Welland History .ca

Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

CASH REGISTER

[Welland Telegraph, 20 November 1891]

Mr. O.H. Garner, of the Orient Hall bookstore, has placed in his establishment a new automatic cash register, a most complete and accurate piece of mechanism. This is the first one to be introduced into Welland and is a standing evidence of Mr. Garner’s enterprise and prosperity.

BLACKSMITH BUSINESS

[Welland Telegraph, 30 October 1891]

Mr. L.V. Garner has purchased the blacksmithing business of Mr. Frank Ott, donned the leather apron, and gone to work.

THE BIG WHALE

[2 October 1891, Welland Telegraph]

Prof. Anderson will visit Welland with his big whale on Tuesday and Wednesday next, the county fair days. During the Toronto fair it was viewed by thousands. Those who never saw more of a whale than in pictures and have any curiosity respecting the animal who made a mouthful of Jonah, will have a good opportunity to get the sight of a life time.

“SOLID COMFORT” – THE PRETTY SUMMER RESORT EVACUATED FOR THE SEASON

Contemplated Improvements for Next Season-The Place

Likely to be a Hive of Industry for a Few Months

[Welland Telegraph, 18 September 1891]

The last of Solid Comfort’s lingering visitors left that beautiful summer resort on Tuesday evening for their homes in the sunny south, carrying with them the most pleasant recollections of a summer filled with health and happiness. Since the first of the month the visitors have been dropping out, as the cool autumn breezes warned them of the outing season. There was a good deal of bustle around the grounds and cottages on Tuesday in preparation for departure and the picking up of mementoes of the season. Those to leave were Mr. P. McIntyre and family, Mr. J.N. Falls and family, Mrs. R.L. Goyer and family, Mrs. C. Goyer and family, Mrs. F.W. Goyer and family, in all about 40 people. A special Pullman car, the “Dantzic” was at the disposal of the party to take them through to Memphis. Mr. B.C. Avery, the genial general manager, accompanying them as far as Buffalo.

Mr. McIntyre is as enthusiastic as ever when speaking of the pleasures and conveniences of “Solid Comfort,” which name will always cling to the place, though the club charter gives it the more formal and prosy sounding name of “The Humberstone Summer Resort.” The old name fits so admirably to everything connected with the institution that it will never be abandoned in speaking of the place, and then its sound gives a pure and emphatic American expression to the enjoyments within its limits. It is a simple index of what the visitor may expect, and invariably leaves with the expectations fully realized.

Mr. R.C. Avery has been a “power in the land” this season, and the fruits of his master knowledge in the arrangements for such a place as “Solid Comfort” have been everywhere apparent, and in him the club were fortunate in securing a gentleman who can see that all their wants and pleasures are attended to without the least semblance of any hitch or confusion.

Some extensive improvements are contemplated for next season, and their magnitude is of such an extent that operations will commence at once, keeping a respectable force of workmen employed for three or four months. One of the largest pieces of work is the club flat, which is to be erected at the south entrance of the grove, just where the old white house of the Steele property and Mr. McIntyre’s cottage now stands. These buildings will be moved out of the way, and placed in more convenient positions. The club flat will go up in a diagonal position across the entrance to the grove, but a nicely constructed driveway winding around the end and front of the new building will give a new entrance. The structure will be two stories in height, with 50 rooms, 14 x 15, beside a hall 10 feet wide, office, reading room, library and ladies parlor. One of the features will be a bay window in every other room.

The addition of an assembly hall has been talked of a good deal during the season just passed, and plans are in preparation for the supply. Mr. Avery’s idea is to raise the dining hall 20 feet, add about 20 feet to each end, making it an assembly hall with a new dining room underneath. The children’s dining room, wash rooms and store houses are also to be increased in capacity, and several more cottages are contemplated. The white house spoken of above, known as the old Steele homestead, will be placed in the rear of the dining hall and conveniently fitted up for the servant’s quarters.

“We will commence the work at once,” said Mr. Avery to a reporter, “and when the people arrive next summer they will find every improvement completed. “

Outsiders’ sometimes get a little confused when they talk about the “Solid Comfort Club,” and are under the impression that one organization includes the whole. This is not the case. There is the Humberstone Summer Resort Company, with Mr. C.W. Mathews, of Toronto, president, Mr. C. Steele, secretary, and Mr. L.G. Carter, treasurer, who own the land and property, hold the charter, etc. Then there is the Humberstone club, with Mr. McIntyre president, Mr. Steele, secretary-treasurer and Mr. Avery, general manger, which is composed of the people who come here in the summer and participate in the joys and pleasures of the place. The year the club consisted of about 50 members, which will next year probably be increased. The officers, although enjoying all the benefits, have no sinecure, and it is to their admirable management the many visitors are indebted for their comfort. Mr. McIntyre is one those good-natured, whole souled, but shrew gentlemen, with a keen eye to good system, whose presence carries sunshine wherever he goes. Mr. Steele was a hard worker during the season, and his many duties have kept him busy, but his selection for the position was a good one, and his courtesy and thorough business methods have made him a great favorite. General Manager Avery is a man of modern ideas, with an eye capable of taking in a situation at a glance, and possessing the executive ability which enables him to plan his arrangements with a system which rivals clockwork regularity. Mr. Avery will be a frequent visitor during the fall and winter, giving a general supervision over the improvements in progress in connection with Messrs. Carter & Steele.

The departure of the visitors is universally regretted by the people of Port Colborne, who will next season hail with delight their return, when it is the intention to open on the first of June and close on the last of October.

ANOTHER OLD LANDMARK GONE

[Welland Telegraph, 25 September 1891]

The Board of Health was called together on Monday night to receive the report of the medical health officer, Dr. Howell. In respecting the contents of the “frog hatchery.” The reports states most emphatically that the existence of such a place is highly dangerous in health, and strongly recommended that it be filled up at once. Some time ago the council had passed a resolution to the effect that if the evidence did not abate the nuisance it should be done at town expense and charged up against the property. At the board meeting on Monday night the council was recommended to carry out their resolution, which has been done, and now, no more will the sweet effluvia of the still green waters be wafted on the breeze, no more will the bullfrog’s tuneful voice echo from the depths, and suffering humanity can once more breathe a little fresh air.

RUSHED WITH WORK

[Welland Telegraph, 18 September 1891]

Mr. M.S. Bradt’s canning factory is doing a large business this season, and just now about 50 hands are putting in long hour’s overtime to keep up with the fruit. Up to the present time about 100,000 cans have been filled, and over $4.000 worth sold. They are now working on peaches, pears, corn and tomatoes, and will keep the whole staff hustling for some time yet. More hands are wanted, and all applicants will be given all the work they can do for the next three or four weeks.

COUNTY FAIR

[Welland Telegraph, 4 September 1891]

The committee on special attractions are busily engaged arranging for races and other good things. The races will include a free-for-all, a double team trot and several named races, in which all the speedy horses in the county are expected to go. A prize of $15 will be offered for singing by schools of children, each school to consist of teacher and 20 or more children. All schools entering for this prize will be admitted free. As the committee on special attractions are now moving to secure suitable specialises for the fair, would it not be well to consult the interests of farmers and farmer’s wives? Why cannot put this committee, in conjunction with the Farmer’s Institute, make an effort to get the “Travelling Dairy” to spend a day here? The Hon. John Dryden, Minister of Agriculture, has cancelled all future engagements in order to place the professors at the disposal of the different fair associations. Many of its members of Welland county society are directly interested in the butter trade, and it would no doubt be a very interesting subject for such members, as well as a large multitude who are deeply interested in the consumption of good butter. Let action be taken immediately.

GRAHAM OF RAPIDS FAME

He Viewed the Falls Yesterday- When He is Thinking of Doing.

[Welland Telegraph, 4 September 1891]

Carlisle D. Graham was in town yesterday afternoon. He is the man who was not daunted by the sad fate of the late Capt. Webb in his final effort to swim the rapids of the gorge, and so he constructed a barrel and successfully made the trip that killed Webb and Flack.

Graham’s first effort in rapids conquering was made on July 11, 1886. He also made successful trips on August 19, 1886, June 15, 1887, and August 25, 1889… His trifling with the waters of the gorge extended over a period of more than three years, and even if by the time of his last trip, the feat had become quite common, it must be admitted in justice to Graham that after his first trip he was recognized as a great hero, in fact a man of great nerve, to undertake and perform such a perilous feat. It can be also said of him that he always kept his word with eh people, every time he advertised to make a trip he went.

Since he left Niagara Falls he has travelled to several countries and earned a living on the reputation made at Niagara. His home is now in Rochester. He came to the Falls yesterday in search of William Coventry, and “Jack” McMahon, who it has been stated intended to go through the rapids. He didn’t fine them. He said yesterday that he had not ended his feat at Niagara and he was still trying to conjure up a way to conquer the great cataract. For $1.000 he will make the trip.

Heretofore Graham’s rapids trips have always been made in barrels, but he now has a six pound suit in which he thinks of making the journey down the rock gorge to Lewiston. While in Europe he traveled considerable with Tommy Burns who he is expecting over here to swim the rapids. If he comes Graham said they would go through together whether there was any money in it or not.-Niagara Falls, N.Y., Gazette.

TORONTO’S GREAT FAIR

An Immense Exhibit and Large Number of Special Features

[Welland Telegraph, 4 September 1891]

The wheel of time has again revived and in a few days Toronto’s Great Industrial Fair for 1891 will be open to the public, and people will be again flocking to it from all parts of Canada and the adjoining States. The harvest has this year been good, and the attendance of visitors to the great Fair may therefore be expected to be very large. The entries in all departments are sufficient to completely fill every building on the grounds as well as the new ones that have been erected during the summer. The Dominion and experimental farms re each sending very important exhibits, showing the various departments in which the farming community are especially interested. British Columbia and Manitoba re also sending much larger exhibits than heretofore. The livestock exhibits will be very fine. The list of attractions as announced in the official programme issued by the Association is a very long one and cannot fail to please the visitors as there will be something of interest to see every minute of the day of the Fair. This Fair will be opened by Major General Herbert on the 8th of September, and closes on the 19th. The usual low rates and special excursions will be given on all the railways.

BY-LAW RELATING TO THE CLOSING OF SHOPS IN THE TOWN OF WELLAND

[Welland Telegraph, 7 August 1891]

Whereas in pursuance of the Act to regulate the closing of shops and the hours of labor therein for children and young persons, Chapter 33 of the Statutes of Ontario, 1888, an application signed by three-fourths in number of the occupiers of shops in the said Town of Welland, belonging to each of the classes specified in the said application, that is to say: Grocers, boot and shoe merchants, dry goods merchants, chemists and druggists, dealers in millinery, jewellers, woolen merchants, booksellers, merchant tailors, stove dealers, tinsmiths, harness makers, dealers in leather, undertakers, dealers in furniture, hardware merchants, bakers and confectioners, butchers and general merchants, was presented to the municipal council of said Town of Welland, on the Sixth day of July 1891, praying for the passing of a by-law under the above recited Act, requiring the closing of all shops belonging to the said aforementioned classes in the said Town of Welland, at the hour of eight o’clock in the evening daily, (except Saturday) in each of the months of June, July, August and September, and at the hour of seven o’clock in the evening, daily, (except Saturday) in each of the other months, and it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said application.

Therefore, the municipal corporation of the Town of Welland enacts as follows:

1. That the grocers boot and shoe merchants, dry goods merchants, chemists and druggists, dealers in millinery, jewellers, woolen merchants, booksellers, merchant tailors, stove dealers, tinsmiths, harness makers, dealers in leather, undertakers, dealers in furniture, hardware merchants, bakers and confectioners, butchers and general merchants in the said Town of Welland shall, from and after the time hereinafter fixed for the coming into effect of this by-law, close their shops and places of business in the said Town of Welland daily, (except on Saturday, the last 15 days of December in each year, and any day preceding a public holiday,) at the hour of 8 o’clock in the evening of each of the other months, and keep them closed until 5 o’clock of the forenoon of the following day.

2. This by-law shall come into effect and be in full force on and after the 15th day of August, 1891.

3. No person carrying on business in the said Town of Welland, belonging to the aforementioned classes, shall, from and after the 15th day of August, 1891, keep his shop or place of business open within the hours hereinbefore prescribed.

4. Any person violating any of the provisions of this by-law shall, on summary conviction thereof before any Justice of the Peace in the said county, forfeit and pay a fine and penalty of not less in amount than $1, and not exceeding $20, exclusive of costs, and in default of payment of the said penalty and costs forthwith, the said penalty and costs, or costs only may be levied by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender, and in case of there being no distress found, out of which said penalty can be levied, the said Justice of the Peace may commit the offender to the common gaol of the County of Welland for any time in the discretion of the convicting justice, not exceeding thirty days, with or without hard labor, unless such fine, penalty and costs are sooner paid.

5. Nothing therein contained shall render liable any pharmaceutical chemist or chemist or druggist to the penalties for the infraction of this by-law for supplying medicines, drugs or medical appliances after the hour appointed hereby for the closing of shops.

6. Nothing herein contained shall render any of the before mentioned occupiers of premises where the before mentioned businesses are carried on liable to the penalties of this by-law for supplying any article to any person lodging in such premises, or for supplying any article required for immediate use by reason or ailment or death, or for supplying or selling any article to any person for use on, or in or about or with respect to any steamboat or sailing vessel, which at the time of such supplying or selling is either within or in the immediate neighborhood of the said town, or for use by or with respect to any person employed or engaged on or being a passenger on or by any such steamboat or sailing vessel.

Passed in Council this Third day of August, A.D., 1891

E.R. HELLEMS, Clerk

T.F. BROWN, Mayor