Welland History .ca

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History of Candasville

(Compiled by “S”)

Located east of Wellandport, north shore the the Welland river, also known as the Chippawa creek. Originally named Port Fanny by William Peckham of Wellandport. The name was changed to Candasville in honour of its oldest resident Mrs. Candas Snure. She was born about 1812 and died March 12, 1899 at age eighty-seven.

Candasville included twelve large farms, three stores, a crockery, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, a sawmill, a cooperage, a brickyard.

South of the settlement was a bridge across the Welland river. A wooden bridge was built in five parts, two slopes up, a level piece and two slopes down. A half moon bridge replaced it and served for thirty years. Freeman Hodgkins later constructed a steel bridge.

The navigation on the river was made up of rafts of logs, barges and tugs. The barges and tugs were used to carry cord wood loaded from the banks by wheelbarrows. Some of the tugs had hinged smoke stacks to allow them to pass under bridges.

The farmers prided themselves on raising excellent grain, cattle and sheep. Large cow bells were tied on the sheep which were marked. William Disher employed his oxen to draw cord wood to St Catharines..

James Marshall, who owned a store bought butter, cream, cheese and eggs took them to St Catharines, sold them and bought goods and groceries which he sold in his store.

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History of Wellandport

(Compliled by  “S”)

Originally called The Narrows, named for the narrow strip of land separating Beaver Creek from the Welland River. The Beaver Creek was where the beaver built dams. The water was used to run mills. Today it is dry.

The Welland River also went by the name of Chippawa Creek.

The first settlers came about 1795 and settled on the narrows.. they had to clear the land before building homes.

The river was clear with lots of fish, surrounded by forests.

1816 saw the first sawmill, 1820 a grist mill, distillery and tannery  were built.

Many people came from  United States to settle on free land given to them by the government. In 1861 many came to avoid Civil war army service.

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Half of Wellandport Wiped out by Fire

[Welland Telegraph, August 26, 1910]

Warrant issued for the arrest of Arthur Powell, a lad of sixteen , who has fled—post office, stores, houses and barns destroyed—loss $30,000.

 The village of Wellandport  suffered an unusually serious fire at an early hour Thursday morning whereby  all of the northern half  of the business section of the place was wiped out. With a total loss reaching  $30,000.,only  one-third of which is covered  by insurance.

The origin of the fire is a mystery.It broke out in Goring’s  general store and was first seen about half past three. There were no lights or fires about the place and everything was in good shape when  Mr. Goring locked up at eleven o’clock the night previous.

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Wellandport

[ Welland Tribune 1898]

Wellandport, lying in the midst  of a good farming section. Yet without the impetus that railroads give a place, is steadily on the move forward. While we have had no spasmodic business boom, yet what there has been was of moment to the place.

Overholt’s Mill

The new roller process flour mill erected this spring by John Overholt, has been a solid addition to our village. It certainly brings  a large amount of trade to the village. And thoroughly appreciates the patriotic spirit of the townspeople in subscribing a cash bonus towards the erection of the mill. Its capacity is fifty barrels per day.

Wm. Stewart’s Cheese Box Factory

This is another of the industries of the village , employing several hands a large portion of the year. Mr. Stewart very kindly showed the Tribune representative around the factory and explained the process of the making of a cheese box , which is very interesting indeed to the uninitiated. The boxes are made here right from  the rough logs , which are rafted down to the mill  in the Welland river , windlassed up, put through a splitter, which cuts the elm logs up like strips of paper, about one eighth inch thick. These are in turn cut in proper  lengths , steamed , placed on a shaper , the bottoms put in, a band around, passed on to the heading department, and are ready for shipment. Birch and poplar is used for the covers and elm for the round part. As there is a large demand for these boxes.

Other lines

George Stewart carries an extensive blacksmithing and carriage making establishment in the west end of the village and enjoys a large patronage.

The general stores of M.H. Prentiss, Dilly C. Holmes, J.R. Goring and W. Misener are well kept and good representative departmental business places., where a line of everything is the greatest good to the community. Other kinds of business are pretty well represented. Geo. Beatty also has a good wagon shop. P.W. Emrick sells watches and clocks—new ones—and has an ambulance for the disabled ones. He is a good business man and has an increasing patronage.