The lamp on the table was lit every night
So folks could see to get around in the fading light
The stove was full of wood to keep the house nice
As no one wished for the water pail to be solid ice
Father sat down with a paper in his big chair
To read the news and happenings around there
And mother sat in her rocker and knitted away
It was the only time she could sit every day
The children done homework there at the table
And they done it all even if they weren’t able
All chores the children had were done before dark
Getting wood water and for kindling a little bark
The dog slept by the stove as all day it was outside
And felt like getting warm there by the stove fireside
Outside the cat wandered and looked around
To see if a mouse or squirrel could be found
The cattle were fed and bedded in the barn
Where they knew there wouldn’t be any harm
All the harvest was put away it was well into the fall
So they had lots of food if someone did call
There were pickles, berries and jams galore
And others would say you have more here than a store
The store was four miles away and there was no car
Food was prepared for winter as the store was too far
Next morning father said goodbye as he left to cut wood
Cutting wood kept us fit others should do it if they could
There he sat on a tree while he ate his lunch
And remarked that morning he had cut a big bunch
Coming home at night he stamped his feet at the door
The said “Lord willing” tomorrow I’ll cut a little more.
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
[Welland Tribune, 18 January 1947]
St. James Anglican church, Port Colborne, decorated with Boston ferns, cyclamen, and baskets of chrysanthemums, was the setting of a pretty wedding on Wednesday, January 15, at 4 p.m., when Opal Marie, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Seney, became the bride of Henry William Liang, of Port Colborne. Rev. H.G.L. Baugh performed the ceremony with Mrs. Mewburn presiding at the organ. During the signing of the register Mrs. E. Hammell sang “O Perfect Love” and “I Love You Truly.”
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a floor-length gown of Chinese turquoise crepe embroidered with pale pink bugle beads and pearls. Her matching shoulder-length was held by a band of pearls. She carried a white ivory prayer book with streamers of white satin ribbon tied with Pinocchio rose buds. Her only ornament was a string of pearls and matching ear-rings.
Mrs. Jack G. Arnott, only sister of the bride, attended as matron of honor. Mrs. Arnott’s gown and headdress was a duplicate of the bride’s. She carried an arm bouquet of white carnations,, yellow daffodils and orchard tulips tied with tulle. She wore pearl ear-rings, the gift of the bride.
Jack Arnott, brother-in-law of the bride, was the groomsman.
After the ceremony, a dinner was held at the Reeta Hotel in Welland. The bride’s mother wore a chartreuse wool suit with matching feather hat, and black accessories. She wore a corsage of yellow rose buds.
Later the bride and groom left for a brief honeymoon. For travelling the bride donned a blue rabbit’s hair wool dress, steel blue coat with Persian trim and Persian hat, and black accessories.
Upon their return they will reside on Sugar Loaf street.
[Welland Tribune, 27 November 1943]
Central United church was the setting for a lovely wedding this afternoon at two o’clock when Rev. George H. Knighton united in marriage, Norma Fetterly, daughter of Mrs. A. Draycott, 748 King street, Humberstone, and Carl F. Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Young, 72 West avenue, Humberstone. The wedding music was played by Reg. M. Steeves.
Given in marriage by Fred Moscrip, the bride chose an attractive floor-length gown of white crepe chiffon with long bishop sleeves. A scalloped headdress of net held her full-length veil and she carried a bouquet of roses and mums.
Miss Beatrice Fetterly, sister of the bride, was maid of honor, and the bridesmaid were Miss Dorothy Sheddan and Miss Evelyn Young.
Blue satin and lace in a floor-length model with sweetheart neckline and short sleeves was worn by the maid of honor. A sweet heart headdress held her shoulder-length veil and she carried roses and mums.
Miss Young chose blue chiffon and Miss Sheddan was lovely in blue taffeta, made with sweet heart necklines. They wore shoulder-length veils and their bouquets were roses and mums.
Donald Young, brother of the groom, was groomsman and Francis Neff and Ernest Brown ushered.
A reception for 30 guests was held at a local café, where the bride’s mother received wearing burgundy with black accessories. Mrs. Young, mother of the groom, chose a frock of black and gold with black accessories.
For travelling to Niagara Falls, the bride donned a blue dressmaker suit with blue accessories.
Mr. and Mrs. Young will make their home in Humberstone.
[Vilma (Moretti) Ens]
I can hardly remember a time that I didn’t hear the name “Mac”. My sister Dolores being five years ahead of me told me stories every day of her teacher and principal.
R.D. MacArthur, “Mac” of course to everyone she always seemed to be reciting some poem or another. “Mac”, she said had to have a million lines of memory work(maybe 100 lines written, and 250 lines said) that had to be just perfect- as both my sister and “Mac”were perfectionists. By the time I reached grade 8 and had “Mac” for my teacher, I didn’t have to learn any memory work because I know more than enough from Dolores continual recitation.
I had also heard of the discipline that was meted out. Mr. MacArthur and I had it pounded into my head that I had to be good or I would be sent to the office to “Mac” and then I would really be in trouble. Imagine my surprise when I had him as my teacher in grade 8 and found him to be wonderful. He helped me so much during the most tramatic year of my young life when my father was sick and after his death “Mac” gave me so much encouragement, guidance and help and those positive words that told me I would be O.K. and I would make it.
My father had instilled in me the love of sports and Mr. MacArthur gave it the credibility that it was the right thing to do- even for a girl. Through him baseball became #1 for me. I’ll always remember the world series of 1956-Brooklyn Dodgers vs New York Yankees. The Yankees probably won – we (Mac and I) pulled for the Dodgers. The best part was that he turned the radio on and allowed, us to listen to the game for the afternoon. Of course we had to be quiet and stay in our seats. Even at recess. The only time we could implode was when a team scored.
I never got to thank him for everything because as a kid of 12 i didn’t realize how important all of this was, but I think he must have known the influence he had and how much our lives were made richer by him.
New Arrivals on 29th Day of February Are All Boys
[Welland Tribune, 29 February 1940]
Welland and vicinity is the richer today by three Leap Year babies. They were all boys and all born yesterday within three hours of one another during the late afternoon and early evening.
Dr. Ignazio Scozzafave, supervised the birth at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carlo Tisi, 199 Burgar street, of a boy at about 7.30 p.m.
One of Dr. Malcolm Maclean’s last medical duties in Welland before he left yesterday for his new duties as lieutenant with the medical unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force was to supervise at the Welland General hospital the birth of an 8 ½ pound boy, born to Mrs. James Cooney of 68 Denistoun street, Welland.
Mrs. Herbert Arbour of Port Robinson at the Welland County General hospital late yesterday afternoon, gave birth to a boy recorded as weighing seven pound 10 ounces. Dr. Frank Smith was the doctor in attendance.
The old milk house isn’t used anymore
As it sits near the barn with a lock on the door
The cows aren’t milked by hand like years ago
Since today were told to hurry that we all know
Today milking by hand would be a big chore
The reason little of it is done now anymore
The separator is silent sitting there covered in dust
It should be in a museum and folks say it must
Yes there in the museum are things from long ago
But some folks say what is it as I don’t know
We older folks know as we used them in the past
And our memories of earlier times will always last
Today machines do the work and people get the pay
Large salaries for little work is ruining us I’ll say
Years ago all farm work was done by hand
Yes the older folks worked hard on their land
No one caused trouble they were tired from toil
Cutting wood harvesting and tilling the soil
There was no need for doctors like there is today
As folks were healthy from working all day
We’re told things are speeding up how untrue
In the stores buttons are pressed holding up me and you
Years ago gas stations everywhere could be found
Now with more cars the stations are few around
People aren’t punished for wrong just get a good time
And the taxpayer pays but no one does whine.
Winston Ralph
Bancroft, ON
[Welland Tribune, 8 March 1947]
St. Catharines, March 8-Sidney George Chambers, 34-year old heating engineer, was found guilty of the murder of little Marian Rusnak, here yesterday after the jury deliberated an hour. He was sentenced to be hanged June 6.
“I want to thank the jury,” Chambers said, when the verdict was heard and he was asked if he had anything to say. “They will not see any more of me.”
He thanked his counsel and asked if detective James Anderson and Inspector Charles Woods were in the room. When told they were not in the room, Chambers said: “I would like to say that Anderson and Wood and myself are the only three who know what went on in that room. Someday some other things will come up and then you shall know what happened.”
When he was finished speaking, Mr. Justice G. F. McFarland quickly pronounced the death sentence and ordered Chambers to be hanged on June 6.
For perhaps the first time in the history of Canadian jurisprudence, a conviction for murder was registered although the body of the murder victim was never found. In a confession admitted as evidence, Chambers had told court he disposed of Marian Rusnak’s body in a furnace at the canning factory where he worked. Police sifted the ashes of the furnace but found no identifiable trace of human remains.
The disappearance of nine-year-old Marian Rusnak shocked the whole of the Niagara peninsula at the Christmas season. The child was last seen talking to a “tall thin man” on the afternoon of Dec.23 as she clutched a toy drum, a present for her brother.
During the holiday season, volunteer bans of citizens, assisted by Boy Scouts, searched the St. Catharines area in the most complete man-hunt in the history of the city. A week after the girl vanished, Chambers was taken in custody after having attempted suicide. Police said he made other attempts to dispose of himself, five in all, and he became known as the man who couldn’t kill himself.
It was shortly after his arrest that Chambers confessed the crime, police said. He told them he had taken the girl to his room at the canning factory, and when she ran to a window he strangled her. He told of trying to revive her and of leaving her body under his bed for 24 hours while he thought things out.
The he put the body in the furnace.
If the death sentence is carried out it will be the first execution at St. Catharines in 65 years. One other prisoner, William Munchak, was sentenced to hang in 1937, when the presiding judge was also Mr. Justice McFarland, but this sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
[Welland Tribune, 18 February 1947]
A pretty wedding was solemnized at the First Lutheran parsonage on Saturday, February 17, at 4 p.m., when Erma Alberta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Dennis, became the bride of Howard Victor Bissell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bissell. Rev. T.A. Iseler performed the ceremony.
The bride given in marriage by her father looked lovely in a grey suit with matching blouse and hat and black accessories. She wore a corsage of roses.
Miss Marian Bissell, the maid of honor, looked charming in a gray suit, with a pink and black hat and black accessories. She wore a corsage of red roses. She wore gold earrings and matching bracelet, the gift of the bride.
The best man was Ronald Irwin.
A reception was held at the bride’s parents. The bride’s mother received, wearing a turquoise blue dress with black accessories. The groom’s mother assisted wearing a rose and black dress with black accessories. The bride’s table was beautifully decorated with bouquets of daffodils and tulips, and centred with a three-tier wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom.
For traveling on a motor trip, the bride donned a turquoise green wool dress with brown accessories and a muskrat coat.
Upon their return the bride and groom will reside on Forrest avenue.
Out-of-town guests attended from Merritton, Crystal Beach and Fonthill.
[Welland Tribune, 18 December 1943]
A lovely winter wedding had its setting in St. Patrick’s R.C. church, Port Colborne, this afternoon at 3 o’clock, when Mary Anne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Zimmer, Sr., 138 Neff street, Humberstone, became the bride of PO Eugene Gauzer, R.C.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gauzer of 308 Dufferin street, Fort Erie, north. Rev. E.J. Canning officiated and Miss Marie Gannam rendered an organ selection during the signing of the register, Schubert’s “Ave Marie.”
A lovely gown of brocaded satin made on semi-princess lines with long train was chosen by the bride who was given in marriage by her father. The dress featured a sweet-heart neckline and long sleeves which tapered to points over the hands. Her full-length veil was caught into a ruffled headdress and she carried a sheaf of Calla lilies.
The bride’s sister, Mrs. Albert M. Iacocca of Allentown, Pa., as matron of honor, wore a pale blue taffeta with three-quarter length sleeves. Her headdress was pink with a shoulder-length veil and she carried pink roses.
Donald Stewart of Niagara Falls was groomsman. Adam Zimmer Jr., brother of the bride and Matthew Zick, of Humberstone, cousin of the bride, were ushers.
Following the ceremony, a reception for 40 guests was held at the home of the bride’s parents. The table was centred with a three-tier wedding cake and silver candelabra and decorated with roses.
Mrs. Zimmer, the bride’s mother, received in brown crepe, matching accessories and corsage of pink roses. The groom’s mother, Mrs. Gauzer, chose a black velvet dress accentuated with a string of pearls, black accessories and pink roses corsage.
For travelling to Toronto, the bride donned a bottle green coat with brown accessories and a white gardenia corsage.
PO Gauzer and his bride will make their home at Summerside, P.E.I.
Out-of-town guests attended from London, Ont., Goderich, Fort Erie, Hamilton, Buffalo, N.Y., and Allentown, Pa.
[The Stevensville painting was done in circa 1924 by B's ather Harold Fox, aged 10.]
The weather is nasty its cold outside
So we all will spend more time inside
We will turn up the heat to take off the chill
And our stomachs with food we will fill
The highways are snowy and slippery once again
If we fall a broken bone will cause us some pain
The gardens are finished for another year
If we look at them we shed no tears
Folks will be out on snowmobiles just cruising around
While others on snowshoes or skating will be found
The good weather will be back in a little while
So I hope your face always has a big smile
Some days we may feel tough and a little sick
But the good weather will make you better real quick
Christmas is gone were starting a new year
Will it be a good one or stormy I do fear
We are eating food that was put away last fall
And with the spring we’ll say we ate it all
There will be storms and the wind will blow
Yes the power may go out this we all know
We’re told if you don’t have to travel then stay at home
Where you’ll be safe even if you are all alone
As the weather warms up we’ll think about seeds
So they can be planted and we’ll have food to supply our needs
Some may wish for Florida and then go on down
Where there they’ll be happy without any frown
Yes there in Florida or some other warm place
They should always have a big smile on their face
But most others will stay here and shovel snow
Because for any place else we just can’t go.
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft
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