One of Welland’s best business stands for the past forty years, the George Cronmiller furniture and undertaking establishment, was purchased this week by Messrs. Darte & Pattison. The new firm will take possession at once. Mr. Pattison is well known in Welland, and Mr. Darte comes well recommended, from some of the leading undertakers of United States and Canada, having been in the business for the past twelve years. Mr. Darte arrived from Pittsburg a few days ago.
Welland Tribune
10 February 1911
George Cronmiller Sells Out His Furniture and Undertaking Business
George C. Cronmiller, who for many years has conducted a furniture store and undertaking establishment on East Main Street, on Saturday completed a deal whereby the business and property passes into the hands of J.J. Pattison, a well-known resident of Welland. Associated with Mr. Pattison is Geo. Dart, an expert undertaker. Both the furniture warerooms and the undertaking establishment will be continued by the new owners.
Will Enlarge
The price paid was not made public but it is said to be keeping with the values of real estate and property in Welland. The property is well-known to Wellanders, being one of the oldest establishments in the town.
It is the intention of the new owners to enlarge the building and make other improvements.
In Business Many Years
Mr. Cronmiller’s retirement from business comes after many years of hard and active work in building up an enviable business. Mr. Cronmiller is one of the oldest business men in Welland. In fact, he is the only man who has been doing business in the same stand continuously in Welland for thirty-seven years. There are two other men who have been doing business in Welland continuously for this number of years, but they are not now in the same business places in which they started. These two men are the only ones now in Welland who were here and in business when Mr. Cronmiller came here in 1874. They are Alonzo White, proprietor of White’s Livery Stable, and J.J. Sidey, editor of the Welland Tribune.
“These two men are the only ones in business when I came, who are still here,” said the veteran furniture dealer to a Telegraph reporter on Saturday.
Although the frost of years is beginning to settle on Mr. Cronmiller’s brow, yet he is still active.
Welland of 1874
“There is a vast difference in Welland of 1874 and the Welland of today,” said Mr. Cronmiller. “When I came here with the intention of opening business it was a different looking town than it is now. In the block in which my store stands, at the present time, there were two hotels, a house and a shoe shop, and that was all. A hotel stood where Robert Doan’s second hand store now stands. A man by the name of Scallion was the proprietor. John Evans conducted a hotel where Chas. Stewart’s block is today and D. McCaw’s shoe shore and residence was also in this block. The registry office was still at Fonthill and a little frame hotel stood where the Mansion House now is.
The Opera House was not built until a year or so after I came. The Arlington Hotel, I believe, was standing at the time, or at least part of it.”
Not Two Hundred Houses
“How many residences were there in Welland at that time?” asked the reporter.
“Well, I doubt if there were over two hundred in all.”
“How about mud?”
“Oh mud. There was plenty of mud in those days. The town was muddier than it is now. You could hardly get across the street without getting into it up to your knees,” answered Mr. Cronmiller.
Continuing he stated that it was about this time that the Welland canal was enlarged to its present size. The only railroads that were here at the time were the M.C.R. and G.T.R.
“I remember well when the registry office was built,” said Mr. Cronmiller, in speaking of that structure. “I cut all the glass you see in the windows of the office. I remember that the wrong measurements were given me, and as a result I spoilt a lot of glass and it was necessary to do the work over.
Land Values in Early Days
When I bought my original lot, part of which is now occupied by the present building, I paid seven hundred dollars for it. That seemed high but it would seem nothing now. The size of the lot was 66×133. The lot where Lon White’s livery stable is now was held at $2,100, which was a very high price at that time. Of course, I did not do the business then that I do now, either.
All Board Walks
The sidewalks at that time were all board walks. Pavement was not thought of in those days. In many places those walks consisted of only one plank, too.”
Mr. Cronmiller will live retired in future.
Welland Telegraph
7 February 1911
Two License Holders Said to Have Been Warned
Chairman Flavelle Says Welland County Has Too Many Licenses
Chairman Flavelle of the new Provincial License Commission, and two commissioners, W.S. Dingman and Mr. Ayhearst, were in Welland on Thursday for their first visit since their appointment. While in town they were guests at the Dexter House, and expressed themselves as being very well impressed with that hostelry and the manner in which it is conducted.
The commissioners visited a number of licensed premises and in two cases gave warning that their information was such as to be not favorable to the license holders. They issued the caution that further reports would mean the cancellation of the license.
The commissioners while here made special enquiry as to the use of liquor among the solders and as to whether or not excesses were reported. The general information gathered was to the effect that the license holders appeared to be doing everything possible so far as lay in their power, and that the general conduct of the solders was above reproach.
The commissioners gave out the intimation that they were prepared to assist the militia in any way that might be asked, whether in declaring dry areas, restricted hours or restricted licenses.
The commissioners came to Welland from St. Catharines and a dispatch from that city on Thursday says: “J.D. Flavelle, chairman, before starting from here this morning, commented on the fact that Welland County has about three liquor licenses to one in Lincoln, which makes it look as if some Welland licenses will be cut off.
Welland Telegraph
15 June 1915