Barnes Wines: Canada’s Oldest Winery flyer. n.d.

In 1873 George Barnes, Andrew Skinner, James Skinner, John Young Reid, Charles Robert Murray, George Magan, Thomas Barnes and Robert Duncan applied for, and received a charter for a commercial winery which would be called The Ontario Grape Growing and Wine Manufacturing Company Limited. It opened in 1894 and became known as Barnes Wines Limited. In 1973 the company completed a merger with Reckitt and Coleman (Canada) Limited. The winery operated until 1988 and was located on the banks of the old Welland Canal in St. Catharines, Ontario. The company produced a complete line of table wines, dessert wines, sherries, ports, and both crackling and sparkling wines. Barnes Wines called itself “Canada’s oldest winery” at the time of the printing of this flyer.

Barnes Wines Fonds

4 Minute Books dated: 1880, 1892, 1901, 1934, 1948-1950, 1952-1953, 1955, 1958, 1962 – 1975, 1981, 1984, 1986; 3 Common stock books dated: 1934-1935, 1937-1941, 1946, 1948-1950, 1955-1956, 1958, 1961-1974, 1981 and 2 Class A stock books dated:1948 - 1951

Letter - Julian Porter to R.A. Brown 12 July 1967

A letter from Mr. Julian Porter to R.A. Brown of Longmans Green Publishing Company. The letter indicates that Mr. Porter was introduced to Sean O'Sullivan during a political function. Mr. O'Sullivan mentioned that he had written a manuscript about Mr. J. Diefenbaker. Mr. Porter suggests that Longmans Green Publishing Company take interest in the manuscript. The company eventually rejects the book due to it being "so highly personal". The publishing company also remarks "I am personally most impressed with Mr. O'Sullivan's sincerity. I can't imagine anything will stop him from eventually going into politics."

Barnes Wines, Limited, Shares Certificate, 1957

Share certificate No. BP001, registered to Mrs. Bessie A. Barnes Barkley. The certificate has several shares transactions listed. The final number of shares redeemed on April 11th, 1957 is 316.

Barnes Wines, Limited, Shares Certificate, 1934

A shares certificate issued to The National Trust Company for two hundred shares.

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law no. 82

A by-law "to fix the remuneration and expense allowances of directors". It reads "Be it enacted as a By-law of Barnes Wines Limited: 1. That each Director of the Company be paid the sum of Seventy-five ($75,00) Dollars annually in respect of general services rendered by the Director in his capacity as Director, such remuneration to accrue from the date of his election or appointment as a Director. 2. That each Director shall be paid and allowed travelling and other expenses properly incurred in connection with the affairs of the Company. 3. That this provision shall be and remain in force and effect in the fiscal years of the Company, 1971 to 1973 both inclusive. Enacted this 8th day of February, 1971."

Barnes Wines, Limited, Special Resolution No.1

The note at the start of the resolution reads: "A special resolution to authorize an application for supplementary letters patent varying the authorized capital of the company by re-classifying and changing certain shares and increasing the capital of the company by the creation of additional preference shares".

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law Index

A list of company by-laws starting July 1873 through April 1973.

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law no. 75

By-Law no. 75 begins "A by-law to govern the affairs of the company and repealing the by-laws of the company passed heretofore relating to the administration of the affairs of the company".

Barnes Wines, LImited By-Law no. 81

The by-law reads: "A by-law to amend by-law no. 79 of the company by restricting the distribution of monies set aside for profit sharing to officers and employees regularly employed at the company's plant. Be it therefore enacted as a by-law of Barnes Wines, Limited as follows: That Schedule 'A' to By-Law no. 79 of the Company enacted on the 2nd day of February, 1953, be and the same is hereby amended by adding after the word "Company" in the last line of paragraph I thereof, the following: 'regularly employed at the Company's plant,' Enacted this 9th day of February, 1966. Witness the Corporate Seal of the Company. Unanimously confirmed by all the Shareholders of the Company at a Special General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company held on the 21st day of February, 1966."

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law No. 84

The By-Law reads: "A By-Law to change the Qualification of a director of the Corporation. Be it enacted and is hereby enacted as a By-law of Barnes Wines, Limited that: - Whereas it is deemed expedient to change the qualifications of a Director of the Corporation; Be it therefore enacted as a By-law of Barnes Wines, Limited, as follows: That By-law no. 75 of the Corporation be and the same is hereby amended by striking out Paragraph 4 thereof. Enacted this 9th day of April, 1973. Witness the Corporate seal of the Corporation."

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law No. 88

By-Law no. 88 reads: "Being a By-Law relating to the qualifications of Directors of the Company. Be it and it is hereby enacted as a By-Law of the Company as follows: By-Law No. 88 Section 4 of By-Law No. 75, as amended by By-Law No. 84, is hereby repealed." It was enacted January 7th, 1974 and confirmed in the shareholders meeting on April 18th, 1974.

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law No. 80

The by-law reads: "A by-law to change the date for the holding of the annual meeting. Whereas it is deemed expedient to change the date for the holding of the Annual Meeting of the Company; Be it therefore enacted as a By-law of Barnes Wines, Limited as follows: That By-law No. 75 of the Company be and the same is hereby amended by striking out paragraph 24 thereof and enacting in the place or stead thereof the following: "24. Annual Meeting - The Annual Meeting of the Share-holders shall be held at the Head Office of the Company or elsewhere in Ontario on the first Monday in March in each year or on such other day as the Directors may be resolution determine."

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law No. 71

The summary of the bill reads: "A By-Law authorizing an application for supplementary letters patent re-classifying and increasing the capital of the company."

Barnes Wines, Limited By-Law No. 72

The By-Law reads: "Whereas it is deemed expedient to vary the manner of the payment of dividends to Shareholders of the Company and consequently necessary to repeal By-Law No. 64 of the Company. Now therefore be it enacted and it is hereby enacted as a By-Law of the Company: 1. That By-Law No. 64 of the Company, passed the 25th day of January, 1941, be and the same is hereby repealed."