(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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[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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[ 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.
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