Redpath: The History of a Sugar HouseRedpath, today a household name for sugar in Canada, has its roots in the story of an enterprising Scots immigrant, initially a stone mason and later a building contractor during the boom days of Montreal's growth from a small provincial centre to a major North American city. In 1854, the ever-energetic John Redpath, by then a self-made millionaire in his late fifties, launched a new career as an industrialist. With his son, Peter, and the gifted George Alexander Drummond as manager, he established Canada's first successful sugar refinery. The Redpath story encompasses the influence of sugar as an economic force, the emergence of the elegant social life of cosmopolitan Montreal and a hind-sight view of the complexities of the love-hate relationship between government and business. This, the first of two volumes, moves through Canada's period of extensive industrialization to the turn of the century, the impact of World War I and concludes in the post-war years. Throughout this period, the familiar Redpath trademark, a reproduction of John Redpath's signature, is a reminder of the heritage inherent in Canada's business and social history. |
From inside the book
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... other regions . However , as in most such cases , the desire for knowledge . and profit outran the legal restrictions . Soon additional refining operations sprang up across Europe . By the. " That Sweet Comfit Men Call Sugar "
... operations sprang up across Europe . By the mid - sixteenth century , there were more than thirteen refineries in Antwerp alone , with additional production centres in Amsterdam , Augsburg , Bordeaux , Lisbon , Bristol , and London ...
... operation with another building contractor , Thomas Mackay . Mackay was obviously impressed by Redpath's work , as he brought Redpath in on another major pro- ject of the day , the building of Notre Dame Church , which today stands as ...
... operation in London and Greenock , Scotland . He planned to undertake another tour the following year , but on July 9 , 1852 , a major fire broke out in Montreal's east end . Fanned by brisk winds and made worse by a shortage of water ...
... operation next August . It is a very great under- taking for any one man as it will require a large capital . I hope however it will repay Papa for all the anxiety atten- dant upon such a serious outlay of money on a new under- taking ...
Contents
Chapter 19 Cheers and Tears Ginger Ale and Champagne | 195 |
Chapter 20 The Building of a New Sugar House | 209 |
Chapter 21 A New Captain | 217 |
Chapter 22 Redpath Must Be Everywhere | 227 |
Chapter 23 A Patriotic Stand | 237 |
Chapter 24 Big Brother | 245 |
Chapter 25 An Unfortunate State of Affairs | 257 |
Chapter 26 Dance of the Millions | 265 |
Chapter 7 A Devil of a Time | 83 |
Chapter 8 We Are at a Crisis of Our Affairs | 93 |
Chapter 9 The Axe Falls | 101 |
Chapter 10 Intermission | 115 |
Chapter 11 Another Opening | 121 |
Chapter 12 A Hard and Anxious Time | 133 |
Chapter 13 Too Many Cooks | 141 |
Chapter 14 A Busy Year | 149 |
Chapter 15 When Fortune Turns the Wheel | 157 |
Chapter 16 What You Gain on the Roundabouts | 167 |
Chapter 17 You Lose on the Swings | 177 |
Chapter 18 The New Way | 187 |
Chapter 27 Picking Up the Pieces | 273 |
Chapter 28 The Final Straws | 283 |
Postscript | 287 |
Appendix 1 The Manufacturing of Sugar Cones | 288 |
Appendix 2 The Families of John Redpath and George Alexander Drummond | 290 |
Appendix 3 The 1920 and 1927 Canada Sugar Refining Co Picnics Sporting Events and Prize Lists | 293 |
Appendix 4 The Development of the Montreal Refinery Site 18541930 | 296 |
Selected Bibliography | 308 |
Notes | 310 |
Visual Credits | 312 |
Index | 313 |