Welland History .ca

Historic EVENTS in and around Welland

BANK PURCHASES BUSINESS BLOCK

Business Block of J.S. O’Neal Changed Hands Last Week

[Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 1921]

On Saturday afternoon, a deal was put through in which James O’Neal disposed of the property which he has occupied for the past fourteen years to the Bank of Toronto.

The building was built fourteen years ago by Marcus Vanderburg, for Mr. O’Neal, and is 34 by 75 feet, well-constructed, and a fine two storey brick store. The Bank will assume possession on June 10th.

Mr. O’Neal will, after 44 years, in the grocery business retire from active business, our reporter was informed yesterday. He was 18 years in business with C.J. Page and 26 years in business by himself, and thinks he is well deserving a rest.

Mr. O’Neal has purchased a home at 24 Oakland Avenue, where he intends to reside after having disposed of his stock and business.

He leaves the mercantile sphere with kindest thoughts for everybody, and for the citizens in general, with regrets at having to part after all these years with many business friends and acquaintances.

The price paid for the property, The Tribune-Telegraph is informed, was $55,000.

PLANS FILED FOR NEW RAILWAY LINE WELLAND TO THE FRONTIER

Line Runs Direct East From Welland to The River-Bridges Are to Have Foot-and Carriage-Way

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 1 February 1921]

There was filed in the Welland Registry office last week the land plans of the Niagara Bridge Co., and it is one of the most important and interesting railway documents the registry office has seen in many years.

The bridge company will not only span the Niagara River but as well will construct and own a railway which will connect the Michigan Central System at Welland with the New York Central System in New York State.

The new line will tap the Michigan Central, just east of Welland, at a point half a mile north of the Cook’s Mills Road. The direction is direct east striking the river about two miles north of Black Creek. The line crosses the first bridge to Grand Island at Sheerwter Park.

The company has purchased two Willoughby farms at the approach to the bridge and the rest of the property for right of way will be acquired under the railway act.

The Tribune and Telegraph understands the M.C.C.R., C.P.R., and T.H.&B., jointly control the new company. The plans were filed by E. D. Cahill, solicitor for the T.H.& B.

It is of great interest to note that the company is required under its charter to maintain a foot and carriage-way on the Niagara River Bridges.

REMOVAL

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 28 January 1921]

The Welland Business College having assigned its lease, 275 Main St. East, to the G.W.V.A., will on Monday, January 31, occupy its new home, 45 Main St. West (Rogers Block). These new premises have been specially fitted for our work. We are no longer a speculation. We have proven our ability and are in Welland to stay. W.G. Charlton, Principal.

CHAMBERS REUNION

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 28 June 1921]

The Chambers Reunion will be held at the home of Geo. Chambers, South Pelham, July 1. All relatives and friends please accept this invitation. Come with your baskets and enjoy the day together. Dinner 12.30

Those wishing to be met at Perry Station kindly notify the secretary, Bradley Stayzer, President; Orland Chambers, Secretary.

PUBLIC DEMANDS BEST DRINKS

Orange-Crush Co.’s Representative Tells of Rise in Quality Standards

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 21 June 1921]

“Soft drinks of genuine quality are growing more popular every day,” said an official of Orange-Crush Company in a recent interview.

“The public is rapidly learning to recognize real merit in fountain and bottled beverages and only those drinks that measure up to high standards can enjoy permanent popularity.

Progressive manufacturers welcome this growing taste for quality drinks, and are doing much to insure highest excellence in their output.

For example, in the manufacture of the well-known fruit flavored drinks, Ward’s Orange-Crush, Lemon-Crush and Lime-Crush, there is maintained a most complete service laboratory in charge of trained chemists for the sole purpose of guarding the quality and purity of the Crushes’.

There is an elaborate line of equipment for making tests and analyses, and bottlers and dealers have the co-operation of our chemists in maintaining quality at all times and in all places.

Just another sign of better standards of living; also it is proof that the great soft drink industry is keeping pace with progress.”

WELLAND NEWS

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 March 1921]

The Fire Department received a call about ten minutes to six on Monday evening for a fire at the residence of B.J. McCormack, East Main street. When the company arrived the roof near the chimney was afire. It is believed that the cause was from a spark from the chimney. The firemen soon had it extinguished with the assistance of the chemical. The damage was light.

OPENING OF LAKEVIEW PARK

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 June 1921]

Ideal weather, big crowds, lots of energy and hard work on the part of the ladies of the Women’s Institute made Tuesday’s Garden Party a never-to-be-forgotten event in the annals of Port Colborne. Booths were erected for candy, soft drinks, ice-cream and fish pond and all gaily decorated, and by 3 p.m. everything was in readiness for the big event.

Tables were invitingly spread and numbers of ladies ready to wait on the many ticket holders when six o’clock drew near for the strawberry tea. Crowds were served between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and all agreed that as usual the Women’s Institute certainly knew how to serve a supper. At about 8 p.m., the town band arrived and after giving a splendid selection were regaled with tea, etc. The formal opening of the park was then made by Mayor Cross. Speeches were given by each of the clergy. Will White then introduced himself and Harold Rich who in turn entertained the audience with a varied programme.

The crowds, between 1600 and 2,000 people were at times rocked with laughter. Will White greatly puzzled his audience with a few slight of hand tricks. Especially were the kiddies interested in the gold-fish produced from nowhere, but which eventually swam merrily in a big glass bowl. During the early part of the evening the ice cream booth was kept busy, but during the concert period the candy and soft drinks booths cleared their stock of goods as did the fish pond. The concert being finished about 11.15 the big rush for the ice-cream again. It is wonderful to see the amount of work that has been accomplished on the Park within the last few days. The Mayor, park commission and many other gentlemen of town have certainly undertaken a big task and are carrying it through.

Hearty thanks are extended all who helped to make the garden party such a success. At the time of going to press financial details are not all to hand, but a full report of same will appear in the next issue.

*Will White was entertained at the home of Mr. Anderson.

*The annual picnic of the Women’s Institute will be held in July at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reeb.

CROWLAND NEWS

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 4 January 1921]

The peaceful citizens of our fair city were disturbed from their daily routine by the clanging of a bell on a foreign fire engine on Friday. Investigation showed that this truck is the newly acquired property of Crowland Township. This truck is a Ford one ton engine which we believe will fill the need of the industrial section of Crowland very nicely. As yet there has been no use for the engine, and although Chief Jones states that they don’t want any, we believe that in their hearts there is a desire to give the thing a tryout.

GIRL OF ELEVEN FATALLY BURNED

Little Housekeeper Used Coal-oil to Help Kitchen Fire

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 12 May 1921]

A startling fatality occurred in Smithville on Monday afternoon when Alice, the eleven year old daughter of Jacob Sames, was so severely burned about the body that the little one passed away within 24 hours after the occurrence. In the absence of her father, who was taken away from home teaming gravel at the lake shore near Beamsville, the child in company with her two younger sisters, aged 7 and 9 was keeping house and after doing a day’s washing and cleaning, attempted to light the kitchen stove, and finding the fire not burning as she desired, used a coal oil can full of oil to make the wood burn.

After applying the oil the can was left on the flat oven door, while she retired to a nearby lounge to lie down for a short rest. Being tired, the little one dozed into a light sleep, the coal oil can became overheated and exploded, throwing the oil all over the room and over the prostrate child, igniting her clothing and the contents of the room.

She immediately ran screaming to the street and the alarm was at once sounded by the nearby townsfolk who rushed to her assistance and with coats smothered the flames as the little on rolled in the ditch. She was carried into the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Downey and Drs. Zumstein and Robinson hurriedly summoned who gave her every assistance.

The clothing was burned off the body and the skin peeled off with the little clothing that was left. Her condition was pronounced hopeless and she passed away the following afternoon remaining quite conscious near the end. Her sisters, who were playing outside, were unharmed. The room in the house suffered considerable damage before the flames were extinguished by willing hands who hurriedly gathered at the alarm of fire.

The loss of the contents of the house is covered by insurance.

Mr. Sames was sent for at once and he arrived home a short time after the accident. He is heart-broken over the sad occurrence.

BUSINESS BUILDING

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 10 May 1921]

Another business building is being added to Welland. Wm. Swayze is erecting a two-storey brick building on Cross Street, beside the Woolworth Building. Mr. Swayze when interviewed by the press yesterday, said that he expects to have it finished sometime in August. Mr. Swayze is supervising the building construction, when finished the block will have a store on the ground floor and upstairs there will be a flat. The downstairs area will measure 18 by 40 feet and the upstairs 29 by 40 feet.