This is where you will find interesting TALES of the various people that lived in and around Welland during the 1800s and 1900s.
We have NEW subcategory: DIARIES and STORIES! Here you will find the actual content gleened from various diaries, journals, and letters written by Wellanders.
We’ve also introduced a new subcategory: HISTORICAL MUSINGS by select featured authors.
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| [May 29, 2025] Introducing “DIARIES and STORIES“: Here you will find the actual content gleened from various diaries, journals, and letters written by Wellanders. |
| [Feb 21, 2023] Introducing “ARCHIVES Search“: Located at the top right portion of the side menu. Select the desired month+year from the dropdown options and the system will list all the posts that were made to the website at that time. NOTE: Main and Events each have their own independent Archives Search function. |
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Sun Jan 26/1902
I watched steam shovel Last night we had a light snow it rained nearly all day.
Mon Jan 27/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and cold.
Tues Jan 28/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and cold
Wed Jan 29/1902
I fired steam shovel we had a little snow and quite cold I walked up town this evening
Thu Jan 30/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and mild We had a little snow last night
Fri Jan 31/1902
I fired steam shovel we had a light snow last night afternoon was cloudy the day was mild
Sat Feb 1/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild I walked up town this evening
Fri Jan 17/1902
I fired the steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild
Sat Jan 18/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and mild I walked up town this evening.
Sun Jan 19/1902
I helped to wash out boiler on steam shovel this forenoon afternoon I watched steam shovel the day was fair and mild.
Mon Jan 20/1902
I fired steam shovel this forenoon was clear afternoon was cloudy I walked up town this evening.
Tues Jan 21/1902
I fired steam shovel it snow nearly all day and is still snowing tonight
Wed Jan 22/1902
I fired steam shovel day was cold and stormy.
Thu Jan 23/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild
Fri Jan 24/1902
I fired steam shovel day was clear and mild
Sat Jan 25/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild I walked up town this evening
Wed Jan 8/1902
I fixed steam shovel we moved the shovel back this afternoon. The day was fair and mild.
Thu Jan 9/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild
Fri Jan 10/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was fair and mild
Sat Jan 11/1902
I fixed steam shovel a little snow last night and snow flurries today the day was cold
Sun Jan 12/1902
West helped to put new dipper on shovel the day was cold with snow flurries we had a little snow last night.
Mon Jan 13/1902I
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and cold I walked up town this evening
Tues Jan 14/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was fair and cold
Thurs Jan 16/1902
I fired steam shovel the day was cold with flurries of snow.
Wed Jan 1 /1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was fair and pleasant.
Thur Jan 2/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was fair until noon afternoon it was cloudy.
Fri Jan 3/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was cold and cloudy with high wind.
Sat Jan 4/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was fair and pleasant. I walked up town this evening.
Sun Jan 5/1902
I watched steam shovel the day was fair and pleasant.
Mon Jan 6/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was cloudy but not very cold.
Tues Jan 7/1902
I fixed steam shovel the day was cloudy and mild
When the coffer dam blew open on July 1st fifty-eight
Its a sound most people there have come to hate
The area was flooded yes where folks called home
And so never again those fields they can roam
Many communities were affected that were there for years
Yes to see the past gone filled their eyes with tears
While half of Morrisberg was levelled oh what a shame
The U.S. side had villages that are no longer around
Where they were is all water now not have ground
Sacred sites were obliterated water covers Crysler’s farm
So how many received money for suffering this harm
Everything there before is buried including most graves
But thank God some buildings someone said we must save
Where are the pictures of these villages along St Lawrence shore
So others can see what they looked like years before
Roads and islands there now have a name of a lost town
But to see the old canals etc we have to drive down
Residents were expropriated and went to Ingleside on Long Sault
Some were happy to move others not but move they had to do
The St Lawrence Seaway was the biggest industrial project of its time
As government leaders knew taxpayers wouldn’t bother to whine
Long Sault Rapids were gone ocean vessels came to the great lakes
While the hydro dam at Cornwall water from lake St Lawrence it takes
The mega project was a source of great national pride
And since it never lived up to expectations its too big to hide
It was called the Manchester of the North this “Ruhr” of the area too
But freight is hauled by expensive truck yes must they do
The Queen and U.S. president Eisenhower opened it in fifty-nine
Although the folks still awaiting…the better economic times
Upper Canada Village was opened to please some local folk
While the Crysler farm battles isn’t on Ottawa banners what a joke
Sure progress isn’t without inconvenience or sacrifice
But to expropriate peoples property destroy buildings etc isn’t nice
The zebra mussels have cleaned the water to see things again
So its time Ottawa gave money to ease these folks pain
Its great the Lost Villages Historical Society keeps the villages memory alive
And we’ve enjoyed the museum at Long Sault on FranLaFlamme Drive
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft
Sun Nov 27/1898
I watched the shovel last night cloudy today. I slept nearly all day.
Mon Nov 28/1898
Last night we had a heavy rain cloudy until noon afternoon fair and warm watched shovel last night. Helped to do cooking.
Tues Nov 29/1898
Fair and warm today I went out hunting.
Wed Nov 30/1898
I watched the shovel last night it was fair and warm today Ui Was in bed nearly all day I am not very well.
Thur Dec 1/1898
I watched the shovel last night. Fair and warm I was in bed nearly all day not feeling very well.
Sun Nov 13/1898
Dilly and I and a man walked out to a lumber camp cloudy today.
Mon Nov 14/1898
I made a flour chest today We went down to Rose Pine tonight cloudy all day watched shovel last night
Tues Nov 15/1898
I helped around the car.Tom and I went into the woods took the gun but saw nothing. to shoot. Cloudy today watched the shovel.
Wed Nov 16/1898
I done the cooking today watched the shovel last night it was quite warm today.
Thur Nov 17/1898
I helped around the car it rained a little today watched the shovel last night.
Fri Nov 18/1898
I watched the shovel last night. I walked over to Brundrige creek five miles. Quite warm today.
Sat Nov 19/1898
I watched the shovel last night. I was out hunting this afternoon fine and warm today.
Sun Nov 6/1898
I went up to rose pine behind yoke of oxen a little cooler watched shovel.
Mon Nov 7/1898
I helped Henry Randall we are building an addition the car we live in.
Tues Nov 8/1898
I helped in the pit half a day it rained this afternoon.
Wed Nov 9/1898
I helped in the pit this forenoon it rained. We went up to Rose Pine tonight
Thur Nov 10/1898
I helped Henry with the car quite cool today.
Fri Nov 11/1898
I helped Henry with car it rained a little today I fixed shelves in the car.
Sat Nov 12/1898
I helped Henry on the car watched shovel last night worked at flour chest it rained all the afternoon.
Sun Oct 30/1898
I cooked for Dilly and myself a fine day
Mon Oct 31/1898
We had seven new men for breakfast and dinner firemen it has been a beautiful day
Tues Nov 1/1898
I went on watch last night warm today
Wed Nov 2/1898
I done the cooking and watched the shovel last night. It was fine and warm today.
Thur Nov 3/1898
I done the cooking and watched the shovel it was fine and warm today
Fri Nov 4/1898
Mr and Mrs came this morning I watched the shovel last night I helped Mrs Doliman around the car fine and warm today
Sat Nov 5/1898
I built a cupboard for in the car I watched the shovel car tonight
Sun Oct 23/1898
I got telegram from Dilly drove over to Salem wind in southwest
Mon Oct 24/1898
I got ready to leave for Keath L.A. I left Fenwick on the seven o’clock train went to Buffalo N.Y. left there twelve forty
Tues Oct 25/1898
Chicago I arrived in Chicago about four thirty I went over to see cousin Lillis aunt came over I went home with her. It rained.
Wed Oct 26/1898
I left Chicago eleven twenty for St Louis I arrived there seven thirty I left St Louis eight fifteen for Terakarna, Texas
Thur Oct 27/1898
I arrived in Terakarna Texas twelve thirty I left there six o’clock for Keith L.A.
Fri Oct 28/1898
I arrived in Keith this morning at two thirty quite warm here Dilly and I went down to rose pink
Sat Oct 29/1898
Dilly and I done the town today was all through Klondyke we walked up the RR half a mile or more.
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