Welland History .ca

The TALES you probably never heard about

THREE LEAP YEAR BABIES BORN IN WELLAND LATE YESTERDAY

New Arrivals on 29th Day of February Are All Boys

[Welland Tribune, 29 February 1940]

Welland and vicinity is the richer today by three Leap Year babies. They were all boys and all born yesterday within three hours of one another during the late afternoon and early evening.

Dr. Ignazio Scozzafave, supervised the birth at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carlo Tisi, 199 Burgar street, of a boy at about 7.30 p.m.

One of Dr. Malcolm Maclean’s last medical duties in Welland before he left yesterday for his new duties as lieutenant with the medical unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force was to supervise at the Welland General hospital the birth of an 8 ½ pound boy, born to Mrs. James Cooney of 68 Denistoun street, Welland.

Mrs. Herbert Arbour of Port Robinson at the Welland County General hospital late yesterday afternoon, gave birth to a boy recorded as weighing seven pound 10 ounces. Dr. Frank Smith was the doctor in attendance.

POEM – REMINISCING

The old milk house isn’t used anymore
As it sits near the barn with a lock on the door
The cows aren’t milked by hand like years ago
Since today were told to hurry that we all know
Today milking by hand would be a big chore
The reason little of it is done now anymore
The separator is silent sitting there covered in dust
It should be in a museum and folks say it must
Yes there in the museum are things from long ago
But some folks say what is it as I don’t know
We older folks know as we used them in the past
And our memories of earlier times will always last
Today machines do the work and people get the pay
Large salaries for little work is ruining us I’ll say
Years ago all farm work was done by hand
Yes the older folks worked hard on their land
No one caused trouble they were tired from toil
Cutting wood harvesting and tilling the soil
There was no need for doctors like there is today
As folks were healthy from working all day
We’re told things are speeding up how untrue
In the stores buttons are pressed holding up me and you
Years ago gas stations everywhere could be found
Now with more cars the stations are few around
People aren’t punished for wrong just get a good time
And the taxpayer pays but no one does whine.

Winston Ralph
Bancroft, ON

CHAMBERS DOOMED, ST. CATHARINES MAN FACES FIRST HANGING IN 65 YEARS

[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1947]

St. Catharines, March 8-Sidney George Chambers, 34-year old heating engineer, was found guilty of the murder of little Marian Rusnak, here yesterday after the jury deliberated an hour. He was sentenced to be hanged June 6.

“I want to thank the jury,” Chambers said, when the verdict was heard and he was asked if he had anything to say. “They will not see any more of me.”

He thanked his counsel and asked if detective James Anderson and Inspector Charles Woods were in the room. When told they were not in the room, Chambers said: “I would like to say that Anderson and Wood and myself are the only three who know what went on in that room. Someday some other things will come up and then you shall know what happened.”

When he was finished speaking, Mr. Justice G. F. McFarland quickly pronounced the death sentence and ordered Chambers to be hanged on June 6.

For perhaps the first time in the history of Canadian jurisprudence, a conviction for murder was registered although the body of the murder victim was never found. In a confession admitted as evidence, Chambers had told court he disposed of Marian Rusnak’s body in a furnace at the canning factory where he worked. Police sifted the ashes of the furnace but found no identifiable trace of human remains.

The disappearance of nine-year-old Marian Rusnak shocked the whole of the Niagara peninsula at the Christmas season. The child was last seen talking to a “tall thin man” on the afternoon of Dec.23 as she clutched a toy drum, a present for her brother.

During the holiday season, volunteer bans of citizens, assisted by Boy Scouts, searched the St. Catharines area in the most complete man-hunt in the history of the city. A week after the girl vanished, Chambers was taken in custody after having attempted suicide. Police said he made other attempts to dispose of himself, five in all, and he became known as the man who couldn’t kill himself.

It was shortly after his arrest that Chambers confessed the crime, police said. He told them he had taken the girl to his room at the canning factory, and when she ran to a window he strangled her. He told of trying to revive her and of leaving her body under his bed for 24 hours while he thought things out.

The he put the body in the furnace.

If the death sentence is carried out it will be the first execution at St. Catharines in 65 years. One other prisoner, William Munchak, was sentenced to hang in 1937, when the presiding judge was also Mr. Justice McFarland, but this sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

BISSELL-DENNIS

[Welland Tribune, 18 February 1947]

A pretty wedding was solemnized at the First Lutheran parsonage on Saturday, February 17, at 4 p.m., when Erma Alberta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Dennis, became the bride of Howard Victor Bissell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bissell. Rev. T.A. Iseler performed the ceremony.

The bride given in marriage by her father looked lovely in a grey suit with matching blouse and hat and black accessories. She wore a corsage of roses.

Miss Marian Bissell, the maid of honor, looked charming in a gray suit, with a pink and black hat and black accessories. She wore a corsage of red roses. She wore gold earrings and matching bracelet, the gift of the bride.

The best man was Ronald Irwin.

A reception was held at the bride’s parents. The bride’s mother received, wearing a turquoise blue dress with black accessories. The groom’s mother assisted wearing a rose and black dress with black accessories. The bride’s table was beautifully decorated with bouquets of daffodils and tulips, and centred with a three-tier wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom.

For traveling on a motor trip, the bride donned a turquoise green wool dress with brown accessories and a muskrat coat.

Upon their return the bride and groom will reside on Forrest avenue.

Out-of-town guests attended from Merritton, Crystal Beach and Fonthill.

GAUZER-ZIMMER

[Welland Tribune, 18 December 1943]

A lovely winter wedding had its setting in St. Patrick’s R.C. church, Port Colborne, this afternoon at 3 o’clock, when Mary Anne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Zimmer, Sr., 138 Neff street, Humberstone, became the bride of PO Eugene Gauzer, R.C.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gauzer of 308 Dufferin street, Fort Erie, north. Rev. E.J. Canning officiated and Miss Marie Gannam rendered an organ selection during the signing of the register, Schubert’s “Ave Marie.”

A lovely gown of brocaded satin made on semi-princess lines with long train was chosen by the bride who was given in marriage by her father. The dress featured a sweet-heart neckline and long sleeves which tapered to points over the hands. Her full-length veil was caught into a ruffled headdress and she carried a sheaf of Calla lilies.

The bride’s sister, Mrs. Albert M. Iacocca of Allentown, Pa., as matron of honor, wore a pale blue taffeta with three-quarter length sleeves. Her headdress was pink with a shoulder-length veil and she carried pink roses.

Donald Stewart of Niagara Falls was groomsman. Adam Zimmer Jr., brother of the bride and Matthew Zick, of Humberstone, cousin of the bride, were ushers.

Following the ceremony, a reception for 40 guests was held at the home of the bride’s parents. The table was centred with a three-tier wedding cake and silver candelabra and decorated with roses.

Mrs. Zimmer, the bride’s mother, received in brown crepe, matching accessories and corsage of pink roses. The groom’s mother, Mrs. Gauzer, chose a black velvet dress accentuated with a string of pearls, black accessories and pink roses corsage.

For travelling to Toronto, the bride donned a bottle green coat with brown accessories and a white gardenia corsage.

PO Gauzer and his bride will make their home at Summerside, P.E.I.

Out-of-town guests attended from London, Ont., Goderich, Fort Erie, Hamilton, Buffalo, N.Y., and Allentown, Pa.

POEM – A Cold Season

[The Stevensville painting was done in circa 1924 by B's ather Harold Fox, aged 10.]

The weather is nasty its cold outside
So we all will spend more time inside
We will turn up the heat to take off the chill
And our stomachs with food we will fill
The highways are snowy and slippery once again
If we fall a broken bone will cause us some pain
The gardens are finished for another year
If we look at them we shed no tears
Folks will be out on snowmobiles just cruising around
While others on snowshoes or skating will be found
The good weather will be back in a little while
So I hope your face always has a big smile
Some days we may feel tough and a little sick
But the good weather will make you better real quick
Christmas is gone were starting a new year
Will it be a good one or stormy I do fear
We are eating food that was put away last fall
And with the spring we’ll say we ate it all
There will be storms and the wind will blow
Yes the power may go out this we all know
We’re told if you don’t have to travel then stay at home
Where you’ll be safe even if you are all alone
As the weather warms up we’ll think about seeds
So they can be planted and we’ll have food to supply our needs
Some may wish for Florida and then go on down
Where there they’ll be happy without any frown
Yes there in Florida or some other warm place
They should always have a big smile on their face
But most others will stay here and shovel snow
Because for any place else we just can’t go.

Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft

EMANUEL CHARLES WHITE

[Welland Tribune, 18 March 1940]

Emanuel Charles White, respected and well known resident of Welland for 35 years, passed suddenly at his home, 146 State street, on Saturday evening. His death followed a heart attack and although he had been in poor health for two months, came as a shock to his family and friends.

Born in Brookfield, Mr. White had lived practically all his life in this district. Deceased was a carpenter and pattern maker by trade and for the past few years had been employed at the Empire Cotton Mill. He included in his interests the hobby of gardening, and was also very fond of wood working. In religion he was a Baptist.

Surviving him are his widow, Louise Isabel White; a daughter Dorothy Evelyn and a son, Howard, all at home; three brothers, Theodore White, Humberstone; Benjamin, White Alis, Wis, and Leslie, Toronto; and three sisters, Mrs. Ellen Miller, Welland, Mrs. George Hitchcox, Vancouver, B.C., and Mrs. Wm. Dair, Toronto.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 o’clock at the late residence and interment in Fonthill cemetery. Rev. Sidney Cooper, pastor of St. Mathew’s Lutheran church will conduct the services, assisted by Rev. F.J. Helps, pastor of First Baptist church.

OSTERTOG-RIGG

[Welland Tribune, 23 November 1943]

Saint Mary’s rectory was the scene of a quiet wedding Saturday when Irma C.E. Rigg, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Rigg, became the bride of Albert G. Ostertog, son of Mrs. Katherine osterog and the late Albert Ostertog. Rev. A. McMahon officiated.

The bride was lovely in an aqua-marine dressmaker suit with sequin trim. Old English blue accessories and a corsage of gardenias completed her outfit.

Her only attendant, Mrs. C.H. Holler, of Tonawanda, N.Y., was charming in a street-length frock of wine velvet with matching turban. Mrs. Holler wore a corsge of roses and baby mums.

C.H. Holler of Tonawanda, N.Y., was groomsman.

A reception followed at 624 Delaware avenue, Buffalo, N.Y.

The bride and groom will honeymoon in Washington, D.C., and on their return will reside in Tonawanda, N.Y.

JACOB RUSSELL BOWMAN

[Welland Tribune, 24 February 1947]

Jacob Russell Bowman died at his home, 99 Bald Street, this morning in his 77th year following an illness of five months. Born in Gainsborough township he was the son of the late Solomon and Susan Bowman, and had resided in Welland for 35 years. He was a retired butcher and contractor, and was a member of the Church of God, Hellems Avenue. Deceased is survived by his widow Mrs. Laura D. Angle Bowman, two sons, Jacob Arza Bowman of Welland, and Gordon Russell Bowman, of Williamsville, N.Y.; three daughters, Bertha, Mrs. Charles Cooper of Waterford; Edna, Mrs. Judson Higgins of Hagersville, and Pearl, Mrs. Roy A. Strawn of Ridgeville. Two sons and a daughter pre-deceased Mr. Bowman, George H. and Audry and Dorothy, Mrs. George Buckmaster.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 26 from the H.L. Cudney funeral chapel, 241 West Main street to Winslow Evangelical church, Gainsborough township, at 2.30 p.m., with interment in Winslow cemetery.

ALLANBURG MAN TAKEN BY DEATH

[Welland Tribune March 26, 1940]

Harry H, House passes after long illness
Allanburg, March 26- The death occurred on Monday of Harry Hamilton House husband of Grace Day at his home here following an illness of four months.

The deceased was born in Grimsby 46 years ago and came to Allanburg about a year ago, as proprietor of the “Green Feather.” Black Horse Corners from St Catharines where he had resided for 19 years. He was well known throughout the district as a salesman and during the Great War served for three years with the Canadian Corps  of cyclists.

Surviving are his wife, Grace Day; one son and one daughter, John Hamilton and June Elizabeth, both at home; and two sisters, Mrs. W.A. Brown of Toronto and Mrs. Jas. Proctor of New York City.

The remains are resting at Grobb Bros., funeral home St Catharines where the funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon. Interment will be at Victoria Lawn cemetery.