(A little extra re the Breweries and Basket Factory.
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The Breweries 1840
Whisky and beer are by-products of the grain business. The Oakville Brewing and Distilling Company began operating in 1836 on Walker Street, overlooking the harbour. One of Oakville's leading industries during its short existence, it distilled sixty gallons of whisky a day.
Another brewery soon started up close to the river bank on Dundas Street (Trafalgar Road) at Division (MacDonald) Street - the steam brewery - of which James Brown was proprietor in 1858. About 1863 Henry Hogben took over this business, which later became "Mr. Townsend's Brewery". When Francis J. Brown became proprietor, about 1870, he called it the Victoria Brewery. It ceased operation in 1870, and four years later became the new Chisholm basket factory (see below). Hence that stretch of Trafalgar from south of MacDonald to 6th Line was often referred to as Basket Factory Hill.
Strawberries & Basket factories 1860s
| Strawberry growing was introduced to Oakville by John Cross, who farmed to the north of the Railway (Cross Avenue). To support the shipment and sale of the delicate fruit, Cross designed and began manufacturing wooden veneer "strawberry" baskets in the 1860s. John A. Chisholm soon followed suit, setting up basket production in a shed at Division Street (MacDonald Road) that used a wood paring device developed by his son Charles. By the mid-1870's Oakville had become the greatest strawberry growing district in the Dominion. After the Victoria Brewery ceased operation the Chisholms' expanded basket operation moved into that building (by the Creek at Trafalgar and MacDonald) in 1874. In 1889, Pharis Doty & Son took over the Chisholm factory and three years later founded the Oakville Basket Company. Fire destroyed it in 1893, but it was rebuilt, to be burned down again in 1920. It was again rebuilt, further to the north, south of the railway, and remained in operation until 1984. That site until recently (2001) was marked by the flywheel which powered its operations. That artifact is now part of the Oakville Heritage Trails "Pioneer Industry" pavilion which overlooks The Sixteen from its banks on the south side of Speers by the former Old Mill Road. |
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Oakville Strawberry Pickers July 29, 1876 Sketch by William Cruickshank Canadian Illustrated News Vol. XIV, No.5, Pg.69 Reproduced from Library and Archives Canada website Images in the News. |
Oakville Basket Company, on Trafalgar Basket Company Drive Wheel Strawberry Baskets
Road just north of MacDonald, c1892