PELHAM FIRES

MANY FIRES

[Welland Tribune, 22 October 1897]

Pelham seems to be having its share of fires just now:

A few weeks ago a small but not valuable tenant dwelling at Ridgeville, the property of George Townsend, was burned (uninsured), the tenant, Mr. Wellington, a poor man, losing considerable of his effects.

Then followed the W. J. Dougherty loss at Fonthill which has been already reported.

Thursday evening (Oct. 14) it seemed to be Fenwick’s turn for a misfortune, for that evening the sawmill there of Wm. J. Jennings, with its entire contents, went up in smoke. No insurance. Mr. Jennings places his loss at from $1500 to $2000. Besides the mill and machinery several thousand feet of lumber were burned.

Then, on Sunday afternoon last, the cry of fire was again heard in Ridgeville. This time the loss fell to Amos Roswell Dochstader, formerly the Robert Holditch homestead. The dwelling, which was one of the oldest landmarks of the locality, and which 30 or 40 years ago was widely known as Holdith’s Inn, and all the outbuildings –woodshed, two barns, stables and sheds, were totally consumed. When discovered the fire had had a defiant hold between the upper ceiling and the roof about one of the chimneys, and it is probable that the cause of fire may be traced to a defect in the chimney, which was very old, Mr. and Mrs. Holditch having themselves occupied the dwelling more than 50 years. About all the contents of the dwelling and outbuildings were saved except hay and feed. The loss will easily reach $1000, and it is said there is an insurance in the London Mutual of $800. The Tunnacliffe buildings immediately opposite were in great danger, and were on fire several times, but the vigilant work of the villagers saved them as well as Mrs. Ward’s dwelling and Brown’s blacksmith shop, which also were ignited.

Again on Monday night or early Tuesday morning of this week, Dr. Barker of Fenwick in making a midnight professional visit saw the barn of Benson Farr, Cream street, who lives 1 mile east of Fenwick, all ablaze. Quickly rousing Mr. Farr and his family from their slumbers, the doctor rushed to the burning building, but was unable to enter it, though he did succeed in liberating Mr. Farr’s cattle, which were in an enclosure adjoining the barn. Nothing whatever was saved from the barn and the loss covers, besides all Mr. Farr’s vehicles, implements, carpenter tools, produce & c., his horse and two nice porkers. There is an insurance in the Bertie & Willoughby Farmers Mutual, but it will only partially meet the loss. The cause of the fire is a mystery. At 7 o’clock Mr. Farr himself locked up the barn for the night; two or three hours after, some of his neighbors returning from church services at Fenwick saw the barn door open and a light within, but the fire did not break out till after midnight.