[Welland Tribune October 1, 1931]
Continuation school
Fenwick, Oct. 1-The principal, W.C. Spencer. and his teachers, of the Pelham Contiuation school, are being congratulated upon the excellent results of the recent examinations. Wessel Horton and Edwin Kline both entered upon their new duties at the Hamilton Normal school this week; William Box has resumed his studies at McGill University; Sydney Dalrymple left Monday morning to study for medicine at Toronto University; Gordon Jarrrett who has passed with high standing, has left for Queen’s University to take a course in extramural to specialize in mathematics and physics. Walter LaRose, who won the special scholarship, has been awarded $125 in cash and is also receiving a four years tuition at Toronto University, he leaving Monday to enter upon his studies.
[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 25 April 1931]
Building Owned by Welland Cartage Company While Animals Belonged to Atkins Bakery-Truck, Hay and Harness Also Lost-Fire Presents Brigade With Stiff Three Hour Fight-Plant of Atherton Woodworking Company Saved Only Through Fine Work of Firemen.
Fire shortly after midnight destroyed on old barn on Division street, owned by George Smith of the Welland Cartage company, burned two valuable horses to death, destroyed a large quantity of hay and several sets of harness owned by Ernest Atkins, baker, and also destroyed a truck, valued at $750, owned by Mr. Smith, the total monetary loss being around $1,250.
The horses were owned by Mr. Atkins, and were valued around $400. The plant of the Atherton Woodworking company, which was but 10 feet away from the roaring furnace, was saved only through the courageous and energetic work of the fire brigade _of the company. James H. Atherton believed the fire brigade should be heartily commended. The blaze lasted three hours, and for more than two hour occasioned for the firemen the hardest and at times the most dangerous work. Cause of the fire is believed by Mr. Smith, proprietor of the Welland Cartage Company, and owner of the barn, to have been a lighted cigarette left in the hay loft by hoboes. There was no insurance on any of the horses.
William Spark, who resides on Division street, noticed the blaze. Only partly clad he rushed to the barn, and hoped to effect a rescue of the horses, but the inside of the structure was a roaring furnace, and it was impossible to do anything. He rang fire alarm 41. At about the same time two young men in an automobile on Division street, James Beals and a friend, noticed the fire, and they rushed their car to Central fire hall in the belief it would be quicker to do that than to pull the alarm, according to the narrative given to The Tribune. The moment they reached the fire hall the hooter rang out.
The fire brigade responded immediately with Assistant Fire Chief Joseph C. MacMillan in charge. In all 33 fire fighters participated and 12 lengths of hose were used. The Central fire hall pumper and hose and ladder truck also accompanied the men in the blaze. Mr. Atkins and Mr. Atherton were both present during the course of the fire and they informed the Tribune that the two horses were dead, before anything could be done to rescue them from their dreadful position.
The barn was an ancient frame structure valued at approximately $500, and about five years ago Mr. Smith had two garages built on as an annex……..
Move Suggested to Tide Over Present Situation-Question of Renting Building Discussed
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 29 April 1931]
Partial Article
Joint committees of the Board of Education and city council as suggested at the meeting, Tuesday evening of last week, met in the city hall, last night, to further discuss the request of the Welland Board of Education for $32,500 with which to build four additional rooms at Empire school to relieve present crowded accommodations.
The meeting was in the nature of a round table conference and considerable discussion followed. Finally it was decided by motion that the joint committee should recommend to the Board of Education the opening of the Aqueduct Street school to tide over the present situation.
Mayor Fred J. Bradley, Alderman H.H. Hilder, James A. Hughes, Frank Springer, John R. Joyce, and City Solicitor, D.D. Gross represented the city council at the joint session while the representatives of the board of education consisted of Trustee Harry W. Macoomb, board chairman, John Young, J.J. Raffey, W.J. Thomas, James Atherton and School Inspector, John Flower. …..
Citing the fact that the renting of any building would be just a temporary measure to relieve the present situation, Trustee Macoomb declared the remedy was to build an eight-room school in Ward two. Several desirable sites were available, he stated. An eight-room school would take care of all the overflow of pupils for five years, he pointed out, adding the board could fill three rooms by September and a fourth room by easing off the overcrowded classes.
New Welland Business Building to Be Erected For L. Maciejeski
[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 23 April 1931]
Among the several building permits recorded by City Engineer C.L, Coulson to date for April is one for $9,000, given to L. Maciejeski for a business block on East Main street just west of Burgar street. Louis Whitaker is the contractor.
Two dwellings are also being erected, one for Principal J. Kenneth Hansel of Ross school, on Church street to cost around $3,800 and another for A. Jennings on Wilton avenue. Fred Klager of Fonthill has the contract for Principal Hansel’s new home and Mr. Jennings will build his own home.
BLAST ON ALBERT STREET ROCKS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CAUSES $10,000 FIRE LOSS
Windows and Glass Parlors of Nearby Bell Telephone Exchange Smashed and Night Operator Thrown Against Switchboard-Wife and Eight Children Sleeping in Rear of House at Time-Gas Heater Left Burning in Shop Mentioned as Possible Cause
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 16 Dece
mber 1931]
St. Catharines, Dec. 16-An explosion at four o’clock this morning completely levelled the frame fruit and grocery store of Frank Boccinfuso on Albert street, Thorold, smashed windows and the glass parlors in the Bell Telephone exchange across the street and caused a fire which damaged the Boccinfuso store, a shop next door and his residence at the rear.
The entire neighborhood was rocked by the concussion.
Miss Lillie Long, night operator in the telephone exchange, was thrown against the switchboard. Boccinfuso, his wife and eight children were sleeping in the house at the rear at the time, but were not injured.
The loss is estimated at $10,000.
Although the cause has not been definitely determined, a gas heater left burning in the store is being mentioned as the possible cause.
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 12 December 1931]
At a special meeting of Welland City Council held at noon today, the contract for the construction of the new Bridge on North Main street, was awarded to the Gardner Construction Company of Welland and Fort Erie, at a price of $74,924. The bridge will be a concete span.
Machine Carrying 18 Pssengers Skids on Icy Pavement and Swings Around
WOMAN INJURED
Mrs. A. McLean Jumps Out of Door and is Jammed Against Pole
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 9 December 1931]
St. Cathrines, Dec. 9-A motor coach bound from Thorold to St. Catharines,with 18 passengers skidded on the icy pavement on the small hill near lock nine of the old Welland canal, swung about and came to a stop just as it was about to topple into the water.
The only person injured was Mrs. McLean of Thorold, who became frightened when the coach began to swing. She jumped out of the door and was caught by the swinging vehicle which jammed her against a pole, crushing her hip and causing possible internal injuries.
A portion of the bus projected over the edge of the canal bank when the vehicle was eventually brought to a stop. The roadway at this point is along the water’s edge.
Board of Education Anxious That Children Shall Cross Welland River in Safety
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 11 December 1931]
A suggestion thrown out by trustee John Young at the monthly meeting, held last evening in the board room at the Welland High and Vocational school to ask city council to consider erecting a temporary bridge near North Main street across the Welland river in line with Shotwell street, so that school children might cross this stream with safety, resulting in the board unanimously passing a resolution along this line.
The motion read as follows: “The board, with due considaration for the safety of the school children, recommend to the city council that the proposed temporary bridge at North Main street be made in line with Shotwell street-if this is done considerable hazard will be eliminated and at the completion of the new North Main street bridge the temporary structure could be used solely for pedestrian traffic.“
The Trustees expressed varied views on the matter, all of them, however, agreeing that a pedestrian’s bridge would be safer for the children than the proposed vehicular structure. Trustee Haffey pointed out that some years ago a float had been erected across the river, and he believed it might be possible to do so again, but he favored the idea of the bridge connecting at Shotwell street. Trustee James H. Atherton and W.J. Thomas favored the principle but believed that the situation, perhaps, should be gone over thoroughly before the matter was finally passed on to the council. However, all trustees agreed to the motion.
Tense Drama Enacted When Old Upper Hotel Discovered Ablaze
Allanburg, Beaverboard and Welland Brigades Respond to Alarm, and Water Pumped 1,400 Feet From Nearby Raceway-Hose Laid Across Canal Bridge and Disconnections Made When Boat Appears
Damage Estimate at $13,000
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 5 October 1931]
While Welland slept during the night, a tense drama was enacted in the village of Allanburg when three fire departments worked feverishly to save a number of residences from falling prey to flames. The old Upper hotel, a two storey frame building unoccupied, was the centre of the conflagation, and when the structure was observed to be ablaze at one o’clock this morning, calls were sent to the Allanburg department and the Beaverboard brigade, while the long, short and long emergency blast of the siren at Central fire station in Welland summoned the Welland pumper and 22 men to the scene.
When the Welland department arrived, it was seen that the hotel was a total loss, but the danger threatening adjoining property resulted in a quick decision to play water in the flames to prevent their spread. The raceway west of the canal was the nearest suction available source as with only 20 feet of suction hose the pumper would not work out of the canal proper The hose was laid around the sharp corner on highway No. 3A to the lift bridge on the canal, across the bridge to the raceway situated a few hundred feet west of the bridge.
Highway Traffic Blocked
The pumper was stationed on the narrow bridge across the raceway, blocking all highway traffic and the water was pumped 1,400 feet across the lift bridge and around the sharp corner on No. 3A highway to the scene of the blaze. Good pressure was secured, and the fire fighters were able to play a strong stream on the flames.
However a new obstacle confronted the firefighters when it was discovered that a boat was approaching the canal bridge. The bridge tender warned the firemen of approach of the ship and they hastened to the bridge in time to diconnect the hose at each end of the structure. When the bridge was raised it carried the length of hose across its deck with it. After the boat had passed underneath, the connections were again adjusted and the task of keeping the flames confined was renewed.
About four o’clock, the fire was subdued and the damage estimated at about $13,000, was confined to the one building. The Allanburg chemical truck was instrumental in saving an adjacent barn.
Combine Hose Equipment
In order to reach the raceway fromt the structure, it was necessary to combine the hose equipment of the Welland and Beaverboard detachments. Nineteen lengths of hose from the Welland trucks were used while 400 feet from the Beaverboard truck was attached. Wuth few exceptions the entire population of the village with their homes near the burning structure, drew water and kept spraying the roofs of their homes in order to prevent sparks from causing further damage.
The structure was built over a century ago and passed out of the hands of the Upper interests to a Buffalo real estate firm. The building had been unoccupied for about a year.
Through the kindness and thoughtfulness of Mr.and Mrs. R. Lister of Allanburg, the members of the various fire companies were refreshed with hot coffee and sandwiches during their strenuous fight with the flames.
BUILDING OWNED BY MRS. GEORGE ARNOLD RECEIVING EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS
[The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 5 December 1931]
Wellandport, Dec. 1-The residence which has stood in the village of over a century, owned by Mrs.George Arnold, is receiving extensive improvements. The building has been raised and a modern basement is being excavated, while a new addition is being added to the rear end. When the work is completed, the building which has been standing vacant for a considerable time, will be occupied Mrs. Arnold
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