FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO

THE WELLAND REPORTER NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHED AT DRUMMONDVILLE IN 1853

[Welland Tribune, 22 February 1895]

SOME INTERESTING CLIPPINGS FROM ITS SORE AND YELLOW LEAVES

We have been favored by Mr. F. Dalton, sr., with a copy of the Welland Reporter, published at Drummondville on September 22^nd, 1853. The issue is No. 28 of Volume 1, and is published “for thee state by George Simpson,” at the modest price of $2 per annum.

OLD-TIME ADVERTISING

The advertising rates are given as follows;-Six lines and under, 2s 6d for first insertion and 7 1/2d each subsequent insertion. Above ten lines, 4d per line for first insertion and 1d per line each subsequent insertion.

STAMFORD SHOW AND FAIR-1853

The annual show for 1853 had just eventuated, and here is what the reporter has to say of of it: “A fairer show of stock it has not been our lot to see at any previous township fair. It is a well-known fact that this township possesses some of the best stock in Canada, particularly in the sheep line. Mr. Jones showed good Durham cattle. Mr. Phillips of Chippawa showed the best lot of hogs. The show of driving horses was small, but that of young horses was large and good. The show of grains was very good. In butter the show was excellent, and the tasty manner in which it was put up only confirms us in an opinion which we have long entertained, that without the assistance of the fairer sex, this would be but a poor uncomfortable world, for “wherever their handiwork appears, taste and evident love of the beautiful manifest themselves.”

THE DIGNITY OF THE PRESS

The report of the above concludes with the following sarcastic reference to the matter in which the press was slighted.

“We understand that the members of the society sat down to a dinner at the Exchange hotel, and we feel  satisfied that the spread was a good one from the fact of Mr. John Evans being the caterer; but not having been among the number of those honoured by an invitation, we cannot describable the feast, nor the splendid speeches that we feel confident were made. And there is little doubt that our remarks on the fair have been curtailed and confused, from the fact that whilst taking notes on the show grounds our ideas were attempting to form themselves into a set speech which we supposed we should be called on to make, in answer to a toast in honor of “the Press,” at the said dinner.”

It is worthy of note that of the entire list of prize winners that are given, but three now survive-George Hyatt, Samuel Pew and Abner Cook.

THE PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION

Is announced to take place in Hamilton in October, the cards of admission costing 71/2d each. Six thousand dollars were then offered in premiums.

BIG BUSINESS ON WELLAND CANAL

The canal boats were quite small in 1853, but the number of them that passed through the canal would put to shame our records for the past few years. The Reporter says: “During the month of August the business of the canal has been unusually large, numbering in vessels passed up and down, 525 schooners, propellers and steamers, exclusive of small craft plying between locks. In August, 1852, the number of boats passing through totalled up to 485.

WANT SOMETHING SPICY

A Stamford farmer (and some Stamford farmers like this one still live) gives the editor a little sound advice, as follows:-”People do not like being lectured week after week about their morality and religion, or eternally dosed with politics; they expect to find a general assortment of readable matter, just such as you have given us this few weeks back; nothing of an immoral character, but keep a joke for a laugh and give your readers something spicy.”

MUDDY MERRITTSVILLE

Another Stamford farmer hits from the shoulder like this:-”Can any of your readers inform me, through the columns of the Reporter, what induced the directors of the county agricultural society to choose Merrittsville (now the town of Welland) as the spot to hold the annual fair at? From the season of the year the fair is held and the clayey nature of the soil, I apprehend that instead of the thanks of the people of this county, the directors will receive the maledictions of those whose cattle will, during the fair, have to assist in making a (generally speaking) muddy hole, if possible, muddier.”

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

“We are enabled to state that the contract for building the Sarnia and London branch of the Great Western Railway,” says the Reporter, “has been given to Mr. Zimmerman of Niagara Falls, who is bound to have the road completed one year from the first of October next-nearly three years in advance of the Grand Trunk line, the contract for which does not require the completion of the same before July, 1857.”

DRUMMONDVILLE MARKETS

Following are some of the quotations given for produce, etc., in the village market: Flour, per 100 lbs, 15s; beef, per lb, 5d; mutton, 4d; lamb, 3 3/4d; veal, 3d; pork, 5d; lard, 7 1/2d; butter, 9d; eggs, 7 1/2d; hay, per ton, 75s; wool, per cord, 5s.

A WEDDING

The marriage of Mr. Frank Dalton, sr., who still survives hale and hearty, is given in the following official notice: “Married-On Sept. 21, 1853, at Trinity church, Chippawa, by the Rev. Wm. Leeming, Mr. F. Dalton to Miss Jane Patton, both of this village.”

AMONG THE ADVERTISERS

Are the names of many old families, some of whom are today almost extinct, while others have left behind them plenty of “chips from the old block” to perpetuate their name and memory. In the following list familiar names will be recognized;

Land for sale-Edward Latshaw.

Fire insurance-W.A. Rooth.

List of letters-W. Hepburn, P.M.

Boot and shoe makers-J. Chadwick, Ferry road.

The Ross Carriage factory-Established 1826-Alex. Pew & Co., successors to Pew & Ross.

Harness-John Weaver.

Hotel for sale in Chippawa-R. Slater.

Stucco for sale-Andrew Murray.

Maps of the Falls-Samuel Geil.

Administrators notice-Late George Simpson.

Barrister-Geo. Boomer, Niagara.

Barrister-Lorenzo D. Raymond, Chippawa.

Barristers-Eccles & Lawder, St. Catharines and Niagara.

Barrister-Richard Miller, St. Catharines.

Physician-John Mewburn, M.D., Dauley house, Stamford.

Physician-Geo. McMicking, M.D. Chippawa.

Auctioneer-John A. Orchard, Culp st., Drummondville.

Harness-John Rapeljie, Chippawa.

Groceries-Robert Dougan, Thorold.

National Hotel-John Cummings, Drummondville.

Exchange Hotel-John Evans, Drummondville.

Whirlpool Hotel-W.R. Boynton, Stamford.

California House-Jonathan Wilde, Stonebridge.

Lovejoy House-Capt. H. Gray, Buffalo.

Exchange Hotel-R.B. Campbell, Stonebridge.

Livery stable-Hiram Willson, Drummondville.

Wool wanted-Thos. C. Street, Niagara Falls.

Groceries, etc.,-A. McLeod, Niagara Falls.

Dry goods, etc.,-James Lockhart, Niagara.

General store-James McCoppen, Port Robinson.

Buffalo train time-table-Wm. A. Bird, supt. “Passengers can take the lightning train for Albany and New             York at 5 p.m.

Cabinet maker-A. Morse, Drummondville.

Drummondville book store-George Simpson.

Fancy poultry-W.A. Ferguson, Drummondville.

Chippawa cabinet works-Jno. Merriam.

Stoves-J.C. Yokome, Stonebridge.

Dry goods-R.L. Bigger-announces a fine large stock bought for cash, and warns competitors that             “competition is useless.”

Russell’s brewery-Wm. Russell, Drummondville, Canada West-with a picture of the old brewery that fire     has since laid low.

Dry goods, etc.,-Jos. C. Woodruff, adjoining National hotel, Drummondville.

Carriages-Henry Bond-Chippawa.

Cash for hides-Oliver T. Macklem, Chippawa.

Tinsmith shop-Barnabas Mooney, Drummondville, familiarly called “Barney” Mooney.

THE GREAT CRANBERRY MARSH

An order is issued from the Provincial warden’s office “forbidding all persons from trespassing in any manner upon the lands known as the great cranberry marsh, situated principally in the townships of Crowland, Humberstone and Wainfleet.” The notice is dated at Pelham, and is signed John Frazer, chairman board of commissioners.

THE PAPER

Is a good-looking country weekly of twenty wide columns, fourteen of which are reading matter. Its appearances would compare very favorably with some of the so called progressive newspapers of the present day. The name of the editor is not given, but the late W.A. Rooth owned and published the paper a little later in the fifties, and probably contributed to its columns at this time. The long (and only partial) list of advertisers given above shew that our predecessors knew the value of keeping their business before the public.