Historic Old Fire Hall Is To Torn Down
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 28 April 1921]
The old fire hall beside the court house is shortly to be torn down. The present building is in fact a land-mark as it has seen Welland grow from a village to a city. In olden days the council used to sit within its walls and if it could speak it would tell of many tales, private and public. After great investigation and interviews with a number of Welland’s oldest inhabitants we present the following article regarding its history:
The first agitation for modern firefighting equipment was after the Tremont House, situated between the new and old canal, was burned on December 17, 1872. This was a great fire for the village at that date as the “Tremont” was considered quite a select hostelry.
The question of better fire-fighting appliances laid dormant till 1876, when the question was again brought to the minds of the people of the village. A public meeting was held and the council was asked to submit a by-law to the rate-payer for the purchase of a fire engine. In September 1876, a by-law was submitted to the rape-payers and on the 16th of September it was carried by a majority of 97 votes, only 45 rate-payers voting against it. The total number of ballots cast were 187. On the 19th of September the by-law was approved by the council on motion by James Griffith and Wm. Hill.
On November 9th, a heated discussion took place in the council chamber as to where the hall should be built for the engine and firemen. The two members on the west side of the canal, Messrs. Jeffrey and Hill wanted in on Frazer St., and the two members on the east side, Messrs. Griffith and Lamont, wanted in on Cross, where it now stand, and they won out by the casting vote of the Reeve, Mr. Hendershot.
On December 8th the council passed a resolution purchasing the fire engine, on motion of Griffith and Jeffrey, Mr. Lamont voting nay. On a motion by Griffith and Jeffrey the reeve was authorized to issue his check in favor of J.O. Ronald for the sum of $3,150 in full for purchase money of the fire engine and hose carts. On motion by Lamont and Griffith the fire engine was place in charge of A.O. Beatty until a hall could be procured. The fire engine arrived on December 8th and A.O. Beatty and John Van Wyck were appointed to be a committee to make a test, which they did to the satisfaction of all present even to the few who were in opposition to the purchase.
The tender for the construction of the fire hall was let to Freeman Hodgson on November 9th, at a meeting of the council on motion of James Griffith and O. Jeffrey.
The hall was partially destroyed by fire on two occasions. In 1877, Tuesday, January 30th, the fire company met in the hall for the first time and on Friday evening, February 9th, the firemen held their first ball in the new hall. On Wednesday, March 7th. The new fire alarm bell was purchased and placed in the hall. On Thursday, September 19th, 1884, the Frazer House, which was on the corner across from the Woolworth Building, and the fire hall caught fire and was burned. The bell was also destroyed and in the same year, 1884, the hall was rebuilt.
At the time of the terrific cyclone which blew the upper suspension bridge down at Niagara Falls, about 20 years ago. The tower of the hall was twisted out of place several feet. The contract was let to Jim Stevens to repair and put into place.
No doubt, many of the early inhabitants of Welland can recall many memories, pleasant and otherwise, connected with the old Welland Fire Hall, No. 1.
Operations Resume This Week-Forty to Sixty Men To Be Employed
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 May 1921]
“Building operations on the new theatre will begin this week,” said S.L. Lambert to The Tribune-Telegraph yesterday. “We expect,” he said, “to have from forty to sixty men employed shortly.”
This looks like the most important building operation of the year, and will do something to help the unemployment situation.
The Lambert theatre and hotel building will be by all odds the largest, most expensive and most imposing building in the city.
Alderman Brittin and Dawdy Secured Permission From Government
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 21 April 1921]
During their recent trip to Ottawa on the deputation for Hydro, Aldermen Brittin and Dawdy took advantage of the occasion to try to secure permission from the Government to lease the property on the west side of the canal, to enable them to enlarge the present west side Fire Hall, to make it possible to accommodate the team which is at present stationed on Cross Street, in the old Fire Hall.
The permission for the lease was in the city just twenty-four hours after the request was made to the authority.
The building will probably be enlarged at once and the horses and wagon be removed to this fine position across the canal where they will not be interfered with in case of fire by passing boats, when the bridge is swung.
Occupants Were Absent at The Time and Cause of Fire is Unknown
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 May 1921]
A two storey frame house on Dain Avenue, Maple Leaf Park, in Crowland Township, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. T. Putshire, was razed to the ground by fire art an early hour on Friday morning.
Mr Puthsire is a night employee of the Electro Metals and had gone to his work as usual. Mrs. Putshire was in Welland visiting friends. Neighbors who live in the vicinity of the house state that they had seen Mrs. Putshire going down town in the early evening. Nobody was in the house at the time of the fire.
About 2.45 on Friday morning the Crowland Police station received a telephone call notifying them that a house on Dain Avenue was in flames. The Crowland Fire department made a quick response and after putting up a stiff fight for two hours, were unable to save the building.
The cause is unknown, and the Fire Department can give no clue to what would have caused the fire.
Solomon David’s Property With Four Tenancies Destroyed
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 22 February 1921]
Quite a serious fire occurred in Crowland township in the early hour of yesterday morning, when what is known as the old cheese factory, occupied by Solomon David, was completely destroyed by the conflagration.
About a quarter to three yesterday morning a local doctor returning from a call reported to the Crowland police that he had seen a blaze on Ontario Road a short distance away. The Crowland fire department made an immediate response, but upon arrival found that the fire had secured a good start. Good work was done by the department, but they were unable to save the building.
Solomon David, the owner, who lives in the rear of the building, together with his wife and three children, was asleep at the time, and were not aroused until the arrival of the fire department, thus having a very narrow escape.
The property had been rented out to different parties, who controlled a pool room, restaurant, grocery store and barber shop, and nothing of these four stores remain now except the burned ruins.
British-American Drug Co., Capitalized at $300,000 to Manufacture Drug Supplies
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 February 1921]
George Day, Industrial Commissioner, announces the location of another industry in Welland-the British-American Drug Co., Limited, Manufacturing Chemists.
This company has been incorporated under a provincial charter, with a capital of $300.000.
It is the intention of the company to manufacture patent medicines, drug supplies, and among many other things, Van’s Ointment, which has proven so wonderfully successful in all skin disorders.
A board of directors has been elected, consisting of Col. B.J McCormick, Dr. H.D. Cowper, W.G.Smith, the prominent Welland druggist and D.B. Coleman, barrister.
The charter just secured covers the manufacture of all lines of drugs and druggists supplies. The company is linking up with the druggists throughout Canada.
The factory location in the city has not yet been determined but the company has fully decided that its manufactory is to be carried on in Welland.
Norman Rinker and Helen O’Neal Meet Death in Skating Outing on Monday
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 February 1921]
On Tuesday morning Chippawa Creek, just below Orchard Grove, revealed a grim tragedy. The bodies of Helen O’Neal, daughter of James S. O’Neal, one of the most prominent grocers in this city, and Norman Rinker an electrician from Detroit, who has been since Christmas visiting his parents were taken from the water.
About two o’clock on Monday afternoon, Norman Rinker called up the O’Neal home, asking Helen to go skating. They went to the lower creek. It is believed that the starting point was the foot of John Street., as the overcoat and shoes of the boy were found there. When darkness set in and Helen had not returned Mr. O.Neal became most anxious. Nothing could be done in the darkness, but at daybreak, her father, accompanied by P.S. Peacock started to search the ice for traces of the missing couple.
At a point, a few feet from where the bodies were found, Mr. O’Neal first discovered the cap and later, near the mouth of the hole, the young man’s left glove. The chief of police was at once notified and he in turn informed the Fire Department. The department was at work shortly after eight o’clock and under the supervision of Chief Stapf, a dozen of the company dragged for the bodies.
Immediately after the arrival of pike poles which was about ten o’clock the body of Helen O’Neal was recovered, just a little way from the shore and in about ten feet of water.
It was not until an hour and a half afterwards that the body of the Rinker boy was found, about ten feet from the place where the first body was recovered. This was only made possible by breaking the ice for some distance around, and dragging, from flat bottomed boats.
Norman Kennedy Rinker was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Rinker, 52 Randolph street. He was born in Pelham and was in his 24th year. The family moved to Welland fourteen years ago. He is survived by his parents and one brother, Edward E. Rinker of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The funeral will take place from the family home tomorrow afternoon and will be private.
Helen E. O’Neal, was well known and well liked in this community, having been born in Welland seventeen years ago, on September 23rd, 1903. Besides a grieving father, she is survived by one brother, John, at home and Mrs. William Boyd, in Georgia. The late Mrs. J.S. O’Neal, mother of Helen, predeceased her two years and three months ago.
Helen was an ardent member of the Fidele Class of the Methodist Sunday School, and also of the Methodist Church. The funeral was held this afternoon at 2.30. Interment was made at Fonthill.
A full measure of sympathy goes out to the homes that have been so sadly bereaved.
Both Were in The Water Half an Hour Before Being Rescued by Fire Department.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 February 1921]
What might have proven a great tragedy occurred on Monday afternoon in the Chippawa Creek, just below the pump house when Billy Frost, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Frost, of Major Street, aged 13, and May Parkerson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Parkerson, Orchard Grove, aged 11, broke through thin ice, falling into the icy water.
It appears that the boy and girl were out skating together, and upon nearing the pump house, where the creek is nearly always open, stumbled, breaking the ice and falling into the water. As Billy fell his feet going under him he called to the girl to fall on her stomach. Had the pair not done this they would probably have gone through a small hole and coming up in a different place, a rescue would have been almost impossible. There were several people around at the time and saw the two go into the water. Here they remained while attempts were being made to affect their rescue. After trying all manner of ways to pull them from this dangerous position, they were finally pulled out by the fire department, under the direction of F. Cutler and Roy Strawn, using a canoe borrowed from a neighboring boathouse, after they had been in the water for a half an hour. They were immediately carried into a nearby residence, and up to the present time are progressing nicely, although there is still a slight danger of the girl developing pneumonia.
Strong is the comment of the onlookers upon the way this thirteen year old boy attempted and succeeded to hold up the girl until assistance reached them. Not one instant did he lose presence of mind in this dangerous predicament. There should be some recognition made of the bravery displayed by him, and the case should come up in regard to receiving the Humane Society Medal.
[The Welland Tribune and telegraph, 10 February 1921]
About eight o’clock on Tuesday evening, the Fire Department received a call to attend a fire at the High School. The fire was caused by defective wiring under the class room used for Domestic Science Instructor. Very little damage was done, and the blaze extinguished with the use of the chemical apparatus. The fire broke out while the Industrial evening classes were in progress, and with the halls filled with smoke caused no little anxiety.
Adelman Stores badly Damaged in Tuesday Morning Blaze
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 February 1921]
About ten minutes to six on Tuesday morning, smoke was noticed issuing from a cement block building, on the corner of South Main Street and Seventh, in the Township of Crowland. Investigation showed that the clothing store of Frank Adelman was on fire. Before water could be brought to play on the flames the fire had spread to the store adjoining, a grocery establishment belonging to Eli Savocic.
The new Crowland Ford fire truck was immediately brought into service and played two streams upon the burning building. Welland department was also notified, although just who the informant was can not be at present discovered.
Both stores were badly damaged, and the stock destroyed. It is understood that Frank Adelman was moving his place of business and had nearly all his stock removed at the time of the fire. The place and stock was insured for $2,000. The grocery store carried an insurance of $1,000 on the building and stock, and $200 on the fixtures.
The cause of the fire is unknown at the present time.
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