Christie, Brown and Company, 1874
By the 1880s, Christie, Brown and Company was the largest biscuit manufactory in Canada, producing more than 400 kinds of cakes and biscuits. William M. Christie had emigrated to Canada from Scotland in the late 1840s when he was 19 years old. Having apprenticed as a biscuit maker in Scotland, he found work at the Mathers & Brown Bakery in the Yorkville neighbourhood. After winning awards for his biscuits, he partnered with his former employer Alexander Brown to form Christie, Brown and Company. In the late 1870s, Christie became the sole owner. His ability to transform his business from hand production in a small shop to a large steam-powered manufactory was one of his keys to success.
The Christie Romanesque Revival-style factory on Adelaide was built in 1874. Previously the company had been on Francis Street (a north/south street that ran through St. James Park), and before that, it was located on George Street, on a section of which is now Moss Park. Because of the company’s success, the factory expanded and by 1892, it spanned the entire block between Frederick and George. By 1907, they had added two additional storeys to the factory. Around that same time, still needing more space, the company took over the premises along King Street. They hired architects Sproatt & Rolph to design an eight-storey office building in the Edwardian Classicism style in 1914.
In 1928, the Christie family sold the business to the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco Brands Ltd) and in 1954, no longer needing the Adelaide-King Street complex, Nabisco sold the factory to greeting card maker William E. Coutts Company, otherwise known as, Hallmark Cards.
Bill Coutts started his greeting card business in 1916. He had learned the retail business during his 12-year employment at Ryrie Brothers (which became Birks Jewellers). In 1931, Coutts entered a business arrangement with greeting card makers, the Hall Brothers, based in Kansas City. After buying 40% of Coutts’ interest in the company in 1948, the Hall Brothers, who were now operating under the name Hallmark Cards, bought the balance of the company ten years later, in 1958.
In 1971, George Brown College acquired the property and remodelled it in 1977 as its St James Campus. Named after George Brown, a Father of Confederation who co-founded The Globe (the forerunner to today’s Globe and Mail newspaper), the community college was established in 1967.
The collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century buildings on this block received heritage status in 1978.
By the 1880s, Christie, Brown and Company was the largest biscuit manufactory in Canada, producing more than 400 kinds of cakes and biscuits. William M. Christie had emigrated to Canada from Scotland in the late 1840s when he was 19 years old. Having apprenticed as a biscuit maker in Scotland, he found work at the Mathers & Brown Bakery in the Yorkville neighbourhood. After winning awards for his biscuits, he partnered with his former employer Alexander Brown to form Christie, Brown and Company. In the late 1870s, Christie became the sole owner. His ability to transform his business from hand production in a small shop to a large steam-powered manufactory was one of his keys to success.
The Christie Romanesque Revival-style factory on Adelaide was built in 1874. Previously the company had been on Francis Street (a north/south street that ran through St. James Park), and before that, it was located on George Street, on a section of which is now Moss Park. Because of the company’s success, the factory expanded and by 1892, it spanned the entire block between Frederick and George. By 1907, they had added two additional storeys to the factory. Around that same time, still needing more space, the company took over the premises along King Street. They hired architects Sproatt & Rolph to design an eight-storey office building in the Edwardian Classicism style in 1914.
In 1928, the Christie family sold the business to the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco Brands Ltd) and in 1954, no longer needing the Adelaide-King Street complex, Nabisco sold the factory to greeting card maker William E. Coutts Company, otherwise known as, Hallmark Cards.
Bill Coutts started his greeting card business in 1916. He had learned the retail business during his 12-year employment at Ryrie Brothers (which became Birks Jewellers). In 1931, Coutts entered a business arrangement with greeting card makers, the Hall Brothers, based in Kansas City. After buying 40% of Coutts’ interest in the company in 1948, the Hall Brothers, who were now operating under the name Hallmark Cards, bought the balance of the company ten years later, in 1958.
In 1971, George Brown College acquired the property and remodelled it in 1977 as its St James Campus. Named after George Brown, a Father of Confederation who co-founded The Globe (the forerunner to today’s Globe and Mail newspaper), the community college was established in 1967.
The collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century buildings on this block received heritage status in 1978.
