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THE WELLAND FIRE CO.
[Welland Tribune, 28 June 1917]
Notable Events in its Forty-One Years of Existence
A short sketch of the history of the Welland Fire Co. will no doubt be of interest to the present Citizens of our coming City.
The first agitation for an improved fire fighting machine to take the place of the “bucket brigade” appears from local documents to have been in 1872.
The Tremont House, situated between the new and old canal owned by Henry Minnis and conducted as a hotel by H. Wilkinson was burned on December 17, 1872. This was a big fire for the village at that date as the “Tremont” was considered quite a select hostelry then. The local papers in their columns advocated better fire protection, and every fire thereafter brought up new discussions as how to fight the fire fiend-but soon the minds of the people would become dominate as the fire bug ceased to exist among them.
The burning of the “Tremont” was my first experience as a firefighter, as I was pressed into the “bucket brigade.” It was a case of conscription in those days-you had to “fight the fire.”
The question of better fire fighting appliances laid dormant till 1876, when the question was again brought up to the minds of the people of the village. A public meeting was held, and the Council was asked to submit a by-law to the ratepayers for the purchase of a fire steamer.
In September 1876, a by-law was submitted to the ratepayers, and on the 16th of Sept. was carried by a majority of 97 votes-and only 15 of the ratepayers voting against them.
On the 19th of Sept. the by-law was approved by the Council, on the motion of James Griffith and Wm. Hill.
On November 9th a heated discussion took place in the council chamber as to where the hall should be built for the engine and firemen. The two members on the west side of the canal (Messrs. Jeffrey and Hill) wanted it placed on Frazer street, and the two members on the east side (Messrs. Griffith and Lamont) wanted it placed on Cross Street (where it now stands) and they won out by the casting vote of the reeve (Mr. Hendershot).
On December 8, Council passed resolution purchasing fire engine on motion of Griffith and Jeffrey, Mr. Lamont voting nay.
On motion of Griffith and Jeffrey, the reeve was authorized to issue his cheque in favor of J.O. Ronald for the sum of $3,150 in full of purchase money for fire engine and hose carts.
On motion of Griffith and Jeffrey, the fire engine was placed in charge of A.O. Beatty until a hall could be procured.
The fire engine arrived on December 8 and A.O. Beatty and Jno. VanWyck were appointed a committee to make a test, which they did to the satisfaction of all present, even to the few who were in opposition to the purchase.
NEW FIRE HALL
The first fire hall was built in its present location.
The tender for its construction was let to Freeman Hodgson on Nov. 9 at a meeting of the Council on motion of James Griffith and O. Jeffrey.
The hall has since been practically destroyed by fire on two occasions.
FIRE COMPANY MEETING
In pursuance of a notice issued by the reeve, a public meeting was held in the council room on Dec. 5, 1876 for the purpose of the formation of a fire and hose company.
The meeting was organized at 8 o’clock by the reeve (A. Hendershot) taking the chair, and E.R. Hellems as secretary.
Moved by S. Lamont, seconded by T.W. Hooker, that a list be now open and all wishing to join the fire company be allowed to do so at once.
The motion carried, when 31 names were enrolled, embracing those of many of most respectable citizens of the town. The following were elected offices for the current term:-
Capt.-T.R. Secord
Ist Lieutenant- N.B. Colcock
2nd Lieutenant- J.V. Strawn
Secretary- J.J. Sidey
Treasurer- E.R. Hellems
Branchmen- Geo. Cronmiller, O.H. Rounds, Jas. Gatfield, Jas. Blackwell.
Hose Captain-Adam Young
1st Assistant- Thomas Blackburn
2nd Assistant- A. Clark
On motion, E.R. Hellems was recommended to the council as Chief of the Fire Brigade.
Naming the Fire Company
Our new volunteer fire company very creditably for themselves, have paid the best possible tribute in their power to the memory of the late Hon. W.H. Merritt, the father of the Welland Canal by adopting as their distinctive synonym that of “Merritt Fire Co. of Welland.”
Notable Events in the History of the Fire Company
Welland never had the proud distinction of being the owner of a hand fire engine. One of the citizens, Mr. McConachie, had a hand engine which he used to loan the town on parade occasions.
The fire chiefs-E.R. Hellems, Alex. Robertson, A.O. Beatty, W.E. Anger and Chas. Stapf.
1877, Tuesday, April 12- “Our Steamer earns her laurels.” S.E. Hopkins’ store and residence gutted with fire. The alarm was given by Thos. Main the night watchman.
Capt. T.R. Secord was in command of the new brigade, who did excellent work, this being their first turnout to a fire. The engine was in charge of John VanWyck as engineer.
All opponents to the purchase of the fire steamer were well pleased with the work that was done.
1877, Tuesday, Jan. 30, the fire company met in the new hall for the first time.
Friday evening, February 9, the firemen held their first ball in their new hall.
Wednesday, March 7, a new fire alarm bell was purchased to warn the natives that the “fire bug” was in the town.
1881, March- Welland Fire Company was called to Port Colborne by telegraph to assist in fighting a big fire. The steamer and firemen went by special train. A member of the Welland Brigade was killed by the falling of a chimney. His name was Burton, a shoemaker.
1884, Thursday, Sept. 19- The Frazer House (now the Arlington) barn and engine house adjoining were burned. The body of a human being was found in the ruins-it was supposed to be that of a tramp.
The bell was also destroyed.
A new hall was built on the old site, where it still remains.
1884, on Saturday, Feb. 16, a farewell and presentation tendered Ex. Capt. James Bridges, who was leaving town to take up his residence in California. He was presented with a gold-headed cane by the firemen, bearing the following inscription: “Presented to James Bridges, by Merritt Fire Co. No 2, Welland, Ont. Feb 16, 1884.” D. Ross was toastmaster for the occasion and Jno. McCaw was secretary of the fire company.
Mr. Bridges has since passed away and gone to his reward.
1886- On the evening of Feb. 4, the members of Protection Hose Co., Thorold, paid a fraternal visit to Merritt Fire Co., and were heartily received and tendered a great reception by the home fire “laddies.” Capt. Geo. Turner was in command of the visiting comrades.
D. Ross was toastmaster for the occasion. G.B. Swayze was secretary of the fire brigade.
Ex.-Capt. W.E. Anger was presented with a gift for his many years as a faithful worker with the fire company; but for which we have no memorandum.
Records show that Mr. Anger was Captain of the Fire Company in 1889.
Hook and Ladder
July 29, 1879 an Independent Hook and Ladder Company was formed with the following officers:-
Captain-T.F. Brown
1st Lieutenant-C.D. Burgar
2nd Lieutenant- R. Best
3rd Lieutenant- D. Kennedy
Secretary- S.J. Sidey
Treasurer- Jno. McEwing
(Of the above officers Messrs. Brown, Burgar, Kennedy and Sidey have passed away).
The hook and ladder truck was a second hand one purchased in Toronto with funds procured by private subscriptions from the citizens.
The hook and ladder company remained in existence until April 1883 when it disbanded for want of financial support and the truck was sold to the town.
1888, Wednesday, January 28-Queen’s Hotel burned, Wm. Earley proprietor.
1889, Feb. 13-A farewell was tendered E.A. sauter, by his comrades in the form of a presentation of a silver tilting water pitcher with the following inscription:-Presented to E.A. Sauter by Merritt Fire Co., No. 2, Welland, Feb. 13, 1889.
1889, Saturday morning, July 18-Earley’s big barn, at the back of the Frazer house, goeth up in smoke, and the town hall adjoining is badly damaged.
Mr. Earley’s big hog, which weighs about 900 lbs, was in a pen under the barn, and had its back blistered before it could be got out, and when it got out rolled into the river and lay on the bank until next day when it was hoisted up to the top of the bank with a windlass.
1889, October-Merritt Fire Co. organized a brass band with W.A. Phillip as leader.
1892, February 6-McMurrays’s store burned. “During the progress of the fire, fireman Geo. Wells came near losing his life while at work on the roof of the butcher shop he slipped on the icy shingles and shot down the icy decline toward the burning pile lodging between the two buildings. Almost suffocated by smoke he called lustily for help whenever he could get breath, and finally Al. Douglass and Wm. Hawkins succeeded in throwing him a small lawn hose and pulling him out of his frightful position. It was a close call.”
1898, June 22, Orient Hall was badly damaged by fire.
1907, June 15-Methodist Church was damaged by fire.
1907, Aug. 6, the Methodist Church was almost totally destroyed by fire. The steam roller having broken a gas main, in front of the church, and which took fire from the boiler in the steam road roller and from which it was supposed set fire to the church. The courts held the town responsible.
1910-Welland firemen gave the largest and best demonstration in the history of the Provincial Firemen’s Association.
The annual excursions of the fire company were a pleasant event for many years, and were only discontinued because a good boat could not be procured.
Welland Fire Company, No 1
In 1901 the Welland Fire Company department was reorganized and the name changed from Merritt Fire Company, No. 2 to Welland Fire Co. No. 1 with J.C. McMillan, captain.
Cutler’s planing mills, Lambert’s planing mills and rink and Stewart’s block of buildings in the last two years have been the worst fires.
We are only mentioning the fires of large proportions, for there have been many small fires in the years since Welland boasted of a fire company, but in summing it up you will find that Welland volunteer fire company since its organization has done good service for the town.
38 Years a Fireman
Geo. Wells joined the Independent Hook and Ladder Co. in 1879, continued a member of that organization until it disbanded, when he joined Merritt Fire Co. and in December 6, 1889, was elected Secretary, which office he held continuously until Dec. 1916 when he resigned, and was presented with a purse of gold by the firemen.
Captains of Fire Company
Dating from January 1st, 1889 the previous records of the Company having been destroyed by fire when the hall was burned in that year:-
1889, W.E. Anger; 1890, Chas. Stapf; 1891, J.R. Dowd; 1892, Geo. Bowman; 1893, Thos. Hicks; 1894, W. Swartz; 1895, W. Swartz; 1896, O. Carey, (deceased); 1897, A.E. Garden; 1898, A.E. Garden; 1899, A.E. Garden; 1900, A.E. Garden; 1901, J.C. McMillan; 1902, A.E. Garden; 1903, Roy White; 1904, Percy Whalley; 1905, H.E. Dawdy; 1906, J.C. McMillan; 1907, W.D. Ross; 1908, R.M. Beatty; 1909, R.M. Beatty; 1910, R.M. Beatty, 1911, H.W. Moore; 1912, H.W. Moore; 1913, Ed Hooker; 1914, W. Cutler; 1915, W.D. Stapf (January to July); J.W. Hagar; (July to December); 1916, C.E. Hickey; 1917, C.E. Hickey.
Officers for 1917
C.E. Hickey, Captain
O. Williams, Lieutenant
H.R. Waldon, Secretary
C.C. Warner, Treasurer
Honor Roll
The following members are fighting for the Empire:
Wm. Earley (returned wounded)
Ed. Hooker
Geo. Bell
Water Works
A system of waterworks was proposed by a large number of the ratepayers in 1887, and the council was asked to submit a by-law to the people for that purpose.
The by-law was voted on by the ratepayers on Oct. 13, 1887, and was carried by a majority of 155, only 45 voting against.
The system was to cost $32,000.
The by-law was approved by the Council.
On Aug. 30, 1888, an additional $16,000 by-law was passed to raise monies for the completion of the water works system.
The system was completed in Nov. 1888, and tested on Friday, Nov. 16 and accepted from the contractors to the satisfaction of the ratepayers.
Mr. D. Ross was Mayor of the town and chairman of the water works committee from the commencement to the completion of the whole system.
Mr. J.F. Gross was appointed superintendent of the new system.
Since then the system has been largely increased by a new pump house and pumps with auxiliary power-both water and electricity and many miles of water mains and sewers-equal to any city in Canada with its population.
WELLAND HAS A MARINE HISTORY—IT IS TOLD HERE
We are indebted to Mr. Jas. Bampton for some of these interesting marine notes of the earlier days of navigation on the Chippawa Creek and Welland Canal. Mr. Bampton’s father was a partner in the first tug that was piloted on the Chippawa Creek.
Tug “Defiance”
There are no records obtainable as the exact date when the tug was built, but is was in the early fifties, (Mr. Bampton thinks about 1852). The late Capt. James Bampton built the hull in Welland, and his partner (Mr. Simpson) built the engine and boiler in Chippawa. The tug was of small dimensions and had an upright boiler. She was built for towing scows up and down the Chippawa Creek, the principal freight being cordwood, stave bolts and shingles, which were shipped to Tonawanda and Buffalo. The scows navigated those days as far as Port Davidson, some miles above Wellandport. Previous to that date the scows were poled by hand up and down the creek a distance of some thirty miles. The tug proved a great boon to the scowmen over the very slow process of poling the boats by man power.
The tug was well named as she defied the turbulent waters of the Chippawa Creek on many a “boisterous” trip.
The tug was in charge of Capt. James Bampton.
The Tug “Whip”
The next tug Capt. Bampton brought out was the Tug “The Whip.” The following is her certificate of registration.
“I, Samuel Risely, inspector of steam vessels, their hull boilers and machinery at the Port of Chippawa, and other ports, do hereby certify that I have inspected the steam vessel called and known as “The Tug Whip” and usually plying between Buffalo and Chippawa, and that I found the vessel to be one year old, that she was originally built in 1860 at Chippawa, and that she has been running one year.”
The hull was built by Barney Crane of Chippawa who ran a saw mill at that place.
Capt. Bampton was master in charge and Geo. Poor, engineer.
“The Whip” blew up a year later at Candasville while tied up at McDonald’s saw mill (between Welland and Wellandport). Geo. Poor, the engineer, was injured and the fireman killed. The fireman was Chas..Gillam.
The engine was recovered from the wreck and used in Brown’s saw mill.
The Tug “L.A. Verner”
Capt. Bampton’s next venture was the tug “L.A. Verner.” She was bought in Buffalo (shortly after the wreck of the “Whip”) but was sunk outside of Buffalo at Horseshoe Reef. Her boiler and engine were fished out and brought to Canada.
Tug “L.N.G.”
Was originally built in Buffalo in 1862 and was inspected at the Port of St. Catharines in June 25, 1865. The boiler and engine of the “Verner” were placed in the “L.N.G.” She then plyed between Port Robinson and Chippawa. Capt. Bampton was master. In 1868 Benj. Diffin of Welland bought a half interest in the tug. She was then registered at Montreal, 11th Aug. 1864.
Tug “Minerva”
Was built at Port Robinson and owned by M. Beatty, J. Bampton, B. Crane, Mr. Simpson and Wm. Ross. She was the first tug to ply on the canal in opposition to Chas. Carter’s tugs.
Tug “J.H. Doyle”
The “Doyle” was the tug that towed the scows, loaded with Fenians, across the Niagara River at Fort Erie, on the memorable morning of June 1st, 1866. In 1876 she was bought by Capt. Bampton and brought to the Welland Canal where she did service for some years. Her bones now rest somewhere near or at Port Robinson There are no records to show that she was named the “Doyle” at the time of the Fenian Raid. She may possibly have been known by another name at that time.
Tug “A.B. Cook”
Capt. Bampton then built the tug “A. B. Cook” in 1885 (using the engine of the “Doyle”). The tug “Cook” went to lower canals.
The engine of the “Minerva” is still in service, being in the tug “Brant” now owned by Wm. Phin of Hamilton.
NAMES OF SCOWS
There was a large traffic on Chippawa Creek by scows and rafting of timber as far back as 1860.
The following are the names of many of the scows:-Iron Duke, Jane, Native, Mackindor, Brown, Reeve, Murray, Express, John Beatty, Reindeer, Sweet Home, Woodruff, Mastadon, Collier, London, Welland, Two Brothers Enterprise, Seven Brothers, Eclipse, Culver, Warren, Skylark, Sawsberry, Hope, Phoenix, A.P. Wait, Albert, Cavers, Navada City, Stromness, Wellandport, Sarah Jane, Victoria, Temperance, Red Bird, Royal Oak, Minnie Rice, Ottimer, President, Seneca, Centennial, Biggars.
Vessels built and owned here in the “70’s”- R. Morwood, Isaac May, Severn, Wahwanosh, Waucousta and Lady Dufferin. The Isaac May was a steam barge and the others sailing vessels.
The first boats to pass through the canal on its completion were the Schooners “Annie” and “Jane” of Toronto, and the “R.H. Broughton” of Youngstown, N.Y. The canal was then only completed to Port Robinson where the boats locked through into the Chippawa Creek and proceeded to Buffalo by way of Niagara River. They passed through Port Robinson on Nov. 30, 1829.
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