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East Main St. Will be Reached by End of this Week.
[People’s Press, 17 October 1911]
Providing the weather permits during this week, the work on the street railway, will round the corner of East Main street. Only three weeks have expired since the operations were started, and the work has already reached the Methodist church on Muir street.
Between the M.C.R. and Beatty’s crossing, the track is laid and the road has been levelled up. The rails and ties are laid down as far as Griffith street, and with the exception of a short section at the turn in the road at Beatty’s crossing, where the curved rails are being placed, the road is being put back into condition for driving.
Over sixty men are on the working force. Rainy weather is the only thing that can delay the progress, and if that does not occur the expectation of having cars running on the road within thirty days will be possible.
The Wreck at Lewiston Will be Replaced by the Upper Suspension Bridge for Electric Cars-To Make a Complete Belt
[Welland Tribune, 4 June 1897]
Niagara Falls, May 27-Though it has been quite generally known for a long time that the days of the upper suspension bridge, which spans the gorge near Prospect Park and is used for carriages and foot passengers, were numbered, and that the bridge company had even gone so far as to build the massive foundations of masonry for a proposed new steel arch bridge to replace it, there was considerable surprise here today when it leaked out that the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge company’s officers were holding a secret session at the Hotel Lafayette at the Canadian end of the bridge, and were opening bids for the construction of the proposed steel arch.
At the meeting were representatives of the various bridge building companies, and among them were those from the Buffalo Bridge & Iron Works and the Pennsylvania Steel Company, the latter concern being the builders of the arch bridge, now nearing completion that replaces the old railway suspension bridge at the north end.
Four weeks ago the company’s officers quietly called for bids for the construction of the new bridge, for which plans had been drawn some time ago, and the date fixed for opening the bids were at that time fixed on Thursday, May 27, at the Lafayette hotel. The officers met at 11 o’clock this morning and continued in session for several hours, going over details carefully and adjourning only for a brief period for luncheon.
When one of them was asked for the result of the meeting he answered that the contract would not be awarded today, and then gave the reason for keeping the matter quiet by saying: “It was known that the building of a new bridge on the plans prepared would involve a large expenditure of money and it was the fear that the bids would all be too high to warrant the company is going ahead with the project that made it desirable to keep the matter quiet for the present.”
From the remarks of the Bridge Company officials after the morning session, however, it is reasonably certain that the figures submitted will be very satisfactory and that it was practically certain the work would be proceeded with.
In regard to the proposed new bridge, much has already published, and from the plans it is certain that the structure will be a magnificent one. It will be built on different lines from the arch bridge for the Railway Suspension Bridge Company, in that the arch will be built on the parabolic principle, and the structure will undoubtedly be one of the greatest engineering feats of the year.
Under the provisions of the contract the new bridge must be completed by April 1, 1898, and this appears to be taken as an indication that the actual construction will begin early in the fall, though the first of it will not interfere with the traffic of the present bridge to any serious extent.
When the new bridge is completed many changes will take place in its vicinity on both sides, which will be necessary to meet the larger demand upon it.
The plans provide for a double track electric railroad, and ample room for a carriageway and also for foot passengers. The trolley track will, it is said, connect the trolley railroads on both sides of the river and an interchangeable service will be inaugurated that will mean much for tourists as well as for the community here.
The sole object of this enterprise is to connect the Gorge railroad and the Canadian Park and River railroad at Lewiston and again here at the new arch bridge, forming a belt a electric cars that will carry passengers along the top of the gorge on the Canadian side and along the bottom of the gorge on the American side.
It is understood that the new bridge will be built on a higher grade than the present structure and thus avoid the steep decent now necessary to reach the entrance from the river way in front of Prospect park.
[Welland Tribune, 6 July 1900]
The petition for the amalgamation of Humberstone and Port Colborne was ready for circulation on Wednesday. From the map attached we learn that about 500 acres will be taken into Port Colborne. Just what proceedings will be necessary to incorporate that amount of land into Port Colborne has not been decided, but it can certainly be done by getting a special act granting permission from the legislature. The petition will be circulated immediately.
Imposing shelter for teenagers a novelist’s dream come true.
[Welland Tribune, 3 February 1989]
By Brenda Stewart
Nothing captures the imaginations of Wellanders like the old building that now serves as the Niagara Regional Youth Home.
For years, people have viewed this historic home as either being romantic or haunted.
The imposing structure located on Prince Charles Drive has served as a farm house, an Anglican Manse, a stately home, and now a youth shelter.
Area historian recalls the history of the building.
“David Price was the original owner and he made the bricks himself,” says Hogue. “It was the first brick house in Welland. The bricks were made of Welland clay which was good stuff for bricks.”
After Price, the building was used as an Anglican Manse and then sold to the Martin family who proceeded to build the elaborate front section of the building. Hague says the family sold the building when Prince Charles Drive was extended.
“When the youth home was being fixed up,” recalls Hogue, “they put in a window and knocked some of the hand-made bricks out. I have a dozen or so and I donated some to the museum.”
According to Mike Chukil, director of the youth home, the building was purchased by the board of directors in 1974 and accepted for funding under the name of The Niagara Regional Youth Home in May 1977.
Since that time the building has undergone renovations.
“We currently have 14 bed spaces,” says Chukil.
The home has a total of 25 rooms in various shapes and sizes.
“Nothing is exactly square in this house,” says Chukil. “In this building we have odd-shaped rooms.”
Some of the third floor bedrooms, for example, have interesting gables and windows. One is even situated in what used to be a large walk-in doll house.
One of the second-floor rooms is attached to the solarium.
Since the home is co-ed, one floor is reserved for boys, the other for girls.
The exterior of the building is a romantic novelist’s dream. It hs large bay windows, turrets, a glass solarium, semi-circular doors, stained glass windows and onion dome trim.
The river location is as historically interesting as the building.
Chukil says remnants of broken bird baths have been found in the back yard, indicating what must have once been a large garden. He has even heard rumors that Price, the original owner, once traded with Indians along the river.
Although he says he enjoys the many unique features of the house, he adds it is costly to maintain.
“It’s not designed for efficient use of energy,” he says. “It’s a sturdy construction but it’s often in need of repairs.”
To date, the insulation in the attic and walls has been upgraded, as well as the radiators, plumbing, electrical system, walls and ceilings.
“They (the residents} all ask a lot of questions about it.
Niagara Regional Youth Home is licensed under the Child and Family Services act as a youth institution.
“The program for residential care includes counselling, case management, personized instruction, supervision support and shelter,” says Chukil.
Youths are provided with a bed, food and clothing. They construct musical instruments and camera cases for bands and photographers. The cases are made in a workshop located in the house.
[27 August 1943]
Back row: H.K. Smith, Sam MacDougall, Jack Oldfield, Tom Ford, W.B. Kitchen
2nd row: John Green, Frank Hesler, Clarence Wilford, Ed Jones
3rd row: Jean Williams, Edythe Phillips (Borrowman), Margaret Francis, Pauline Calder, Carmen Longo, Emily Taylor, Ruth Leamy
Front row: Jeanne Hunter, Maxine Fox, Wanda Wolak, Hugh Strawn. Catharine Barnett, Dorothy Hales, Ann Kolmer
Absent: F.E.Hudson
[People’s Press, 8 May 1900]
Frank C. Schleffel has filled a much felt want in town by opening up a well-stocked photographers’ supply house. The front room over A. Griffith’s harness shop has been fitted up for the purpose and it is now filled with a most complete stock of everything required by either professionals or amateurs. All standard grades of plates and papers, prepared solutions, chemicals, trays, graduates, etc., and a large variety of cameras and kodaks now in stock. Mr. Schleffel expects to open the business today in charge of Miss Priscilla Ramey, who will also be book-keeper for Messrs. Schleffel & Sons.
Snapshot of the past touched surface of its story
[Welland Tribune, 1997]
Coverage in yesterday’s paper of the Reeta Hotel demolition was well read judging by the number of telephone calls from our readers. Some of the calls were complementary, others were anything but.
The Reeta, as local residents know, was certainly a landmark in its heyday. Much more could have been written about it than was actually reported in the story about the farewell celebration to this once-grand building as demolition work on it started in earnest.
It stood as testament to the often glorious pasts that downtowns in communities like Welland had; those were the days, of course, before evolution of the suburban shopping malls, when downtowns reigned as the centres of commerce and finance. They were the days before their flight to the suburban subdivisions took people, and their business from the downtown cores.
Long-time local residents can recall the men’s and ladies wear stores that were prominent fixtures of the downtown- family owned businesses like Blake’s, David’s, Dave Price and Joyce and Marando; Mitchell’s, Merrick’s, and Reitmans among others. They can recall the shoe stores, places like Holcomb’s, McCaw’s Ernie’s; the F.W. Woolworth Company store with its creaky, hard-wood floors, and soda/lunch counter, the S,S. Kresge store, and of course the Olympia Restaurant.
The Reeta was part of this now treasured lineup, in a time when parking spaces on Main Street were hard to find and shoppers actually caused congestion on downtown sidewalks.
Many a family shopped at the Ross department store at East Main and King, and the downtown Loblaws was a bustling place for so many years.
The Reeta was one of two well-known hotels in that block of East Main from Cross to King streets; the other was just as storied and just as well known-the Dexter. Our coverage in Friday’s paper of the Reeta ceremony touched the surface of its history; the story paid tribute to its past (perhaps not enough tribute) and speculated about the future once the derelict building is gone.
Its removal is seen by some officials as a kind of life-restoring breakthrough for the city’s downtown.
Said Chamber of Commerce manager Dolores Fabiano: “This is step in the right direction for the revitalization of downtown Welland.” Wishful thinking, of course, but whether or not the Reeta’s departure helps bring life back to the downtown remains to be seen.
The Reeta certainly has many stories that could be told about it; how it was a lodging place for so many travelling salesmen and other business people who found themselves in Welland on overnight trips, how so many youngsters vied for high profile shoeshine locations outside its door; how the coffee shop was a meeting place for lawyers, judges, police officers, business people and of course shoppers. The list goes on.
The Reeta’s place in Welland’s downtown of yesteryear is storied, well-known and well documented.
We provided a snapshot of yesteryear’s prominence, not a photo album; and we offered a crystal ball look at the shape of things to come without it.
The Reeta’s legacy is well-preserved.
Removal of prominent landmark will salvage downtown core: mayor
By Brad Moscato
[Welland Tribune, 1997]
Francis Cutuia, 83, who owned the Reeta Hotel from 1955 to 1962 and now lives at the Rose City Seniors Centre, sheds a tear as demolition begins Thursday on the Hellems Street landmark.
“It breaks my heart to see it go.”
An icon of the past had its moment of glory Thursday.
Once a prominent fixture in the city’s downtown core, the former Reeta Hotel was bid an official farewell by about 250 onlookers. The building has stood in the heart of Welland since 1922.
“It breaks my heart to see it go,” said Francis Cutuia, who owned the hotel from 1955-62.
“There was a lot of activity and a lot of action here during those times,” the 83 year old said. “My coffee shop was filled every day.”
Indeed the 75-year old Reeta brought back a lot of memories too many city folks.
Sixty-three–old Ron Lasovich worked as a waiter at the hotel for two years during the 1970s.
It was time, he said, when draft beer was sold for 20 cents and hourly wages for a waiter were a mere $1.35.
“The Reeta was great in its day” Lasovich said. “But things change.”
According to city officials, such change is intended to salvage the downtown core.
Mayor Dick Reuter delivered an unequivocal endorsement of the project to onlookers gathered outside the building.
This sends a message that we are doing something with the downtown area”, said Reuter. “We want to encourage businesses to come back into the community.”
But Reuter didn’t forget to mention the important role the hotel played in the community for years.
“It was a fine establishment,” he said. “A lot of people are going to miss it.”
Options for the hotel’s replacement are being examined but officials suggest a parkette stands out as the best choice.
“Certainly downtown is vital to the community. We’re trying to make it alive and well,” said Dolores Fabiano, manager of the city’s Chamber of Commerce.
Although the mood at the event was mostly celebratory, with banks playing in the background and free food and drinks being served, the decision grew considerable criticism.
One man, who asked not to be identified, conveyed disappointment about the building being torn down.
“Whoever made this decision should be shamed,” he said. “This is part of Welland’s history.”
And he threw cold water on city officials’ rosy predictions of steamy growth for the downtown core.
Fabiano’s response was that the the building needed to be put out of its misery” and predicts its removal will be a key driver in the change of attitude in business downtown.
“Change is a good thing,” she said. “This is a step in the right direction for the revitalization of downtown Welland.”
In any case it was the old Reeta’s day. One hundred of the structure’s bricks were being sold to raise money for the downtown and some had the chance to spray paint slogans on the side of the building.
Messages ranged from “So long old girl” to “My cousin was made here” and “Finally gone” to Farewell.”
Property Purchased by John Cooper, Proprietor of Dexter Hotel
Acquired From Samuel Lambert Estate at Price Exceeding $40,000
[The Welland Evening Tribune, 22 January 1929]
The sale of the Reeta Hotel by the Samuel Lambert estate to John Cooper, proprietor of the Hotel Dexter, was confirmed yesterday.
The property was reported to have changed hands for approximately $40,000. Asked about the sale, Mr. Cooper stated that the sale price was well above that figure.
The new proprietors take over the property on February 1, but the new management will not begin to function until March 1, the present lessees, Mr. and Mrs. I.D. Smith remaining in charge of the hotel until that date.
John Cooper was originally proprietor of the Park hotel, King street west, Hamilton, and, selling out his interest in that property in 1911 he moved with his family into Welland, and has continued in the hotel business ever since, making a successful venture of the Hotel Dexter.
It is understood that one of Mr. Cooper’s sons will manage the new property as a hotel on similar lines to the Dexter hotel.
ISSUE NOT LAID TO REST YET.
By Greg Dunlop
Tribune Staff Writer
[Welland Tribune, 30 July 1986]
PELHAM-A report from the Pelham Historical Society has been unable to lay the Hillside/Dawdy Burying Ground question to rest.
Last autumn the society agreed to a request from the Pelham town council to research the history of the Canboro Road cemetery. Council had been approached by a descendent of the Dawdy clan who claimed the Hillside Cemetery had been renamed in contravention of a 60-year old agreement and that the graveyard’s original name should be restored.
Council members decided they didn’t have enough information to base any decisions on so they asked the Historical Society to investigate the matter and try to clear up a few questions. The society’s report was ready last week and President Mary Lamb presented it to council.
.Lamb said even after all their work there were still some grey areas.
“I’m surprised we haven’t been able to find more information. It’s hard to believe there isn’t someone in town who remembers where, when and why the name was changed.”
The society circulated requests for anyone with information to come forward, but even with the public input the facts were difficult to nail down for certain.
“The cemetery’s board’s records are critical but they’re not around. No one seems to know what happened to them.”
So far the society is only able to peg the name change as happening sometime in 1933. Lamb said she went through old Welland Tribune clippings to see when the graveyard was first referred to under the Hillside name.
“I went through the death notices for all of 1933 and they referred to the Dawdy Burying Ground but the first death notice I found for that area in 1934 called it the Hillside Cemetery with Dawdy written in brackets.”
She said it was unusual the change was never reported in the newspapers of the time because they use to publish much less critical information. Anything of any significance was published back then, according to Lamb.
The society never did find an agreement between the town and the cemetery trustees where the town agreed not to change the cemetery’s name after they took it over in 1926. The graveyard had been known as Dawdy’s Burial Ground from the early 1800’s until 1933.
Lamb told council the society had done all it could, and unless someone else came forward with more information there was nothing more to add.
Mayor Bergenstein thanked Lamb and the Historical Society for their efforts.
Council decided to give Tony Whelan, the man who brought up the whole issue, a chance to study and comment on the report before making any decisions.
They requested Whelan to prepare his comments and information in written form and to present it at the next meeting of council, August 18.
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