PORT COLBORNE IS BOOMING

MANY COMMODIOUS RESIDENCES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CANAL PORT TOWN

New $16,000.00 Water Works System

[Welland Tribune, 29 July 1898]

Port Colborne is on the move in building operations. Never in the history of the place or the memory of the oldest inhabitant has so many neat residences and other improvements been made in one year. Yet this is not all; there are yet more to follow, some of which will eclipse anything in town for magnitude and cost

One reporter took a cursory glance around the pretty little port one day this week and here is what his notes tell:

THE NEW WATERWORKS

The new waterworks system in the course of construction is going to be no second-class affair. Some three-and-a-half miles of mains cover the principal streets about town. Hydrants are placed at proper locations along the line, so that a sufficient supply of water will be available for fire protection, besides a good revenue will be obtained for the domestic use of the water, many of the citizens being ready to connect their house by pipes already laid to the mains. A large-stand pipe will be erected on the hill on Sugarloaf st., 80 ft. high, 12 ft. in diameter, standing on a solid concrete foundation some 16 feet down in the hill. A neat little pumping station has been erected at the end of West st., near the pier, and the water will be taken from a well which has been made under the pier. The water filters through the stone walls of the canal to the well, and consequently is much purified. In the pumping house is a 25-horsepower Rugar gas engine and an 8×10 Runsey pump, both machines being of American build. The pump and engine have just been set in position and a flow of water was sent through the mains on Monday morning for the first to flush out the hydrants. Everything passed off quite satisfactorily. In a few days a complete test will be made, when 120 lbs to the inch pressure will be placed on the mains. Mr. MacKay has had charge of the work of construction for W.B. Wilson of Buffalo.

S.J. McCOPPEN’S HOUSE

On Sugarloaf street and cornering on King is being built a handsome residence for S.J. McCoppen, tug owner. Augustine & Son are the contractors, and the building when completed bids fair to outrival any in town for being roomy, nicely laid out, interior and exterior finish. It is built on historic ground, the lot on which it stands being the spot where in the early ‘40s the officers of Her Majesty’s troops were quartered for some time. The most noticeable thing about Mr. McCoppen’s house is the majestic manner in which it rises from the ground up nearly 25 feet to the edge of the roof, which then in turn rises very sharply in cottage style, while pretty dormer windows just out here and there in the roofing.  It is a two-and-a half storey building and will contain some 14 rooms, being fitted up with baths and gas and water conveniences. The interior will be of Norway pine throughout, and will be divided into double parlors, sitting room, kitchen, and a beautiful stairway and vestibule on the first floor.  The second and third floors will be given to bed rooms and sitting rooms. Red cedar shingle form a graceful roofing for this pretty residence. The exterior is sided with wood and the whole structure covers 34×24 ft. ground space. In all probability when completed the building will cost $1,500.

DUNCAN ARMSTRONGS’S HOME

On the site of the location of his old residence is to be found the new structure of Duncan Armstrong. It is also a very neat residence and the object of many an admiring glance by the passer-by along King street. It is a two-storied building containing some twenty rooms, fitted up in a very handy and modern manner. Mr. Armstrong courteously showed the Tribune man the interior arrangement. The whole building reflects great credit on its builder, Reuben Neff of Humberstone. All modern equipments as baths, water and gas, are added. Surrounding the building stand some graceful maple shade trees already from eighteen to twenty inches in diameter and nearly forty feet high, which form a nice shade for the pretty verandah surrounding half of the building. One especial feature we noted was A very large single pane glass window nearly four feet square, topped by ornamental glass. The painters, under the supervision of Tulloch & Co., were at work decorating the interior, so that it will be ready for complete occupancy in a few days.

D. ROACH’S HOTEL

The improvements to the well-known hostelry known as Roach’s hotel next attracted our attention. Here complete renovation has been gone into with what was a veritable landmark for the town. The large hall above has been changed into some eight bed rooms. It seems that here was previously the only hall for all kinds of public meetings in the past, and that some of them has not been of the most peaceful kind. Downstairs the arrangements have been greatly changed, and three rooms can easily be transformed into a very large and spacious dining room by means of disappearing door-partitions if the needs require it. The whole building has been resided outside, repainted out and inside, re-plastered and otherwise thoroughly repaired, and is now a very neat and tastily arranged hotel.

Success to friend Roach.

Just as we cross the little government ferry we note an immense pile of brick and stone, which proves to be the material for the large residence being built for.

JAMES HAMILTON

It will be brick, standing on a foundation, which is already built. This latter is some 17 ½ feet high and instead of mortar cement has been used to adhere the stones together. It seems the ground here is very soft, and it was only by this way a good foundation was secured. The building will be one of the most spacious and commanding along the canal, costing nearly $3,000. The foundation measures 200 feet around and is on a level with the sidewalk. An immense amount of filling will be required to level the lot with the streets in front. It is expected the house will be completed for a tenant this fall.

Still further up, on a lot recently purchased from Sperry Carter, was pointed out to us the site of a new residence for Mrs. Parker.

MRS. PARKER

No work was begun, the contracts only being up for bids thereon. We understand the building is to also be a $3,000 or $3,500 affair, of very commanding appearance and modern in construction. It will be a 2 ½ storey brick structure, some 44×54 feet main, with an addition of 12×18 feet, the main portion being cottaged. There will be some 15 rooms in all, with 10 ft. 8, 9 ft. and 6 and 8 ft. ceilings. All the latest conveniences to be had will be added and a very neat residence will grace the site of what was once the British-North American hotel, one of the main hotels in the canal building era.

On the east side we note the G.T.R. has greatly improved the appearance of the interior of Erie Park, as has also Geo. Christmas at his pretty summer resort boarding house.

FRED CRONMILLER’S

Fred Cronmiller’s new residence was our next point of interest. This too is a very neat residence, containing some 12 rooms, besides bath room and ward-robes. Mr. Cronmiller has certainly a well-built house. Chas. Richmond of Humberstone was contractor, and he has given good value. The building is cottage shaped with many little modernized additions and portions, one in particular being the L shaped portion running out towards Welland street, upstairs projecting over and with a large 15 foot bay window below. Large plate glass windows adorn the openings, and when completed the interior will assuredly be very commodious and handily arranged, as appears now in the crude.

THERE ARE OTHERS

Before closing the article we must not pass by the many changes and re-arrangements such as the addition and rebuilding of Donald McGillivray’s residence, which has been especially arranged for the waterworks system, a very expensive bath equipment being added.

T. Roach of Welland has also greatly changed the appearance of a building owned by him, just north of the G.T.R. tracks, to a neat little residence, as has also J. Anderson transformed a building on Adelaide street.

The government house, occupied by local superintendent of the canal, G.W. Ramey, has been thoroughly overhauled, repainted inside and out, and a new roof added, at an expenditure of at least $500. The light houses have been repainted neatly by government order.

In the distance can be seen the extensive additions in the shape of a new 75-foot lime kiln to Reeb & Sons’ works’, as also looms up prominently the residence of F. J. Quin just over the line in Humberstone.

CAPTAIN JOHN MATHEW’S TUG MARY R.

While not a building, we cannot pass by this new boat, which has been added to the fleet which make this their home. The Mary R. is one of the best tugs in the harbor here. She was launched last spring, and has proven very satisfactory to her owner, Captain Mathews. She is some 48 feet long, with 16 foot beam, carrying a crew of 5 men. Her engines are of the latest pattern, the workmanship of David Bell of Buffalo, being able to knock off a pretty fast clip for a canal tug.

Nearly every other building has had the application of the paint brush, and on the whole the town has a decidedly improved and go-ahead appearance. We understand several other buildings are under negotiation or consideration for construction. As this article has not been intended to be minute, possibly a number of the improvements have been omitted, but we have at least touched as thoroughly as our space will permit, showing the decided improvement to the village.