LOOKING BACK 35 YEARS ON WELLAND AS SHE WAS IN 1891

By

OLIVER UNDERWOOD

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 17 June 1926]

             Going back to 1891, which is thirty-five years ago. That may or may not seem a long stretch of time: It all depends. For instance, if you hadn’t happened then, or if you were in the five-year old class or thereabouts, it likely seems a long stretch back. Contrariwise, if you had then been that many years or better in the world yourself, and can remember the things that were happening then, five and thirty years probably does not appear to you as half of a lifetime it does to those who were youngsters then. And it is none too comforting a reflection to realize that is what it really is.

             It all depends. Anyway, perhaps a look-back on the Welland of 1891 as presented in the local papers in the merry month of May of that year may be of interest to the old boys and girls and to those who are not so old.

             Take for example, the ad of O.H. Garner, in which appears the item: “Boat Tickets, Empress of India, 20 trips, $5.” Safe to assert that this same will bring a thrill of reminiscent joy to many an old-timer, for was it not a great day in one’s young life when one went to Toronto, with father and mother aboard that stately palace of the inland sea?

             It was some journey in those days from Welland to Port Dalhousie, for one had to get up in the middle of the night in order to take the 6.41 on the old Grand Trunk.

             A long sight better mode on getting to the boat was behind “Old Maud,” with father driving and mother beside him on the buggy seat, most likely with a lunch basket in her lap, while one was packed in between them seated on a now extinct article of furniture known as a hassock, with the top of the dashboard within easy grasping distance whenever Old Maude strutted an unusual burst of speed. If the family were more extensive, the seating arrangements were more complicated, but they always managed to stow all of them in, some way or other. Beats all what a lot of people a buggy could carry when need arose.

             And if one were a boy he always went along with father to attend to the important business of putting the horse up for the day, which business usually included tipping the hostler the whole of twenty-five cents, and in some cases, a stop with father in a room in the hotel where there was a long, high counter with a rail along the top and another rail on the floor upon which one could stand for a better view of the beautiful decorations, tastefully worked out in soap upon the large mirror on the wall at the back.

             And here was a shirt-sleeved man behind this counter whom father addressed as Eddie or Charley or Old Hoss. And this man would be glad to see father, and would say, “What’ll it be?” and father would answer, “A little Labatts’s and a bottle of pop for the boy.”

             Then the man would serve father a large glass of some amber beverage and the boy would be handed a small bottle with a jigger on the top which the man would drive in with a blow from his hand and decant the foaming contents into a glass, and while one quaffed the sarsaparilla or maybe nectar, father would be putting the contents of his glass into him. Then father would order a seegar, first picking a clove or a few grains of coffee from a glass that stood in the middle of the long counter. These he would chew on, carefully wipe off his moustache, and the merry party would rejoin mother who was waiting at the boat, and who always asked where he had been so long. And father would of steer clear of her and mutter something about meeting a man from Pelham; and you would all go aboard the stately Empress and the trip was on.

             The Empress of India has gone hence-still cleaving the waters of the upper lakes somewhere; a boat book costs $8 now instead of $5, and you get sixteen rides now instead of the twenty; there is no long drive nor tiresome steam railway trip to Port Dalhousie any more. Everything has changed save O.H. Garner, and he is still selling tickets here, there and everywhere.

Good For What Ailed You

             There is another ad of interest, that of W.F. Secord of Welland-“LaGrippe is Here,” and going on to tell that “Thousands of cases have been cured.”

             There has been a lot of grippe around in this year of grace, and some of the sufferers might like to get a little of the curative offered in this old-time ad. The name might be mentioned only for the fact that some of the brethren maintained that it is very hard to get nowadays, and if that were also stated it might be read by some who have cracked lips, and it would be sort of mean to make them laugh, for Brother Secord was booming his Red Rye Whiskey.

Strike On

             Laborers working on an extension of the raceway at Brown Bros’ mill were offered a raise of 12¢, two cents per day, but struck for a 25-cent boost in pay. Nothing doing on that proposition, however, and by noon a full gang was on the job again, glad to get the extra shilling over and above the one dollar per day they been drawing.

New on the Job Then

             W.M. German, M.P., left town to attend to his duties at Ottawa.

             Another prominent citizen (then in the making) also left town, Master Harry Cowper, who went for a visit in Toronto. It is not stated whether or not he travelled on a half-fare ticket.

One Tory to Another Tory

             After noting the politics of the newcomer, one does not need to be told that it was the Welland Telegraph that handed out the following glad-hand: “The new Conservative newspaper, The Standard of St. Catharines, made its appearance on Tuesday and received a cordial welcome at the hands of the public. It is a well got-up sheet, brim-full of spicy local news and vigorous articles. Nicely printed, neatness displayed in every column, and general healthy appearance, such as has characterized it so far, will make it a welcome daily visitor. The Conservatives of London have long felt the need of a good organ, and now The Standard has appeared, and they should liberally support it and keep it up to the degree of excellence it has started with.”

             Evidently, they did and it has; ask J.D. Chaplin, M.P.

Art, or What Have You?

             C. Swayze, photographer at Welland, offered cabinet photos at $1.50 per dozen, and for only $8 one might obtain a dozen cabinets and “a life-size picture, framed in an 18×22 inch gilt frame, with moulding three inches wide, very handsome.”

             The world has moved upward and onward quite a bit, after all, when one looks back at those activities, anyone willing to take a dare, and go in and ask Walter Dixon to get him out such a job?

             Here’s a mean slam at somebody: “Complaints are being made of gentlemen residing on East Main street of allowing their fancy fowls to wander at large to the detriment of the immediate flower beds and lawns.” Chickens would find that a fine grazing ground in these days of the motor car.

             Any of the old-time horsemen will testify that Billy always knew how to handle the ribbons, and here is a news item that shows it: “W.J. Best’s horse tried to run away, but by the quick and timely action of its master his mad career was cut short without any damage being done.”

Precursor of the Bob

             Wonder what in heck the lower portion of the uniform consisted of? In those days real gents were supposed to blush vividly and look the other way at the exposure of anything above a jane’s shoe, and surely, they could not have worn bloomers. But here’s the item: “A girls’ baseball club is the latest addition to Welland’s sporting fraternity, and it’s the most handsome nine in the district. The club rejoices under the name of the Sunflowers. The members wrangle over strikes, fouls, outs etc., and raise the temperature for the umpire, just like a league club. An exhibition game by this club will be a big attraction at the county fair.”

They Had No Bananas Maybe, But-

             The following liquor licenses were granted in Welland: J.R. Dowd, W.J. McCoppen, Wm. Earley, G.W. Ramey, J.B. Flynn, J.C. Seglehurst, D. Poole, Brown Bros. and W.F. Secord.

             C.H. Reilly had some new lines of gents’ fine congress gaiters.

             The business card of W.H. Lowe, carriage painter and agent for sewer pipe, seems to hook up with our present city assessor.

             B. Lundy announced the removal of his book and stationery store to the Griffith block, near the postoffice; and it is gratifying to note that he makes a strong play on his stock of Bibles and hymn books.

             The Ross Co. then carried a complete line of boots and shoes, and they had just purchased 50 suits of men’s clothing which they offered at $5 a suit.

Most of the Telegraph’s single editorial column is devoted to calling The Tribune this, that and other anent political matters, which were evidently stronger meat then than in these days.

The Pioneer of Boom Fonthill

             An item in the correspondence from that up and coming village says: “Mr. John Gore, the ninety-year old furniture merchant, has added baby carriages to his business.”

Social Note from Falls View

             “If that poor, hungry, emaciated individual who stole the eatables at the party held in Stamford Temperance Hall last week, will return the basket and plates, no further questions will be asked.”

             That is that, but on the other hand, listen to this one from Stevensville: “Mr. Lepper of Thorold will be engaged at the mason trade with us this summer. Mr. Lepper will be an addition to our society’s circle.”

Thorold Challenges the Ancient Egyptians

             “Mr. A.W. Butler is to be congratulated upon the excellent manner in which he preserved the body of Joseph P_ for a week, no change being noticeable.”

Port Colborne Troy Knock for W.M.

             “Mr. German has been elected not quite two months, and the shipping was never so bad in the spring as at the present time.”