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TWENTY-FOUR ACRES IN 2 DAYS

From First Stroke to Last Seed Was Record Made on McCollum Farm

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 19 May 1921]

To attack a twenty-four acre field at 10 o’clock on Monday morning and have it seeded by six o’clock on Tuesday night was a feat performed on the farm of Charles McCollum, River Road, west of Welland, this week. We hear of such things in the Canadian West some times, but we believe the incident we have cited is a new one so far as Welland County agriculture is concerned.

Two weeks ago today, Mr. McCollum lost his right arm when it was caught in the cogs of the grinder. His fine farm lost its farmer temporarily at least. Neighbors came to the rescue this week to solve his great problem of spring seeding. “It’s better to have good neighbors than two arms,” said Mr. McCollum philosophically to the Tribune-Telegraph yesterday.

The field sown to oats was cornland of as excellent a soil as Welland County can boast. Four tractors racked it fore and aft with double discs.  Then it was gone over with a culti-packer that made the field soft, fine-ground and pliable as an onion bed. After this came two teams with drills and the job was complete.

The “neighbors” referred to by Mr. McCollum were Norris Bartlett, Scott Leidy, Walter and Wm. Cosby.

A.M. MOSLEY BUYS SPLENDID FONTHILL HOME

Welland Man Buys the Beautiful Tanner Home in Fonthill

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 May 1921]

“Fairmount,” the beautiful country home and estate of Mrs. K.E. Tanner, numbered as one of the few country places in the county was sold last week to A.M. Mosley, manager of the Page-Hersey Co., of Welland. A strip of some 900 by 120 feet along the Canboro Road, and some 400 feet by the same depth on the connecting road north, was not included in the purchase. The sale was made by G.W. Stalker of the Fonthill Reality Co., shortly following the printing of the advertisement as published exclusively in the Tribune and Telegraph.

By this purchase, Mr. Mosley comes into possession of a handsome home and fruit farm admirably located and among the well-reputed orchards included is that of the celebrated sweet cherry orchard, probably the largest in the Province and known to hundreds of regular patrons. Mr. Mosley and family will take possession during the present month and is to be congratulated upon acquiring this excellent property. Mrs. Tanner will soon move to her recently purchased Rounds Farm; one of the picture spots of Fonthill.

The sale of “Fairmount” to Mr. Mosley is one of the most important real estate transactions that has taken place here in years, and Mr. Stalker is to be congratulated in having brought the purchaser and property together.

BUYS HOME IN BURLINGTON

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 3 May 1921]

A.J.J. Brennan, ex-Mayor of Welland, has purchased W.D. Flatt’s very beautiful residence just east f Burlington, and will take possession before the close of the year.  Since forced to retire from business two years ago due to his nervous condition induced by overwork, Mr. Brennan has been looking for a quiet spot where he might enjoy a complete rest. He will find it now is “Lakehurst Villa,” a home of beautiful drives and gardens, and a charming lake front. The house itself is of stone and stucco with a red tile roof, and is very close to the ideal.

Mr. Brennans’s many Welland friends congratulate him upon his purchase and wish him all that he may hope from his new home.

NIAGARA GLEN FINE NEW PARK

Park Commission Providing Picturesque Recreation Ground

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 26 April 1921]

Not too far off now is the summer season to anticipate the recreations and indulgences that holiday time affords. An added attraction to those of former years is the opening of Niagara Glen, at the foot of the Whirlpool rapids on Niagara River by the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park Commission. Owing to its inaccessibility Niagara Glen has been visited by a comparatively few people each year.

New Road Constructed

This year Niagara Glen is to be opened to all who may care to take the trip. From the northerly limit of the city of Niagara Falls the Park Commission in constructing a drive to the Floor of the Glen. This road will be 24 feet wide, with an easy grade that will enable motorists to drive right down to the bottom of the Glen, park their cars and enjoy the scenery of one of the most favored spots in North America.

Niagara Glen was once the bottom of Niagara River. That was ages ago. It is a secluded spot, but in natural beauty and scenic grandeur it ranks next to the cataract itself.  Overhanging rocks, ice-cold grottos and large pot holes tell of the times when the waters of the cataract held full sway. These days have passed, but what remains is both a study and an inspiration.

Erecting a Pavilion

Along with the road now being built, which will be completed by July 1, the Park Commission is erecting a refreshment pavilion and other facilities to make the place as attractive as its inherent worth demands. On the ground at the top an athletic field is being laid out, which will be available for picnics.

The opening of the Glen will make a third park operated by the commission for the accommodation of picnickers.

The Chairman of the commission, P.W. Ellis said extensive improvements were being made to the restaurant at Queenston, and enlarged accommodation provided for excursionists. Rest rooms and lavatory facilities were also being added.

Memorial to Women

This year an experiment will be tried out for the benefit of mothers. Both at Queenston and Niagara Falls park a crèche will be opened after May 15th, in charge of trained nurses; so that mothers with small children will not have to deny themselves the pleasure of a visit to this national recreation ground on account of having infants to care for. The commission is providing these crèches’ as a  tribute to the work of women during the war, and the hope is expressed by Mr. Ellis that these facilities will be abundantly used by the people for whose comfort this service is being established.

WELLAND-55 YEARS AGO

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 26 April 1921]

From the Welland Tribune of April 19th, 1866, we condense the following items of interest:-

*The trouble in the management of the jail was still in full blast, a new turnkey, L. Southworth, succeeding Nick Wall.

*A mournful accident happened in A.H. Cosby’s saw-mill, by which Jos. McIlvene had his hand badly mangled with a saw, requiring the amputation of two fingers.

*The village of Clifton (now the city of Niagara Falls) is beginning the erection of handsome new town hall.

*At Port Colborne, a man named Moriarty, walked in the harbor on a dark night and was drowned, leaving a widow and seven children unprovided for.

*The Columbus company of volunteers, heretofore stationed at Port Colborne, were stationed at Stonebridge, and moved there by Captain Carter and a tug.

*A revised list of County Constables is published, those for the Village of Welland being: S.N. Pattison (who was also high constable for the county). Wm. Campbell. Samuel Gilchriese and Patrick McAndrew.

*In Welland markets the prices were as follows: Spring wheat, $1.12 per bushel; white wheat. $1.50 per bushel; red wheat, $1.35; flour, $3.25 per 100 Ibs.

*The Fenians were reported as congregating at points in the United States, but s yet had confined themselves to making speeches and issuing proclamations.

CHEAP TRAVEL 45 YEARS AGO

Bradley Chambers Had a Trip to New York and Phil. On Nine Dollars.

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

W.B. Chambers, who operates a plumbing and tinsmithing establishment on North Main Street, made rather a unique find among his possessions recently, in the way of a stub of a railway ticket, dated August 26th, 1876-forty-five years ago this coming August.

The ticket in question was issued by the Great Western Railway, which was the old Grand Trunk, and was for passage from Hamilton to Philadelphia, by way of New York City, and return. The total cost of this ticket was exactly nine dollars.

The ticket was issued for the centennial which was held in Philadelphia that years, to the first World’s Fair ever held in the United States.

Mr. Chambers also discovered at the same time a directory and map of the World’s Fair grounds in Philadelphia, as well as a diary which contains some rather interesting information. One think that the diary recalls is that Mr. Chambers started off on that eventful trip with $57 in his pocket-and he had a wonderful time and brought home quite a chunk of it. Now the same trip could not be started without at least $570 in your pocket. In those days the best of meals could be obtained for 35 cents and a room in a hotel for 50 cents, or a dollar.

Fire work displays and night recreation in the grounds at the centennial were unknown. You could enter the grounds at nine o’clock in the morning and if you were not out by six p.m., chances were that you would be locked in.

All of these conditions are recalled by items in the diary of forty-five years ago.

It is interesting to note that this ticket purchased forty-five years ago at nine dollars, if purchased today, would cost in the vicinity of forty-two or forty-three dollars.

LOCAL MAN IS COMPOSER OF LATEST SONG

To Be Released in Welland End of Week-Already Big Hit in U.S.

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 14 June 1921]

About the end of this week or the beginning of next week, a new song will be put upon the Canadian market, composed by a well-known Welland young man. The name of the new song is “Vive La You and Me,” and is composed by Joseph Thomas Sykes, a member of the Welland Fire Company.

The first copy, hot off the press arrived in the city on Saturday morning. It has an exquisite cover design, showing a picture of Anne Luther, the famous movie star, to whom the edition is dedicated.

The music for the song is composed by Leo Friedman of Chicago, the well-known music composer.  This edition is published by the Riviera Music Company of Chicago.

The song has already created quite a hit in the United States, where it was recently released.

THEATRE NEWS – FROM NEWSBOY TO SCREEN STAR

Quick Rise from Corner Newsvendor

to Role of Film Favorite, Thomas

A. Edison, Charles Schwab,

David Belasco and Several Governors Started as Newsboys

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 10 March 1921]

From whom did you buy this morning’s paper or this evening’s “latest edition?”

Was it from Thomas A. Edison, or was Charles Schwab the lusty-lunged youngster that reached you first for your pennies? Perhaps it was David Warfield and he wanted to sell you some matches too, or possible Marse Henry Watterson negotiated for your small change.

For all these great men began their life’s work at the street corners of their several towns, bawling “Extra!” into the ears of the passers-by. And the others: Harrison Grey Otis was a newsboy; ex-Governor Bradley of Alaska and David Belasco and Arthur Capper, Governor of Kansas, and doubtless hundreds of other notables in the life, industry and art of the United States.

When Marshall Neilan sought in his mind for a hero for his next great picture, he figured that a member of the hustling, bustling profession of newspaper merchants would be about the right thing, and the more he came to know of Dinty-that’s the name of his juvenile hero-the more he came to love, and respect him, and the gladder he was that he made him a newsboy, since from that lowly walk of life have struggled upward into fame so many of the nation’s best, biggest and most helpful of men. Next to being born in a log cabin, it is wisest to become a newsboy for of them are fortune’s chosen men.

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SHOULD WELLAND HAVE A CARNEGIE LIBRARY?

[Welland Telegraph, 21 September 1909]

A large number of urban municipalities in Canada have availed themselves of the Carnegie Library fund. Out of the fund handsome public buildings have been erected and excellent libraries maintained.

Alderman John Goodwin makes the suggestion that the Town of Welland ought to take advantage of the liberality of the Master of Skibo, and indeed, why not?

The present accommodation at the Town Hall in not too ample and will shortly be required for a department of the municipality. The day will surely come when the town will have to provide a site and building for a library. Why not provide the site and have Mr. Carnegie supply the building?

The matter is one worthy of the attention of the Library Board and should receive from them their endorsement.

CARNEGIE IS DEAD AGED 84

Special to the Press

[Welland Tribune, 12 August 1919]

Lenox, Mass., Aug. 11. Andrew Carnegie died at his summer home Shadowbrook, here at 7 o’clock this morning in his 84th year. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia.