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[Welland Tribune, 15 March 1889]
A disastrous fire occurred about 10 o’clock on Tuesday evening, in the moulding shop at Stuart & Monro’s foundry. The firemen were promptly on the spot, and succeeded in preventing the flames from spreading to the adjoining buildings. The loss is fully recovered by insurance.
Forty Buildings Destroyed or Badly Damaged and One Life Lost
[Welland Tribune, 8 February 1889]
BUFFALO, Feb 8- The most damaging fire that ever occurred in Buffalo, so far on the wholesale destruction of property is concerned, broke out at 2.45 a.m. today. It raged with terrible fury for upward of four hours, and in that time destroyed several large business buildings, a hotel and several smaller structures. A high wind prevailed, which materially helped the progress of the flames. The fire started on the fourth floor of Root & Keating’s five storey building on the south western corner of Carroll and Wells streets. The flames quickly reached the top storey and roof and also worked their way down to the lower storeys. A general alarm was ordered, summoning the entire fire department. The building burned with the utmost rapidity. The whole city was illuminated almost as bright as day, and people living three miles away were a wakened by the brilliant glare on the windows of their houses. Root & Keating’s building was a massive structure of brick, with a frontage of 134 feet in Carroll street and 127 in Wells street. Directly across Carroll street from the Root & Keating building, fronting on Seneca street, was the five storey brick and iron stove warehouse of Sherman S. and Jewett & Co., supposed to be a fireproof building, and also the new six-storey candy manufactory of Sibley & Holmwood, erected in place of that destroyed by fire two years ago. These two large structures were next attacked by the flames, and their destruction was only a matter of a few minutes. On the opposite side of Wells street, a little further north, the Broezel house, a massive six storey structure, whose guests were up and dressing a few minutes after the alarm. They were frightened, and they had good reason to be, for the commercial men, who largely composed its guests, had painful memories of hotel fires in Buffalo.
These three great buildings were rapidly destroyed and then the six storey building occupied by Moffatt Brothers, Hoffield & Co., and other firms. The flames spread along Seneca street, and were only brought under control about five o’clock. When the walls of the Broezel house fell, several firemen had a narrow escape with their lives. One was felled to the ground, but a heroic fellow worker carried him out of the reach of danger.
ONE LIFE LOST
About noon a number of firemen were at work in the ruins oat the rear of the Arlington hotel, when the western wall of the rear extension fell without any warning. All of the men were out of the way of the falling bricks and timber except Dominick R.Marion, of engine 10, and John Moest, foeman of engine 9. Moest was struck on the head by some of the bricks, receiving a bad scalp wound, and being otherwise injured. Marion was buried in the ruins, and if not killed at once his life must soon have been crushed out by the immense weight resting on him. Frantic efforts were made by his comrades to reach him, but without avail. He was about thirty-four years old.
THE BURNT DISTRICT
The official records show that between 3 and 5 o’clock this morning the wind maintained a velocity of thirty miles an hour, and at times between 3 and 4 o’clock, it reached thirty-five miles. The fire, beginning in the big Root & Keating building, spread by contact or the force of the big wind blowing at the time in all directions, but chiefly to the northward and eastward. Wells street is a complete desert from Seneca to Exchange streets-an appalling chaos of brick, twisted iron, and an extricable tangle of wires. The total area included in the burned district is roughly estimated at seven or eight acres, and the total number of buildings destroyed or gutted at forty.
LOSSES
The principal losses re figured are about as follows: Root and Keating, $250,000, their tenants, $200,000; S.S. Jewett & Co., $200,000 Broezel house, $160,000; Sibley & Holmwood, $$150,000; Fowler & Sons, $$80,000; S.F. Egan, $40,000; Sidney Shepherd, & Co., $50,000; the Arlington hotel, $40,000; A.T. Kerr & Co., $30,000; Strootman building and tenants, $500,000. Losses on Exchange street $75,000. Losses on north side Seneca, $200,000. Other losses, $150,000. This could make a total of $2,785,000. Opinions have been given, however, that that the entire loss will not fall short of $300,000.
[Welland Tribune, 25 January 1889]
SHERIFF SMITH took the oath of office before L.D. Raymond, clerk of the peace, on Tuesday, and is now established in his office in the court house, In connection with this we are also glad to know that Mr. Geo. W. Duncan (formerly acting sheriff) has accepted of the office of deputy-sheriff.
[Welland Tribune, 25 January 1889]
THE proposed new railroad between Hamilton and Buffalo will, it is contemplated, cross Welland river just west of the water works pump house with a depot near the English church parsonage. If the project materializes, the town will be asked for a bonus to assist in building the road, with the guarantee that the round house and car-shops be located here. Welland is well situated for headquarters of this nature, as rails and materials of all kinds could be placed on the spot by way of both land and water. There would be two railway stations in Pelham –one near Pelham Corners (one mile from Fonthill) and another at or near Fenwick.
[Welland Tribune, 3 May 1889]
MR. H.A. WILLETT, having received a shop license, has opened in the west store of the Dunigan block, formerly occupied by Mr. James Morwood. Mr. Willett intends keeping a full stock of choice wines, liquors, ales, &c., in stock, and invited a share of public patronage.
SHOP licenses granted to Brown Bros. and H.A. Willett. The Dexter house fire escape not being completed, this house was not reported upon. No license was granted Christine Doan.
DISSOLVED- Messrs. W.R. Strawn and Robert Johnson, blacksmiths, have dissolved partnership. Mr. Strawn has bought out the business, and will continue in the same stand, East Main street.
MR. Ben Allen, formerly of the Frazer House, is now officiating at the Windsor.
JOHN BOYLE A VICTIM
Merritton, Jan. 3
(By Telegram to the Tribune)
(Welland Tribune, 4 January 1889)
A little after four o’clock this morning the fire alarms were sounded at the different mills and factories in the village. Upon getting into the street a fire could be seen at the north of the village. The fireman were at once on hand and proceeded with the hose cart in the direction of the blaze. As they drew near to the blaze it was discovered to be what is called the lower mill of the Lincoln paper mills. The firemen were comparatively useless as far as saving the mill was concerned; it being a frame building it burned with great rapidity and collapsed in a very short time. The building and contents are a total loss. Loss supposed to be about $15,000 or more, partly insured, amount not ascertained as yet. There were about fifteen hands at work at the time, all of whom barely escaped with their lives, having to leave their coats in the burning building.
Mr. John Boyle, brother to conductor Boyle of Welland railway, was burnt to death. Persons who were a work at the time say that he woke up and gave another man his coat and hat and and told him to take them out, and as he was not seen afterwards, it was generally believed that he had perished in the flames, which was proved to be only too true when about 7.30 o’clock his charred remains were discovered in the ruins. He was a young man about 35 years of age. He was a widower and leaves one child, his wife having died about two years ago.
[Welland Tribune, 13 December 1889]
At this season of the year a visit to Thos. Griffith’s China Hall is a pleasant event. His store is a perfect wonderland of all that is new and beautiful in design, rich in quality, useful and cheap. Your reporter dropped in yesterday, but will not attempt to tell one-half of the beauties there to be seen. Every reader should see for himself. We can honestly say that it will pay you to come many miles to have a look through China Hall. The west window contains an assortment of Bohemian glassware in fruit bowls, water sets, baskets, vases, etc., and the display would be a credit to any city store. The east window is made beautiful by a grand show of everything that is pretty in vases-and you have no idea how pretty they are until you examine them-and quality considered, they are cheap. One of the most attractive lines is that of lamps, and in this China Hall surpasses everything heretofore attempted in Welland. You no longer have to leave town to get something really elegant in bronze stand lamps, library and hall lamps, etc., and the decorations are loveliness itself. Parlor hanging lamps from $2.75 to $12.00. German china, too, calls for special inspection. The goods in this line consist of cabarets, salad dishes, porridge bowls and oatmeal sets, dessert sets, fruit sets, pickle dishes, biscuit jars, bone plates, flower pots, cuspidors, and scores of similar articles. Majolica ware is very odd and in it are some novelties in cake plates, teapot sets, pitchers, salmon boxes and the like. Bisque figures are both artistic and comical this year, and are always fashionable and popular. Fancy cups and saucers are legion-there seems to be no limit to the display; everyone can get just what he wants in this line. Some very taking patterns in china tea sets are shown, and a cask of beauties will be added next week. Dinner sets in twenty-five different varieties, from $6 to $30, include everything from the ordinary printed set to the finest decorated porcelain. Printed toilet ware-sets from $2.25 upwards. The glassware department is full to completion. Children’s tea sets at almost any price. Great value on the 25¢ table. The grocery department is fresh and full for the season…Mr. Griffith’s business enterprise will no doubt be rewarded with a rushing holiday trade. It should be so. You will have no trouble in making your selections if you go to the right place-and that place unmistakably is Griffith’s China Hall, Welland.
