“SOLID COMFORT” – THE PRETTY SUMMER RESORT EVACUATED FOR THE SEASON

Contemplated Improvements for Next Season-The Place

Likely to be a Hive of Industry for a Few Months

[Welland Telegraph, 18 September 1891]

The last of Solid Comfort’s lingering visitors left that beautiful summer resort on Tuesday evening for their homes in the sunny south, carrying with them the most pleasant recollections of a summer filled with health and happiness. Since the first of the month the visitors have been dropping out, as the cool autumn breezes warned them of the outing season. There was a good deal of bustle around the grounds and cottages on Tuesday in preparation for departure and the picking up of mementoes of the season. Those to leave were Mr. P. McIntyre and family, Mr. J.N. Falls and family, Mrs. R.L. Goyer and family, Mrs. C. Goyer and family, Mrs. F.W. Goyer and family, in all about 40 people. A special Pullman car, the “Dantzic” was at the disposal of the party to take them through to Memphis. Mr. B.C. Avery, the genial general manager, accompanying them as far as Buffalo.

Mr. McIntyre is as enthusiastic as ever when speaking of the pleasures and conveniences of “Solid Comfort,” which name will always cling to the place, though the club charter gives it the more formal and prosy sounding name of “The Humberstone Summer Resort.” The old name fits so admirably to everything connected with the institution that it will never be abandoned in speaking of the place, and then its sound gives a pure and emphatic American expression to the enjoyments within its limits. It is a simple index of what the visitor may expect, and invariably leaves with the expectations fully realized.

Mr. R.C. Avery has been a “power in the land” this season, and the fruits of his master knowledge in the arrangements for such a place as “Solid Comfort” have been everywhere apparent, and in him the club were fortunate in securing a gentleman who can see that all their wants and pleasures are attended to without the least semblance of any hitch or confusion.

Some extensive improvements are contemplated for next season, and their magnitude is of such an extent that operations will commence at once, keeping a respectable force of workmen employed for three or four months. One of the largest pieces of work is the club flat, which is to be erected at the south entrance of the grove, just where the old white house of the Steele property and Mr. McIntyre’s cottage now stands. These buildings will be moved out of the way, and placed in more convenient positions. The club flat will go up in a diagonal position across the entrance to the grove, but a nicely constructed driveway winding around the end and front of the new building will give a new entrance. The structure will be two stories in height, with 50 rooms, 14 x 15, beside a hall 10 feet wide, office, reading room, library and ladies parlor. One of the features will be a bay window in every other room.

The addition of an assembly hall has been talked of a good deal during the season just passed, and plans are in preparation for the supply. Mr. Avery’s idea is to raise the dining hall 20 feet, add about 20 feet to each end, making it an assembly hall with a new dining room underneath. The children’s dining room, wash rooms and store houses are also to be increased in capacity, and several more cottages are contemplated. The white house spoken of above, known as the old Steele homestead, will be placed in the rear of the dining hall and conveniently fitted up for the servant’s quarters.

“We will commence the work at once,” said Mr. Avery to a reporter, “and when the people arrive next summer they will find every improvement completed. “

Outsiders’ sometimes get a little confused when they talk about the “Solid Comfort Club,” and are under the impression that one organization includes the whole. This is not the case. There is the Humberstone Summer Resort Company, with Mr. C.W. Mathews, of Toronto, president, Mr. C. Steele, secretary, and Mr. L.G. Carter, treasurer, who own the land and property, hold the charter, etc. Then there is the Humberstone club, with Mr. McIntyre president, Mr. Steele, secretary-treasurer and Mr. Avery, general manger, which is composed of the people who come here in the summer and participate in the joys and pleasures of the place. The year the club consisted of about 50 members, which will next year probably be increased. The officers, although enjoying all the benefits, have no sinecure, and it is to their admirable management the many visitors are indebted for their comfort. Mr. McIntyre is one those good-natured, whole souled, but shrew gentlemen, with a keen eye to good system, whose presence carries sunshine wherever he goes. Mr. Steele was a hard worker during the season, and his many duties have kept him busy, but his selection for the position was a good one, and his courtesy and thorough business methods have made him a great favorite. General Manager Avery is a man of modern ideas, with an eye capable of taking in a situation at a glance, and possessing the executive ability which enables him to plan his arrangements with a system which rivals clockwork regularity. Mr. Avery will be a frequent visitor during the fall and winter, giving a general supervision over the improvements in progress in connection with Messrs. Carter & Steele.

The departure of the visitors is universally regretted by the people of Port Colborne, who will next season hail with delight their return, when it is the intention to open on the first of June and close on the last of October.