Post on 03-Jan-2016
Was Guelph aWas Guelph aDrinkin’ Town??Drinkin’ Town??
Shawn DayShawn Dayshawn@shawnday.comshawn@shawnday.com
““Guelph had more Guelph had more taverns than any taverns than any other town of its other town of its
size in Upper size in Upper CanadaCanada” ”
McBurney and Byers,McBurney and Byers,The Tavern in the TownThe Tavern in the Town
ChronologyChronology
Guelph is Wet
Guelph is Dry
““Was Guelph a Was Guelph a Drinkin’ Town during Drinkin’ Town during the late Nineteenth-the late Nineteenth-
Century?” Century?”
Hotels 1851-1931Hotels 1851-1931
Guelph Hotels 1869Guelph Hotels 1869
Macdonnell St. Whiskey Macdonnell St. Whiskey Avenue?Avenue?
Macdonnell St. Whiskey Macdonnell St. Whiskey Avenue?Avenue?
Carden StreetCarden Street
Carden StreetCarden Street
Red Lion / Fountain House -Red Lion / Fountain House -18411841
Royal Hotel - 1856Royal Hotel - 1856
Royal HotelRoyal Hotel
Albion Hotel - 1856Albion Hotel - 1856
Albion HotelAlbion Hotel
Victoria Hotel - 1859Victoria Hotel - 1859
Victoria HotelVictoria Hotel
Victoria HotelVictoria Hotel
Central Hotel - 1860Central Hotel - 1860
Central HotelCentral Hotel
Queen’s Hotel - 1860Queen’s Hotel - 1860
Wellington and American Wellington and American HotelsHotels
New Wellington Hotel -1876New Wellington Hotel -1876
Wellington HotelWellington Hotel
Western Hotel, 1881Western Hotel, 1881
Union Hotel - 1886Union Hotel - 1886
Commercial Hotel - 1883Commercial Hotel - 1883
Union HotelUnion Hotel
King Edward Hotel -1905King Edward Hotel -1905
King Edward HotelKing Edward Hotel
““Was Guelph a Was Guelph a Drinkin’ Town during Drinkin’ Town during the late Nineteenth-the late Nineteenth-
Century?” Century?”
Guelph Licensed Hotels Guelph Licensed Hotels
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
18
51
18
58
18
61
18
67
18
71
18
73
18
81
18
83
18
91
18
96
19
01
19
05
19
11
19
16
19
18
Nu
mb
er
of
Ho
tels
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
Po
pu
latio
n o
f Gu
elp
h
Number of Hotels
Population
perCapita Liquor perCapita Liquor ConsumptionConsumption
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1871
1873
1875
1877
1879
1881
1883
1885
1887
1889
1891
1893
Gal
lon
s
perCapitaLiquor
perCapitaBeer
perCapitaAlcoholByContent
Alcohol PreferenceAlcohol Preference
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%Spirits Consumed
Beer Consumed
Sleeman’s SilvercreekSleeman’s Silvercreek
Holliday’s Guelph BreweryHolliday’s Guelph Brewery
Allan’sAllan’sDistilleryDistillery
Drink in PoliticsDrink in Politics
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Year
Perc
en
t o
f C
ou
ncil
mem
bers
Guelph Licensed Hotels Guelph Licensed Hotels
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1851
1858
1861
1867
1871
1873
1881
1883
1891
1896
1901
1905
1911
1916
1918
Nu
mb
er o
f H
ote
ls
-
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
Res
iden
ts o
f G
uel
ph
Hotels
Population
ChronologyChronology
Prohibition at Western HotelProhibition at Western Hotel
0
50
100
150
200
250
2-Dec
4-Dec
6-Dec
8-Dec
10-D
ec
12-D
ec
14-D
ec
16-D
ec
18-D
ec
20-D
ec
22-D
ec
24-D
ec
26-D
ec
28-D
ec
30-D
ec
Dai
ly N
um
ber
of
Dri
nks
December 1896
Drink VarietiesDrink Varieties
WhiskeyWhiskey RyeRye BrandyBrandy BittersBitters ClaretClaret GinGin
ImperialImperial MaltMalt PortPort AppolonarisAppolonaris
Food VarietiesFood Varieties
Oranges, Lemons, ValenciasOranges, Lemons, Valencias BananasBananas Coconuts!Coconuts! Salmon, Haddock, Sole, CodSalmon, Haddock, Sole, Cod Lobsters!Lobsters! Veal, Beef, Pork, HamVeal, Beef, Pork, Ham Oysters, Oysters, Oysters!Oysters, Oysters, Oysters!
Dry Goods
Dry Goods Dry
Goods
Dry Goods
Fruits & Veg
Fruits & Veg
Fruits & Veg
Meats
Meats
Meats
Hotel Web of CommerceHotel Web of Commerce
““Was Guelph a Was Guelph a Drinkin’ Town during Drinkin’ Town during the late Nineteenth-the late Nineteenth-
Century?” Century?”
1881AlbionHotel
1886Western
Hotel
1902Victoria
Hotel
1909American
Hotel
““Was Guelph a Drinkin’ Town Was Guelph a Drinkin’ Town during the late Nineteenth-during the late Nineteenth-
Century?” Century?”
Guelph Didn’t Guelph Didn’t Consume More of Consume More of Less Than Less Than Provincial AverageProvincial Average
Changing Tastes Changing Tastes Reduced Absolute Reduced Absolute Alcohol IntakeAlcohol Intake
Miscount of BarsMiscount of Bars
Province Consumed Province Consumed A Lot of AlcoholA Lot of Alcohol
Guelph was a Guelph was a Temperance Temperance Flashpoint due to Flashpoint due to Producers, Retailers Producers, Retailers and Temperance and Temperance GroupsGroups
Drink in the NewsDrink in the News
Was Guelph aWas Guelph aDrinkin’ Town??Drinkin’ Town??
Shawn DayShawn Day
shawn@shawnday.comshawn@shawnday.com
shawnday.com/randomosityshawnday.com/randomosity