 53,000 gal. whisky sold
whisky sales of 53,000 gallons
- 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.
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| 7 | 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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| 8 | 1849 | - 1849—1864: York Mills Pastor
Ezekiel Gooderham serves as pastor of York Mills Baptist Church in Toronto
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| 9 | 1853 | - 1853—1855: Alderman St. Lawrence
William Gooderham served as alderman for St. Lawrence ward in 1853 and 1855
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| 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.
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| 11 | 1856 | - 1856: George becomes partner
In 1856 George Gooderham joins his father William and cousin James G Worts as the third partner in G&W.
- 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
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 14 | 1860 | - 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.
- 1860: WWI
In 1860, when Canada threw out Britain
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| 15 | 1863 | |
| 16 | 1865 | - 1865—1869: Toronto Board of Trade
J. G. Worts served as vice-president and president of the Toronto Board of Trade from 1865 to 1869
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| 17 | 1868 | - 1868: Toronto & Nipissing Railway
G&W helped finance the Toronto and Nipissing Railway to help bring grain and wood to the Mills in Toronto. William Gooderham was a founding director and later, his son William Gooderham Jr. became President in 1873.
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| 18 | 1869 | - 1869: Fire
The limestone building in the distillery goes up in flames but is quickly rebuilt due to the clever design (by architect David Roberts)
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| 19 | 1870 | - 1870—1881: The Toronto Hunt
The Toronto Hunt, one of the oldest hunt clubs in North America and the second oldest in Canada, was founded in 1843. In its early years, hunting was largely confined to and supported by officers of the Imperial Army stationed at Toronto. Later James G. Worts, with his cousin, George alternated as master of the Toronto Hunt Club between 1870 and 1881. For fifty years, the hunt was conducted from various points in and around Toronto, but in 1895 the present site on Kingston Road was chosen to be the headquarters of the Club. Eventually hunting was replaced with golf.
- 1870: Railways under control
George was made a director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, which, along with the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, was controlled by G&W and hauled freight for the company
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1809 - 1873 (64 years)