Port Credit in Mississauga in Peel Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
St. Lawrence Starch
The founding of the company
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024
1. St. Lawrence Starch, The founding of the company marker
Incorporated in 1889, St. Lawrence Starch Company built a corn wet milling factory at the foot of Centre Road (now Hurontario Street) in Port Credit. Cornstarch production began in April of 1890. The name St. Lawrence was chosen because it was readily identifiable with Canada but not associated with a particular area or province.
The factory site was ideally located near the main east-west line of the Grand Trunk Railway. Lake Ontario provided a source of fresh, clean water. The nearby Credit River offered the possibility of utilizing the natural harbour, although no goods were ever transported by vessel. Port Credit was central to the growing cities of Toronto and Hamilton.
The founding partners were John Gray and Archibald Hutchison, both natives of Scotland with previous starch manufacturing experience in Scotland and Canada, and brothers Robert and Joseph Kilgour who owned a paper bag manufacturing plant in Toronto.
John Gray quickly established himself as one of the pre-eminent starch production men in North America, while Archie Hutchison excelled in sales and marketing.
St. Lawrence Starch ceased operations in March of 1990, one hundred years after the first steep of corn was ground, starch dried, and shipped by horse and wagon to the rail siding.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 43° 33.229′ N, 79° 34.82′ W. Marker is in Mississauga, Ontario, in Peel Region. It is in Port Credit. It can be reached from Port Street East. The marker is in St. Lawrence Park, on the north side of the Waterfront Trail, approx. 100 metres west of the park access at St. Lawrence Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mississauga ON L5G 4V2, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto, specifically on the Golden Horseshoe, and in the Toronto Metropolitan Area. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named St. Lawrence Starch (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named St. Lawrence Starch (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named St. Lawrence Starch (a few steps from this marker); Mrs. Mailman (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); At the Mouth of the Credit (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Mississauga Tract, 1805 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Mills of the Credit River (approx. half a kilometer away); The Harbour (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mississauga.
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024
2. St. Lawrence Starch Marker, the founding of the company (centre of photo)
courtesy of the Archives of Ontario, 1952
3. St. Lawrence Starch marker photo detail
View of the factory, 1952
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024
4. St. Lawrence Park, facing east, 2024
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 18, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
