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BACK IN THE FIFTIES
HAPPENING IN WELLAND COUNTY FORTY YEARS AGO
INTERESTING EXTRACTS
[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1895]
Mrs. A.E. Rooth of Port Colborne has favored us with copies of the Welland reporter, published in the village of Drummondville (now the Village of Niagara Falls), away back in the fifties. Our selections on Feb. 15th for a similar back number leave little more to be gleaned of interest to the present generation, but we cannot refrain from noting a few of the important events found in the Reporter’s columns.
DESJARDINS CANAL CATASTROPHE
The issue of March 19, 1857, gives a thrilling eight-column account of the dreadful railway accident which occurred at the Desjardins canal bridge on the Great Western railway, on the 12th of the same month. About sixty-four lives were lost in this fearful catastrophe, among the death list appearing the names of Samuel Zimmerman and Mr. and Mrs. John Bradfield of Niagara Falls, and John Morley of Thorold. Mr. Zimmerman was buried with Masonic honors, over two thousand people attending. The body was deposited in a vault built on his own grounds immediately below the house. Thos. C. Street and Dr. Macklem of Chippawa were injured in the accident. The Reporter appeared in full mourning; a day was set aside by the authorities as a holiday as a mark of respect to the memory of Samuel Zimmerman.
A NOTED PAMPHLET
The following advertisement appears; “The Chronicles of the Cataract, by Simon the Elder, just published in pamphlet form and for sale at this office; price, 25 cents.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sheriff Hobson announces Court of Queen’s Bench to be held at the “Town of Merrittsville.”
R. Henry of Drummondville and Dr. Aberdeen of Chippawa advertise St. Catharines mineral water for “indigestion and its various and manifold consequences.”
S. Falconbridge, postmaster, advertises a long list of uncalled for letters.
ARCHIBALD THOMPSON
Was county treasurer in 1857, and the complete auditors’ report for the year 1856 is published in the Reporter.
THE COURT HOUSE
Was then in course of erection, and the contractors, Hellems & Bald, drew nearly £6000 on the work in 1856.
DR. JOHN FRAZER
Was warden, A. Thompson, treasurer, Robert Hobson, sheriff, D. D’Everardo clerk and Alexander Reid and Richard Henly auditors.
AMONG THE ADVERTISERS
Are Lorenzo D. Raymond, barrister, Merrittsville, C.W.
James B. Secord, division court agent, Queenston.
James K. Peterson, Battle Ground Hotel, Lundy’s Lane, Drummondville.
F.J. & H. Preston, general merchants, Elgin, Suspension Bridge.
A.L. Cumming, clerk first division court, Merrittsville.
C.R. Otis-Clifton hardware store.
M.A. Mann-Dry Goods, Clifton, C.W.
M. Zimmerman-Dry Goods, Clifton
Suspension Bridge hotel-Fred Graham.
William Henry-Groceries, Clifton.
W.E. Tunis-Great Western book store, Clifton.
H. Barney-City hotel, Merrittsville.
James McCoppen-General store, Merrittsville.
Richard Henly-Drugs, etc. Drummondville.
W.H. Ayers- Tin shop, Merrittsville
Robert House-Western hotel, Stonebridge. “The best of liquors and an honest hostler.”
Saul Davis offers for sale the Table Rock hotel, which had then been built but two years.
J. Hartmann-Harness maker, Garner’s new building, Drummondville.
John A. Orchard-Advertises a number of well known properties that are now very valuable.
Adam Fralick-Pays cash for hides at his tannery, Muddy Run.
Wm. McKay-The one-price dry goods store, Drummondville.
Drummondville boot and shoe store was run by Thomas Cole.
Arthur Ellis managed the Ellis hotel, Henry Wright carried on a cabinet shop, and Lucien Morse a painting business in Drummondville.
The Niagara Falls museum is advertised by Thomas Barnett, who announces that “a new road, leading down the bank to the great sheet of water, has been cut through the solid rock during the the past winter at an immense expense, expressly for those wishing to to pass behind the great Horse-shoe Falls, and view one of the grandest sights of nature.”
Nathan T. Fitch advertises a “collection agency” at Merrittsville.
Samuel S. Smades, Stonebridge, offers his services as auctioneer, etc.
Volney McAlpine was a customs broker and town clerk of Clifton in 1857.
John and Alexander Pyper announce that they have bought the well-known Ross carriage works at Drummondville.
Wm. Horne was the veterinary surgeon of Drummondville.
Notice is given of a by-law to raise £466, 13s. 4d to erect a public school house in Clifton.
A LONG HEAD
The following appears among the notices: “Parliamentary notice-The undersigned gives notice that he will make application, at the ensuing session of parliament, to renew the charter of the Fort Erie canal company, or to obtain one to cut and construct a water course from Lake Erie to a point below the rapids on the Niagara river, for the creation of a water power, and for other purposes to be therein mentioned. -R.H. Thornhill, Fort Erie,”
MARRIED
At the residence of the bride’s mother, Lundy’s Lane, June 4th, 1857, by the Rev. John Roberts, Mr. Wm. Hill of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth Brooks.
A LIBERAL OF THE LIBERALS
In the House on June 5th, Hon. Mr. Cayley moved that the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole on the supplies.
Mr. Wm. Lyon Mackenzie moved to amendment a series of resolutions, recommending the following as a desirable remedy for existing evils.
The apportioning the representation of the people in the legislature upon the basis of population, or an equalization of the elective franchise;
A repeal of the permanent civil list;
The doing away with the property qualification of members of parliament;
Fixing the time for holding the general elections and for the annual meeting of the legislature, for shortening its duration and fixing the time of its dissolution; making the legislative council altogether elective by the immediate removal of those of its members who were never chosen by any consistency;
The extension of the elective principle generally, even to the head of the government, it being found impossible otherwise to provide an efficient check upon immorality and extravagant public expenditures;
The full right to legislate upon our local affairs, without interference or check by the British government or any of its agents here;
The introduction of the system of vote by ballot;
An immediate change of the practice of granting pensions or gratuities, except in special places;
The putting a stop to class legislation.;
The bringing about as speedily as possible universal reciprocity, entire freedom of trade between Canada and the United States, thus relieving both countries from the enormous expense of maintaining a fast increasing army of customs officers upon a frontier 1500 miles long.
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