In & Around Downtown Toronto...

[churchgirl]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

[ QUOTE ]

Juxta-who??? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Yuh funny eeh?!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Not really, but if I wasn't paying attention in English classes, that word would have had me scrambling for my dictionary [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Just teasing... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Strolling along University Avenue at dusk.

The Adam Beck Memorial



Beck was a politician and hydro-electricity advocate who founded the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

The Boer War Memorial (1910)




Sculpted by Walter Allward and adopted by City Council on June 20, 1973.

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Closer views of the memorial fountain...

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Some of the colors along the Avenue...

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

More Colors...

[Compry]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Is that the Zurich building in the background? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

The Boer War Memorial (1910)

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

[ QUOTE ]
Is that the Zurich building in the background? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Can't miss it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Do you have ties or some connection to it? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[Compry]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

I personally think it's an interesting building. The architectural design may not be stunning but it has a unique colour. That's all. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[mountaingal]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Compry, my home job is in that building, the Zurich building (i've been on secondment since April 2005). I worked on the sixth floor, Marcia worked on the third.

myself, i don't think it's special - it's just a brown building. but the neighbourhood is nice. across the street are the major crime courts in toronto. the randall dooley trial took place there - on lunch hour once i saw the father taking a break and strolling outside. he's now in jail.

[mountaingal]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

thanks, CEW, for those shots of university avenue. i work now at the north end of that street, in the queen's park complex (who knows, maybe i'll see a pic of my current building...)

those flowers and fountain shots are lovely. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

Thanks much. University Avenune is one of those ones that I never get tired of walking on. IMO, the vibrancy of the colors really add to the appeal and gives the impression of an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown life. I just might get a picture of your current building if I swing back that side [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] This Friday I'm in the distillery historical district. Can hardly wait!

[halfwaytree]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

More![img]/forums/images/graemlins/70458-applaud.gif[/img] More![img]/forums/images/graemlins/70458-applaud.gif[/img] More![img]/forums/images/graemlins/70458-applaud.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: In & Around Downtown Toronto...

OK...here goes

My most recent stop was the historic distillery district in the South Eastern part of the city. This area, now filled with galleries, boutiques, restaurants, artist studios and workshops, was at one time the largest distillery in the British Empire. The forty plus buildings are best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America.




In late 2001 Cityscape Development Corp. and Wallace Studios purchased the property for $15 million, and began a massive restoration and development. The 13-acre site, complete with forty-five 19th century buildings, has become a picturesque, pedestrian only village housing over a hundred tenants. The Distillery is filled with activity day and night with live music, outdoor exhibitions, fairs and special events the year around. It has been the location for over 800 film and television productions in the past decade, including Chicago, X-Men, Against The Ropes and The Hurricane. Numerous festivals and special events attract tens of thousand of people each month.

<u>HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT</u>
In 1831, James Worts immigrated to Canada from England at which time he established a grist mill. One year later, his brother-in-law, William Gooderham, a successful merchant and miller in England, immigrated to Canada with 2 families, their servants and 11 orphans - in all 54 people. Shortly after his arrival, he decided to invest $3.000 into Worts milling business and thus the Gooderham and Worts partnership was born. Two years later Worts' wife died during childbirth. So distraught was James Worts, that on that day, he took his own life by throwing himself into the company well. Despite this, Gooderham continued building the business later partnering with James Worts' eldest son. In 1837, spurred on by the increase in the harvest of grain from Upper Canada's farms, he decided to add a distillery and that same year produced his first whiskey.

By the 1850s, the Gooderham and Worts distillery was thriving and it's numerous facilities included flour mills, a wharf, the distillery, storehouses, an ice house, a cooper shop and a dairy.

In 1859 the construction of the new Gooderham and Worts Distillery on Mill Street east of Parliament was heralded as the most important contribution to Toronto's manufacturing interests. The imposing main building which accommodated the steam mills and distillery stood 5 stories high-topped with a 100 ft. chimney. The costs for the building and it's contents was believed to be nearly $200,000, according to newspaper reports of the day.

In 1869, a huge fire destroyed the wooded interior of the main building but left the grey limestone exterior intact, costing the company $100,000. Happily the setback did not hamper the distillery's financial growth. In 1871, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery's annual whiskey and spirits production totaled a whopping 2.1 million gallons - close to half of the total spirits production in all of Ontario. What's more, production rose in ten short years and its booming million gallon export business was shipping to major clients in Montreal, Quebec, Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, New York as well as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and other ports in South America.

1881 was a turning point for the distillery. Following the deaths of William Gooderham and James Worts Jr. within a year of each other, George Gooderham inherited the distillery and became it's sole proprietor. But during the next two decades the distillery's fortunes would be severely affected by World War One, and Canada's short lived prohibition era that brought production of alcohol beverages to a standstill. In order to support the war effort during World War One, the distillery converted its operations to manufacturing acetone.

In 1923, Harry C. Hatch purchased the declining business. Three years later he purchased Hiram Walker &amp; Sons Ltd. and in 1927, the companies merged under the parent company of Hiram Walker - Gooderham &amp; Worts Ltd. All efforts were focused on developing the successful Canadian Club brand. The bulk of operations shifted to the Walkerville plant in Windsor, Ontario.

In 1957 Gooderham &amp; Worts stopped producing rye whiskey. It concentrated instead on the distilling of rum products. In 1986, the conglomerate Allied-Lyons, bought Hiram Walker - Gooderham &amp; Worts Ltd.

In 1990, after 153 years of continuous production, the Gooderham &amp; Worts Distillery - once the largest distillery in the British empire - ceased operations. During the 90s, The Distillery became the number one film location in Canada, and the second largest film location outside of Hollywood.

In December 2001 Cityscape Holdings Inc. purchased The Distillery, later partners with Dundee Realty Corporation. In May 2003, The Distillery was officially opened, thereby implementing an ambitious plan by the owners to create a pedestrian - only village entirely dedicated to arts, culture and entertainment.

Source