HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Photograph “Price Cemetery”
[Welland Tribune, 1 October 1985]
A highlight of the Welland Historical Society meeting held recently at the Museum was the celebration of the birthday of an honorary member, Mrs. Mabel Brown, with a decorated cake and candles.
President George Chipman thanked everyone who participated in the arrangements for the Fenian Raid Tour and picnic; the Rose Festival Quilt raffle and the Celebrity dinner at Julio’s.
A donation to the Museum for hygrometers and dehumidifiers was approved by the Society, as well as brochures in French and English for a walking tour of downtown Welland.
In researching the name of Denistoun Street, Cecil Dyson came up with origin of three other streets as well, all named after members of the Bald Family. He obtained his information at the Welland Public Library in Rice’s History of Welland County and Thorold Township Cenennial year book, he presented a short outline of the Bald family.
A Scotsman, Thomas Bald immigrated to this country in 1784 and settled on the Bald homestead on the Welland River across from the old County Hospital, now Riverside Terrace Apartments.
His son David married Hannah E. Cook of Cook’s Mills who was the first woman teacher in Welland County.
The Balds had a farm in the vicinity of Bald Street and Willliam Bald lived in and possibly built the Presbyterian Manse on Bald Street which gave Bald Street its name.
David Bald had three children, James who J.C. Bald School on Thorold Road named after him; Catherine was remembered by Catherine Street and David Denistoun whose name was given to Denistoun Street.
Denistoun has played an important part in Welland’s history.
In the very early years, there was a dock at the north end of Denistoun on the Welland River and the Bald family owned scows on the River.
It was the home of the Welland County Fairgrounds from 1857 to 1974. The Methodist Episcopal Church and burial grounds was established in 1865 across from the Welland High School and the high school was built in 1879. Also the Electric Steel and metals was built in 1913 with two original Heroult’s electric steel melting furnaces and which produced many thousands of 16 and 18 pound shrapnel shells for the Allies during the First World War.
Harold Fox spoke on the life of David Price who is recorded as being the first white settler in Welland and that an Indian settlement was located at the corner of Jane Street (Now Maple Avenue) and Fraser Street at that time.
He quoted from a copy of the Remanences of John Price and his father David of Welland, written for the Buffalo Express by B.B. Babcock and published in the The Tribune May 14, 1897.
David was born about 1750 in the valley of the Mohawk River near Wellsville, New York.
During an Indian uprising he was taken prisoner by a tribe of Seneca Indians and held seven years.
After his release he was an employee of the Commandant of the military post at Oswego until the close of the war. He then moved to Niagara in New York State and later to Fort George where he worked as interpreter, clerk and storekeeper in the department of Indian Affairs, August 20, 1800 at St. Mark’s Church at Niagara-on-the Lake, he married Margaret Gonder. In 1812 David moved his family to 200 acres of land along the Chippewa Creek, a place known only as Seven Mile Stake.
David’s son John tells of being born in a log house on the south bank of Chippewa Creek, the same location that the Niagara Regional Youth Home is situated on West Main Street. His death occurred Feb. 26, 1841 and his remains were buried in the Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery on Denistoun Street. Hazel Sauer and Emily Laing were in charge of social arrangements for the meeting.
[Welland Telegraph, 16 July 1907]
Tremendous Crowd in Welland on July 2th—An Address of Welcome by Mayor Crow—Monster
Orange Procession—Speeches by Leading Orangemen, Evan E. Fraser, M.P.P., W.M. German, M.P., Frank Lalor, M.P., and Others—Sports of the Day
THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE IN HISTORY
William Prince of Orange landed at Carrickfergus on the 14th of June, 1690. All Ulster rose to receive him and the soldiers took heart once more. Ten days later he started south at the head of 36,000 men. When William’s army approached Dundalk, James fell back upon Ardee; and the former still pressing southwards, the latter continued his retreat, until the pursuer was brought to a halt on the morning of the 30th of June. The English and Irish armies at last looked each other in the face across the now historic waters of the Boyne. The day passed in an exchange of shots across the river, from one of which William well-nigh lost his life, for it grazed his shoulder.
The morning of the first of July broke fair and a little after sunrise the English army advanced in three divisions to the attack. William at the head of the left wing, consisting entirely of cavalry made for a difficult and dangerous crossing in the lower river. The conflict raged hotly for a short space at the southern exit of the ford. Schromberg dashed impetuously into the river. The arrival of William at once decided the doubtful struggle. “Men of Inniskillen, what will you do for me?” was his inspiring question to the sorely pressed Protestants of Ulster; and drawing his sword with an arm yet stiff from the wound of the previous morning he led his Dutch guards and Inniskilleners against the still unbroken centre. The defeat of the Irish army soon became a rout, and their retreat a flight. James, who had watched the _ against him was making the battle from the hill of Donore till it best of his way to Dublin. His army was now a broken and confused mass of fugitives. The Battle of Boyne was won.
EXCERPT: The 12th July celebration held in Welland on Friday was a magnet that drew more people within the city walls than was ever here before. It is probable that the visitors numbered seven or eight thousand. The character of this immense concourse was one that did credit to the order of Orangemen. It was a sober, orderly, well-dressed representation of good Canadianism.
The crowd was so big that it was rather more than Welland could conveniently swallow. Truth to tell Welland on its ordinary days is crowded to the attic. The advent of the special trains and boats in a figurative way hung out the Standing Room Sign- only sign all over the place.
The town was astir early in the morning and people rose to see a fair day after twenty-four hours of rain. Flags were flying and streamers fluttered in the wind. In the middle of the forenoon the Grand Trunk specials came in from Niagara Falls and Dunnville. Then towards noon the Hamilton contingent arrived on the T.H. and B., and the Hagerville people on a special M.C.R.R. The Buffalo Street bridge at noon. But this crowd that came by train and boat was largely supplemented by the immense numbers that drove in from the country. When the whistles blew for noon the sidewalks were covered with people, and the street with vehicles. Welland never saw anything like it before.
Noon brought with it the great responsibility of feeding the people, a stupendous task. The hotels did everything within their power. The ladies of the Methodist Church fed hundreds with a special dinner served in the basement of the church. The ladies of the Presbyterian Church had a tent on the canal side and here a thousand were given dinner. The doors of a thousand homes were thrown open but even at that it is not unlikely that many went without dinner.
Council Decides to Engage Willis Chipman, the Best Authority in Canada-Dr. Burgar, M.H.O.
[Welland Tribune, 16 July 1907]
The chief effort of Thursday night’s special meeting of the Council was the address from the Board of Trade urging the necessity of a sewer system.
The deputation consisted of A.O. Beatty, Geo. H. Burgar, Robt. Bowie, M.C. Goodsir and R. Cooper.
Mr. Beatty was the first speaker. He said the Board of Trade was unanimously of the opinion that a first-class sanitary engineer should be secured to lay out a system. He admitted that Engineer McCaw was a very bright, smart young man but he was lacking in experience. What was wanted was an engineer who stood out without a peer. Mr. Beatty proceeded to point out defects in sewers that had already been laid. Mr. McCaw would work in with the expert and then he would be a position to take charge of the work of the town in future years. The engineer should have all possible latitude. What was wanted was a system that could not be excelled.
Mr. Bowie told of his experience in the building of sewers in Brockville. There the same question had been met that was now on the table before the Council. It was admitted that Brockville had the second best sanitary system in United States or Canada. Welland wanted a system to cover the ground. Then the parts could be built as they would need it. To take this step would never be regretted. Mr. Bowie suggested that Mr. McCaw be associated with an expert.
Mr. Burgar claimed that for years he had favored the proposal that his delegation was now urging upon the Council.
Mr. Cooper thought the balance of our sewer work should be done in the best possible way. The local engineer should work with the expert engaged. For his part he will do what he could to make the thing go of smoothly.
Mr. Crow promised the delegation that immediate action would be taken.
Mr. Beatty named Willis Chapman as the leading sanitary engineer in Canada.
The Mayor was instructed to communicate at once with Willis Chapman.
The contract for sewer on Franklin Street was let to Robert Foster for $500.
All other sewers will now be held over pending the decision of the expert engineer.
[St. Catharines Constitutional, 13 January 1870]
We are much pleased to notice that this sterling Conservative journal has donned a new dress, and now looks as neat as neat can be. We hope the enterprise shown will be generally repaid by a discerning public, who should understand that everything that enters into newspaper use, must be paid in hard cash, whether long-winded subsribers pay in truck or don’t pay at all.
[St. Catharines Constitutional, 6 April 1865]
New vessels: Messrs. Beatty of Thorold have commenced building a large steamer for the Upper lakes, the keel of which was laid last Monday. Mr. H.H. Collier’s side-wheel tug, intended to run on the Chippawa and Buffalo route is rapidly approaching completion. Both vessels are being built under the superintendence of Mr. Simpson. Mr. Shickluna, likewise, has a very fine vessel nearly ready for launching; and so we are glad to see that he has commenced to rebuild his saw and planing mill, lately destroyed by incendiarism.
[Welland Tribune, 16 July 1907]
The Uneda laundry has been taken over by a joint stock company, known as the Uneda Laundry Limited. In the new firm Jos. A. Craig takes the presidency which will insure a continuity of experienced and competent manager ship. C.B. Shoemaker and B.L. Booth, late with the Robertson Machinery Company are respectively Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer.
The new company began business yesterday morning and will do all kinds of laundry work as well as cleaning, dying, pressing, compressed air carpet cleaning and office toilet supplies.
The Telegraph wishes the firm a successful business career.
[Welland Tribune, 16 July 1907]
E.F. Benson of Milton has opened a shop in Welland for general blacksmithing and carriage work. Too many readers of The Telegraph Mr. Benson will require no introduction. He is a former resident of Welland Town, he resided for a few years in Wainfleet and for a number of years conducted a large shop in Dunnville. He has leased the Cutler shop, lately occupied by C.E. Davis, on North Main Street opposite Crowther’s and is prepared to do general blacksmithing, horseshoeing, carriage repair and trimming, carriage painting and ordered work in delivery and market wagons. Mr. Benson comes to Welland with an excellent reputation as a practical man and he has engaged nothing but first-class mechanics. He should be favored with a large share of patronage.
PORT COLBORNE
[Welland Telegraph, 29 March 1907]
Work on the foundations for the works of the Great Lakes Portland Cement Company will be underway in a fortnight, was the statement given to The Telegraph by R. Richardes yesterday. Mr. Richardes stated further that it was the intention of the company to erect the works without letting a contract. The works will be located on the north part of lot 3, just about opposite Solid Comfort Station, at the edge of the corporation of Port Colborne.
It is an interesting piece of news that the Reeb agreements were executed only on Wednesday. That is the options were not actually taken up until this week. The kilns are to close on July 1st, but the Reeb interests will supply rock to the company by the ton. Part of the rock deposit of course, has been purchased by the acre. A limited quantity of gas will also be supplied by the Reebs.
Engineer McCaw has been engaged this week in surveying for the right of way from the proposed cement works to the site on the canal where the warehouses are to be located. About half a mile of this way is to be acquired from a syndicate of three person, M.J. Hogan and DeW. Carter. Engineer Hogarth of the G.T.R. was here on Tuesday taking levels for the switch to be made.
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1909]
Our village enters on the new year with the brightest prospects. 1908 was a good year, and the trail of prosperity is seen everywhere. The open winter has shortened the season of waiting, and the spring activity will soon be here. The Fonthill nurseries have leased Miss Damude’s land along the car track. They are also renting her tenant house (made vacant by the removal of Mr. John F. Davis) and also a barn. They intend to have there a teamster and a span of their fine horses.
[Welland Tribune, 29 January 1909]
Wednesday, February 3rd, will mark the 25th anniversary of Mr. Fred Kinsmen’s proprietorship for his business at Fonthill. It was on Feb. 3rd, 1862, that the late Danson Kinsman retired from business and his son Fred took charge. During all these years the business has been most successful, and the volume of business done has increased with every year, as only a business can which is conducted on sound business principles. During the past twenty years Mr. H.G Self has been connected with the business.
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