HISTORY OF FENWICK

Fenwick was named in 1853

By Eleanor Fisher

{Pelham Herald, Progress Edition. Wednesday, April 21, 1982}

As we look back today on the Fenwick of yesterday it is very hard to realize the conditions of the early settlers, many of whom were Quakers who came from Pennsylvania. The name of Fenwick was given to the community on April 1, 1853, and is believed the village took its name from Fenwick the birth place of Dr. John Fraser in Scotland. Dr. Fraser was an important man in the area at that time. He was  Reeve of Pelham from 1850 to 1856 and took an active part in municipal affairs throughout the area. He was once selected Liberal candidate for Welland county in a national election. He refused to stand a second time and concentrated his efforts in the separation of Welland and Lincoln county.

Another member of parliament who came from Fenwick was Dr, Henry Haney. He also served as superintendent of schools of Pelham.

Crown grants of farms where Fenwick is located. were made in 1798 and 1801. One  of the earlier farmers was Mr. Haney. The old Haney house situated on Maple Ave. N.  is now occupied by the A. Lovas Family and is one of the districts oldest dwellings. It is a low, solid brick cottage with fireplaces that have long been closed up. Attached to the house is a long woodshed through which a team of horses, drawing cordwood, could be driven in the old days.

The Haneys had received a crown grant and besides their home, constructed three other dwellings which are occupied today by the Ker, Herr, and Julian families.

The oldest grave in Hillside cemetery is that of Elizabeth Haney, 1829.

Joseph Garner Arrived in the area in 1840. He held a crown grant of 150 acres and became a progressive farmer.Some of the apple trees he planted were still alive and bearing fruit until only a few years ago.

Mr Garner built an ashery and had wagons going through the district collecting ashes with payment being in soap. The potash made at the ashery was taken to Thorold by oxen and shipped by boat to Montreal to soap factories. It is believed to be Fenwick’s first industry. The potash barrels for mixing and making the potash were located on a corner of the lot now owned by Charles Elliott and were situated near the street. On a knoll almost directly opposite the property now owned by Peter Barends on the south side of Welland Avenue were charcoal burners that were operated by Mr. Garner. The charcoal was shipped to Montreal.

The first jersey cattle and Percheon horses were brought to the district by Mr. Garner. He purchased registered stock at the experimental station in Guelph.

It is said  that Mr. Garner took great delight in the large pond on his property. He stocked it with imported German carp, the fish coming to the bank in response to Mr Garner’s whistle. This pond was located on the property later owned by Joseph Leppert. It is believed that Mr. Leppert operated the first dairy with delivery of milk from door to door. This particular farm is now owned by Prudhommes Nursery and is set out in nursery stock.

Mr Garner’s son Aylmer donated the road now known as Garner Avenue, and divided the adjoining lots to make Fenwick’s first subdivision.

The village had its real beginning in the building of two churches which were located within a mile of each other. One was the new Connection Church, Wesleyan Methodist and the other the Episcopal Methodist known as Bethany.

Of the early history of Bethany, there are no records available, but it is believed the both frame churches were built about the same time. In 1882 Bethany built a new brick church and only two years later came the union of Weslyan and Episcopal churches in Canada. Each church had a membership of 55 and for a time both churches were used but in 1900 the two churches united forces and built the present edifice which is known as Fenwick United Church. A Presbyterian Church was located at the other site and has now been made into apartments.

The first school house was leased in 1884. The consideration of the lease was five shillings and it was stipulated that the lease was to terminate if no school was maintained for a period of five years.

A brick one room school replaced the frame structure in 1874. There are many Fenwick residents today who remember the brick school. An increase in population made it necessary to build a second classroom. In 1910 a large two room addition was constructed at the front and this is now the primary school in connection with the E.W. Farr Memorial School which was built off the Canboro Road in 1930. This school is a modern six room building and was named after the late E.W. Farr, teacher, principal for close to a half century. There is a staff of 8 teachers and itinerate music teacher. Douglas MacArthur is teacher and Principal.

The first high school classes  were held in the first room of the old public school and the school opened on November 23,1922 with Miss Margaret E. Bonis as principal and teacher.There were 6 pupils the first day and 7 the first month. After Christmas students that had been attending other schools increased the number up to 18. The second year there were 25. However in the third year there were 43 students and Miss Mildred Metler

Was hired as another teacher and a class was held in the building now owned by the Odd Fellows. It was known as a grade c school.

In 1926 the Pelham Continuation school was built. It was originally a four room school. However the school at this time is much larger with several additions having been made from time to time. In September of 1960 there was approximately 800 pupils enrolled with 31 teachers.

In 1958 the Thorold Fonthill High School was opened and there are 16 teachers there. These two schools serve five municipalities. The school at Fenwick is known as the Pelham District High School.

When the new school was opened in September of 1927 Mr. F.M. Hicks was principal with Miss J.M. Bell, Miss De La Mater and Miss Metler as teachers. E.L. Crossley was engaged as principal in the fall of 1932 and is still principal. Miss De La Mater was associated with the school for more than 20 years and is retired and lives on Church Street Fenwick. She is a descendant of one of Pelham Township’s first families. One of her favorite subjects at school was history.

Miss De La Mater is official Historian of Fenwick United Church and is representative of the Fenwick Women’s Institute to the Welland County Historical Society Meetings.

Taverns made their  first appearance in 1845. Numerous taverns were located on the Canboro Road which got its name from Canby who bought the whole of Canboro Township and linked it with Lundy’s Lane using an old Indian Trail.

The taverns lost their right to sell liquor in 1881 when a vote was brought about by the temperance people. Pelham voted in favor of closing the taverns with a majority of 86 votes.

The first post office was opened on April 1, 1853 the same day as Fenwick received its name. Before this time the area was known as Diffin’s Corners—and that name dates back to 1845 when George and Benjamin Diffin  bought a lot and began the operation of an inn. The first post master was Leonard Haney. According to records, the first mails were brought into Fenwick and outgoing mails dispatched by a courier on horseback, who made the journey from Port Robinson to Canboro on one day and returned the next day. According to stories told, the people frowned on the first mail delivery. They couldn’t see what need they had for mail service.

One of the oldest buildings in Fenwick is the general store now owned by James H. Driver. For many years this store was operated by W.H. Fay. This store at that time was one of two general stores, and was here the men used to gather and sit on the nail kegs around an old potbellied stove to swap stories. W.H. Fry in addition farmed the home place at the eastern end of the village.

The former A.N. Armbrust house was once the home of a Methodist minister, Rev. Michael Baxter. It is  he who gave Baxter’s lane to the municipality. He built a store for a school teacher who wished to retire to a mercantile business. This store was known as the Red and White store for many years and was owned and operated by Archie Benallick. Anthony Macklem has now taken over the business.

A small marble altar in Hillside marks Mr Baxter’s grave—1889.

A.N. Armbrust was township clerk for 49 years and his office was located in his home.

Mr Conn who owned the property where George Alsop now resides planted the maple tree which gave Maple Ave its name.

One of the earlier builders adopted an old German custom of soaking the bricks in beer in order that the bricks might retain their red colour.

Early years saw the construction of a drill hall for the volunteer soldiers, just south of the present United Church. Captain A.W. Haney recruited a company of volunteer infantry at Fenwick for the 44 battalion at the time of the Fenian invasion of 1886.

A very important  event in the lives of many residents was the Fenwick Fair. The fair had three locations in Fenwick. The last move to a permanent location was necessitated when the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway constructed a line through the village in 1886.

On the prize list of an early fair was a prize of 10 shillings for the yoke of working oxen. The fair eventually became larger. Harness racing was a popular attraction in later years.

The favorite sport of the day 80 years ago among the young folk was racing with horses and buggy on dusty Canboro Road on a Sunday afternoon.

The first telephone was placed in the village in 1898 in the Post Office. At this time the Post Office was located in the W.H. Fry Store.

The first car came to the village in 1912 and was owned by Dan Althouse. The second gas well in Welland county was drilled in Fenwick about 1903. A well was drilled on Mr. Garner’s place and another on Mr Eastman’s.

A harness store owned by W. Buck was located where A. Page’s barber shop is now located and was later a garage owned by James Christie, at that time was located where W. Roblin’s store is now located and was occupied as a store. Also in the downstairs portion of this building at this time was a broom factory and a two family house, Fenwick’s first duplex.

A community hall was upstairs in this building. It was here that the early concerts and traveling plays were staged. Many of the larger buildings had upstairs facilities for meetings of the Sons of Temperance Independent Order of Good Templars and young men’s groups of the district.

At this time there were two blacksmith shops, a cooperage, saw mill, shoemakers shop, and planning mill. Apple growing was a thriving industry.

Allan Rice operated the first commercial bakery. Bread sold for five cents a loaf. The first barber shop was opened by James Christie on the same site as Arnold Page has his shop today. The first bank was the Union Bank. Captain Charles Keenan established the first confectionary business.

There have been many changes in Fenwick over the period of years. On December 4, 1919 the village was incorporated as a Police Village to become effective on January 1, 1920. The first plan of Fenwick was filed in 1924 and the street names there listed will pass down to the future memories of former residents of the village.

On January 20, 1915 the Pelham Odd Fellows Lodge was instituted. K.W. Rozell was the first Noble Grand and there were 20 charter members. One of the charter members who still holds membership in the lodge and still resides in the village is L.E. Haist. Mr Haist has been presented with a 50 year jewel. Ralph Yager is this year serving as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ontario.

On March 4, 1936. Maple Crest Rebekah Lodge was instituted with Mrs Wealtha Secord as the first Noble Grand. There were 12 Charter Members.

The two lodges have a joint C.P.& T. committee with the main interest being centered around the hospital bed project and the humanitarian service carried out.

One of Fenwick’s oldest organizations, the Women’s Institute was formed in 1912, with Mrs Ella Fitzgerald was the first president. The W.I. circulated the petition which brought electric lights to the village and the first sidewalks. The Institute Hall was an early Quaker Church purchased by the Institute in 1929 and moved from the south of Ridgeville.

The Fenwick Lions Club, only service club operating in the village of Fenwick, meets on the first and third Friday of every month in the Institute Hall, taking the form of a dinner meeting. The club became a charter member of Lions International on May 3, 1949 with 28 charter members and Bernard Babcock as the first president. The club now has 25 active members, ten of whom were with the club when it received its charter. Other presidents were Sheldon Shapland, Lorne Rogers, Harry Watt, Dick Watt, Archie Benallick, Andy Morris, Albert Keenan, Merrell Berry, Doug Disher, Bud Ker, and Vernon Haist

The club is very keenly interested in the welfare of the community, its improvements and development. All money raised must be spent entirely on the community and many changes have come about as a result of efforts on the part of the members.

One major project was the accomplishment of the local ball park with its floodlights, booth and rink location. The club gave assistance in outfitting the school patrol, supplying glasses to needy and many other worthwhile projects. Associated with the Lions Club is its affiliate, the Fenwick Lioness Club which was formed on September 23,1953. The first president was Mrs Lelia Watt. Other presidents were Mrs Anna Nelson, Mrs Marion Shapland, Mrs Gladys McGregor, Mrs Bea Berry, Mrs Pam Haist, Mrs Phyllis Disher, and Mrs Doris Walker.

The Lions Club assisted with the formation of the Cubs and Scouts in Fenwick in September of 1950. The Lions assisted the Cubs and the first leader was Allan Bradnam. About a year later the first group committee was formed with Murray Stringer as the first president and Douglas MacArthur as treasurer. At this time the ladies  auxiliary was formed with Mrs James Ebert as the first president and Mrs Willard Benson as the first secretary-treasurer.

In the fall of 1952 what is believed to the first of its kind in Welland County, a school safety patrol was organized at the E.W. Farr Memorial School. On co-operation with the Welland detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, the 1^st Fenwick Scout group undertook the responsibility as another community project. The boys, all pupils of the school, were stationed at various points in the village, to aid the children crossing the highway. These boys were also on duty during playground periods to prevent accidents during play hours. The Scouts were equipped with belts, arm bands and signs.

Progress has been made with the churches in the community. In 1957 a basement was completed on the property of Fenwick United Church and some day a new church will be built above this basement. With advancing years many organizations have been formed in the church, taking in all age groups. In 1955 a new church was built on Canboro Rd. W and this church is At Ann’s Roman Catholic Church. In 1942 Mass was said at the home of Mr. Brzezinski and in the fall of 1942 the Mission Chapel was built just west of the village on Canboro Rd.. When the congregation grew  Father Kucharcyzk bought a site from Walter Kardas and the present St Ann’s Church was built in 1955. In 1958 a separate school was started and a modern two-room school was built and there are approximately 72 children attending classes. The Church of Christ located on Welland Avenue was erected in 1905 and one of the earliest ministers was Rev. Simeon M. Jones. The present minister is Rev. M.L. Harless who resides in Port Colborne.

As this history draws to a close we must not forget the Fenwick Fire Dept. which most will agree is a very important and necessary organization. The untiring efforts of the firemen at times is very noteworthy, especially when you think of the men as being regularly employed at some other profession or trade, and willingly give of their time, As volunteers.