[Welland Telegraph, 6 February 1891]
The Imperial Bank narrowly escaped destruction by fire on Wednesday evening. Some of the clerks who were working in the building discovered smoke coming from the wainscoting in the manager’s room, and an investigation discovered that fire was smouldering beneath the floor. Mr. P. McMurray was sent for, who after cutting several holes in the floor was able to extinguish the fire. The origin of the fire was from a grate in the room, the floor of which was merely a slab of inch marble resting on the joist, and the intense heat had ignited the wood underneath, and when discovered a 2×10 joist had been burned through. The damage is covered by insurance. Peter worked like a hero in locating and extinguishing the fire, and came out of the fight bearing marks of heavy warfare. If the discovery had not been made just at the time it was, the result might have been disastrous.
[Welland Telegraph, 30 January 1891]
We have been informed that the millinery business formerly carried on by Mrs. M.M. Johnson has been disposed of, and is now being carried on by Mrs. J.A. Crysler, in the same rooms.
[Welland Telegraph, 23 January 1891]
The masonic ball last Friday night was one of the most brilliant affairs which ever took place in Welland. Never before in the history of Orient Hall was such a beautiful assembly gathered within its walls, and never were the decorations arranged with more artistic taste. The stage furnishings represented a drawing room, while bunting, flags and flowers were hung or placed around the room where they contrasted to best advantage. Promptly at nine o’clock Philip’s orchestra, of Thorold, sent forth the entrancing strains of the grand march, which was responded to by 100 couples, and then the dance went on and “joy was unconfined,” and the grey dawn of morn streaked the eastern horizon ere the musicians put up their instruments, and the last dancers left the hall. Visitors from Thorold, Merritton, St. Catharines, Port Colborne, Niagara Falls and all parts of the county were present. The floor arrangements were under the supervision of Messrs. D.R. Pursel, Geo. Wells, S.J. Sidey, W.J. Best, A.E. Douglass and W.E. Hardison, and to such perfection was their part performed that there was not the semblance of hitch in anything. Luncheon was served in the masonic lodge room upstairs, about 250 sitting down to the tables. A large number of people were present who took no part in the dancing, and the stage was set apart for their accommodation, where they could indulge in social chat and watch the merry whirl beneath. Philip’s orchestra gave such satisfaction that its engagements in Welland are likely to be numerous in the future. The luncheon, which was provided by Mr. W.J. McCoppen, of the Mansion House, was a triumph of the cuisine. The proceeds, after paying all expenses, were $125. May such pleasant gatherings be at least of yearly occurrence, was the sentiment of all who were present.
[Welland Telegraph, 9 January 1891]
During the present week a local board has been formed in Welland in connection with the Canadian Mutual Loan and Investment Company. The prominent features of this company are a safe investment for money and borrowing facilities, whereby members of the company are assisted to build and own their homes. The successful working of building and loan companies has been time and again demonstrated in the Old Country, where they have been in existence for upwards of a century. In the United States they have been operated for upwards of sixty years. Six thousand associations are at present assisting the enormous tide of emigrants to establish their own homes. Mr. L. Durham Johnson, the general superintendent of agencies, has succeeded in establishing a very strong local board. The following gentlemen are appointed:
- President- Mr. G.L. Hobson
- Vice-President- Mr. Robt. Cooper
- Sec.Treas-Mr. F. Swayze
- Solicitors-Mr. W.M. German
- Valuators-Major L.C. Raymond, Mr. Geo. H. Burgar, Mr. T.D. Cowper
- Directors- R. Morwood, Ross & Co., W.H. Crow, F.G. Hutton, VS, Dr. Schooley, Dr. Glasgow, J.R. Sawle, H.D. Lock.
The secretary-treasurer, Mr. F. Swayze, whose business energy admirably qualifies him for the post, will furnish the requisite formulas to any of the public desirous to obtain membership in the newly formed board. The excellent pamphlet issued by the Canadian Mutual Loan and Investment Co. simply and thoroughly demonstrates the working of the scheme, which is already making rapid strides in Canada. The company whose head office is in Toronto, has men of Dominion-wide reputation in close connection with it. We find the name of J.J. Withrow, Esq., President of the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, as chairman of the board of trustees, coupled with the names of His Honor, Judge MacDougall and Wm. Badenach. We wish for this new Welland enterprise all the success it deserves.
[Welland Telegraph, 25 December 1891]
Messrs. Phelps’ Bros have now had their new roller milling machinery running for a couple of weeks with most satisfactory results. Three double sets of the Willford light running rollers,with purifiers, separators, etc., have been placed in position, giving the mill a capacity of 40 barrels per day. The machinery is all of the latest and most approved pattern, and is arranged with a view to economy in both time and space. The firm is now so crowded with work that a good deal of “overtime” is necessary to keep up with the orders. Low water has been one of the difficulties which the firm have had to contend with, but during the past few days less trouble has been experienced in this connection. Mr. James Greenlaw, of St. Catharines, an experienced roller miller, is in charge of the machinery, which is turning out the finest brands of flour upon the improvements they have made, and the evidence they give of prosperity.
SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE SPEND A HAPPY DAY
A Gorgeous Street Parade-Elegant Decorations-
Niagara Falls, Ont., Victorious In the Hook and Ladder Race
Welland Wins the Baseball Match From Dunnville
Scenes and Incidents of the Day
[31 July 1891, Welland Telegraph]
It is over. The Welland firemen’s demonstration of 1891 is numbered among things of the past, but it leaves behind a memory that is a monument to the integrity and executive ability of Merritt Fire Company, every member of which worked with a will for success from the conception of the idea until the consummation of the event. No little details were neglected; there is no shirking of responsibility; every man did his part and did it well.
To the citizens of Welland also must be attributed a good share of praise for the success which attended their efforts to extend a hearty welcome to the thousands of visitors who spent a day of pleasure.
The street decorations were gorgeous, and any attempt at a special description would be an exhibition of the inadequacy of the English language to express the real sentiment of admiration. On every street traversed by the parade artistically arranged bunting and evergreen, mingled with myriads of flags, had been arranged by almost every resident and business man. There was a good-natured rivalry, a seeming determination on the part of every man to outstrip the efforts of his neighbor, or to give birth to an original idea in artistic taste. East and West Main street and part of North Main street were avenues of gorgeous beauty, but to particularize would be invidious, where the neat costumes and bright eyes of pretty girls mingled with the decorations and made a panorama of exquisite loveliness.
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And Messrs Brown Bros. are ready to turn on the Water
[Welland Telegraph, 12 June 1891]
Messrs. Brown Bros. have completed their government contract of extending the raceway 650 feet from the water works to their mill, and the work has been one of considerable magnitude to be finished in 7 weeks in the face of much adverse weather. The excavation and clay work has been under the supervision of Mr. Jas. Walker, is pronounced first class in all particulars, and only awaits passing by the inspector, when the small piece of earth which dams the water out will be removed, and the full benefit of the work will be realized. The banks are about 10 feet from the bottom, and mostly built up, at the lower end the found being so low that it was necessary to fill in considerable, and to accomplish this it was necessary to cart to the place of operation about 4,000 cubic yards of earth, some 700 more than the contract called for. It is a substantial piece of work, and will result in a great saving to Messrs. Brown Bros., whose annual fuel bill heretofore has amounted to over $1,200. A 72 foot flume carries the water to the penstock or wheel house, with a fall of 16 feet, and discharges into a 100 foot tail race. Mr. Jacob Ryan has had charge of the mill wright work, and the satisfaction expressed by the Messrs. Brown is an evidence that he has performed his duties after the pattern of a master mechanic. The mill will be run a by a new American turbine wheel, similar to the one used at the pump house, and the driving belt connects with the same pulley as was used for the engine, which is to be retained in case of accidents to the wheel or in the event of the water temporarily being shut off. Of course the introduction of water power does not increase the capacity of the mill, which is a 6 double roll one, but it is a source of much economy, and enables the firm to compete with the largest mills of the country. They have already an established reputation for producing some of the finest brands of flour, and with competition even they ask no special advantage over rivals. The extension of the raceway has been to them an expense considerably above the contract price, and the push and enterprise which the firm has manifested in the matter is worthy of commendation, while Welland is to be congratulated on the fact of their residences within its corporation.
Conductor Boyle’s Train Ditched Near Thorold
Express Messenger Grobb Badly Bruised
[Welland Telegraph, 23 January 1891]
As the mail train on the Welland road, due here at 11.24, last Monday morning, was passing the stone road crossing, about one and a half miles this side of Thorold, the baggage car, smoker and coach left the rails. The two former rolled down a six foot embankment and rested in an inverted position, while the coach careened over and rested against the smoker at an angle of 40 degrees. The smoker and baggage car were badly wrecked, and the escape from death or very serious injury of some of the occupants was miraculous. The experience of express messenger Grobb, baggageman Spratt and mail clerk Boyle, was the most thrilling, and the first named gentleman is now confined to his bed with severe bruises, but fortunately with whole bones. Just how he was hurt he has no recollection, but thinks he was struck by the large iron safe in the car. The baggageman, with the exception of a few small bruises came out all right, and his escape may be attributed to the absence of any heavy baggage in his compartment. Mail clerk Boyle was mixed up among the mail bags, which saved him. Four or five passengers were in the smoker, and how they came out with so little injury seems marvelous. One of them, Mr. Anson Garner, of Stamford, had one of his fingers badly jammed and his shoulder somewhat bruised. In the coach were a number of ladies, who behaved with the utmost coolness. Said a passenger, “They walked out of that car after the accident with as much dignity as they would have out of church.”
As soon as he extricated himself from the wreck baggageman Spratt was despatched to Thorold for a physician, and express messenger Grobb was extricated from his perilous position just as the car was commencing to take fire, but coolness and presence of mind on the part of the train hands soon extinguished the blaze. Conductor Boyle was everywhere, looking after the passengers and arranging for their comfort, while brakeman Welsh, with the blood streaming down his face from some several cuts, worked like a Trojan wherever necessary.
Plenty of medical aid was on hand in a short time, but fortunately with the exception of Mr. Grobb, no one was in need of it.
A train was sent up by the Allanburgh branch from Niagara Falls to bring the mail and passengers, which arrived here about 3 p.m.
Various theories as to the cause of the accident are advanced, but the generally accepted one is spreading of the rails, after the engine had passed, as it was the front trucks of the baggage car which first left the track.
The Welland and Niagara Central Railways Damaged-A Boy Hurt-
Gardens Destroyed and Cellars Flooded.
St. Catharines Standard, Wednesday
[Welland Telegraph, 19 June 1891]
Thorold yesterday was pretty nearly washed away, and the inhabitants of the Mountain Town state that never in the history of the place have they been visited with such a storm.
Shortly after noon black clouds made their appearance in the distance but weather prophets foretold that no rain would interfere with the races and in consequence quite a number attended. They were, however, doomed to be disappointed, for shortly before three o’clock the sky began to get dark with black clouds. One of these clouds was particularly prominent by the manner in with it twisted and twirled round and round. This continued until the heavy mass hung right over the town when suddenly a brilliant flash of lightning followed by a terrific clap of thunder, startled the inhabitants, who began to make tracks for home. Before they had gone more than a few yards, however, the cloud seemed to expand and burst, and sheets of water descended drenching everybody and everything. The lightning flashed, the thunder roared, the rain came down, and the wind blew a regular hurricane. Hats and umbrellas were torn from the grasp of owners, window blinds were blown down, buggies were almost overturned, limbs of trees were torn off, and to make matters worse hail began to fall as large as hens’ eggs, barns, verandas, sheds, dwellings, in fact everything that afforded shelter was sought for eagerly by those who were caught in this the worst storm that ever struck Thorold. The storm lasted for two hours and during that time several accidents took place, the worst of which occurred to a boy of about 16 years of age, who was struck by a very heavy limb of a tree and severely injured but inquiries this morning as to his condition show that he is not hurt as badly as was at first thought. The lads name is Reuter. The telephone at the City Hotel was burned out by lightning.
The power house of the electric street railway was struck by lightning and the motor burned out, so that the car system was unable to work except horse power until after ten o’clock this morning.
The enormous amount of water that fell soon began to be noticeable, and in a short time the old canal began to rise, and by the time the storm was over the water had over flown the banks, but beyond flooding a few cellars no damage was done. On the railways, however, things were different. The water rushed into the gully at Lock 24 on the new canal, through which the G.T.R. Welland division trains run and washed the ties up and the road bed away. On the Niagara Central the road bed was badly washed up but is being repaired as quickly as possible.
The gravel and wrecking trains from Hamilton were sent for and after working all night the men have managed to put the G.T.R. line into shape again. Perhaps the heaviest private loss will fall on Mr. Jos. Hunt, whose gardens were flooded and damage to the amount of about $1,000 done. Telegraph wires fell but are being put up this morning. In Thorold almost every cellar was flooded. Some idea of the violence of the wind and rain may be gathered from the fact that they took every vestige of paint off a carriage in which were Ald. Frank Maguire and Mr. W.K. Pattison. Many other vehicles suffered in the same way. Umbrellas were useless in the blizzard and were destroyed by the score.
Three Floors and a Basement Filled with Goods-Convenient Premises-An Enterprising Firm
[Welland Telegraph. 1 May 1891]
In 1886 when the firm of Taylor & Crow was established, the firm did a grocery and hardware business, dealing more largely in the former than in the latter. In the fall of the same year Mr. J.B. Taylor, whose interest in the business had been purchased by Mr. Crow, was again admitted into the firm, and though it consisted of three members, the business was transacted under the name of Taylor & Crow. In the spring of 1888, Mr. J.B. Taylor went out and the business was divided, the retiring member taking the groceries, and Messrs. Taylor & Crow devoting their energies and store space to an exclusive hardware trade.
Both members of the firm were young men, endowed with plenty of energy, enterprise and ambition. Careful attention to the trade, judicious buying, the proper amount and right kind of advertising have been the factors of success, and step by step the firm has advanced in the business arena, until today it is classed as one of the most honorable and substantial in the Niagara district.
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