[People's Press, 22 May 1906]
On Friday last a death occurred at the home of Mr. A.E. White, West Main street, when “Polly” an old familiar figure, passed away after a short illness, the immediate cause of death being sunstroke. “Polly” had never been known to have been sick before. She was a member of the parrot family and was brought from Toronto in the year 1875 by Mr. White and had lived in the family ever since. She was 31 years and 18 days old. Poor “Polly’s” last words were “Polly cold.” She will be greatly missed by the children who liked to hear her talk as she sat perched in her cage in front of the store. She was buried by the children under a chestnut tree.
[People's Press, 22 May 1906]
Three new business buildings are now in active course of erection on East Main street, all within a stone’s throw of each other, and another is about to be begun. It does not look as if the fears of some that the business portion of the town would follow the industrial works southward would be realized. The very fact that the industries are located in that section precludes the location as business centre. The two do not harmonize together. Aside from the fact that the surroundings of factories do not form a desirable environment for a mercantile section, business places always cluster together, and this cannot be done in a section where large blocks are taken by industrial plants. Besides this, a business centre once located, is very difficult to move. East Main street is all right, but it is not likely that business will extend further westward on West Main street than at present, unless the electric railway makes some changes.
Loss $400-No Insurance
Welland, June 1-Geo. Hughes’ bakery on Division street was completely destroyed by fire early this morning. The loss is about $400 on which Mr. Hughes has no insurance. Mr. Hughes had been in business only a few months and the loss is a very serious one to him. He had been working in the bakery from one o’clock until about four o’clock and had gone in the house to lie down for a few minutes. When he returned in about twenty minutes he found the interior of the bakery all ablaze. An alarm was rung to which the firemen quickly responded. The bakery, a small frame building, was nearly burned when the firemen arrived. The house, occupied by Mr. Hughes, is owned by Mrs. McCoppen, and stands only a few feet away from the burned bakery. The back of it was charred by the flames, and had it not been for the fireproof roof, it would have been difficult to save it. As it was the house was on fire several times. The fire is supposed to have started from a “hot plate” attached to the gas pipe by a rubber hose. The hose apparently became disconnected from the stove, and the gas catching fire, set fire to the building.
Mr. Hughes was about to sell out the business. An agreement had been made by which Mr. McNeil of Oakville was to take over the business on Monday morning next.
People’s Press
10 June 1906
Fire: 1 June 1906
H.W. Macoomb’s New House Went up in Flames Early this Morning
Welland, April 10-H.W. Macoomb’s new house on the River Road is a wreck owing to a disastrous fire which occurred there early this morning. About 4 o’clock a.m. the fire alarm sounded. In fifteen minutes hose cart No. 1 from the old town hall was on the scene, but the fire had reached its height then and the flames were streaming through the roof. At 4.30 the second stream was put on, but in the meantime the house was nearly a wreck. About all that was left to do was to save the walls, and Contractor Ellsworth could not say this morning whether the walls would be of any use or not.
The fire was first seen by Judge Wells, and he telephoned Mr. Macoomb and the Central, which telephoned around town endeavoring to get somebody to ring the alarm. Chief Braedin got the alarm from the millers on top of Cooper’s mill, and rang the bell. Considerable delay took place in getting enough people out. The bell either did not sound loud and long enough at first, or the people were unusually sleepy. A high wind was blowing. Finally three men started out with the hose cart, and got stuck in the mud in front of the registry office, and had to wait until others arrived.
The building had been in construction several months and was practically completed. It was built of cement bricks and fitted with beautiful hard wood work. The house was unfurnished, but a large portion of the furniture was to have been installed in a day or two.
The cost of the building so far was $4000, and the insurance amounting to $2500 will not cover the loss.
The cause of the fire is not known.
The gas in the hot air furnace was probably left burning.
The night was wet or the fire would certainly have spread to Judge Wells’ house, as it was at the time covered with sparks.
Mr. Macoomb hopes to have the building reconstructed by August.
People’s Press
10 April 1906
Fire: 10 April 1906
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