Half of Wellandport Wiped out by Fire

[Welland Telegraph, August 26, 1910]

Warrant issued for the arrest of Arthur Powell, a lad of sixteen , who has fled—post office, stores, houses and barns destroyed—loss $30,000.

 The village of Wellandport  suffered an unusually serious fire at an early hour Thursday morning whereby  all of the northern half  of the business section of the place was wiped out. With a total loss reaching  $30,000.,only  one-third of which is covered  by insurance.

The origin of the fire is a mystery.It broke out in Goring’s  general store and was first seen about half past three. There were no lights or fires about the place and everything was in good shape when  Mr. Goring locked up at eleven o’clock the night previous.

Warrant for Powell

Whether groundless or not a strong suspicion rests in the minds of the villagers that  Arthur Powell, an English lad aged sixteen years, employed by  Emerson Jamieson, a farmer, had something to do with the affair. Powell disappeared from the Jamieson home about midnight and took with him one of Mr Jamieson’s horses and a buggy. Thursday morning at  nine o’clock he was seen driving west at Smithville. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The officials believe that when they have secured the boy they will possess a strong clue  as to what  started the fire, even if they do not hold the actual incendiary.

Fighting the Flames

Manager Urquhart of the Sterling Bank was awakened at 3.30 by the sound of breaking glass and on  rising he found the front of the Goring store a blaze of light. He at once raised the alarm and in half an hour the flames were being fought by two or three hundred people. Being without fire-fighting appliances there was nothing for it but to form a bucket brigade. Everyone worked with a will but the fire spread rapidly until the section was all ablaze. In two hours the fire had burned itself out for the buildings were all frame.

The south side was preserved. Largely by reason of the wind from the south, though  Walter Misener’s house, the Empire store, Mr Flatt’s house, and a store owned by  Mr Sutherland, were caught at different times but extinguished before the  fire made ant headway.

Very little of the contents of any of the  buildings burned were saved. Telegraph and telephone communication were cut off  but a long distance  line was again placed in working order before noon.

The Gore Mutual of Galt carried most of the insurance risks.

Mr Ross to Build

R. J. Goring general merchant , announces that he will not rebuild. James A. Ross M.P.P. has decided to at once begin the construction of a brick block for stores and offices..

The strength of the wind at the time is well proved by  Adam Beamer a farmer living  four miles north of Wellandport. He brought into town a number of charred shingles that had dropped on his farm.

Wellandport was visited with a fire more disastrous in 1892. At that time almost  the entire village was destroyed. J.R. Goring is the only villager who suffered loss in both fires.

Loss $30,000. Insurance, $10,000.

J.R. Goring. Postoffice and residence valued at  $1800.; insurance $1200.

W.E. Ricker, house and barn value $1500, insurance $1000.

R. J. Goring  store building, general stock, value $15,000, insurance $4500.

J. Huber, barn and dwelling, value $1000., insurance $650.

W. T. Sutherland, shop and contents, harness and implements, house and contents, value $5000., insurance$1500.

Walter Abel residence (J.A. Ross M.P.P.) owner value $900., insurance $500.

F. Flatt  barn (H.B. Brooks owner) value $1500.. No insurance

Bell telephone company office and fixtures ,$1000.