Stone Distillery facts for kids
The Stone Distillery is a very old and important industrial building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 1859. This building is the oldest and largest one in the famous Distillery District. The Distillery District is a group of historic buildings that once belonged to the Gooderham & Worts Distillery.
Contents
What is the Stone Distillery?
The Stone Distillery was designed by David Roberts, Sr. It was built between 1858 and 1861. Workers used strong limestone rocks brought from Kingston, Ontario. They also used very strong wooden beams. The building cost about $150,000 back then, which would be like $3,800,000 today!
This large building had several important jobs. The main part, which is five stories tall, was used for:
- Grinding grain into flour (a grist mill)
- Making power (a power house)
- Mixing ingredients (mashing)
- Making alcohol (distilling)
A smaller, one-story part on the west side was used for fermenting. This is where liquids change into alcohol.
The Look of the Stone Distillery
The Stone Distillery stands out in the Distillery District because it is so big and strong. It is about 300 feet long and 80 feet wide. It is a great example of Victorian industrial architecture, which was popular during Queen Victoria's time. It also looks a bit like old buildings from Florence in Italy.
Each floor of the main building is separated by a line of stone. The first floor is larger, and its square windows make the building look very solid. The outside of the building is simple but has a nice pattern of windows. Round iron plates connect the walls. The whole building has a simple color scheme: warm grey limestone with dark green windows and doors.
History of the Stone Distillery
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1869, something big happened. An explosion in the fermenting area caused a huge fire! The fire destroyed the wooden parts inside the building. But the strong stone walls and most of the machinery were not badly damaged. The building was quickly rebuilt and opened again in May 1870.
War Efforts and Movies
During World War I and World War II, the distillery helped with the war. Instead of making drinks, it produced materials used for explosives. After the wars, in 1945, it went back to making alcohol. It kept working until 1990.
For the next ten years, the distillery didn't make alcohol. Instead, it became a popular place for making movies! Hundreds of films were shot there, including famous ones like Chicago and X-Men. This helped Toronto get the nickname "Hollywood North."
A New Beginning
In 2001, a big project started to make the Distillery District new again. In 2003, it opened as a special place just for people walking. It became an arts and cultural center. Today, the Stone Distillery building is home to many different things, like:
- Restaurants where people can eat
- Galleries where people can see art
- Offices for businesses
- Other services for visitors
