In 1834, when Toronto had a population of 9,000 people there were already 300 taverns. New immigrants William Gooderham and James Worts seized the opportunity to set up their own distillery and by the 1870s were the largest producers of whiskey in the world. They built right on the waterfront to take advantage of the ships and railways for distribution and when the First World War broke out turned their operation to produce gunpowder for the Navy. They put their wealth to good use building Little Trinity Church and set up the Bank of Toronto. The new Bank president James Austin moved his family to Spadina House, in what was then, the countryside. See the Toronto 175 category for more episodes.
About Anne Martin
Since the mid 1970s, producer/host, Anne Martin, has been bringing stories to life through the medium of television. She thrives on tracking down the unusual and her work has encompassed history, geology, heritage and a positive outlook on the world around us. Read more about Anne Martin.