Don Brewery facts for kids
The Don Brewery was a very old and important brewery (a place where beer is made) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was first called the Don Bridge Brewery, and later the Davies Brewery. This brewery was one of the biggest in Toronto during the 1800s. You could find it right next to the Don River in a part of Toronto called Corktown.
Contents
A Look Back at the Don Brewery's History
How It Started
The Don Brewery began in 1844. It was started by two brothers, William and Robert Parks, and they called it the Don Bridge Brewery. A few years later, in 1848, a man named Thomas Davies bought the brewery from the Parks brothers. Thomas Davies already owned his own brewery, called the Yonge Street Brewery.
Growing the Business
In 1868, Thomas Davies asked his son, Thomas Jr., to help manage the brewery. They changed the company's name to Thomas Davies and Son. Thomas Sr. passed away soon after, leaving Thomas Jr. in charge.
Thomas Jr. then brought his brothers, Joseph and Robert, into the business in 1872. They renamed the company Davies and Brothers. The brothers made the brewery much bigger. In 1877, they built a new part of the factory just to make lager (a type of beer). This was very modern for the time in Toronto. They started making lager years before other big breweries like O'Keefe and Cosgrave. In 1879, Robert Davies opened his own brewery, the Dominion Brewery, nearby.
Thomas Davies Jr. and the City
Thomas Davies Jr. was also involved in Toronto's government. In 1873, he was elected as an alderman (a city council member). He helped make important decisions for the city.
Helping Toronto Grow
Thomas Jr. supported the city accepting John Howard's gift of High Park (a large park in Toronto). He also led the effort to create Riverdale Park. He helped the city take over the Furness Water Works, which supplied water. He even helped straighten the Don River next to the brewery. This made space for a new train line right beside the factory.
Changes and Challenges
In 1889, the brewery was sold to a company called the London & Colonial Financial Company. They paid CA$1.2 million for it, which was a huge amount of money back then!
The Brewery's End
By 1902, the English owners wanted to sell the brewery. John Dick bought it in 1903. That same year, the Don Brewery became the first brewery in Toronto where workers formed a labour union (a group that protects workers' rights).
Sadly, in 1907, a big fire destroyed most of the brewery. People thought it started on its own. The brewery completely shut down in 1910. Only one building, the southern lager brewery, survived the fire.
Thomas Davies Jr. tried to become the Mayor of Toronto in 1913 but did not win. He passed away in 1916, a few months after his brother Robert.
What's There Today
Today, where the Don Brewery once stood, you'll find residential buildings (homes and apartments). The only part of the original brewery that still exists is the building where they made lager. This building has been turned into condominium apartments and is now known as the Malthouse Building. In 1996, it was officially recognized as a heritage structure, meaning it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
