THE LIFE STORY OF THE WELLAND COUNTY BUILDINGS

NOW SEVENTY YEARS OLD

Gutted by Fire in 1913

Corner Stone Was Laid at Port Robinson but Later Was Changed

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 17 June 1924]

Welland County’s massive stone courthouse, built in 1856 at a cost of over $100,000 was practically gutted by fire on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 11^th, 1913. Only the first floor remained partly untouched by the flames and when the fire was brought under control, the great stone shell was practically all that was left of the handsome structure. Defective electric wiring was said to be the origin of the fire.

County Court was in session in the court room when the fire was first discovered in the big dome directly over the centre of the building. In a moment the court room was emptied, the judge, attorneys, witnesses and spectators making a hasty rush for the stairway. Charles Stewart, one of the constables of the court, ran through the building warning the occupants of the different offices of their danger and giving them time to place valuable documents and papers in the vaults.

At 2.45 the big dome, undermined by the flames, collapsed and crashed through the floor below. The flames spread to the law library and to the county council library and the license commissioner’s offices. The law library which was filled with books valued between $6,000 and $7,000 while not badly burned, was ruined by the great quantities of water which flooded into the interior.

When the fire broke out the prisoners locked in the cells were terror stricken, and although not in immediate danger, were much frightened. John Coulson, jailer, had them immediately released into the court yard and when the goal gates were swung open to allow the firemen to get to the rear of the burning building, none of them made an attempt to escape. One of the men was a foreigner awaiting trial at the fall assizes on a charge of murder.

The entire interior of the building was ruined by fire and water, but fortunately the walls were not damaged.

The history of the Welland County buildings really began in 1841, when was consummated the municipal organization of this district and the first municipal body, known as the Niagara District Council, began its career. This legislative body consisted of twenty-eight members, representatives not chosen by the people but appointed by the various townships councils from among their members. The middle of the century saw the birth in the southern part of the district of a strong opposition to the existing order and an equally strong agitation for separate municipal and judicial organization for the territory now comprising the county of Welland.

On 2^nd of August, 1851, the act of separation was passed by the Legislature. For the five years from 1851 to 1856 the reeves and deputy reeves of the municipalities comprising the new county of Welland, in addition to performing their duties as representatives in the district council at Niagara had to fully complete the work of organizing the new county.

The momentous question of the day was where should the county town be established. The natural beauty and healthfulness of Fonthill were urged as reasons why that place should become the capital. That Cook’s Mills was from a geographical standpoint, exactly the centre of the county was the argument used by the people of Crowland who wanted the court house there. Port Robinson with her docks and customs house was a booming place in those days and her influential residents tried hard to win the prize. At one time success seemed about to crown their efforts, and a corner stone for the proposed buildings was laid in the vicinity of the village.

The site of the building was subsequently changed from Port Robinson to the village of Merrittsville afterwards the town and now the City of Welland. The contract for the building, the jail and court house was let to Messrs. Hellems and Bald, the estimated cost being $100,000 including extras. The architect was Kivas Tully, C.E., of Toronto.

That Welland was made the county town was largely due to Dr. John Frazer who was Provincial Warden of the Provisional Council of the county as well as member of Parliament for the term following the general election of 1854.

The following were the first officers of the new county: Sheriff Robert Hobson; County Judge, H.W. Price; Clerk of the Peace and Crown Attorney, Lorenzo D. Raymond; Deputy Clerk of Crown, Nathan T. Fitch; Registrar, Dexter D’Everardo.

Among the members of the council were James Cummings, Chippawa; G.W. McMicking, Niagara Falls; Leonard Mathews, Crowland; Daniel Near, Humberstone; Dr. Fraser, Pelham; John Grant, Thorold Town; Wm. Wright, Thorold Township; Edward Lee, Wainfleet; Daniel Lamberton, Willoughby.