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