Welland History .ca

Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

The EVENTS in and around Welland

This is where you will find interesting stories of
various EVENTS in and around Welland.
Currently we have a lot of stories about
businesses and their owners in the 1800s and 1900s.

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A PIECE OF FONTHILL’S SMALL TOWN PAST FADES AWAY

Keith’s Restaurant closes its doors after more than 60 years

By Steve Henschel, Photo: Staff Photo

[Niagara this Week, 25 May 2017]

PELHAM-Looking out the windows of Keith’s restaurant Vilma Moretti has watched Fonthill’s continuous march through the decades.

She was just 18 when she started serving at the eatery, famed for its pies, on the corner of Highway 20 and Pelham Street. The restaurant has been central to her life, she married Keith Crick in 1962, and has run the restaurant along with her son Tom Crick since Keith’s passing in 1993. Now, at age 73, and with the death of her son Tom, the restaurant has closed. On a Friday evening the restaurant’s guests enjoyed a meal and one last slice of pie, before Moretti closed the doors on the location that has sat at the very heart of Fonthill since 1959. No longer will she look out the windows and witness the ever-changing face of the town.

“I don’t know where I am sometimes,” said Moretti, who has watched big box stores move into the town. She said it seems sometimes the small town she grew up in is long gone. Klager’s Meats, where Keith’s used to get its meats is closed now, so is Keiths.

“It’s time for me to retire,” said Moretti, explaining with the loss of her son and business partner to pancreatic cancer she can’t keep the restaurant open.

“I still see Tom coming through the doors,” said Moretti, speaking from the shuttered restaurant where the chairs now sit upturned on the tables.

“He’ll always be here,” she said, explaining it is hard to close the restaurant. She added, however, that the memories of that place she will carry forever.

“This place is bricks and mortar, the memories are here, and here,” she said, first pointing to her heart, and then her head. On a physical level those memories live in the more than 300 photos of customers Moretti has been picking up over the last week.

“I’ve been on this corner since I was 18, it’s not been only work, but my social life,” said Moretti.

Keith first moved into the location back in 1959, continuing his foray into the restaurant business after operating the Drift In next door for several years. Before he took over the building it had been a confectionary and then a bakery since first being built in 1929. Keith was born on a farm where he learned to cook from his mother. He brought that talent, and her recipes, to the restaurant business where he, and eventually Moretti and Tom, kept a focus on using top-notch ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes cooked daily.

“He certainly could bake pies,” said Moretti, adding, “Tom took after him in that respect.

Moretti met Keith, 26 years her senior, when she took on a serving position after graduating from Pelham High School. He was a friendly man, she recalled, young at heart who loved to golf, play bridge and talk politics.

“He was a charmer,” she said.

Moretti explained it is the people she will miss the most.

“My customers as well as my staff are my family,” she said, adding some of her wit staffers have been working tables for over two decades.”

Moretti said Keith’s is home for many of the staff, patron and herself.

“That is what this place is, everybody comes home to Keith’s,” said Moretti, who is putting the location up for sale. She hopes that perhaps another restauranteur with a focus on home cooking could open up shop.

*Personal note. I cannot stress enough how wonderful this spot was for everyone in the village. Not only the pies were amazing, but the roast beef was worth the trip to Keiths.’

BEQUEST

[Pnyx 1960]

The widow of Louis S. Haney of Fenwick, Edith B, Haney, who died in 1959, left in her will the sum of twenty thousand dollars for student scholarships and for help in buying books for the  Pelham District High School. The trust fund is to be administered by the  School Trustees. The interest each year is to be divided into five  parts: four of these are to be given as scholarships to such members(not exceeding four) of the graduating class who have  excelled in their school work and who may be  in need of assistance to study in an institution of higher learning; the fifth part is to be used to buy new books  for the school library.

Mrs. Haney and her husband were natives of the district. The daughter of Thomas Robinson, she as born just across the Chippawa near Beckett’s Bridge, Lou Haney was born in Fenwick in the house where theHerrs  now live next door to Mr. Crossley. His father Johnson Haney was a thresher.

Lou Haney started out as a carpenter and, in partnership with William Ryan, ran a planing mill. They built the store where the Newstead Hardware is now. There, Mr. Haney went into the hardware business. When power pumps were introduced he sold them to farmers to take the place of the old hand pumps. He would leave a pump with a farmer to try out and the man, finding the  machine so much more efficient on a bleak fall morning than endlessly pumping troughs full of water for thirsty cows and horses, would buy it. Mr. Haney was a good salesman. Later when radios were  coming into common use, he sold them.too, throughout the district. He built up a successful business.

Lou Haney, a devout man, joined the Church of God. It is interesting to know that he  was baptized in Garner’s pond. Both he and Mrs. Haney were faithful members of the Fonthill Church of God as long as they lived.

He had married Edith Robinson and they built a house on Maple Avenue where they had a garden. On week-ends and holidays she would make up a picnic lunch and they would drive around the peninsula picking up rocks and stones from Stoney Creek to Queenston and from the  shore of Lake Erie for their rock garden. They collected garden ornaments and pieces of statuary. The garden was their hobby and they were proud of it, it is still a show place.

In the early nineteen-thirties Mr. Haney became ill. He went up north for his health but failed to recover and died shortly after returning to Fenwick.

Mrs. Haney as  left alone with her house and garden. She  had not been able to carry on the business during her husband’s illness and it was sold. After his death, acting on the advice of the late Arthur Armbrust and others, Mrs. Haney invested her money wisely. It was  a time when stocks and other securities were low in price. She was able to hold her  investments till the more than doubled in value. Unfortunately her health failed and she had to give up her activities.

Mrs. Haney had been an active worker in the village and church organizations. She was interested in Women’s Institute and until her last illness was a member of the Maple Acre Library Board and, for many years, its secretary.

The school has been fortunate in having had so many public spirited citizens in the vicinity and who have supported its work in different ways. We are apt to forget those who have gone before  us. Mrs. Haney and her husband will be remembered by name. The awards of scholarships will be known as the  Louis S. And Edith B. Haney Scholarships. Let us hope  their generosity will long be appreciated.

MANY KINDS OF SAUSAGE SOLD AT WELLAND FARMERS’ MARKET

[Evening Tribune, 31 October 1964]

Sausages and apples predominated the Welland market this morning. Some varieties of sausages though appearing exotic to English Canadian patrons, are actually commonplace to their fellow countrymen from Central and Easter Europe.

Two varieties of blood sausage, for example, one lighter in color than the other, sold at 35 cents a pound. French sausage was 59 cents a pound and Polish sausage went at 65 cents a pound. Two more familiar kinds, farmers sausage and liver sausage, sold at 59 and 55 cents a pound respectively.

A great profusion of apples in many varieties met the eye of incoming customers. Spies were there, selling at 65 to 85 cents a six-quart basket. The Courtland type, especially held away, selling at 75 a six quart basket. Red delicious were 85 cents a six-quart and MacIntosh were 70 cent a six-quart basket. Pears sold at 65 cents a six-quart basket.

Egg prices were as follows: small, 35 cents, medium, 45 cents, large, 53 cents extra-large, 55 cents.

Beef heart sold at 35 cents a pound, baby beef liver at 49 cents and geese and ducks, 59 cents a pound.

One standout, a booth selling nothing but chrysanthemums, attracted many buyers. Its mums went from $1 to $1.25 a bunch.

Vegetable prices were as follows: squash, 10 to 25 cents apiece; pumpkins, 20 to 50 cents apiece; potatoes, 50 cents a six quart basket; cauliflower two for 25 cents; cabbage 20 cents a head; garlic 35 cents a pint and $2.75 a six-quart basket; red peppers, 25 cents a pint; Spanish onions 75 cents a six-quart basket.

DEEPENING AND WIDENING OF INFLUENCE SOUGHT BY CHURCH

By REV. RON HARMER

PUBLICITY CONVENOR

FONTHILL BAPTIST CHURCH

[Welland Tribune, 17 February 1987]

PELHAM-The 140th annual meeting of Fonthill Baptist Church was held recently with Neville Borisenko, chairman of the Deacons’ board, presiding and thus closing out of his three-year year of responsibility.

The meeting began with a delicious pot-luck supper in the church hall, followed at 7 p.m. by the business meeting held in the church sanctuary.

For the year 1986, a new procedure was followed. The Nominating committee began its work in October, seeking to choose carefully and prayerfully the new officers for 1987 over several weeks.

When this work was completed, the new people maned were elected at the Nov. 26 church business meeting. The purpose was to allow them to begin their stewardship as of Jan. 1, 1987.

At this meeting, the church budget for 1987 was presented. The newly-appointed officers for the new year were then able to sit in at the last Deacons’ board meeting in the year, held in December. In this way they could get acquainted with their new roles and provide a smooth tradition into 1987.

Pastor Rob Duncan has now just finished his first full year as pastor. The year has been busy and he has focused on preaching, teaching, visitation and counselling. Two retreats (in April and October) were held with the Deacons’ board. A wise emphasis was placed on ‘Renewal’ and renewal cottage meetings were held throughout the summer months.

Bible study and prayer have been central in our church life. Many local needs were evidenced among our people, and concentration was on these things. Our pastor carried a heavy load locally in the Association, and convention-wise, and needs our prayers.

In the annual meeting on Jan. 25, our purpose was not to centre on written reports so much, but to think of specific happening in some visual presentation. The nursery school presented a small choir and sang beautifully.

Jim Overholt, chairman of the nursery school board, presided. He introduced Elizabeth High, one of the nursery school teachers. She gave winsome words of witness, telling how she came to be involved with our school. It was an excellent presentation.

One of the mothers involved with the school is Karen Poynton. She has started a mothers’ auxiliary to provide moral support, especially for these little ones. Joyce Gunter is the school superintendent and Carolyn Lammers is the other teacher serving along with High. The choir presented a humorous skit, and Janet Robinson Mission Circle yielded insight into the ways our women are helping locally and overseas.

Our church has a very active prayer fellowship. Prayer requests circulate constantly. Many answers to our prayers have come. At least 44 people are involved at the moment as prayer partners.

Bob Rittenhouse has just resigned as Sunday school superintendent after serving most capably for four years, He is succeeded now by Al Topolinsky, who, in 1986 served as chairman of the Christian Education division. We can not overestimate the value of the Sunday School which is the right arm of the church.

Missions both at home and abroad are our concern and our church is a vital part of overseas missions through our Canada-Wide Overseas Mission Board. We share with missionaries as prayer partners, as well as with our gifts.

In 1986 our church budget stood at $94,325, and of that, $25,605 was given to missions at home and overseas. Now in 1987, our church budget stands at $101,050 and the budget at $28,050.

During the early part of the meeting a “fitting-in-memoriam” service was held to remember those who in 1986 moved on into higher service. The presiding chairman, Mr. Borisenko at the end of this helpful meeting, took the chairman’s gavel and turned it over to Malcolm Gibbon, who had been elected in his place for the next three years.

The church’s prayer is that a deepening and widening influence may continue through true Christian worship and outreach under Mr. Gibbon’s leadership.

ST. VALENTINE’S MAIL IS HEAVY

Affixing Stamps in the Proper Corner Assists Work at the Post Office

[Welland Tribune, February 1929]

For more than 10 months, Welland postoffice has had in operation a stamping machine attached to which is an electric meter.

During these 10 months a million letters have gone through this machine, not including large size envelopes of letters posted with stamps in other than the right-hand corner.

Postoffice officials explained that the rapidity of movement in the work of stamping letters by the machine was badly hindered at times by the practice on the part of some correspondents of affixing the regular stamps on any place but the proper right-hand corner.

Officials stated that the machine was of exceptional service at such times as Christmas, Easter, St. Valentines’ Day and similar heavy mail delivery periods, and similar heavy mail delivery periods, and the St. Valentine’s Day mail delivery service had been the heaviest known.

Merchants down town bore this last statement out. One firm alone sent out over the Niagara peninsula no less than 43,200 one-cent valentines, more than 10,000 valentine cards, and between 4,000 and 4,500 10 cent-cards, to say nothing of thousands of post cards.

MISENER HOME LOST IN BLAZE

FARMHOUSE TWO MILES NORTH OF FONTHILL BURNED TO THE GROUND

[Welland Tribune, 24 February 1940]

Fonthill, Feb. 24-Believed to have been caused by a defective or overheated chimney the farm home of Alfred Misener, two miles north of Fonthill was burned to the ground on Friday afternoon. The loss was estimated at $2,500 partly insured.

The Fonthill fire brigade answered the alarm, but the blaze had gained considerable headway before their arrival, and without water the firemen were unable to render a great deal of assistance.

The blaze was discovered by a member of the family and the furniture in the lower part of the house was saved.

CREAMERY AT WELLAND STATION

Cheese Factory Sold-Will Be Turned Into A Creamery

[People’s Press, 17 October 1905]

Welland cheese factory at Welland Station has been sold by Mr. McGregor to the Pure Milk Corporation of Hamilton, who will convert it into a first class creamery. An up-to-date plant will be put into the creamery, the cost of which, with other improvements, will amount to several thousands of dollars. The cream will be used for butter in the winter time, and shipped to the cities for the manufacture of ice cream in the summer time.

The creamery will make a fine market for cream all throughout this section of country.

PELHAM DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER

[Pelham Historical Calendar 1999]

Some personal notes on staff

A quarter-century ago, on June 30, 1974, Pelham District High School closed its doors for the last time, one of the first victims of the consolidation (and impoverishment) of education which continues apace today throughout  the province.

Photo Credits: The Pelham PNYX 1937 and 1941

Just as a family is made up of parents and children, so a  school should engender a special relationship between those who teach and those who learn, at Pelham, there was a  particularly  good rapport between staff and students, and I would like to freshen your memories of a few of the teachers who helped make  Pelham the unique place it was.

Artist Credit: Jacqueline Damato, 1978 Pelham calendar.

I have singled out 62 of the roughly 170 staff members who spanned the school’s 52-year history (1922-1974).This is not as arbitrary a number as it might seem, since I have devised four catagories into one or ore of which these individuals can be placed with some degree of objectivity; “pioneers” (nine who served during the first decade). “Builders” (20 who put in ten or more years at P.D.H.S.) “the last team” ( 23 who “Stayed with the  ship” through its final, trying year) and “ honour roll” (33 who are deceased).

The very first teacher at Pelham (then called Pelham Continuation School) was Margaret Bonis, who ran the school single-handedly from 1922 to 1924. She remained until 1926, after being joined by Mildred Metler (1924-30) who left in 1930 and continued to teach for many years in Welland. She died in 1995, but Margaret Bonis is still living in Lindsay, Ontario. I had the  pleasure of meeting both these ladies at the ‘84 and ‘89 reunions.

Of the original staff, I knew only Bertha Jousse (1930-37), and that was as Mrs. Collver during the second stage of her tenure (1953-63), with a total of 17 years to her credit, she also qualifies as a “builder” of the institution as does Madalene De La Mater (1927-48). a much respected classically trained scholar, who devoted 21 years to the school and continued to live in the community until her death i 1976.
Jessie Bell (1927-36) along with  Miss De La Mater, joined the  staff when the first permanent building was erected and  Viola Culp (Later Mrs Roach) from 1931 to 1934, Mr. Fred Hicks (1926-29) and Mr. William Spencer (1929-30 served as our two principals, and  Mr. Percy Beckett organized and directed Pelham’s first orchestra from 1928 to 1933.

A new era dawned in 1932 with the arrival in  Fenwick of Edward Lewis Crossley, soon afterward known  as E.L. or later as Dr. Crossley. This man took vigorous charge of every aspect of the school’s life, and infused it with a  sense of direction and purpose; even the yearbook, The Pnyx was his idea, a far-sighted move which assured us of  a continuous history. Working with a succession of boards and ministries, he  shaped the philosophy of Pelham, steering it  through the shoals of shifting government policies and curriculum fads. I personally owe him my first  (and only)  teaching appointment,  and was allowed to “find my own style” under his firm but benevolent tutelage, after 31 years at the helm, Dr. Crossley assumed  responsibility in 1963 for all three high schools in the area, one of which bears his name. He died on May 12, 1996, aged 96.

Second only to E;L. In terms of tenure is Edgar “Bud “  Ker, with 22 years at Pelham(1952-74), and that takes no account of his time as  a student there. He taught  chemistry before joining the  administration. As Principal from 1965 on, he showed wise and fearless leadership, especially during those dark days when the school was veritably under siege.

Warren Loan (1049-69) and Rae Ball (1954-74)both logged 20 years, the former as an insightful teacher of English(though) I knew him also as a passionate lover of Beethoven). The latter expounding the arcane mysteries of Mathematics.Rae was  among those who helped man the ramparts in ‘73-74. I count my own 19 years at Pelham (1955-74) as the  central “fact” of my life; everything before and since seems  to  focus on that lengthy episode. I honed my skills there made many lasting friends. One of the people who helped smooth my initiation into the profession by sharing his own classroom experience was Russ Mennie, who also spent 19 years with us (1945-64) as an industrial Arts specialist. Russ who passed away in 1974, feigned a gruff manner with his sometimes obstreperous charges, but was at heart a kindly and caring man.

Doug Wallace (1949-65) and Bob Peart (1953-69) tallied up to 16 years each, the former serving as principal, the latter putting us on the map in football and basketball. Doug died in 1980. Gladys Martin was in charge of the French Department for 15 years (1945-60), and R.V. Howard taught Mathematics and Science for the same length of time (1944-59), “R.V.” had an  almost limitless curiosity about the world, thought deeply about its wonders and was a warm and generous friend. Following his retirement, he moved to the London area where he died in1965.

Cecil Dove held sway in the Biology lab from 1953 to 1966, and passed away in 1970. Two more of the “builders” who were around for the final count are Nancy Knisley (Haaf) and Martha Flagg. Nancy came on staff in 1962 as a member of the English Department, Martha in ‘63 as a Physical Education specialist, having herself been a student at Pelham. George and Caroline Holmes devoted eleven and ten years respectively to the teaching of Mathematics and Chemistry (1957-68); 1955-65); they both adhered to very high standards, and expected their students to do likewise. They were  all so interesting and gracious hosts. George died in 1983, Caroline  in 1997.  Bep Gibbins (Home Economic)  and Jerry Benner (wood shop) each spent eleven years among us (1961-72); 1962-73) and Jack Noble (Latin) an even decade(1948-58)

I feel a special kinship with the group who endured the  traumatizing demise of our academic home, but apart from those already mentioned in another context, space prohibits more than a perfunctory listing of their  names, along with the  year in which they entered our ranks; Joan Epps, Murtio Gorman, Garry Lumley (1965);Leo Cepuch (1966-deceased 1992), Sophia Glinski, Jacqueline Morgan  (1966), Art Moss, Joan Wilson (1968); Walley Farrell, Brian Walker(1969), Brian Baty, Bill McReynolds, Marg Mesaros, Glen Myers (1970); Ron Thompson (1971), Russ Anthony (1972),  Wolfhart Busse and Lloyd  Fox (1973).

I have had occasion to refer to fifteen of our departed colleagues. Of those yet to be mentioned, there are six, of whom I have no personal recollection, Earl Palmer (1934-36), Bill Ellis  (1945-52), Beatrice May (1945-48), Marion Davidson (1951-54) and  Winifred Bacher (1953-55). But there were  others with whom I worked for varying periods of time; Charlotte McDonagh(1949-58), Catharine  Fleming (1951-59), Don Bowman (1954-56), Graham Mathers (1956-63), Cam Miller (1957-63), Bert Branscombe (1958-61), and  Jane Meek-Gibson (1958-61)

Finally there are five whom I regarded as special friends; Bob Peart (1953-69).Joyce Outred-Emerson (1955-63), and Malcolm Dochstader (1962-64), their passing will seem a little more bearable if the ideals they cherished outlive them.

J. S. Curtis

SALVATION ARMY ANNIVERSARY

[Welland Tribune, 31 November 1947]

Forty years of service to God and the community are being celebrated by The Salvation Army in Welland. How could the Army celebrate without having the first of the series of meetings on the street corner? It was on the street corner, the Salvation Army was born. It was there, William Booth as a young man left the church because he saw the multitudes of the unchurched, uncared for. Godless crowds, to whom no one was ministering Saturday night true to tradition and conviction, the local salvationists, under the leadership of Major Frank Tilley, once again proclaimed the truths of the Gospel to the passing shoppers on the street.

The Saturday night indoor service was conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Acton who is the divisional commander of a large section of Ontario, with headquarters in Hamilton. It was a meeting of praise and reminiscence. Several of the older Salvationists recalled other days, some days of success and victory, other days of disappointment and a struggle against poverty and persecution. Several young converts gave testimony to the fact of a new birth in their lives. Colonel Action spoke of the experiences of Christ in Gethsemane, of His willingness that his Father’s will be done, and urged the Salvationists to let His will be done in them.

Sunday morning bright and early, the Salvationists were at the Welland County General hospital to celebrate their anniversary in service to the suffering. Colonel Action conducted the “swearing” in of three young people and three adults as soldiers of the Salvation Army. For 40 years the message of the Salvation Army in Welland has been salvation through the cross of Christ.

Letters were read from citizens who have formerly been in command of the Welland Corps, and the Citadel band assisted with music. The Welland Corps, under the leadership of Major and Mrs. Frank Tilley has made considerable advances.

FENWICK LOCALS

[Welland Tribune October 1, 1931]

Continuation school

Fenwick, Oct. 1-The principal, W.C. Spencer. and his teachers, of the  Pelham Contiuation school, are being congratulated upon the excellent results of the recent examinations. Wessel Horton and Edwin Kline both entered upon their new duties at the  Hamilton Normal school this week; William Box has resumed his studies at McGill University; Sydney Dalrymple left Monday morning to study for medicine at Toronto University; Gordon Jarrrett who has passed with high standing, has left for Queen’s University to take a course in extramural to specialize in mathematics and physics. Walter LaRose, who won the special scholarship, has been awarded $125 in cash and is also receiving a four years tuition at Toronto University, he leaving Monday to enter upon his studies.