Affixing Stamps in the Proper Corner Assists Work at the Post Office
[Welland Tribune, February 1929]
For more than 10 months, Welland postoffice has had in operation a stamping machine attached to which is an electric meter.
During these 10 months a million letters have gone through this machine, not including large size envelopes of letters posted with stamps in other than the right-hand corner.
Postoffice officials explained that the rapidity of movement in the work of stamping letters by the machine was badly hindered at times by the practice on the part of some correspondents of affixing the regular stamps on any place but the proper right-hand corner.
Officials stated that the machine was of exceptional service at such times as Christmas, Easter, St. Valentines’ Day and similar heavy mail delivery periods, and similar heavy mail delivery periods, and the St. Valentine’s Day mail delivery service had been the heaviest known.
Merchants down town bore this last statement out. One firm alone sent out over the Niagara peninsula no less than 43,200 one-cent valentines, more than 10,000 valentine cards, and between 4,000 and 4,500 10 cent-cards, to say nothing of thousands of post cards.
Property Purchased by John Cooper, Proprietor of Dexter Hotel
Acquired From Samuel Lambert Estate at Price Exceeding $40,000
[The Welland Evening Tribune, 22 January 1929]
The sale of the Reeta Hotel by the Samuel Lambert estate to John Cooper, proprietor of the Hotel Dexter, was confirmed yesterday.
The property was reported to have changed hands for approximately $40,000. Asked about the sale, Mr. Cooper stated that the sale price was well above that figure.
The new proprietors take over the property on February 1, but the new management will not begin to function until March 1, the present lessees, Mr. and Mrs. I.D. Smith remaining in charge of the hotel until that date.
John Cooper was originally proprietor of the Park hotel, King street west, Hamilton, and, selling out his interest in that property in 1911 he moved with his family into Welland, and has continued in the hotel business ever since, making a successful venture of the Hotel Dexter.
It is understood that one of Mr. Cooper’s sons will manage the new property as a hotel on similar lines to the Dexter hotel.
[Welland Evening Tribune, 21 March 1929]
Starting in small quarters in 1919, Gram Brothers Ltd. now occupy a building with over 18,000 square feet and further addition required.-New show rooms provided by re-location-8 departments-Plant complete in every detail.
Ten years ago in March 1919, it was established in Welland the business of Gram Brothers for the purpose of giving emergency and repair service & tires in connection with automobiles. The business was started in a small building 14 ft. by 22 ft. on the site now occupied by the Edgar Block on Cross Street. Today the firm is an incorporated company under the name of Gram Brothers Limited and the business is carried on in the handsome and substantial two storey building at the corner of East Main and Burgar Street, the total floor space of which amounts to 18, 460 sq. ft. Such in short is the record of accomplishment of 2 young men who believed that a business could be built on the basis of quality and service combined with technical skill and expert knowledge applied to the mechanical end of the automobile business. It is also evidence of faith they had in the future of Welland and district, for there were not a few skeptics when the big new building was erected in 1924. The active officials of the company were the original owners of the business. M.F. Gram, president, W.A. Gram, manager and Secretary–Treasurer.
Through a decade in which they displayed commendable enterprise in the development of their business, they have always insisted on service to the customer and attention to detail besides operating a general garage business. They occupy an important position as automobile salesmen of the present time being the authorized dealers of Welland and district of Nash and Dodge cars.
Gram Brothers
- Opened 18 June 1924 at the corner of East Main and Burgar Streets
- Official newspaper announcement on 17 June 1924-Welland Tribune & Telegraph: microfilm WPL Centenary Issue pg. 20
- Architect of new building was NA Kearns
- Phone 842
- “How We Began: We began this business in Welland five years ago to the day. Our office equipment at the start consisted of a telephone, an empty cement can, a lead pencil and a day book. That last word is a bit too dignified. Our day book was a five-cent scribbler.”
- Specialized in Chrysler and Plymouth automobiles
- Ten year anniversary in 1929
- In 1972 they were located at 975 Niagara Street
- 1972 was the last time the business was indexed in city directory
- Martin Gram owned a farm on the corner of Niagara Street and Woodlawn Road. Sold to developers Bruce Abbey and Mr. Thompson resulting in street names, Abbey Road, Thompson Road and Gram Avenue.
[Waterford Star, July 4, 1929]
Welland, June 28—Kiwanians returning from their convention had a narrow escape from death or serious injury this afternoon when the Michigan Central special train in which they were travelling just escaped going into the Welland Canal through the open bridge.
The engine of the special toppled over the bridge into the water, the coaches going off the track and halting on the brink. Engineer James Odell, with his fireman, succeeded in jumping from the cabin of the locomotive before it commenced its descent. Odell was seriously injured and was rushed to the Welland County General Hospital on an N.S.&T. trolley car. He is suffering from severe lacerations of the head.
The Welland division of the Niagara, St Catharines and Toronto Railway, above the city, to Port Colborne, was tied up for some time. The accident, however did not tie up navigation, both north and south bound boats taking the easterly channel, while the locomotive lies buried in the centre of the western passage.
Two front wheels of the baggage car, which was next to the locomotive, were hanging over the brink of the canal when the engine broke loose and plunged into the canal. According to statements of several passengers, there were about 175 Kiwanians on board, mostly all bound for New Jersey. They assert that the train was traveling at a fast rate. At the point where the accident occurred there is a derailing switch which in some manner threw the tender of the engine off the track. It bumped along for a distance of 150 feet, when it hit a frog, throwing it back on the track again. It is said that had it not been for this, the passenger cars would have been thrown on their sides and many occupants injured. The baggage car was coupled next to the engine and when the locomotive went through the open bridge, the front wheels of the car were over the embankment. The engine snapped off, this automatically acting as a brake to the remainder of the train, which was brought to a standstill. The engineer had applied the brakes some distance from the bridge. There were six passenger cars in the train.
One of the Prosperous Industries of Wellandport in Early History
[Welland Tribune April 27, 1929]
Known as George Steward’s Carriage Works, with a Large staff of Workmen.
An old landmark is being razed in the village known as Peter Smith’s blacksmith. In the pioneer days of Wellandport it was owned by George Steward, who conducted quite an extensive industry in the manufacturing of wagons, carriages, cutters and sleighs, employing a large number of mechanics, consisting of wagonmakers, blacksmiths, painters and upholsters. It was one of the main industries of the district. The old building being torn down was one of the departments of the factory. Like many other industries in small centres, it was put out of business by the big corporations who manufactured on a large scale, and with which the small firms could not compete. Many large displays of Mr. Stewart’s handicraft were exhibited at local fairs throughout the district. The family of Stewards consisted of George, Jacob, Wm. J. and Jesse.
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