Results for ‘General Events’
[7 August 1891, Welland Telegraph]
A sixty-five foot whale, weighing seventy-five tons when captured, may be expected in Welland on a large and roomy barge for exhibition to-morrow (Saturday), Aug 8th, remaining for a few days only. This monster was captured off Cape Cod June 5, 1888, has been embalmed at a cost of $3000, and has been viewed by thousands of people. It has been on exhibition in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Rochester and many other large cities in the States. To give some idea of this sea monster the tongue, when removed from the mouth, weighed 3500 lbs., and when rendered into oil it yielded two barrels. The mouth is so large 25 people can occupy it at one time and though you may be six feet tall you can stand erect between the monster’s jaws. It is said to be the longest whale ever captured on the coast. Those having a desire to see a real whale can do so for a very small sum. As the admission will be only 15c-children 10c.
[7 August 1891, Welland Telegraph]
The water in the East Main street frog hatchery is getting low and the town council is taking no steps to replenish the contents of his ancient and honored land mark.
[Welland Telegraph, 8 May 1891]
The old book of the Mechanics Institute is still in a good state of preservation. The minutes of the first meeting are dated Nov. 26th 1825 and the first meeting was held in “the school house near Brown’s Bridge.” There were present at the meeting, David Thompson, James Brown, Geo. Bradshaw, Nathan Hancock, Amos Bradshaw, John Hellems, Josiah Page, Patrick O’Reilly, Alex Brown and Geo. Shrigley. At the meeting David Thompson was elected Treasurer, James Brown, Librarian, and John A. Sidy, Sec.
[Welland Telegraph, 6 November 1891]
The 2nd of November, 1891, will long be remembered as a red letter day in the history of Welland. In the years to come, hoary bearded grandfathers will relate to the children around their knees, how that the day was memorable by the police magistrate coming out in a fashionable two button cutaway coat, casting to the relics of antiquity the time honored, one button, gray tweed, which for ages had been a familiar sight.
Another Petroleum Well Struck in Humberstone A Deep Hole in Bertie.
[Welland Telegraph, 18 December 1891]
The oil excitement in the township of Humberstone is growing, and from present indications bids fair to assume the nature of a boom. On Saturday, on the Troup farm in the 3rd concession, another good well was struck, which gives a good example of oil, so pure that it burns well in its crude state. Various estimates of the capacity of the two oil wells are made, which give the product from one to ten barrels per day. The company, which is virtually controlled by the great Standard Oil Company, has leased all the available land in the vicinity, giving the owners from a 10th to a 15th of the production, but since the last find those who have not yet leased their property are holding out for better terms. Now comes the question: What is the company going to do with the oil? And the most feasible answer is they will erect pumping stations and force the oil to the other side of the boundary line, unless legislature steps in and puts on a heavy export duty or prohibits its exportation in this manner. The great huckleberry marsh in Wainfleet is mostly under lease, and it is said this property gives good oil signs. Another well is now being drilled on the Johnson farm, and a plant is being erected on the Peter Barnhardt place, but the drillers and members of the company are very reticent in giving any information regarding their intentions or the capacity of the wells. The company is making a test of deep drilling on David Sherk’s place in Bertie, and a few weeks ago reached the Trenton rock at a depth of 2,800 feet, when the machinery gave out, not being adapted to such deep probing. Heavier machinery will be put on the work, and although the company are using every secrecy in the matter, they have not concealed the fact that the oil indications are good.
The Provincial Natural Gas Company Finds Oil in Humberstone
[Welland Telegraph. 11 December 1891]
Food for a new boom has been discovered in the township of Humberstone. Several weeks ago the Provincial Gas Company struck oil at a well on Peter Storm’s farm at the depth of 887 feet, but the matter was kept very quiet until all the property that could be obtained in the vicinity was leased.
The oil is said to be a first-class sample of petroleum, equal if not superior to the Pennsylvania product. Another well is now being put down in the marsh of Mrs. Troup’s property, just north of where the find was made, and if this should pan out good oil there will likely be a boom.
Arrangements are being made, and some of the appliances are already on the ground for pumping, but the capacity of the well cannot be determined until the pump is started.
[Welland Telegraph, 4 December 1891]
Everybody who has ever been in Welland knows Magistrate Hellems, and everybody who meets him has a good word for him, unless, perchance, a hopeless evil-doer who chances to fall foul of him. To the “bad man” he is a terror. His rough and unkempt exterior is only the covering of a warm and generous heart. The boys know this, and are ever ready to take advantage of it. Some little time ago it was learned that he intended paying the barber a visit. Mr. Tonsorial was taken into confidence and a plot was hatched which was carried out and caused a suppressed smile all over the town. He got into the barber’s chair, one side of his head had been shorn of its graceful load of flowing locks when the barber was called out. The latter evidently forgot about his customer until his patience was worn out, and when he came back to the shop the magistrate, half shaven, was very angry, and if there had been any charge standing against the barber just then he would have got the time. When the story leaked out, of course, everybody was amused.-St. Catharines Standard.
[Welland Tribune, 21 April 1893]
Work on the cemetery is progressing rapidly. Jas. Andrews, the caretaker, is daily to work, and already a great improvement is perceptible by the underbrush being cleared away and the long grass and weeds destroyed. All who have not yet subscribed are earnestly asked to contribute, and aid this work by a generous subscription. The money will be spent economically, and made to do as much good as it can possibly can, and will be put, as already promised, inside the grounds.
The Stork, the Pale Rider and Cupid-What They Have Done
[Welland Tribune, 3 January 1908]
Cupid is a bit slow in Welland. The little fellow, who laughs at locksmiths and deals in hearts, has not averaged a marriage a week in our town, there only being 31 marriages during the past year. But the stork has done better, and from out its long beak, and out from the land of somewhere, out from mystery, has brought 53 little cherubs, who someday will be voters or mothers in the land. Death is ever busy, and 54 has the pale rider come to the town and 54 times has the crepe been hung above the door a Welland home. In plain language, Welland during the last twelve months has had 53births, 54 deaths and 31 marriages.
[Welland Tribune, 17 January 1908]
Mr. W.O. Howell, carpenter, of Thorold township, near Fonthill, met with a very serious accident on Tuesday last. He was working for Charles McClellan on a building at Niagara Falls South, when a part of the framework fell, carrying Mr. Howell to the ground.
Mr. Howell’s escape from instant death was a mighty narrow one, a heavy timber crashing down but a few inches from his head. As it was, his left ankle was smashed, sustaining a compound fracture. He was removed to Dr. McGarry’s office, where the fracture was reduced by Drs. McGarry and Olmstead, and later he was removed to the hospital at the Falls, where he will be for the next five or six weeks. The accident is a most deplorable one.
Mr. Howell is a member of Court Raymond, Fonthill.
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