Oswald Hickey Succumbs to His Injuries
[People’s Press, 23 January1912]
His serious injuries were not the end of the disaster which overtook Oswald Hickey on Sunday morning a week ago. He suffered from the burns which enveloped his body for a week, and then pneumonia setting in Thursday night, sank suddenly in his weak condition, and expired at three o’clock on Friday morning. He was approaching his 23rd birthday, which, had he lived, would have taken place on March 12th next.
From the first his condition was so serious that doubt was held of his recovery, but he seemed to be progressing favorably. Even on Thursday morning he seemed to be resting easily and doing as well as could be expected, but in the evening the dread pneumonia set in and his physician warned his relatives of his serious condition, death occurring a few hours later, as stated.
Mr. Hickey was born in Toronto, where the home of his parents is at present. He was reared there and came to Welland two years ago.
In August last he was married to Miss Mary Cherry, a former resident of Toronto, and they took up housekeeping on East Division street, in the house where he met with the fatal accident.
Besides his wife, four brothers are still living, viz: Fred and Russell of Toronto, and Joe and Leo of Welland; three sisters, Lilly, Edna and Ethel, and his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Hickey, are all numbered among his survivors. His father is manager for the Supreme Heating Co., of Welland, in which establishment deceased was also employed.
The body was taken to Toronto on Friday and the funeral took place Monday, from his parental home in Toronto to Mount Hope cemetery of the Roman Catholic church.
Deceased was a member of the R.C. Church, of exceptionally good character and habits, and deservedly possessing the respect and friendship of all who knew him, and who deeply deplore his tragic end.
People’s Press
23 January 1912
Died: 19 January 1912
Married: 7 August 1911-Sarah Cherry
Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto
12 March 1889-19 January 1912
Pnuemonia
Father: James J. Hickey
Mother: Elizabeth Karens
[Welland Telegraph, 21 June 1912]
$2500 will buy this large Two Storey Frame Residence.
It is situated on the North side of Maple Avenue in one of the best residential sections of the Town. The house contains 11 rooms, including bath, gas, water, sewer, cellar and all conveniences. Bay window and balcony on east side of house. Situated on a lot 66 ft. by 99 feet with
FIRST-CLASS SURROUNDINGS.
For a quick sale the owner advises us to sell at the above figure. Terms if desired.
Come in and see us and we will be glad to show you the property and give you any further information desired.
WELLAND REALTY COMPANY
LIMITED
REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE
Phone 89
Expect to be in Operation Within Forty Days
New Industry to Employ 40 Hands
[People’s Press, 12 March 1912]
The first new industry of the year to choose Welland as the location for a new plant is the Holman Sign Co. of Toronto. This firm has bought the idle plant recently used by the Electro-Steel Co., from A.M. Mosley and C.J. Laughlin, and will remove their factory from Toronto to Welland.
The Holman Sign Co. are practically the only large firm in Canada manufacturing electrical signs at present.
Their products have a monster market, electrical displays with alternating currents being the general pattern of signs used nowadays. One Holman sign in use in Welland is that of the New Century poolroom on East Main St.
Forty men will be employed in the new plant when its operation starts in full swing, and its business increases so rapidly that additions will be constantly being made to this number.
The company has begun fixing up the Electro-Steel plant on the west side of the canal below the M.C.R. already in preparation for the moving in of its machinery. Members of the firm state that they expect to be turning out signs from their Welland plant within forty days.
Settlement of 2000 to Locate Here
[People’s Press, 12 March 1912]
Rumor from a hidden although vouched for source stated on Monday morning that arrangements had been made by a Toronto real estate firm to open a settlement of Scandinavians on the Asher farm just east of Welland.
The report was that workmen’s homes worth $1500 are to be built and two thousand Swedes and Norwegians are to be brought to this country to settle there. Seven hundred dollars will be advanced for their passage to Welland, which with the cost of their homes, they will have to pay back to the real estate company.
No positive authority could be obtained for the report.
[Welland Tribune, 8 February 1912]
It is now freely admitted that the Welland Business College is the most popular and high-class business school of the Niagara district. Owing to it being a link in a chain of seven high-grade schools and being affiliated with the Commercial Educator’s Association of Canada, its graduates enjoy a prestige which gives them the best positions available. Thousands of young people, who cannot attend in person learn while they earn through our Home Study department. Others study at home for a time and then finish at the college. Any young person, who is desirous of success in life, should write to the Welland Business College, Welland, Ont. For particulars.
[Welland Telegraph, 20 February 1912]
Welland this year will not only sustain its reputation as the fastest growing town in Ontario, but it will also set a new record for industrial development in the Dominion. This is a very broad statement but present indications are that at the close of 1912 will see its full justification.
Negotiations are on for the location of several new factories here early in the spring. A two hundred thousand dollar hotel will be erected by the Henrietta Hotel Company and a street railway system will be placed in operation about the first of March.
WILL PAVE
Early in the spring the Council will commence the paving of the Main Streets. All eyes are now beginning to be turned on this town and this year it will be “Watch Welland Grow!”
The plant of the Automatic Transportation Company will be placed in operation in a few weeks and within a short time the Page-Hersey Iron, Tube & Lead Company will be taking on several hundred additional hands.
MANY RAILROADS-MORE COMING
Although Welland at the present time has more railroads than any other town in Canada, the prospects are that it will have more. In the very near future the C.P.R., and the C.N.R., will build branches to Welland. The statement is authoritive as the respective companies have admitted that such is their intention. At the present time Welland has seven railroads and forty-six passenger trains run through the town every day. The city is within easy access, therefore, to all the principal commercial centres of America.
HOW WE HAVE GROWN
A brief word of the past growth of the town will serve to show what has been going on here. Five years ago the town had a population of less than 1800. Today, with the people living on the outskirts, it is over 6000.
NEW BUSINESS BLOCKS
Immediately after the opening of spring a number of new business blocks will be erected. H.A. Rose will put up a three storey block on East Main Street, and A.J.J. Brennan will add another storey to his block. S.P. Gourlay has plans out for a new block on Cross Street and A.J. Morris of Guelph will build a new two storey business block on East Main Street, east of the G.T.R. S.L. Lambert will erect a new block on North Main St., for which plans have been gotten out.
The County Council are considering the enlargement of the Registry Office, or the erection of a new building, and it is very likely that this will be gone on with this spring.
JOHN DEERE
One of the biggest booms Welland will receive will be the erection of an immense plant for the John Deere Manufacturing Company. According to the original plans of the company, they will put up a plant here that will cost in the neighborhood of $1,000,000.
OUR ADVANTAGES
Welland’s unequalled advantages are almost too well known to need elucidation. The town has cheap gas, cheap electricity, unequalled rail transportation and it is on the banks of the great Welland canal.
Should the Welland canal be enlarged it would mean that Welland will be the centre of the great industrial development which is bound to follow such a project.
HOTELS
The Dexter House is now being remodelled and when completed will present a very attractive appearance and will be thoroughly modern in every detail. Welland has long been in need of better hotel accommodation.
NEW WATERWORKS PLANT
By the first of May a splendid new waterworks plant will be completed and in operation. This plant is erected on The Island, and water power is secured from the canal. It is one of the best contracted waterworks plants in Ontario and it will provide water for the city for many years.
AN EXTENTION
The street railway is to be extended next spring. A west side line is to be built to connect with the east side line and to meet all cars on the N.S.& T. Work on the laying of the track will be started early in the spring.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Municipal improvements area also planned and will undoubtedly be carried out. A new Carnegie Library is to be erected and a new central fire hall may be built.
President D. Ross of the Board of Trade may erect a new brick block on Muir Street, but he has not decided definitely concerning this matter.
AN ARMORY
Local military men are making an effort to have a handsome new armory erected in Welland this spring, and a meeting of local officers will be held to consider the matter.
MORE PARKS
Welland’s Park Commission has been active in the beautification of the town and will make further improvements to the park next year. They may also acquire additional property for park purposes.
CHURCHES
Both the Episcopalians and the Catholics are preparing to build handsome edifices in the spring.
The Salvation Army will erect a new barracks in the spring They have secured a site on the corner of Hellems Avenue and Cross Streets.
Gasoline Explosion Responsible for Bad Blaze in Clothes Cleaning Shop of Cameron & Son
[Welland Telegraph, 14 January 1912]
THE INJURED
Archibald Cameron, face and hands burned.
Charles Cameron, face and hands seriously burned.
W.F. Wright, hair singed and face slightly scorched.
THE FIRE
Charles Stewart’s two-storey frame building on East main street-partially destroyed.
Cameron & Son’s cleaning and pressing shop completely gutted.
I.E. Wills’ barber shop, damaged by fire and water.
INSURANCE AND LOSS
Charles Stewart, owner of the building-$1500.
I.E. Wills’ barber shop-$500.
Cameron & Son-$500.
An explosion of gasoline in the cleaning and pressing shop of Cameron & Son, East Main Street, started a fire in the two-storey frame business owned by Chas. Stewart, which had not only partly destroyed the building but completely gutted the cleaning and pressing establishment and damaged the barber shop of I.E. Wills, which occupies one half of the building. Mr. Stewart has living apartments on the second storey but the flames were checked before the fire spread to that floor.
TWO BADLY BURNED
Just what caused the explosion is not known. Mr. Cameron and his son were at work cleaning clothes, and were using gasoline. W.F. Wright, organizer of the I.O.F., was in the shop waiting to discuss a business matter with Mr. Cameron, who is financial secretary of the I.O.F. This was about 12.45.
GASOLINE BECAME IGNITED
What ignited the gasoline is not known but a sheet of flame suddenly shot up, setting fire to the clothing of Mr. Cameron and his son, and to everything in the building of an inflammable nature. Mr. Wright was standing near the door and only the outer edge of the flame caused by the explosion touched him. He grabbed a coat and wrapped it around Mr. Cameron and this extinguished his burning clothing. Charles Cameron was in the rear of the burning section and had to come through the flames to reach the door. It was in doing this that he was so badly burned. When the door was reached it was impossible to open it for a time, the spring lock having caught. The combined efforts of Mr. Wright and Mr. Cameron, however, succeeded in opening it.
The eleven year old daughter of Mr. Cameron was standing at the door at the time of the explosion, but she escaped without injury.
Medical assistance was immediately called and the two injured men were taken home and their burns dressed.
USED EXTINGUISHERS
An alarm was immediately turned in and the hose reel from the fire hall almost directly across the street was brought over. A stream of water was soon playing on the flames and the fire brought under control. Several fire extinguishers from the Grand Theatre was also used to good effect. The cleaning and pressing machinery of Cameron & Son and the clothing belonging to customers which was in the shop at the time was all completely destroyed. The loss of the firm will be about five hundred dollars, which is covered by insurance.
Mr. Wills’ loss will also amount to about $500 as nearly everything in the barber shop was drenched with water. Insurances will cover this.
Mr. Stewart estimates the damage to the building at $1500, fully covered by insurance.
The courage and presence of mind of Mr. Wright was responsible for saving Mr. Cameron, sr., from perhaps fatal burns. As it is he is in a dangerous state.
Total Number Now is 65 in County-Two Held Over
[People’s Press, 7 May 1912]
Ten more licenses were granted by the license commissioners on Friday and two were held for further consideration. The total number of licenses now existing in the county is 65, with the probability that the other two will be granted.
A meeting will be held on May 14th to decide upon the two which were laid over. Following are the licenses granted:
Wm. Willock, tavern, Bertie; John R. Boag, shop, Fort Erie; Mrs. E.J. Bracken, tavern, Stamford; E.E. Furry, tavern, Stamford; W.A. Stone, tavern, Thorold; D.E. Evans, shop, Port Colborne; Garret Roach, tavern, Welland; G.R. Laird, tavern, Niagara Falls; A.J. Cardy, tavern, Niagara Falls; Mrs. W. Shepard, shop, Niagara Falls. The applications of C.W. White for a tavern in Humberstone and John Rees for a tavern in Niagara Falls were laid over.
[Welland Telegraph, 24 May 1912]
Welland’s population, including the immediate outskirts, is nearly 7000.
Welland has more live boosters in proportion than any city in Canada.
Welland has the record of being the fastest growing town in Ontario.
During the past five years Welland has secured an industry every ninety days.
There is no town that is better advertised in Canada or the United States.
Welland has the reputation as a live business centre and has become known all over America.
Welland’s advantages are many. Cheap electricity and cheap gas are among the features of power. In shipping there are seven railroads and the Welland Canal.
The New York Central, the Wabash M.C.R., T.H. & B., C.P.R., Pere Marquette, Grand Trunk, N.S. & T. are the railroads that serve Welland. There is no better combination in Canada.
Welland is the most easily accessible to all the larger cities because of its unequelled railway facilities.
A train may be secured every few hours for Toronto, Rochester, Buffalo or Pittsburg. Several fast trains running between New York and Chicago pass through the town daily.
The Board of Trade of Welland has a proportionately larger membership than any other Board of Trade in Ontario.
In six years Welland has grown from a population of 1800 to 6000.
Welland has an up-to-date street car service with modern street cars.
About three miles of Welland’s main streets are now being paved at a cost of $130,000.
Welland is located on the Welland canal, the most important Canadian canal.
Welland has a modern new waterworks system which cost $75,000. The town’s water supply will be from the Welland canal.
Welland has a large hospital which is in charge of capable nurses.
There are five of the largest Canadian banks here: the Royal, the Imperial, the Toronto, the Nova Scotia and the Dominion.
In 1911, the men employed in Welland factories was 2098. The annual pay sheet of all the factories was $1, 169,422. The value of products shipped from all factories was $5,847,459.
Welland has a Business and Professional Men’s Club with a large bowling green adjacent.
Welland is taking fast strides toward municipal ownership.
The John Deere Manufacturing Co. will erect a million dollar plant here.
Welland has the liveliest publicity commissioner of any town or city in Canada.
The customs receipts for the year were $180,825.
Welland has a central energy telephone system.
Welland has plenty of sporting organizations. Baseball and football are played in the summer and hockey in the winter. There is plenty of water here for rowing, canoeing and boating, also.
There are three public schools here, the High school and a Business College.
The churches in Welland are the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran Disciple, Free Methodist and the Salvation Army.
The county buildings of the county of Welland are located here.
Welland is adjacent to Fort Erie at Port Colborne and to Crystal beach, Canada’s biggest summer resort.
The products of Welland’s factories are-bed, rope, twine, drop forgings, electric signs, dredges, scows, engines, stoves, fence posts and tubes, gas and water pipes.
Men of nation-wide reputation such as Hon. Richard Harcourt and W.M. German, M.P.P., reside here.
Welland’s assessment is $3,498,297.
[Welland Telegraph, 28 May 1912]
A building permit was issued on Monday for the erection of a two-storey brick block on the corner of Myrtle Avenue and East Main Street. The block is being erected by John Thew of Toronto. White & White, East Main Street, are the contractors.
The cost of the new building is to be $2900, and it will be used as a store and a dwelling.
Permits have also been issued for a new brick and Stucco residence on the west side of East Main Street for C.J. White; renovation and alterations to a frame residence on Dennistoun Street for Jeremiah Bearss; alteration to garage for L. Smith on Dorothy Street; brick veneering residence of J.L. Ball on Dennistoun Street.
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