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The Gooderham building, better known as the Flatiron building, appears in practically every book written about Toronto in the past century and continues to be one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
In the 1800s, the area was considered the outskirts of town and Wellington Street (then called Market Street) was an access road for farmers coming into the town to sell their produce at the St. Lawrence Market.
Built in 1891, Toronto's Flatiron building pre-dates New York City's more famous one by 10 years. At that time it housed the offices of George Gooderham of Gooderham and Worts. The Gooderham and Worts families were among the wealthiest in Toronto, operating not only the Gooderham & Worts distillery but also railways, a shipping business, a lumber business, a cattle business, a bank, a trust company and an insurance company.
Today the building still stands proudly at the junction of Church, Wellington and Front streets. It is home to a pub in the lower level and offices above.
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