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HORNBY FLORIST
[Welland Tribune, 16 July 1985]
By Florence Koabel
Flowers are the Hornby’s Business
Hornby’s Florist is a family firm and has been since its inception in 1924 when the present Mr. Hornsby was just a lad.
Back in those days Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth, had their greenhouses just outside of Welland to the west and for the next few years rented a series of stores in downtown Welland.
By 1926 it was time to move the greenhouses, so land was purchased in the open country east of town on what was to become Main Street. The Great Depression did not hurt the little business; on the contrary, the need for a permanent shop was felt and so a place on Hellems Avenue was bought in 1934.
The business flourished and young Leslie just naturally joined the firm never even considering any other occupation. When Thomas passed away in 1956 his son took over and with his wife, Gertrude’s help has run it ever since.
Over the years it has become unnecessary to grow all the flowers needed. For quite a while the train could be counted on, most of the time, to express what was required for next day’s business. Several years ago the greenhouses started sending their wares out by truck. This proved a most efficient service and made it impractical for the individual florist to grow his own blossoms. Of course the airplane has also been a real boom to the flower trade with blooms coming from such places as Holland, Columbia and even Israel.
The time has come to dismantle the greenhouses, after all the city has not only come to them but had grown well beyond the shop at 505 East Main St. and the taxes had raised accordingly. At the same time the shop on Hellems Avenue became redundant so the business was consolidated at the Main Street location.
There have been many changes over the years-Mother’s Day was nearly unheard of in the beginning but has grown into the most important day of the florist’s year. For many years New Year’s Eve was a very busy time with every available hand making corsages, and Valentine’s Day meant very little in the way of extra business. Things are different now and New Year’s Eve is not so special anymore while Valentine’s Day is an equal to Mother’s Day.
While fresh flowers are the mainstay of the business, silk is making great inroads with colors and even blossoms that Mother Nature never created. They can be used in the same way that the more traditional blooms can be used and are so beautifully made as to be almost indistinguishable from their real counterparts.
Times change but Leslie Hornsby and his wife continue to run the shop, though their two children Maxine and Don do most of the floral arrangements now. When the day comes that the senior Hornby’s decide to retire their children will take over the reins of the business ensuring the continuity of this family firm.
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