We have a rich history of breweries, distilleries and taverns in Niagara - even in our smaller communities.
When we think of Chippawa, the famous battle in 1814 might be the first thing that comes to mind. For others, it might be as the home of famed Canadian hero, Laura Secord. Chippawa also has another claim to fame that might not be as well-known. According to the 1846 Smith's Canadian Gazetteer, Chippawa once boasted fourteen saloons or taverns, two distilleries, and three breweries!
One might wonder why there were so many taverns and inns in the area. Chippawa was one of the earliest communities founded in the province dating back to 1791, and it was also the southern point of the portage around Niagara Falls. Its location on the Welland River made it a busy location for steamer trips between Chippawa and Buffalo, as well as a prominent location on the stage coach routes. Many thirsty travellers stopped here and were in need of both sustenance and lodging. Taverns such as the Steamboat and the National were popular with locals and travellers alike. The Emerald was also popular, in part because it was owned and operated by Captain Young, who was also captain of a steamer called Emerald which was built in Chippawa.
In the early 1850s, Chippawa opened its first distillery, the Chippawa Distillery. The distillery was built on the north side of Main Street and was built at a cost of about $50,000. At its peak, it employed 35 men and produced about 1200 gallons of whiskey per day. Its most popular brew was a "wicked potion" named Monongahela (which means falling or unstable river banks). I am sure that it was enjoyed by many, as the price of whiskey was even cheaper than kerosene!
In the mid-1850's, Samuel Zimmerman started a water works which piped water from the Niagara River to the communities of Clifton and Elgin. After his death in 1857, the pipes were extended to Drummondville to provide additional water for Russell's Brewery. The brewery was the village's main source of employment for many years.
Drummondville Brewery was purchased by E. J. Fischer in December of 1877, who operated it until 1885, when it was purchased by W.H. Ferguson, a brewer from Niagara Falls, New York. When Ferguson acquired the brewery, its annual brewing capacity was 20,000 barrels. In 1886, Russell's Brewery was destroyed in in one of Drummondville's most spectacular fires. It was not rebuilt, thus bringing to an end one of Drummondville's oldest and largest industries.
A few other breweries of note were also located in the Niagara area. Stamford Spring Brewery was established in 1836 by John Sleeman (yes, that Sleeman!) on Four Mile Creek in St. Davids. This brewery would ultimately be used to bottle spring water for the Spring Water Bottling Works. St. Catharines also had a celebrated brewery, the Taylor and Bate Brewery Limited. Founded in 1834 in the valley of the Twelve Mile Creek, the brewery ceased operation in the 1930s after more than a century in business.
Niagara Falls Museums. 2020. Bottling Works and Breweries. https://niagarafallsmuseums.ca/discover-our-history/history-notes/bottlingandbrew.aspx.
Niagara Falls Museums. 2020. Photo Record: William Russell House - Ferry Street (photograph). Niagara Falls Museums collection - l995.d.087. https://niagarafalls.pastperfectonline.com/photo/A21F4796-7FA8-43C7-A64E-207818322222
Niagara Falls Public Library. 2017. Niagara Falls - Then & Now: A Photographic Journey Through The Years. [Distilleries and Breweries].
Niagara Falls Then and Now
A collaborative project
Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.
Original newspaper series by
Sherman Zavitz, Official Historian for the City of Niagara Falls from 1994 - 2019.
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