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[Welland Tribune March 26, 1940] John M. Sherk, 64. prominent resident of this vicinity, died suddenly in his Point Abino road home Monday He had been in poor health for some time but had improved greatly, and had made preparations for resuming extensive farming this year. Previously for 20 years he conducted the Point Abino [...]
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 6 May 1926] Letter written in reference to article of 27 April 1926 by Meta Schooley Laws Editor Tribune and Telegraph Very interesting and informative are the articles on “Point Abino and Vicinity” contributed to the Tribune and Telegraph by Meta Schooley Laws, I have never seen, nor even [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS “Father can tell you things that you don’t know about, Squire Sloan,” was the greeting I got from a friend the other day, and “I’ve heard father talk about the old sand pit at the Point,” someone else chimed in. Needless to say, I was delighted, because the chief purpose [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS The writer is indebted to Mr. Green for his kindly words. He may easily be correct about Gov. Maitland rather than Gov. Simcoe having met that funeral procession. Grandmother told us that story and was an eye-witness of the incident. As to Otway-Page-His granddaughter, Mrs. Wilson Bowen, who lives [...]
A REMINISCENCE By META SCHOOLEY LAWS That was a very interesting article in a recent issue of The Tribune and Telegraph relating to the five (four) survivors of the Q.O.R. who fought at Ridgeway, June, 1866. What a peculiar friendship must exist between them! Dr. Brewster of Ridgeway was one of the [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS As we travel eastward from Port Colborne, along the county provincial road, which connects with provincial highway No. 3, we leave the old Fort Erie road, at what the old people used to call, “The Come-in.” A dilapidated old shack, the ruins of a hotel, or rather Wayside Inn, still [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS Margaret Alexander Sloan So many with whom the writer chatted on a recent visit to the home neighborhood, expressed their pleasure that old times, old scenes and old friends had been brought vividly before their mind’s eye through these “Point Abino letters.” A friend who, like myself, was in [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS The writer is not quite ready to be classed among the “old-timers.” However, the family to which she belongs was one of the first to settle in the county. One of her choicest possessions is a copy of a letter dated April 29, 1788, written by the Quakers of Hardwick, [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS Just at the fork of the Fort Erie Road and the road to Point Abino, is the farm, still known as the Schooley Homestead, though, alas no longer in the family’s hands-the old story. In 1820, grandfather took his bride to the small log house, which was for many [...]
By META SCHOOLEY LAWS What a distinct disadvantage it is that the days of which we are attempting to write, are not emphasized more in what we call history! For history purports to be the record of a nation’s development. Should not, therefore, the factors which have been most potent in national life, [...]
Hi Ron, My mom's name at the time was Helen Baksa, It is very possible that your paths crossed at some point. Her mother at some point married a guy named Albert "Bert" Armstrong and they lived on Lincoln. Apparently he was a delivery driver for Sunnyside Dairy. I do know that when she was a little older she went to Saint Mary's school in Toronto and then eventually moved to the states and married. I've learned a lot about my great grandfather in doing research on his murder. He had a train yard that was in back of his house by the canal, and at one point used to work for the railroad and clean out the train cars while they were parked. I found out that the reason why his land is now a city park is because he failed to pay his taxes and ended up a squatter on the property until his death. After that the city of Welland took possession of the property and has been some sort of open space or park ever since. I can still see the remnants of where the train yard and tracks used to be looking at a satellite view of the area. Steve
Hi All, I happened upon this page as I was doing some research into my family history in Welland. My mother was born in Welland in 1932 and has recently passed away, and since then I have started looking into her past. My mother has told us bits and pieces of stories about her childhood in Welland but never really got into the details. One tragic story we have heard over the years is that her grandfather was murdered in his farmhouse. I never really knew what happened until I started my research with the help of The Welland Historical Museum and The Welland Public Library. I learned that my great grandfather who’s name was Gabor Baksa owned some farmland on the west bank of the Welland Canal south of Lincoln Street and adjacent to what is referred to as The Welland Canal Bridge 15 (railroad bridge). The land now appears to be a park with a walking path and a small boat dock where The Welland Float Fest is held. The road that once led to the property off of Lincoln Street was called Viau. In what was a very publicized murder investigation at the time I have learned that my great grandfather was murdered in his home on May 30,1945 along with a longtime friend and roommate of his named Frank Szuch. It appears that robbery was the motive as they kept large sums of money in the home. I have read numerous newspaper clippings from the time that covered the story but unfortunately the crime was never solved. I learned that my great grandfather, great grandmother, and grandmother are all buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Welland. Sadly, after inquiring with the cemetery, they confirmed that they are all there but their graves are unmarked and the locations are unknown due to lack of record keeping. I would have liked to have visited them someday and provided them proper markers. I plan on visiting the area at some point to see where my mother spent her early years. I live down in the USA in New Jersey so I am not that far away but the border restrictions are keeping me away at the moment. In reading some of the posts it seems like there may be some people here that may have been around the area during that time period. If anyone remembers hearing any stories about those murders please let me know. I am trying to fit together many pieces of an unknown puzzle when it comes to my long lost Welland family. Thanks, Steve M.
Tempus Fugit None today or of the last generation will ever understand the limited means 'we' had for entertainment. We had movies, many yet in black and white. We could go bowling, but not on Sunday. There was a pool room and a swimming pool. No need to list the available choices of today. So we went hiking, rode our bikes, played games of sorts and sports of sorts. Some may recall, 'Red Rover', 'Kick the can' , 'Mumbletypeg',' Penny pitch' 'Come overcome over', Simon says'. 'Marbles' (Cats Eyes), sooo simple. How To Play Marbles - Basic Rules. 1. Two players compete against each other. Both players have to use marbles of a different colour. The goal of the game is to place all own marbles into the hole first. The game begins by throwing one marble from the throwing line and aiming it into the hole. Relievo is a team-based hide-and-seek style game, where the first team, the "seekers," tries to catch all members of the second team, the "hiders.". If a seeker finds a hider, the chase begins. The seeker must grab hold of the hider and yell "Caught!" three times. If successful, the victim must go to a predefined waiting zone. Girls mostly played Rope skip or Hop Scotch. In team games, none liked to be last chosen, stigma forever! We had darts and board games like Snakes and ladders, Monopoly, Sink the battleship, Parcheesi, Chinese checkers, Crokinole , Checkers, and Chess. Several card games like Chase the ace, Go fish, etc. But our pre-teens included our movie heroes. Cops and robbers with Dillinger, Cagney, Robin Hood, and any pirate we could imagine..Har! Har! Always an eye patch and pretend sword. We made a couple of different kinds of paper planes to throw into the air sometimes achieving long flights of yards. A pocket knife and maybe a magnifying glass, a harmonica, or Jew's Harp also called a jaws harp. A 'Bull Roarer' was a novelty for a while. Known by ancient Greeks as the rhombos. A simple shingle-like piece of wood on a string whirled to make a roaring sound. There were a lucky few with Cap guns, or quite an ineffective bow and Arrows. Older kids got B.B. guns and they were always a threat with usual careless abuse. Different games evolved in varied locations. One we played was to 'king' a chestnut on a string a 'Knockers' game played by in turn attempting to break another's chestnut as they held it still and we swung ours at it. We had hand-made slingshots from fork branched tree cuts and Pea Shooters. Cutting rings off an old rubber tire worked for the slingshot or the gun made to fire the stretched ring. We made soapbox cars that we called Doodlebugs, Scooters, bikes with a spoke flapper to get a motor noise, and kites to fly. During the WW11 days, there was always 'war' to be played often with rolled-up hand-built snow 'forts' with Snowball grenades. We could rush to follow a fire or police siren and any building going up was a point of interest and sometimes..a source for,, something we could build. I sometimes hitched rides on slow passing trains and played dangerously jumping from one box car top to another car. Then for me, the library, books and books, and books. I used to lock myself away in the old ambulance my dad had when he was attending the first aid at the plant or working with the Red Cross blood clinic. Comic books I bought from paper route earnings that now I wish that I'd kept. :( Skating in winter, fishing, in summer, and exploring places. These and more filled our young halcyon days Hmm? On reflection, we had lots to entertain us if we had a will away and our imagination. Lucky us! Ron, then called 'Westy'
THE 'Nick' AND ME Back in the day, our day, Nick and me, as mid to late teens, often did our 'thing' together over a wide range of local outdoor 'spots'. We had similar likes. Nick and me were compatible in most cerebral matters often in debate :) and, we had fun. Most of those places we frequented are now long gone. The then empty field at the corner of Niagara street and Quaker road was one of our regular haunts, when we were nature explorers. Searching for critters in the pond as bait or to trade. More on this to come. That corner now is filled with car lots,pizza places,restaurants and a lumber yard. No pizza pie about then. Burgers, fried chicken, Chinese food and fish and chips were the cuisine.The Dairy Queen, once near the corner of Thorold Road and Niagara street is still around but different. I think it was somewhat saucer shaped and maybe had curb service even then..;) ...Well I and others still have the memories ))(( Shrug. As far as our interests went, Niagara /Quaker was the end of our interests, nothing much for us past that corner but the odd home, unless you were headed to St Kitts or Turner's Corner restaurant for a quick meal. We both loved to argue facts,science, and 'our' theories. To swim, skin dive,shoot fish with the Hawaiian sling spears that we made from surgical rubber, a tube and our barbed fish arrows. Life was simple and good in that time not long after the long war that had impacted all our young lives growing up. Those of such an age now would kindly note, no expensive electronic games,cell phones, 'puters or expensive 'runners', and we were outside and active. Matter of a fact,very little expense at all. Nick did like to buy Planter's Peanuts washed down with Coke or chewed along with caramel candies. Me, a 5 or 10- cent bag of potato chips suited me fine. Neither of us had much to spend, working at shoe stores on Main Street part time after school and week ends I think Nick worked at O'Reillys and me at Robins. Welland Canal Pier In my youth I was often swimming off the canal at 'the pier' a short distance from the east side of the main street bridge where the big' pool had been constructed at the canal end of Cross street . I had been a life guard there when Jack Eiler (sp), was in charge of the pool. Working with 'Bubbles ' and Jane Railton, Bill Chalmers and a few other that had passed the Red Cross tests,as senior swimmers. Some of us competed in the Welland swimming club at cities /towns around us. I recall the city took the diving board out for 'safety reasons'..What goes round.... A few us us dared to ride expropriated bikes off the south side of the wall at the pier into the water, a drop of, I would estimate of 12 to 15' feet. Foolish? Sure but none were hurt,...well maybe a bike or two was scraped up when hauling them back up over the wall by rope. We ran and dove off the canal bridge as well. :) and loved to swim out to catch the passing ships wake..the big Lemoyne in particular. (The S.S. Lemoyne was the first ship through the Welland Ship Canal following the official opening of the canal in August of 1932), and did so regularly over the years. (BTW the Welland bridge # 13 built and opened in circa 1930 is designated now as a heritage site of sorts ... is but 2 years my senior. All of the structural high steel was done by the Mohawks.) Lake Erie (Newts,salamanders,turtles & the Lake Erie blue walleye ) As later teen explorers we graduated to the waters of Lake Erie. Nick's canoe was used for fishing along the shore line near Reebs Bay. I recently gave my ancient tackle box/lures to our son in law Paul McIntyre. Hated to part with that keepsake. We spent some of our time in the summer paddling on lake Erie, **'jigging' for yellow or blue walleye with bait of soft shelled crabs. We often went skin diving from a rented boat from the Port Colborne boat rental sites. From Ray's (Prophet) Boat Livery, I think near where Marlon Marine is/was as I recall, or from Schofields to the west or farther off yet from the old Erie beach amusement park pier in west Fort Erie. ****** . I was once spooked there when swimming down in about 8' of water by two large sturgeon coming up from the bottom I thought, for me.Well they were pretty big,maybe 4 foot long and at a quick glance through goggles even shark like. Fishing in a lake Erie from a canoe was a delicate dance with the waves,between our moves and of reeling in if there was a catch on the line. We spent a good deal of time summers one way or another in or around Lake Erie. Some times at the Morgan's Point dance hall, or Mini-Putt We heard there was a wrecked ship in the waters somewhere off the point but never found it We shot fish with our spears, or just enjoyed the piscatorial marine life. As our time for the boat rental was nearing,we hunted for the snagged lures on the bottom which we could sell to Ray to cover the cost of our boat. He was happy to get them in exchange. I got a hook/line snagged in my wrist while down in about 8' of water. I was caught on a lure hook that I was trying to salvage . Fortunately we carried knives that would float if dropped and I managed to cut myself free and remove the hook. Lake Erie is prone to sudden storms and we were caught in one and had to beach at the closest shore and walk back to Ray's. Wasn't he from Florida originally ? (Remember the Long Beach dance Hall and the “Red Barn dance hall nearby I'm pretty sure later owned by Roger-Shirley Demers? ). Reebs Bay- Morgans Polint area was a popular summer spot. Nick's parents the Nichols had a summer home there. (Got it now..? Nick , Nichols ? Thought you might). Morgans Point dance Hall and a mini golf put-put were just up the road a piece from the cottages. (BTW my brother Rick bought the dance hall years later and also later still, had a restaurant just outside Port Colborne on # 3 Hwy.).Lost Rick a while back Jean gone too. Jim, me and Dean sticking around Many hookups were made at the dance hall. 'Bobby Sock' jump and jivers” from 'Port', and Welland to as far away as St. Catharines were often in attendance. Never saw an unruly crowd or problem , just happy energetic Teens with energy to burn. Welland 'our' Homes Blake, aka Nick, lived at his home on Aqueduct street. (Aqueduct street that is now blocked off, once ran from the main street bridge through to a juncture with Niagara street at the 'triangle'. Several stores businesses backed onto the road. It was frequently used as an alternate route over another aqueduct bridge bridge as an alternate route to Niagara Street). I lived across the Welland River, AKA Chippewa Creek, on Almond street , which ran off River Road, not too far off from Aqueduct as the crow flies,. but some distance on bikes or by shanks mare . Later Blake got a car. He liked to throw a word at me to stump me...gave me three guesses. The last challenge as I still recall was spelunker. I played stymied and but on the third answer I came up with it and he banged the steering wheel in that little yellow Brit car he was diving. Life was good when I won. I was born on River Road near where the Atlas Pump House stands. High School teacher Miss Simpson later on lived in that corner house as I recall. (Quite logically this settlement was named Aqueduct, then assumed the name Merrittsville in the 1840s, before becoming Welland in 1858. Originally East Main was called Chippawa Road. Information is courtesy of Welland Public Library and Welland Museum archives. ) Nick knew the region well and lead me to parts unknown. Old canals, feeder cuts and streams and water falls hereabouts from Effingham *** to a stream just located left off the road at the bottom of Youngbloods curve on the Merrittville highway Fonthill. Those spots were our source of crayfish, aka soft shelled crabs bait for the Walleyes. I well recall that over grown wet land at the open corner of Niagara street where the pond gave up turtles,frogs and crayfish for my trading enterprises. A contemporary, name of Ted Teachout. Ted gave me a lead into trading with a Southern USA co. that accepted snakes or turtles in trade for their chameleons,snakes and such that we could sell to kids here. I kept them til sold in a large copper tub that came from my Granny Banks ( Husband Charlie who did much of the Capitol Theaters wall-ceiling fancy plaster work), to my mom Jean, nee Speedie, sis Gladys. The coper tub a memento which I still have Some 70 years on! I digress.. ;) That Niagara Street corner pretty much was the commercial northern end of Welland then. There was a home built there set back off the corner once I think by the community, for a burned out family. Then Abe DeSmit opened his lumber yard which is a Rona now. Johnny Fuss, ( Family owned International bakery on Hellems Ave as I recall.) and I were friendly with Abe through the Welland Kinsman Club, now defunct. (I was The Kinsman President when the club opened the Pauline McGibbon, Avenue school on Empress Ave **** (intellectually challenged students school), mainly from the fund raising by the Welland Kinsman and Kinettes clubs.) I do ramble...;) Almond street in my early haunts were 'the' pike stream across from White's farm and where I believe the Wilson family origins started in Welland til the home burnt down? There were russet apple trees on the bank of the Welland River at the site ( originally called the Chippawa Creek by uss'ens), which we plundered as kids. Remember? WW2 was on and food was scarce unless supplemented by foraging grape crops,corn fields or orchards. Also salvaged coal from the RR tracks that had dropped from passing trains. On a lone hike I once found a pond to explore at the end of Oxford Road off River Road at the RR tracks end of the White Farm property. Atlas Steels had extended to there by then and had a truck gate entrance across he tracks. There was a cement plant there too that we found and used as a play site. I liked ponds-wild life and discovered that there were several spotted turtles inhabiting the pond. Spotted turtles the like of which I'd never seen before. *****. I left them alone and told no-one. Sometime later I was to visit the pond again. It was only a few blocks from our home on Almond Street, aka Orchard Grove. To my dismay there were three dead spotted turtles with their carapace crushed. Now there were pastured cows thereabouts but I thought them to be the unlikely cause. Never found the culprit nor any other spotted turtles again in my life time. :( OK, ok, back to continuity. Now businesses have filled Niagara street. No ponds, no turtles, lots of car lots and fast food, and let's not forget 'our' unique Aqueduct sooo taken for granted. Remember when, before the 406, Niagara Street and beyond was the way to the Merrittville Highway and THE route to Lake Gibson, St Catharines , and all points north,south or west. Once I was called on to dive in Lake Gibson for Roger's dropped fishing pole...found it too, like I did the outboard motor in Rice Lake that the Paul bros lost off their boat. Like I said I was a swimmer ;) When I found the motor, I was asked could I find the diamond ring lost when grabbing for the falling motor, lol, that in a lake with two to three feet of grass reaching for the surface and completely hiding the bottom..Uh Uh ! Said Ron. Ah my swimming friend 'Nick' alas is gone, :( as too are our old club members Walt Fruen who married Shirley and moved to the USA , Dennis Charbonneau who moved to Cleveland and George Bott who married Blake's sis. But only three of us members left including me. We did get to meet as a group a few times- Dunville- Cleveland - before the loss of those we once had shared so many experiences. Ignore errors or the rambling, I'm past old and approaching my best b4 date. Ron A West Footnotes * Fort Erie, ON, CA Death Ruled a Homicide: An 81 year old retired businessman, Blake Nichols was found dead inside his home. After an autopsy was completed, police ruled that it was a homicide and a 66 year old suspect was arrested. ** “The Campbell Status Report of 1985 officially declared the Blue Walleye extinct. The last Blue Walleye to be officially recognized as a Blue Walleye by the MNR was caught in Lake Erie in 1965. MNR is an acronym for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. *** in the Short Hills of Pelham . Town pretty much gone since the mid 1930's. Originally developed by David Secord, brother-in-law to Laura Secord. **** https://www.pressreader.com/ *****The Spotted turtle is one of Ontario's smallest turtles with a shell that is rarely more than 13 centimetres long. It is easily recognized by its smooth black shell, which is spattered with bright yellow-orange spots. The head and limbs are also black with yellow-orange markings. Ron> It's an endangered species. ****** http://www.specialtystudio.com/erie.htm
A bit about moi. To strain your patience. ;) I've lived around Welland most of my life and spent a few years also in the South/North ends of St. Catharines. My vague recollections * were of our rented home on Cahoe St, Welland then to 7 Southworth street where, at 5 years old I started school (Miss Robinson), in what was then Crowland Township. I soon was transferred to Empire School where I attended until 13-14 then briefly to WHVS on West Main. In those years, my brother(s) Richard, Jim, Dean then sister Jean were to arrive I left High School after a year and worked at C.L. Robins shoe store, then to McBrides Tots and Teens on St Paul St. Catharines. Harry Holcomb, Ernie Chellie, Allan McBride and others that worked at Robins started their own Shoe Stores about town and elsewhere Jimmy Calarco worked at a chain, Agnew -Surpass and opened J.V. Clarks Shoe store in Welland Over the years I lived at (as I recall house numbers) after Cahoe, 7 Southworth St., 11 Bruce St., 21 Almond Street, before getting maried to Shirley Wright of Port Colborne, having met her at "Morgan's Point dance Hall", in 1949. (Which my brothe Rick eventually purchased and ran, years later.) Over the early married years we lived on Garner Ave. , Margery Road, (1952 King George VI died, I could post similar anecdotal tales from each residence, but hesitate for probable boredom...) Lived for a while in rural Fenwick, then back to North Aqueduct Street We eventualy built a home on Golden Blvd East in Welland a couple of years after I started working at Atlas in 1950. I retired from there in 1992. I was to end my Atlas employee career, to retire at age 62 in the personnel office as 'Superintendent of Safety.' I had several clients on the side as a consultant. (Cities of Welland, Port Colborne, several Forges and others on safety and Workers' Comp which I continued as self employed into age 70+ I had served in Service Clubs, President of the Kinsman *, I.A.P.A safety agency, Metal Trades, Canadian Society of Safety Engineers and the founding of The Employers Advocacy Council. I had also been an honarary member in the Welland Legion where my Dad Austin West once was president. So, I had many aquintances and contemporaries in industry. A few I might mention are Walt Vlasic, Don Buchanan, Aubrey Foley, Bob Young ...many more. * Kinsmen members are to numerous to mention, but a few like Babe Newman musician and some of those some may remember were C. Beccario, Abe De Smit, Al Kozak, G. Leon. We moved from St. Catharines (with spouse Linda A, a South Carolina belle I had met and introduced to Canada's winters) , back to Welland over a decade ago to the proximity of the 406 Hwy. I write poetry and short stories pretty much for my own or family. I'm really proud to have written and published a book in my 80's. ( 'Dragon Quest's, on Amazon.)We have shared our lives with many pets that have crossed the rainbow bridge.We now have a cat named Puddin' and miss dining out. Not going to get into familly matters. Thanks for listening, more on request. * I do recall putting a water hose through the unscreened window on Cahoe street, and playing on a stack of ladders in the back yard of a painter, and my dad digging a small pool in the back yard, but I was but 3-4 and who can trust those accounts of recall? :) Forgive typos and such, I'm old Ron A
School Days. I attended Empire school on East main, now gone and WHVS West Main, now gone. I do remember some teachers though and some fellow students too. Actually one of them, a D. Cullen has been in touch after a span of near 70 years. Teachers were a major factor in my life as in many others, but we often forget that until something stirs the memories. A recent comment in a local paper did just that, and, I'm always looking for reasons to write, here or elsewhere. I sent the following to a paper, don't know if it will be printed, but what the hey, I'll pass my thoughts on this great site in case someone is watching...;) A Teacher’s Job. A recent letter to a paper pointed out that teachers/students face a different curriculum today then they did in the WW2 era. In our present technological age that is certainly true, though computers, calculators and visual aids are now available for assistance as are reference materials and some additional staff. The generation of those schooled during and following the WW2 era and afterword, built and developed everything technological now being used by the students and their teachers. It seems instructions and schooling back then worked pretty well! However, if comparing, then compare all conditions. How much ‘work’ time is now spent in hours and in what conditions and for what pay-benefits by comparison? In my experience, larger class size was handled well by dedicated and underpaid teachers, through war rationing and hardships not faced by teachers today. The ‘work’ assigned for teaching was then and is now by the term and work period of a ‘school day’. Is a teacher’s school day longer now? Does a school term have more hours, days now? Are today's teachers spending more time at their ‘work’? An employee can only do an hour's work in an hour or a day's work in a day, and time itself has not changed. . It seems to me that teachers in my day, in the ’40s..usually had larger, often mixed-grade classes, fewer statutory holidays, and less time off 'work' over a school year. There were very limited resources (chalk and blackboards, white glue and liquid ink nibbed pens), and with a rationing war on. Teachers received much less recompense for hours worked and had few to no benefits. Teachers, for the most part, do a great job now as then, but comparing apples and oranges of work time does not really compare fairly. To be fair compare eras to the time worked, the benefits and the responsibilities totally, not piecemeal nor by cherry-picking factors. So do today's teachers have it so bad? I for one think not. I remember my good teachers yet today. They had it tougher and an even less appreciated job. R.A. West
Well, someone did it! Once upon a time a generation or three and more ago, things were done,built, accomplished which served, and do yet. In times past: Wars were fought for freedom from tyranny and to achieve and spread our taken for granted human rights. And, things we walk casually past, personsally use, but probably never give thought to, are 'there' and there and there as we pass. Much before 'US". Before Boomers, Before our generations and to be fair, during the last century too, well, I frequently think, , somebody did 'that' ! Railroads were built to further industry,development and better travel. Roads too. Highways to accommodate trade, traffic and pleasure travel. Cars-trucks-cycles and planes were developed. So too energy sources of oil, natural gas, and Hydro Power developed. Electric lights, then electric household conveniences. Airships and planes,trucks and buses, batteries and ball points, radio and Telly, Rubber,tires,and medicine cures. Fire stations and police and hospitals. Canned goods,bottled liquids,farming on scales --that reduced prices. Banks, department stores, fuel stations and subways. Bridges, road tunnels, water purification plants. Garbage pick up, ambulances and varied delivery of product. Food inspection, workplace safety, the 40 hour week and insurance plans. Health plans,medical plans, and vehicular and road safety innovation. Snow removal, traffic signals and established speed limits. Street lights, building codes and sewers. Now we have these things that we simply accept as ours to use without a thought as to how they came about. Someone did it and because 'it' is just there for our use, it's just taken for granted. The past couple of generations don't perhaps understand that some earlier citizens built and paid for these rather mundane things that are still serving us, or that those earlier paid for them one way or another. When you make toast,flush a toilet, use a flashlight , go to a hospital or drive to your intended point, give a thought to who provided these now common ubiquitous services. In our locale, we cross a bridge, or aqueduct over a man made canal or river without thought. We don't think about the earlier canals or industry on the river. We travel the Q.E. with nary a thought of it's construction. So many 'ordinary' but exceptional things exist in our lives that someone built,that improved our lives. Wear the poppy, donate to causes,appreciate what has been done and left for us, 'cause somebody did it.
Cotton wool and such things as that. Back in my young days in the 19 30's-40's ,we had things locally and far and wide that we didn't want like infectious diseases. Along with wars and a depression. There were things we DID want, many of which we have today. There was little in the way of a welfare umbrella, OR, for treatment of disease with shots. Do those millennial here today have any idea what we then faced? The list of needs then was long and most ravaging diseases not treatable. Most everything we needed we paid for with cash. Doctors-dentists-baby sitters ,child care and the like was our responsibility with help from family,friends, the church charity. I certainly recall, hardships, but mostly, fear of , Diphtheria, Malaria, Polio, Scarlet fever, Mumps, Measles, Flu, Rabies, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Smallpox,Tetanus, T.B.,Typhoid, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough), to name a few we faced then. We can get treatment for most now, though some foolish and ignorant chose to expose their kids and selves to the unnecessary exposure. Of course we're still faced with new threats, like Aids,the Opioid crisis and other sexually transmitted diseases etc. We can be cautious with insect transmitted disease and can get shots for others. We didn't have that choice those years ago. Many died or were crippled by their contraction. I recall as a boy of 11 years , (1943) , on my delivery route, being startled and concerned on seeing a large red sign on a house door on Margery Road, a customer. It stated in no uncertain terms that the premises boldly signed as QUARANTINED for disease, ( polio, scarlet fever and such). The sign was >>>>”Quarantine Scarlet Fever. No one shall enter or leave these premises except as provided by the State Department of Health or Local Board of Health.” I was shocked , not having seen such before. We maybe don't realise how well off we are today in Welland, in the present century. We're "Wrapped in cotton wool", so to speak as a John Michael used to say on the radio. The Welfare State Cometh. Today we have much in the way of social assistance programs, well beyond the ability to just prevent diseases. Advantages many take as their due, and, for granted. Our families had to survive through disease,depression and war without the umbrella of the welfare state we now enjoy.` A few examples that you may never think about, but I do, especially when I read about someone demanding more help from our city fathers or,from the government agencies. We lived to see the many 'acts' that eased our lives, such as a few many today take for granted. *The federal Unemployment Insurance Act was passed in 1940, after agreement with the provinces. * Under the postwar (WW2),government of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, public housing, federal hospital grants and assistance programs for disabled and blind persons were initiated. *A trade union campaign for changes in pensions led to the creation of universal old-age pensions for those over 70, and means-tested old-age security for those between 65 and 70 in 1951–52. The new legislation required agreement from the provinces for a constitutional amendment. For the first time, cash benefits were extended to Aboriginal people. *The Diefenbaker government introduced Canada’s first federal human rights legislation in 1960, and extended voting rights to Aboriginal people living on reserve. *Canada’s first medical care insurance program in 1961 — led to a challenge to the program in 1962. The resulting “doctors’ strike” did not succeed and medicare survived. *Pearson presided over the introduction of three major pieces of social legislation which constituted the last building blocks of the Canadian welfare state: The Canada (and Québec) Pension Plan, (1965) — which established a national compulsory contributory pension plan; the Canada Assistance Plan, (1966) — which consolidated the federal Unemployment Assistance Act, and assistance programs for persons who were physically disabled, together with provincial programs for single parents and people who were unemployed. It also made federal cost-sharing available for a range of social services including day care; and Medicare — which established a national system of personal health insurance administered by the provinces. *added the Guaranteed Income Supplement, (1965) and the gradual reduction over the subsequent five years of the age of receipt of the universal pension to the age of 65. Also added were an increase in post-secondary education funding, and the consolidation of hospital, Medicare and post-secondary education funding in the Established Programs Financing Act, 1964, 1967. *The National Housing Act was also amended in 1964 to provide loans on favourable terms to provincial housing corporations, clearing the way for more public housing. In the same year, the Indian ration system was transformed into a parallel system of Aboriginal social assistance, based on provincial legislation in each of the provinces. Only Ontario had an agreement, signed in 1965, to cover 100 per cent of on-reserve costs of social assistance and services. The point system was also introduced into the Immigration Act during the 1960s, paving the way for a substantial increase in immigration, particularly from Asia and the Caribbean. *In 1971, the government substantially expanded the coverage and benefits of Unemployment Insurance. Seasonal workers were included for the first time. With the support of the NDP, a Trudeau minority (1972–74) introduced some reorganization of Income Tax, the expansion of the National Housing Act to cover co-operative and non-profit assistance, and the first significant increase in Family Allowance since 1945. *further reform to appear was the child tax credit, in 1978 — an innovation that for the first time used the tax system to provide a social benefit, although the funds for it came from an equivalent reduction in the value of the Family Allowance. *as a result of the expansion of the range and number of social programs between 1964 and 1973. Increased funding made it possible to improve income security, particularly for the elderly as a result of the Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, for persons with disabilities, for single parents, and for the unemployed. Parents received a larger degree of income support for their children with additional funding for the federal Family Allowance. *in 1993. A discussion paper, Improving Social Security in Canada, was released in October 1994. It provided recommendations in four different areas: employment services, unemployment insurance, student loans and the Canada Assistance Plan. Child Care allowance;In 2006, the Government introduced the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), which provides all families with up to $1,200 per year for each child under the age of 6. The UCCB currently provides direct federal support to approximately 1.7 million families with young children. Starting in July 2019, the Canada Child Benefit has been increased once again to keep pace with the cost of living. The maximum annual benefit has increased to $6,639 per child under age 6 and to $5,602 per child age 6 through 17 Maternity leave; Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits provide financial assistance to: people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child You could receive up to 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $562 a week. I could go on, there are other welfare funding I’m skipping, and I'm not suggesting that social assistance/welfare/benefits is wrong, it’s a G-d send for many as are the disease shots , only that every time someone gets something that 'WE" never had, someone has to pay. It doesn’t come FROM government, IT comes through government. These things developed over time. There is and was a price to pay in taxes,plastic waste,global effects and probably the stress this has all brought on. Times they are changing. Shorter work weeks,more benefits both contractual and those increasingly Government funded. We-then- had little to cushion our sometimes desperate lives. Do we appreciate the difference of life advantages now over those challenges then ? If your old as me, you at least note the differences, and, I think how lucky we are and possibly how unlucky we are at the same time. Sorry if the facts may be boring, but, we have it pretty good compared to those ,'Good Old Days". Eh ! Ron West
A true turtle tale about a doggy . And a wave of the hat to our city departments and humane Societies. Once upon a time, weeks ago now, my Linda spoke to me in a recall that; " I saw something yesterday that I thought about telling you, but, I hesitated because you like turtles so much." Family and people know that about me and turtles btw. Since my pre teens I was collecting painted terrapins to have a guy we knew, ship them to the USA in exchange for credit to buy S.C. soft shell turtles and snakes,salamanders and such. We'd then sell them here. Not proud of that, but hey, we were kids. I still have Granny Banks big copper tub, must be over 100 years old now, which served as my 'Zoo'. "So", I said," So tell me." "Well " she said, "At the corner of Towpath Road and Grisdale where the culvert is and the drain is stopped by a grate, there's what looks like a turtle stuck behind the grate, maybe it's wedged there? I wasn't sure that I should tell you." "Why wouldn't you tell me, if it's caught I might get it out?" She. "Well it's quite a ways down in the ditch and a long way to climb down from the road. (with an unspoken ...and you're old. )" Me. "Ok, so take me to see, maybe I can do something." She. "O.K. bring your binoculars...can't see it clearly from the roads corner." We drove the short distance to the intersecting corner, parked across from the distant culvert and with waving,wiggling wandering binoculars I just made out a lump, an object, I wasn't sure of what. Finally by resting the binoculars on her shoulder I saw that the object didn't belong where it was. Looked like the rains had washed something to the grate where it lodged. Eventually I determined that it didn't appear to be a dead turtle. Moving to a better advantage point and re setting the Linda base and focus, I determined that it was sadly a dead dog. :( Somehow it was either trapped by the grate or washed down to the grate apparently some time ago. We went rather sadly home. In a few minutes Linda was determined to follow up on our finding. After calling our Welland city dept., a long discussion with a helpful lady,she was told that the location was Thorold's Then more calls and transfers connecting to Thorold's appropriate dept., a 10 minute discussion with someone about where,what and when, and Linda had officially reported the poor dead dog. Most would probably just given up? The next day,the dog was gone. So naturally she called them again. "Yes the dog had been moved by the Lincoln County Humane Society, yes it had a collar. Yes it had been reported lost by the owners, and the owners had now been advised. " Sad tale? Not completely, really I guess. It wasn't a turtle. The owners had closure in sadly finding found out about their missing dog. People came through on a perhaps minor issue to most. Kudos to Linda, the cities and Humane society, we sometimes ignore or walk past a responsibility or duty, A dead dog is sometimes simply to be ignored. This one wasn't. Not a happy result but a kindness had been done. Ron
I remember the Welland Canal Tug-O-War I believe around the year of 1976. I was so excited to watch the people on either side of the canal to pull that rope that was larger than the circumference of my leg. As they pulled, one by one, the further side began to fall into the canal. For years after, we would go by that spot in the canal (by main street, prior to the second one-way bridge being built) and I would point it out to my mother. Around the 15th time she told me that I didn't need to remind her every time so I held my tongue as we passed by but even today, some 35 years later, I can still picture each side standing - and I haven't been to Welland since around 1984. My how times pass.
Tempus Fugit and as is like Welland's disappearing smoke. Factories and smoking stacks once dominated the skylines of Welland/Crowland. Most are gone now. The list of the missing is long and depressing, especially if your families once held good paying jobs, over a generation or three. I knew many from other industries that served as volunteers with agencies, like I.A.P.A , Society of Safety Engineers, Red Cross etc. Volunteer employees served our communities in other capacities too at the pleasure of their companies. We served, sometimes with granted time off and often on our own time. I met on committee, with the likes of Vic Kerlow, Walt Vlasic, Len Keenan,Aubrey Foley, Don Buchanan from other companies, often from industries such as,El Met, Stelco, Page, Reliance, Stokes, Welland Iron & Brass, John Deer, Cotton Mill, Cordage, Forges,General-Haun, Atlas and more. Companies too,set up payroll deductions to help fund things like the ‘new ’Welland Hospital, and the Arena, and Brock. We forget ‘those’ contribution from companies most long gone. Welland has many industrial ghosts, contributors to our city in forgotten ways. Welland’s citizens raised their families on the benefits accruing from mostly forgotten industries. The names remain, the contribution not so much. Atlas once held the record for Red Cross Blood donations in one day. Companies provided sites and often time off, 'to give'. Atlas was my work place. My families work place. Thinking back, I wonder how many had so many family members in one company as did mine? Dad, AKA, Austin, started the family employment at Atlas Specialty Steels. He told of originally standing outside the gate on East Main, near the R.R. tracks that serves many local companies then. They, the aspiring, stood then, waiting to be picked for work as was needed. Atlas then just a few blocks long, from East Main to John street, paralleling Patterson ave, butting up to Haun Drop Forge on Major street. Those of us from the west of the tracks like me then from Bruce street, or Almond, crossed the tracks at John street passing the dairy, thence up Patterson to Empire school. Atlas was soon building a new office then as the plant expanded northerly, (eventually it seemed a mile long if you had to go from Main street to the Oxford road terminus.) And so we lost our short cut, though traveling on ‘shank’s mare’ up the tracks to Main was still an option. Balancing our walk on a RR track per chance while listening for a coal fired,cinder belching Main Street crossing, blocking train. Waiting pedestrians then fought eye burning smoke and cinders. Tempus fugit implicit in my recalling, but, not so when in Welland waiting for a long passing train, or, a ship or two creeeeeping through our canal while we cursed the raised bridge. Line ups sometimes from the bridge filling East Main all the way, to then Crowland, even passing Crowland Avenue. Reportedly that got so embarrassing to council, they annexed Crowland. At least the line up now was through just the one city. (Might be a folk tale) WW2 grew Atlas to a one time employment of thousands that included over time, a number of kin & kith. There was Dad, father to four boys and a girl, that sponsored me in as a 'pin boy' in the large plant’s, large Employee Recreation Hall, which included a bowling alley. There was a 'Tuck' shop (canteen),for sustenance- for those playing pool,bowling etc.. Mom got to run the Tuck shop. Aunt Gladys drove Crane in the 'South Plant' during the war years. I was hired in 1950 to work in a Mill machine shop where equipment was machined for the 'Bar Mills'. Archie Finlay was boss, reporting to Al Cameron. Archie was an admirer of making rice wine as I recall, rather strange that we thought. Who knew from rice wine? Stranger still his habit of hanging his used paper towels to dry for reuse. The first of the environmentalists? Or simply ...well? (((shrug implied))) My soon to be wife Shirley, was hired for the 'Cold Draw' , Bro. Jim, to the 'Chem. Lab', Dean to the Cold Draw, Harold 'Short' Harwood, to Finance, in the next ‘new’ office now further central and north. Rick though, (birth unnoticed as much as were the Dionne Quints on the same day), was at Reliance, thence to Marsh Engineering with dallies into resteraunts-Morgan's Point etc. Eventually my son was hired, making us a three generation Atlas employee family. Then Jim's son, Dean's son.If I missed one..sorry, I think that's plenty anyway. In time, my dad presented me a ‘25 year’ watch which companies like Atlas gave out for service.There were clubs at Atlas too like the 'retired club', that had their own events. Tales of Atlas abound, some bear repeating, others not so much. One time when the 26" mill had a break, a few took to sitting on a makeshift bench up against the wall. One of the crew snuck around the wall, and on the other side. He was going to shake up those lunching. He swung a large hammer striking the corrugated tin wall with a resounding 'clang'. What he didn't know was one of them was relaxing, leaning back, head against the wall. That was where the hammer hit, knocking out, ( I was told), the unfortunate victim of 'horseplay'. Another employee had taken a monkey into the Main Office, reportedly just to show their work mates. Unfortunately, the monkey bit a women through her blouse, on a rather unfortunate spot, (So I'm told.)Difficult to report ‘that’ work related injury.I'll leave the rest of the monkeying around and such at that. At least for now and, to other contributors should there be.. An event often told and retold was of the happenings around our' police chief- Yes we had our own security force that had at one time carried guns when cash payrolls were distributed throughout the plant departments. We had a fire dept. as well. Our own splendid Fire Truck! Anyhow. Bert Russell, our security boss was relaxing on a Sunday Afternoon and since only an occasional dept. head was entering/exiting, the horizontal gate was left up. Atlas had streets too. The street leading to the gate continued into the plant. With the gate up and no traffic, the police staff were apparently inattentive, read what you will. ((((shrug )))) Startled they were, to see a horse drawn buggy with an old couple sitting relaxed, drive through the open gate and away down the continuing road passed the Recreation Hall. Soon a faux keystone cops scene followed which I will leave to your imagination. Sad it is for me to drive by the Atlas site, the Empire school site, the Atlas office no longer the City Hall. But, I'm happy to recall the journey. Ron West
As a young lad, I found myself near twilight hurrying along Hellems Ave., heading for home. I was thinking nothing but of dinner as I passed St Mary's church at Griffith and Hellems Avenue. Then, slowed my pace as I noticed some unusual commotion about a block or so down the street. As I got closer I could see men, moving about under the tree canopies. They were many more trees then as I recall. A raucous cacophony of bird sounds rose from the trees lining the street, and that seemed the focus of the assembled men. I now could see they all carried what looked to my eye as shot guns . I hesitated, then stopped, not understanding the goings on,till I was waved over by one. He pointed a finger upwards, with not a word, with then finger to lips in a shhhhsh! Not that it would have mattered, for you could barely hear a word above the din. Following his gaze in looking down I saw the street white from bird poop, and he pointed again to the sky,this time with gun barrel jabs. Looking puzzled I suppose, he drew closer and got up to my ear, saying, the birds had been flocking here nightly. That the mess and noise had driven residents to distraction. Motioning around, to the others, he said they were going to blast the trees in a minute or so, and I should make myself scarce. He pointed across the corner, to the front of of a large house, where as I recall, now think, a Dr. Renaud had a practice. I believe he had a son Robert but I never met him. I do though recall a boy with stump arms around there about that time, maybe from a block or two away, at Grove street. Thalidomide victim, I was to later find out. I'd been but curious and asked about him because he reacted aggressively one day as I spoke to him. My trying to be friendly was badly misunderstood. He took my innocent question about his arms as an insult I guess, and actually swung at me. I certainly hadn't intended to offend, rather, to befriend, alas that was not to be. But I digress. The men spread about, one took to motioning with a finger..sending, someone here, - there, and he pointed to locations. A few residents watched on verandas preparing to block their ears. The street was blocked by several men standing on either end. Unarmed, I took them to be but local home residents. A man scurried about,and they agreed to fire on the three count. He took the lead moving arm,once,twice,thrice and there were explosions from shot gun blasts over a block of the street and to both sides. I had neglected the sensible move to plug my ears, so I jumped of course, then, stood witness to a wide spread deluge of leaves,twigs, feathers and smoke followed in moments by birds flapping and falling to the ground. Now white bird droppings were being stained with red. Blood! Injured birds were dispatched as they flopped on the ground. I will not picture that scene more vividly to you at this point nearing three quarter century past, for it still comes alive to me these years later. The rest of the birds flew off, screaming their horror I thought. "We'll be back tomorrow if need be" the lead shooter said, "But I doubt they'll be back to roost here." I thought,that I sure wouldn't be around, whatever the case, and moved off again for home. The sad scene had been indelibly engraved in my mind's eye. I couldn't help thinking, perhaps St Mary's loud church bell might have served the same purpose, wouldn't you think..Would've been worth a try. Or why not blanks? How was such allowed? Never answered. :( Ron -aka Peeves- West
I recall a Dave Kirk, who, I believe had a brother, a policeman. Gerry, there are many yet around that remember the war ending. I in fact, recall the WW11 starting. I remember the 'March Of Time' news at the Capitol Theater, over the war years. Much we found later was propaganda to keep up our spirits and to raise funds for 'the war drive'. War stamps sold at schools. Points for rationing. There were many celebrations and many waiting for dads/moms to come home. I remember the rationing even more than the celebration of Germany's defeat. Ahhh yes..! Boys Town, next to the cemetery.. Church street. Site of the mid & late 40's Kat's Kavern. Many the date from there after listening to 'The Big Bands'. I can still name a few that went there, to jitter bug....if I cared to. A few names come to mind. Lampman, Cutler, Zatezich, Morwood,...nuff of that..;) (Did I mention that I now have a book published? 'Dragon Quests'. I concede, rank advertising, but really, at my age!) R.A West
My dad delivered milk for Sunnyside in a motorized truck in the mid-fifties but I can remember horses in the 60s because our next door neighbour gathered the manure for her garden. I was three when the fire hall was on fire. We had come out of our doctor’s office, I think on Division, and my older brother pointed it out. We watched the smoke for a few minutes then left. The crew had left the stove on when they went to answer another call, apparently.
Hi Great site, can any one remember the last year the horse drawn buggies were used by Sunny Side dairy And what was the name of the Army Surplus store that was were the Division St. Bridge stands that burnt down. Thanks
The car dealer, where the trib is today was the Chev dealer and was called HEBERT MOTORS. it had an elevator to take the new cars for storage up to the roof. Mclean Motors was on Hellems Ave and is still there opposite Murphy tire (long gone) Morgans Point Dance hall was built by "Pappy Kneff" from Port Colborne and was run by him till the late 40's Then was operated by Andy LIPTAC who lived on main Street East next to WATT"S hardware . thank s for the GREAT!! sight. Born in 1933 at home on Grove Street
On 4 June 2015, Louise Mendola Said, "What a lovely tribute! I was born in 1935, went to Queen St school, then moved not too far from you on McArthur Ave. Knew Chernishes, Peggy etc. Do you recall Hargreaves store where we waited for the latest comic book arrivals? " If that was the Hargreaves home on Southworth- # 7 , Hargreaves bought the house when we lived there and we moved to Bruce Street. Then 'Orchard Grove, -Almond street. I knew his son well . We often swam at the pier With the swim crowd. Married a Violet----- as I recall and was a professional painter. Lenny (Wheezer) Harrison is but one I recall as a good swimmer. The Sykes were swimmers of repute, won medals as I recall.I went to Memorial school then Empire. Living on Almond Street, I remember the Wilson place a black family that lived at the North end of River Road near Oxford. Story was then that the gram-pa still had wrist scars. Don't know where the house went. It was somewhere across the road from the White's farm. Right on the river bank.I think they went to Dew Drop school north up River Road somewhere. Maybe someone remembers? I knew the Wilson's from Welland off Niagara at Merritt Road. I don't know if they were kin. I remember them as good people. Keith was about my age maybe younger and I knew another Wilson in the Sea Cadets. Any still around? They did Welland proud. Makes ya wonder about those early segregated days. Glad I missed them. Living out in the sicks had lots of advantages and we made good use of the time. The trap line the Cutler boy set along 'pike stream' that we delighted in messing with. My Aunt lived on Asher Street and I stayed there a while. Knew the Jones's and Dad 'Tommy was an Umpire I believe at the Burgar street Ball Diamond. Those were the days of real base Ball in Welland with Sal 'the barber' Maglie even playing there. He went on to play in 'The Show',Major League Baseball. Remember any auspicious Wellanders? Dorothy Rungeling female pilot, author and Order of Canada recipient. Didn't she start out in a business at the south end of Niagara street? Golfers..well Fonthills Marlene and Anne.. Sharp I remember a birthday round of golf when I was around 19 at Lookout Point golf Course. The two of us, My good friend Blake Nicholls and I waved Anne Sharp and Marlene Stewart Streit through they made us look like the duffers we were. (Remember Gordy, her THE teacher?). ... She is the most successful Canadian amateur female golfer, and a world beater. I have had 4 hole in ones since though ..Ha Ha! Blake my friend was murdered. Most of my contemporaries are gone. I could relate some to the 'King Street Boys'since I hung with a couple for part of a summer back in the day.."Whadaya hear whadaya say" were the catch phrases if you were 'in'. We bought what we called 'Dago Red' wine for 50 cents. We took pride in our dress and were cool before cool was cool. Seems everyone was trying to imitate the singers of the day, well that's what I remember. Not that there was much else to do unless you were off to The Red Barn,Morgan's point or Long Beach hangouts on Lake Erie. Wrestling (so called),matches were the bigee event in Welland. The Black Mask or Gorgeous George or the midget wrestlers. There were ' social event' hangings in Welland though, at the Court house.. these gallows were the site of the last hanging in Canada, betcha didn't know that. Nuff fer now y'all Ron West
Hi Y'all. I'm the one that wrote the memory piece, Rich's my slightly younger brother of Morgan's Point dance hall fame. He had a restaurant on # hwy outside Port Colborne as well. Just setting things straight. Bitner's Tea Room was for awhile on the North East Corner at Aqueduct street and Thorold road. I was born in '32. My memory is pretty good and I recall things I didn't write here or dwell on, not wanting to be overly verbose..I was anyway.;) CL Robins Shoe store was on the South side of Main ,27 main Welland I think. His son Doug took it over later. Clarence..C.L had brothers with shoe stores too , in Fort Erie and maybe in N.F. C.L. had horses and lived off west Thorold road. My first job after school... selling shoes which included polishing his riding boots and shoes. The store later moved slightly easterly past the Olympia. Funny how things still pop into the mind at a scent-sound or passing comment. I couldn't write it all down in another life time, well, not the way it happened...maybe just maybe the way I remember 'it', which has a bit of idealism,rose coloured glasses and optimistic recall. Glad those of you that liked my memory piece said so. I enjoyed your recollections as well. Ron West
It was recommended that I visit this site on memories of Welland. Although there are many neat articles, I got caught up in this particular one. It just echoed so many familiar recollections. Of special interest ,it was written by R.A. West, a relative of my close Uncle George Banks who was referred to in the article. I believe that Rick was also an owner of the Morgans Point Dance hall outside of Port Colborne along Lake Erie, which was a Friday night summer hot spot in the late 50's early 60's. As a young lad, I remember Rick A. West visiting relatives on Riverside Drive, the home turf of my Gorman/Whelan family clan. The following are just a few of the hi lights from the article, and my recollections, that took me back down memory lane. -Uncle George Banks doing what he was a master of, working in plaster mosaic design. He was also an avid hockey fan and it was always a thrill to be invited to watch a game with the Detroit Red Wings playing on TV. Gordie Howe was his idol, and Uncle George, a normally reserved man, would rub his hands together and vociferously let it be known when Gordie had the puck. It was this love of the game that brought me into the fold. -The Blind piano tuner that I recall coming to our house to tune the piano, during the years that my older twin brothers, Larry and Jerry, begrudgingly took piano lessons. I was in awe of his talent, and in fear of my mother when she was on the war path over missed lessons. You see, like my brothers, I was behind on my dreaded clarinet practice. -Reference to the TH&B Coyle train station. Located along Riverside Drive, this was a childhood playground and fishing spot from the Coyle bridge across the Welland River. The baby garter snakes that we would catch and put in our pockets as pets. Standing around the pot belly stove to warm our frozen fingers in the Coyle station in mid winter. The time my cousin Tony and I climbed the 50 foot light tower, and then were afraid to come back to earth. It was from that point on that I sympathized with cats that were panic stricken to back down a pole and eventually had to be rescued. -The Fortner House and Fortner Spinsters. There history wrapped in the speculative rumour mill of two unmarried sisters living out there lives single. This beautiful historical Welland landmark altered beyond recognition with the building of new structures blocking the street view of its vintage architecture, situated on the corner of Division and Burger streets. The huge stately Chestnut trees that lined the property, and were cut down to accommodate change. -Lou's Ideal Fish & Chips on Main St. beside the old McLean Motors GMC Dealership building, which is now the Tribune. Mom & dad went there. I frequently stopped by to pick up take home dinner that was wrapped in old newspaper. The simplicity of this old unvarnished house and the out in the open preparation by lou, of what was recognized as the finest fish & chips in the area. It was rustic charm without the bells and whistles. I never was one to put on the dog. -John R. Joyce, who I as a carrier, delivered the Tribune at his home on the corner of Oakland & Maple avenues. He owned a men's clothier store called John R. Joyce, on Main Street beside the Park theater. I can see him now, a tall distinguished grey haired figure, always in a well tailored suit. Always with a warm smile, and soft spoken word. For some reason, in later years, I did most of my clothes shopping at Blakes Men's Wear. Maybe it was because John R. was often not at home, and constantly in arrears with his paper boy. Now who could that be! -Johnny Swords of the Tribune, and his crackly voice. He oversaw we Carriers and our constant battle as preteens, to collect from so called delinquent adults who we were told to respect. The Tribune always got its share, while we often went penniless, but received a priceless education. I recall putting my son Jeff into this stellar program with the Tribune, to acquire a family acclaimed degree in the human condition. The experience continues to this day to serve us both well as an object lesson in life 101. -The ( NS&T) Niagara St Catharines & Toronto trolley crossing at Riverside Drive adjacent to Jerome's ESSO and the old Welland Hospital, and the hanging of the large banner "Bridge On The River Qwai" on the side of the wooden trolley bridge over the Welland River, while the movie of the same name played at the Capital Theater in 1957. The stars were Alec Guinness, and William Holden, two favorites of the era. Strange that I should remember a little known actor called Ann Sears, who played the nurse. Now there was a looker. -The rendezvous and its Parrot, which as I remember said "Paulie wants a cracker". -The Pupo bros who ran Pupo's Supermarket out of a converted house on Riverside Drive, where I also delivered the daily Tribune, and periodically found an apple, that had strayed into my hand from the out front fruit & vegetable stand, while always in fear of being caught by stern faced tall Paul. Pupo's has long since expanded. I believe it is still in the family, and going strong, while having relocated many years ago to Maple avenue, directly behind its original location on Riverside Drive. So many other familiar reminisces.... It's remarkable how memories of the past travel such similar paths. As Bob Hope sang in the closing act of all his TV Specials, "thanks for the memories" Rick. Paul Gorman
While I was having difficulty researching information on an old Welland Business called, Scales & Roberts, it was recommended that I visit this site on memories of Welland. Although there are many neat articles, I got caught up in this particular one. It just echoed so many familiar recollections. Of special interest ,it was written by R.A. West, a relative of our Uncle George Banks who was referred to in the article. I believe that R.A. was also one time owner of the Morgans Point Dance hall outside of Pot Colborne along Lake Erie, which was a Friday night summer hot spot in the late 50's early 60's. As a young lad, I remember Rick A. West visiting relatives on Riverside Drive. I was also impressed with having overheard that he was a mover and shaker of the time.The thought was, that if he could generate a fraction of the excitement in this article that I got as a teenager at his Morgans Point dances, this would be a great read. I wasn't dissapointed,as so many of the references in this article hit home. The following are just a few of the hilites from the article and my recollections, that took me back down memory lane. -Uncle George Banks doing what he was a master of, articulate plaster work. He was an avid hockey fan and it was always a thrill to be invited to watch a game with the Detroit Red Wings playing on TV. Gordie Howe was his idol, and Uncle George, a normally reserved man, vociferously let it be known when Gordie had the puck. It was this love of the game that brought me into the fold. -The Blind piano tuner that I recall coming to our house to tune the piano, during the years that my older twin brothers, Larry and Jerry, begrudgingly took piano lessons. I was in awe of his talent, and in fear of my mother when she was on the war path over missed lessons. You see, I was also behind on my clarinet practice. -Reference to Coyle. This was a childhood playground and fishing spot off the Coyle bridge across the Welland River. The baby garter snakes that we would catch and put in our pockets as pets. Standing around the pot belly stove to warm our frozen fingers in the station in mid winter. The time my cousin Tony and I climbed the 50 foot light tower, and then were afraid to come back to earth. It was from that point on that I sympathized with cats that were afraid to back down a pole. -The Fortner House and Fortner Spinsters. There history wrapped in the speculative rumour mill of two unmarried sisters. This beautiful historical Welland landmark altered beyond recognition with the building of new structures blocking the street view of its vintage architecture, situated on the corner of Division Street and Burger. The huge stately Chestnut trees that lined the property, and were cut down to accommodate change. -Lou's Ideal Fish & Chips on Main St. beside the old McLean Motors GMC Dealership building, which is now the Tribune. Mom & dad went there. I frequently stopped by to pick up take home dinner that was wrapped in old newspaper. The simplicity of this old unvarnished house and the out in the open preparation by lou of what was recognized as the finest fish & chips in the area. It was rustic charm without the bells and whistles. I never was one to put on the dog. -John R. Joyce, who I as a carrier, delivered the Tribune at his home on the corner of Oakland & Maple. He owned a clothier store on Main Street beside the Park theater. I can see him now, a tall distinguished grey haired figure, always in a well fit suit. Always with a warm smile, and soft spoken word. For some reason, in later years, I did most of my clothes shopping at Blakes Men's Wear. Maybe it was because he was often not at home, and constantly in arrears with his paper boy. Now who could that be! -Johnny Swords of the Tribune, his crackly voice, he oversaw we Carriers and our constant battle as preteens, to collect from so called adults who we were told to respect. The Tribune always got its share, while we often went penniless, but a pricless education. I recall putting my son Jeff into this stellar program with the Tribune, to acquire a recognized degree in the human condition. It continues to serve us both well as an object lesson in life 101. -The NS&T and the hanging of the large banner "Bridge On The River Qwai" on the side of the wooden trolley bridge over the Welland River, while the movie played at the Capital Theater in 1957. The stars were Alec Guinness, and William Holden, two favorites of the era. Strange that I should remember a little known actor called Ann Sears, who played the nurse. Now there was a looker. -The rendezvous and its Parrot, which as I remember said "Paulie wants a cracker". -The Pupo bros who ran Pupo's out of a converted house on Riverside Drive, where I also delivered the daily Tribune, and periodically found an apple, that had strayed into my hand from the out front fruit & vegetable stand, while always in fear of being caught by stern faced tall Paul. Pupo's has expanded, and is still going strong, but relocated to Maple avenue, directly behind its original location on Riverside Drive. So many other familiar reminisces.... It's remarkable how memories of the past travel such similar paths. As Jimmy Durante always sang in his closing weekly TV series of the mid 50's, "thanks for the memories" Rick. Paul Gorman