written by: Kelly Waterhouse from visit guelph
Where else will you find a place where the first mayor was also one of Canada’s most successful brewers, and had the vigor to protest prohibition (and even find some careful ways around it). George Sleeman was the brew master of choice for Al Capone and his pals, the craftsman behind Sleeman Cream Ale, and the inspiration behind the The Sleeman Family Recipes that have kept the tradition of award-winning beer craftsmanship centered in our city.
George understood the quality of a work-life balance and helped create an active city. A man about town, he was an active member of the Guelph Turf Club, Guelph Bicycle Club and the Guelph Rifle Association, as well as president of the Royal City Curling Club. But his true love was baseball. He put the city on the map from the pitching mound as pitcher and president of the Guelph Maple Leaf Baseball Club, winning the coveted title of the best baseball team in Canada and the banner of World Champions. Known as the “Father of Canadian Baseball,” more than 100 years after packing up his cleats, Sleeman’s legacy was honoured with his induction to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Keep reading “Sleeman: The Toast of the Town” by clicking here
Vintage Guelph 