Their Old Home Made New
Premises Enlarged and Remodeled to Accommodate Increased Trade
[People's Press, 2 December 1901]
Progress and improvement are the order of the day in Welland. To those who have not visited the town for several years the place seems to have assumed a metropolitan air quite different from the usual atmosphere of Canadian towns of its size and status. The gentlemen who have formed the town councils of the past few years are largely responsible for this. Our new permanent walks, the vast improvements in our streets and splendid municipal buildings have given an impetus to private enterprise of all sorts, and every day we notice some change for the better and the result of the movement is very gratifying indeed.
One of the latest improvements, and one that is of great material benefit to Welland and the surrounding country, is the metamorphosis of The Ross Co’s store on East Main street.
In view of this, the latest step in the progressive career of the Ross Company, a short resume of the company’s history will not be inappropriate.
David Ross, the chief of the firm, was like so many successful business men the world over, born in Scotland. He came to Canada when a mere lad, and has worked his own way up ever since. In the year, 1875 he came to Thorold and became a partner with Wm. Bull. About 1880 he came to Welland to manage one of the firm’s four stores, the other two being at Merritton and Port Colborne. Read the rest of this entry »
[Welland Tribune, 15 February 1901]
It is understood that the Glasgow syndicate, which over a year ago sent Mr. Stewart to Canada to investigate the outlook, and which has spent considerable money in experiment, will undertake the erection of a beet sugar plant either at Welland or Aylmer, or possibly at both places, provided reasonable arrangements can be made for securing the beets, etc.
House and Contents Almost A Total Loss
The unusual alarm of fire startled the town about ten minutes before 7 last Wednesday morning. Being so near the work hour, a good many at first thought the bells and whistle were sounding for 7 o’clock, but not so.
James Durham’s frame dwelling house on Ross street, near the G.T.R. depot, was the scene of the conflagration, and with the most of the contents was quickly reduced to ashes.
All that was got out were the piano and a very few other household articles. Gas was used for fuel, and the fire apparently caught from the chimney, probably the gas being turned causing greater heat than anticipated.
Mr. Durham was in Bay City, Mich., and Mrs. Durham in Toronto. Those in the house at the time were their son Teskey Durham, their daughter, Mrs. Dunlop, and her child. Mr. Dunlop and a boarder named Graham, who work at Beatty’s, had gone to their work. Mrs. Dunlop and baby has not yet risen, and as the fire got quite a start on the roof before being discovered, they were hustled out rather unceremoniously by the flames. The fire was discovered by Mr. Mathews of the G.T.R. and by Teskey Durham about the same time.
The loss is estimated at over $1100. The house alone was valued at $800 and was insured for $400. There was also $400 on the furniture. The insurance was with the Merchants and Equity companies. The flames made a clean sweep of all the clothing and personal effects of the boarder Graham.
The water pressure on the mains was very weak for some cause or other. Probably the building would have burned anyway owing to distance, etc., and it is fortunate that attention has been called to the water service for fire. This is a matter in which the safety of the whole town is at stake, and the council should remedy the trouble whatever it is, and that without an hour’s delay.
Welland Tribune
1 March 1901
Fire: 27 February 1901
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