[Welland Tribune, 30 January 1940]
Ottawa, Jan.30-The St. Lawrence seaway project under discussion at Ottawa has been planned to provide a channel of 27-foot depth from Montreal to the head of the Great Lakes. This would enable vessels to be laden to the 25-foot mark or possibly 26 feet.
At present the rock excavation in the Welland Canal for the most part is down to 27 feet but the earth excavation not more than 25 feet. Upper lakes have been deepened to 27 feet in rock excavation and 25 feet in earth on the downward channels and to 22 feet on up bound channels.
Shoals have been removed from the Thousand Islands section so that boats of 25-foot draught could operate. Canals of such depth between Prescott and Montreal remain to be built.
The proposed division of the Ogoki waters now flowing into James Bay into Lake Superior would add something to the present depth figures which of course fluctuate with the rise and fall of the water levels.
[Pelham Historical Calendar 1978]
IN 1922,the trustees of S.S.#9 Mr. G. Kappler, Mr N. Swayze and Mr. N Stirtzinger felt a local school was needed for students who were then travelling by train to Smithville or to Welland to continue their education. First classes were held in the public school on Baxter Alley (now an apartment building). Enrolment increased and plans were made for a permanent school.
On December 16, 1927 a formal opening was held for the new “Pelham Continuation School”. Within ten years a complete schedule of Upper School subjects was taught and agricultural courses were introduced. The original student body of 7 had grown to 125. In 1943 s second storey was added and two years later a two-storey rear addition, The Continuation School became “Pelham District High School” in 1949 and students were brought in daily on buses from the Townships of Pelham, West Lincoln, Gainsboro, part of Thorold and Fonthill Village. More classrooms and facilities were added in 1950-51 and in 1956 to accommodate the 850 students. The opening of two new schools in the areaThorold-Fonthill (1958-1970) and E.L. Crossley (1963) eased the strain on Pelham’s High’s facilities.
In 1970 the school became “Pelham Secondary School”. But it was not long to remain an active school. Discontinuation of an agreement that brought in West Lincoln students resulted in a decrease in students and was a factor in the Niagara South Board of Education’s decision to close the school. There was strong community pressure to keep the school open, but the Board’s decision prevailed and the school closed in June , 1974. Pelham Secondary School had served the Fenwick area well, and to the end the community fought for the heritage , high standards and close staff-studentt relations.
Many staff are well remembered: Principals Mr. F.M. Hicks, Mr. W.G. Spencer, Dr. E.L. Crossley, Mr. T.D. Wallace and Mr. E.A. Ker; early teachers Miss M. Metler, Miss J.M. Bell, Miss De La Mater; and many people including Mr. Irvine Muir and Mr. James Robertson, who headed the “Save Pelham” campaign.
In the summer of 1975 desks, machinery and equipment were put up for auction. It has remained closed ever since and is now in private ownership.
Mr. Kerr wrote in the 1974 “Pelham Pnyx”, the last edition of the school magazine; “But we may be sure that, in any event, as long as there are descendants of its students, the influence of Pelham continue for generations”.
[Pnyx 1960]
On the fifteenth of September, 1926, the Honourable Richard Harcourt laid the cornerstone. And the building was ready for use in September, 1927. The first day in the new school there were present seventy-two pupils and three teachers, F.H. Hicks, Principal, Miss J. Bell and Miss Metler. Of the seventy-two pupils several asked for Upper School subjects. The Board at once engaged another teacher, Miss E.M.de la Mater, whose valued career with the school continued until her retirement in 1948.
The school consisted of, what is now the old gymnasium, the four classrooms around it on the ground floor , a balcony across the front end of the gymnasium, and the stage at the other end.The Formal Opening, with te Hon. Wm. Finlayson, Minister of Lands and Forests, speaking to a large crowd, took place on Dec. 16, 1927.
At first the curriculum was purely academic with no frills, but in 1928 Percy Becket began the training of a school orchestra after school hours. He worked for nine years with such enthusiasm and drive that this first extra-curricular activity was highly successful. The orchestra played at garden parties and social events in the vicinity, spreading goof will for the school in the community.
In 1929 W.G. Spencer succeeded Mr. Hicks as Principal. He added a commercial department for which the balcony was enclosed as a classroom, an unusual classroom. The next year a course in agricculture was introduced and in 1931 a fifth teacher was needed. That same year Walter La Rose, the first in a line of outstanding students, won a University Scholarship.
Mr. E.L. Crossley succeeded Mr. Spencee as Principal in 1932. He had ambition for the school but those first years were depression years and no one in the government thought that the slump could be broken by spending money on schools. The Board tried to keep expenses to a minimum without impairing the standard of the school. The principal, with his limited budget, was working for a school that would help the students in other ways besides the academic. He stressed the Agricultural Course; the Pnyx was started in 1933; the Junior Girls’ Basketball Team won the Provincial Championship in 1934. Meanwhile registration had climbed to 125.
The school survived the Depression and the war with little change. In 1939 the boys formed a corps of Army Cadets, many of whom saw service before the war ended. In the evenings the classrooms were open for Short Courses in Agriiculture, for Junior Farmers meetings and Homemaking Clubs as well as for social evens. Evening classes were held in Agricultural Current Events, Typing and English. The janitors during this period , Archie Beamer and later Jake Rinker, had all they could do to clean the rooms between day classes and night classes.
In 1941 the Board added the upper rooms around the old gymnasium and opened them for use in 1944. when the balcony was torn down to make way for the stairs. The Commercial Class had a regular classroom. At the same time a Shop and Home Economics addition was built at the rear and there was a room in the new basement for an Agricultural Shop.
By R.V. Howard
[Pnyx 1960]
Pelham Continuation School opened in 1922, thirty-eight years ago, with an enrollment of seven pupils and one teacher, Miss Margaret Bonis, Miss Bonis taught Lower school subjects in one room of the old Fenwick Public School where E.W. Farr was the Principal. The School Trustees of S.S. #9 Pelham at the time were George Kappler, Merrelle Stirtzinger and Norman Swayze. They had been supported in the plan to have high school subjects taught in Fenwick by two well known residents, Fred Morgan and Arthur Armbrust. And by others whose children had to go back and forth to Smithville High School on the train where their conduct was not commendable.
The new school crew rapidly,. In 1924 a second teacher Miss Margaret Metler, joined the staff; another room was opened in the I.O.O.F. Hall, and Middle school subjects were taught. As there were forty-eight pupils by the spring of 1926, the Department of Education, in March, declared that the temporary quarters could no longer be approved.
Accordingly between March and September of that year the ratepayers held many meetings to debate the question of S.S.#9 Pelham taking on the responsibility of supporting, by itself a secondary school. As usual in such debates there was opposition because of the cost. But a school had to be built somewhere in the district. The pressure of increased school population was forcing similar action throughout the province.
One factor in the increase was that the Ontario Legislature, because of heightened appreciation of the value of education after the First World War, had passed the Attendance Act of 1921 raising provision for increased grants to the secondary schools from the province and from the county.
The feeling of the majority of the voters in S.S.#9 was shown by the election to the school board of two men who favored building a school in Fenwick. These were Mr. William Julian, who began a twenty-five year term of office in 1925, and Mr. W.E. Boyes, who came on the board in 1926 to serve, as a trustee for twenty-one years.
A point of historical interest in connection with the finances of the district is that the public schools of the Township of Pelham had a revenue, which still amounts to $800 a year, from the interest on investments made with the money received from the sale of Clergy Reserves.
But much greater sums than $800 were needed from the province, the county and other municipalities to carry on high school work and to build a school. The ratepayers argued these points back and forth until they finally decided to build a school.
The early school stood on the property of the late Louis Blake Duff (presently owned by Mr. A.B. Scott). The building had been used as a blacksmith shop and is now an historical landmark. One of the first teachers was Mr. Dexter D’Everardo “The Father of Fonthill”.
Another building was erected later but there appears to be no information about it, except that it was converted to a blacksmith shop owned by Stewarts.
A third brick building was begun in 1879, at a location north of the second building and it was used until around 1956-57 when the St John’s pupils were taken to the Fonthill schools. Around 1898, a teacher received about $17.59 per month, their food and lodging being supplied by the parents and guardians of the pupils.
When enrolment in the Fonthill Schools became acute, the ratepayers of St. John’s decided to build a two-room school. This was done in 1958 at a cost of $39,400.00. The school was located on Hollow Road, opposite the St. John Firehall and at the present time is part of the Niagara South Board of Education System and is used as a Conservation School.
The four schools at St. John’s were used by pupils from both Pelham and Thorold Townships (Union S.S. #4). Records show that the first school was known as Darling or Street’s School and that in 1804, Mr. Sam Birdsall was the teacher. (John Darling was an early pioneer in the St John’s area).
(Material derived from “Pelham Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Village History, Jan. 1951” and “The Township of Thorold 1793-1967”. Published 1967.)
BUILDING TO BE USED AS CAR WRECKING SHOP BY NEW OWNER-MEET IN RENOVATED CHAMBER
[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 9 March 1940]
The old packing house on Seventh street, which reverted to Crowland township several years ago for back taxes was taken over by Stanley Reid, when the township council accepted an offer of $2,000 for the property. The original cost of the building was $40,000.
From the time that the packing plant business, founded by a group headed by the late Frank Ahman, went into bankruptcy the building deteriorated rapidly and will require a considerable expenditure for repairs. The new owner will use the building for a car wrecking establishment.
The township council had for several years made attempts to dispose of the building without success, although last year machinery in the plant was sold. In accepting the offer of Mr. Reid, which included only the land on which the building stands, the view that it would be preferable to dispose of the property and collect taxes than to let the building deteriorate further. Not included in the purchase price was land to the east on which stand some garage buildings, and land to the west for which the council had on past occasions received offers as building lots.
IN RENOVATED QUARTERS
The council met last night in the newly decorated chambers which has been vastly improved in appearance by the laying of a green and red linoleum, and the whole effect is modernistic in tone and highly effective from a decorative stand point. Venetian blinds on the large front windows of the building adds to the effect. Council members commented most favorably on the improved appearance of the chamber, which is also used as a courtroom. The redecorations extend to the clerk’s office and the office of the police chief. Cost of the work was approximately $500.
Council appointed C.R. Hagey, Fort Erie as township engineer, replacing J.R. Scott, who had advised council that his duties as county engineer prevented him for accepting any other commissions. The newly appointed engineer will begin his duties next week in connection with the proposed watermain and sewer on Wallace avenue north. Two more lots were sold on the street at last night’s meeting to bring to 15 the number of prospective homes to be built on the street this summer.
Coun il accepted the tender of Angelo Addario for supplying crushed stone from the township-leased stone quarry in Humberstone. Mr. Addario’s tender was $1.17 per yard delivered on township roads. Tenders for other materials were opened. But action was deferred.
Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune
9 March 1940
[Pelham Historical Calendar, 1978]
This handsome brick school was built in 1883-83. It was a one-room schoolhouse designed with a stately symmetry, two front entrances at each side, a frieze of arched windows between vertical columns of raised bricks, central rose window and steeply pitched roof crowned by a graceful tall cupola with the school bell. On the flagpole is a crown-shaped metal plaque commemorating the coronation of George V1 and Queen Elizabeth, May 1937.
One of the first school trustees in the area, a Mr. Reece, donated the land for the school on Sixteen Road, and the school was named in his honour. Many improvements were made through the years a well in 1920, woodshed in 1927, the flagpole, and in 1941 the school was serviced with electricity. In 1945 the school became part of Pelham Area #1. A few years later bus service was begun. The playground was enlarged through purchase of a half-acre from Mr. Albert Wegman, and a fence was built to protect the playground from the waters of the Fifteen Mile Creek which ran nearby through the quiet, wooded country setting of the school.
Many are remembered in connection with the school, teachers such as Miss Bessie Nelson, Mr. Charles Elliott, Mrs. George Alsop and Miss Jean Davidson, and also Mrs. C.B. Leppert (nee Reece) who lived in the family hoe next to the school and for fifty years kept the school clean and polished.
The Ontario Horticultural Association did a great deal to encourage the beautification of rural schools. Reece’s School won its share of prizes, including a first prize in 1945 when Mrs. Violet Bissell was teacher-principal, and again in 1963 when Mrs. Catherine B. Rice was teacher-principal.
When the schools of Pelham were placed under the jurisdiction of the Welland County School Board, now the Niagara South Board of Education, Reeces School was closed, along with the North Pelham and Law’s Schools. The school is now preserved as part of a home, the original facade integrated into an outstanding and beautiful example of preservation, using an old structure and modern additions.
REECE’S SCHOOL
[Author unknown]
The land for this school was donated by Mr. Reece , one of the first trustees.
The school was given its name in his honour. Construction was begun in 1882 and was ready in 1883.
The one-roomed brick building housed grades one to eight. (First Book to Fourth Book) The desks were single and no platform was at the front of the room. Some of the items of interest of the early days were:
1920—a well was dug
1926—teacher’s room, supply room added
1927– a woodshed added
May 6, 1937– a steel flagpole
1941—electricity installed
Oct. 3, 1941– a piano purchased (repairing and tuning of same, paid by students)
In 1944, first prize was awarded this school for the Rural Schools’ Beautification Contest, In 1945, the school became part of Pelham Area #1, and in 1949, bus service for the schools of the area came into being.
One-half acre to the west of the school was purchased from Albert Wegman in 1955, for the purpose of enlarging the playground. The area was surrounded by a new fence.
In 1955, an addition consisting of a furnace room, washrooms. Teachers’ room, and store room was built at the north end of the original building. In 1956, the woodshed was purchased by Mr. G. Goodfield. Dec. 3, 1956 filing cabinets were installed..
This school was situated on 16 Road and with the introduction of the Niagara South Board of Education, the school was sold.. It is now (1971) the home if Dr. C.W. Gillen.
TEACHERS—REECE’S SCHOOL
Miss McLure
Miss McLeade
Miss G. Milles
Miss Haines
Mr. Cline
Miss Wyatt
Miss Eskhardt
Miss Presswell
Miss Davis
Miss Hendershoy
Mr/ J.P. Pegg
Mrs. Tergrison
Miss McCullum
Miss Nelson
Mr. Elliot
Miss McIntosh
Miss V. Berry (1928-33)
Miss E. Pirie
Mr. L. Wipple
Miss Robins
Miss F. Scrutun
Miss Wessel
Miss S. Oille
Miss M. Davidson
Miss Gleason
Miss Gilmore
Mrs. V. Bissell (1940-50)
Miss J. Stewart (1951-53)
Miss D. Raddon (1953-54)
Miss J. Davidson (1954-55)
Miss M. Seburn (1955-56)
Miss I. Dueck (1956-57)
[Pelham Historical Calendar 1981]
Prior to 1910, U.S.S. #3 was a 2 roomed school (brick), more attractive on the outside than the inside.
Despite the fact that its interior was dark (due to dark coloured paint, no electricity and windows placed high up) the pupils were taught the 3 R’s by capable teachers and ones who commanded obedience. Mr. Jas. Wright, Mr. R. Grant, and Mr. Duncan Baxter were some of the principals while a local girl. Miss Grace Barron was a junior teacher. Miss Eckart of Ridgeville and Miss McLeod of Stamford were other junior grade teachers.
If there was any lighting, it was by means of coal oil lamps. Heating was by coal stoves and there was no indoor plumbing. For drinking purposes, a bucket and dipper were sufficient. Outdoor apparel was hung in the entry.
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The furniture consisted of double, varnished maple desks, bolted to the floor and a teacher’s desk. Each child had a slate, a slate pencil, a pen with a steel nib and a scribbler. The most important item in the teacher’s desk was the strap. A picture of Queen Victoria hung on the wall.
You began in the First Book, and proceeded to Jr. And Sr. Second and so on until you reached Sr. Fourth. To go to High School, you tried Entrance Exams.
School was from 9:00a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day with a recess of 15 minutes morning and afternoon. Lunch break was one hour. Classes were summoned by means of a hand bell.
Summer holidays were from June 30- August 15. There was a week’s holiday at Christmas and 4 days from Good Friday until Easter Monday. Victoria Day (May 24) was celebrated on the exact date.
Schoolground equipment was nil and if you played ball, the bat was a piece of wood.
The board of trustees were willing unpaid people, from the Townships of Pelham and Thorld. The inspector was Mr. A,M, Ball who visited the school twice a year. The Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario was also from nearby- the Hon. Richard Harcourt of Welland.
In 1910, following a great deal of arguing over a price tag of $10,000.00 a new , 4 room, red brick school was erected. Many tax payers were of the opinion that a school of that size would never be filled.
By 1921, however, the enrolment was such that one of the basement rooms (the one to the south) was converted into a classroom for the beginners, and it remained that way until one of the late inspectors (in the late 1930’s) termed it “The Black Hole of Calcutta”. An annex at the northwest corner resulted from the remark.
One cold Sunday morning, January, 1923, an event occurred which did such good despite the damage. This was an electrical fire in the two northerly rooms. A volunteer bucket brigade fought it for some hours. This resulted in (1) the installation of slate boards and (2) drawing attention to the need for a fire department and a waterworks system.
In 1949, two rooms were added to the south at a cost of $50,000.00. Then, in 1953, four more classrooms plus other facilities were constructed at a cost of $153, 000.00 The annex was removed and over the years, two portables have replaced it.
Arthur K. Wigg has the distinction of being principal from 1938-1972—a total of 34 years. Two local teachers, as well served the Fonthill Public School Board for long terms- Miss Marjorie Stirtzinger for 34 years and Mrs. Marjorie (McInnis) Jenter for 36 years.
Quality education for each and every child as an individual has for many years been the goal of staff and administrators in the Fonthill Elementary School system
Marjorie L. Jenter
[Author Unknown]
This one-room schoolhouse was built in 1852, and served pupils from four townships- Pelham, Gainsborough, Clinton and Louth- until 1965, when it closed. The land had been bought for five pounds from John Cosby and the present school built, replacing an earlier from structure located on the opposite corner. The bricks were made from clay found on the Cosby farm.
A bell was purchased in the early 1900’s, a large slate blackboard installed and an organ and piano were bought for musical instruction. In 1907, additional land was purchased and the school grounds were extended.In 1945, Pelham Union School won first prize in the school beautification contest in Welland County and fifth provincially. The school continued to win prizes, with pupils planting shrubs, a perennial garden, a large circular bed of annuals, and window boxes on the west wa;; filled with bright flowers. Fence posts, a flagpole and pump were kept painted, and a bucket well was erected with funds from the prize money.
The Pelham Recreational Board assumed control of the school when it closed in 1965 and the Women’s Institute of Pelham Union began to use it as a meeting place and community hall.
PELHAM UNION SCHOOL
[Pelham Historical Calendar 1978]
The one-room schoolhouse- with Ontario Readers, heating stoves and inkwells- is a memory now.This little,red brick schoolhouse is one of the oldest in the area. It served four townships- Pelham, Gainsboro, Clinton, and Louth- until as recently as 1965.
The 100th anniversary of the school was celebrated in 1952. A century earlier, “Twenty-one Square rods of land were bought for five pounds from Mr. John Cosby”, and the present brick school was built, replacing an earlier frame structure on the opposite corner. A brick-making machine was used to shape clay from Mr. Cosby’s farm into the bricks for the school.
In the early 1900’s a bell was purchased, a large slate blackboard installed and an organ and piano were bought for the musical instruction offered to the children. The sturdy double desks were still in use when the school closed, and many desks were bought by former pupils. In 1907 more land was purchased and the school grounds were extended.
School Beautification Contests were an important part of school life. In 1945 Pelham Union School won first prize in the Welland County contest and fifth provincially. Each year after that the school entered and received prizes. Pupils helped plant shrubs, a perennial garden, a large circular bed of annuals. Window boxes brightened the west wall. Fence posts, flagpole and pump were kept freshly painted. A bucket well was erected, with funds from the School Beautification prize money, when Miss Lillian Neal retired in 1951 after teaching in the school for thirty-nine years.
When thr Pelham Township school area was formed the children of this school were taken by bus to other Pelham schools. Pelham Union School closed in June 1965. The building is now managed by the Pelham Recreation Board. It is used and looked after by the Women’s Institute of Pelham Union, Community Buildres Branch. The school, in outer appearance, is much the same as when the three R’s were drilled, and the mornings began with singing “God Save The Queen.”
U.S.S. no. 7 PELHAM UNION (PUTT’S INN)
[Author Unknown]
This school is one of the oldest in the area and is situated in the northwest corner of Pelham Township. The pupils of U.S.S. #7 lived in Pelham, Gainsborough, Clinton and Louth Townships. As the records have been inadvertently destroyed, information has been meagre and this has been compiled from the memories of pupils.
Little is known of the first school which was a few yards south of the present building, on rather low ground.
Around 1850, the present brick building was constructed on the corner of “Schoolhouse Lane” and the “Townline.” This small lot was a part of the property owned by Murray Cosby. It had been granted to the Cosby family as United Empire Loyalists. Later, the farm was owned by his daughters, Mrs John Haist who taught at the school in the late 1880’s with about 8 dozen pupils. The school yard was small with a board fence just west of the well and a few feet north of the school. The woodshed was a small separate building.
In the early days, the desks were long and placed lengthwise in the room under the windows. These long desks and benches were often a disturbing factor when one pupil wished to raise the desk lid while the other wrote. From about 1875 until the school was closed, double desks without lids were used in the traditional arrangement in the room. Samples of these desks may still be seen in the neighbourhood.
The older boys took turns building the wood fire to heat the building. Periodically, a fire was lit outdoors to heat water for the girls to scrub the floor. The small entry at the west was a place for the water pail and dipper and for coats.
Probably in the early 1900’s, the school yard was doubled in width and extended west to the town line. The rather large woodshed was attached to the east end of the building.
During Miss Neal’s forty years as teacher, many things changed. Even though there was caretaker services for lighting fires and sweeping the floor and dusting, one day in May was a cleaning day. On Arbor Day, pupils brought cleaning equipment, rakes and hoes, etc. The yard was raked windows, woodwork and floors were cleaned and flowers planted. Work proceeded quite rapidly even though the number of pupils were often very small because the day ended with a walk to the woods for wildflowers. This was generally to the corner of the Town Line and Tintern Road on the farm of Mr. Peter Bradt.
Christmas concerts were big events when stage entrances were made from icy woodshed or from behind the piano. Lighting was by coal oil lamps and later, from borrowed Mantle Lamps or gasoline lanterns. In the early 1930’s, the school was wired for electricity.
The original entry was doubled in size in the 1940’s and converted into washrooms. The old box stove was replaced by an oil space heater about 1955.
In 1965, the Township School Board decided to close the school and transport all pupils south to larger schools. The Community Builders Branch of the Womens’ Institute considered buying the property.. On Hallowe’en however, in that same year, fire destroyed the woodshed and much of the interior of the main building. The Community Builders have done much renovation and are using the building for their activities.
Teachers at U.S.S. #7 (Putt’s Inn)
Flavell Davis 1867-?
Isaac Moyer
Miss Effie Miller 1885-1888 ?
Miss Maggie Cosby (Mrs. John Haist)
John Comfort
Adison Moore
Geo. Henry (6 Mos.)
Adison Moore
Flavell Davis 1896- ?
Miss Lily Lampman
Miss Anna Sheldrick
Miss Mabel Huff (Mrs C. Van Every, Beamsville 1905-1907
Miss Sara McDougall (Mrs. Lorne Gordon, Harrison 1907-1909
Miss Irene Wright
Miss Smart
Miss Lillie Neal 1912-1952
Mrs. Gerald Martin 1952-1955
Mrs. Fretz 1955-1956
Miss Spencer 1956-1957
Mr. James Perry 1957-1962
Miss Wiebe
Mr. Kenneth Hill 1963-1965
Inspectors
Mr. Ball 1880’s
Mr. W.W. Ireland 1905-1913 ?
Mr. Carefoot
Mr. Marshall
Mr. Runnalls
Mr. Peat
For many years, music was taught by St Catharines teachers on a regular basis. The teachers were—Mr. Arthur Hannahson, Mrs. Eva Griffin, Mr. Geo Hannahson.
Modest Beginning To be Made With Prospects Of Enlarging.
ON BURGAR STREET
[Welland Tribune, 16 March 1940]
The establishment in Welland of a shoe manufacturing concern was announced today by T.J. Darby, K.C., of behalf the Welland Shoe Co., formed recently to manufacture children’s shoes and sandals. The new industry is the first of its kind to late in the city.
The company was formed by Steve Krnjaich and Joseph Yeszam of Humberstone, both of whom have considerable experience in the manufacture of shoes, and were until recently connected with the Erie Shoe Co., of Humberstone. The latter is a co-operative enterprise promoted by Mr. Krnjaich which in a year’s time has grown from a concern employing eight persons to the employing 35 at the present time.
The Welland Shoe Company recently completed the purchase from the Griffiths Estate of a brick warehouse at 198 Burgar street, which was formerly occupied by National Grocers, and it is expected that full operations will begin by the first of April. Machinery is now being installed.
The factory will begin operations with 10 employees, but according to Mr. Krnjaich a considerably greater number will be employed when operations are fully under way. The building is sufficiently large to house machinery to occupy 100 employees. Including a basement and two floors, the structure is 80 feet long by 40 feet wide.
The firm has orders available at the present time. Mr. Krnjaich was optimistic concerning future expansion. “With the present demand of shoes, particularly for the export market, I anticipate that it will not be long before we will have to increase our staff,” he said.
Mr. Krnjaich has had 30 year of experience in the show business, first in Jugoslavia whence he came to Canada 12 years ago and later at Humberstone. His partner, Mr. Yeszam has been connected with the industry for 12 years
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