[Welland Tribune February 28, 1947]
St James’ Anglican church, Port Colborne, was the scene of a pretty wedding on Saturday evening, Feb. 22 at 7 o’clock, when Nellie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Davison, was united in marriage to Nick Stepanchuk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Stepanchuk, of Port Colborne. Rev. H.G.L. Baugh performed the ceremony.
The bride given in marriage by her father, looked lovely in a two piece turquoise blue dress with brown accessories.
The matron of honor, Mrs. Mary Szalagi, sister of the groom, wore a becoming dress of pale green with brown accessories.
The best man was Donald Davison.
A reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents for 30 guests. The bride’s mother received the guests wearing a flowered jersey dress with black accessories. The groom’s mother assisted, wearing a black dress with black accessories.
The happy couple left for a wedding trip to Buffalo, N.Y.
Upon their return they will reside on Fares street, Port Colborne.
[Welland Tribune February 15, 1947]
A largely attended funeral took place yesterday afternoon when friends and neighbors paid their final respects to the late Mrs. Anna Pylypiw, wife of William Pylypiw, whose death occurred at the Welland County General hospital on Friday in her 54th year.
The funeral was held from the late residence, 130 Alberta street to St Michael’s Greek Catholic church. The services were conducted by Rev. Father Borecki of Brantford. Interment was in Holy Cross cemetery.
Pall bearers were John Barksi, John Zareski, Paul Szwec, John Chukry, George Stephens and S. Harecki.
Floral tributes included wreaths from CRP Department and the Goodfellows Club of the Electro Metallurgical Company and the employes and management of the Tribune.
[Welland Tribune February 28, 1947]
The funeral of Michael Chindeme who died at his home, 500 King street on Monday evening was held on Thursday morning from the late residence to St. Mary’s church and Requiem Mass was sung by Father F.A. McKenna, and prayers were read at the graveside. The funeral was largely attended, and many floral tributes and mass cards were noted. The pall bearers were John Muto, Fred Iannizzi, Steve Rome, Nick Bruzzese, Mario Beccario and Sylvester Giganti.
[Welland Tribune February 28, 1947]
The funeral of Andrew Mezo, who died on Monday, February 24, at his home, 18 Sixth street, was held on Thursday afternoon from the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home, 152 Hellems avenue, to Woodlawn cemetery. Rev. Charles Farkas officiated. The funeral was well attended, and there were many floral tributes. The casket bearers were Joseph Orlick, Steve Cordas, George Najli, Joseph Faket, Steve Saltan and Pal Ganasi.
[Welland Tribune February 6, 1947]
The funeral of Miss Minnie E. Canniff, who died Monday afternoon at her home, 24 East Main street, was held yesterday afternoon from the H.L. Cudney funeral chapel, 241 West Main street, to Fonthill cemetery for interment. Rev. L.R. Ballantyne conducted the services.
Among the floral tributes were pieces from Martin Dairy Ltd., W.A. of Central United church and “The Neighbors.”
The pall bearers were Wm. Gordon, John Martin, Edgar Martin, Omer Sutton, Warren Sutton and Henry Sumbler.
Pilings still visible in Welland River, as Historian seeks complete story
17 March 1943-25 July 2016
[Guardian Express]
A lot of water has passed over the bridge since Tony Whelan was a kid. Yes-over the bridge. The Brown Bridge.
Growing up on River Road, Whelan remembers being told to stay clear of the old bridge pilings in the Welland River near Colbeck Drive, whenever he set out in his row boat.
He stayed clear, but remained intrigued.
Whelan believes the bridge is an important part of local history that has been overlooked. And with the only people who may remember it growing older all the time. Whelan said he he’s afraid the Brown Bridge chapter of the city’s history will be lost forever.
As a historian, Whelan isn’t happy about progress’s tendency to sever its ties with the past.
Although by trade he’s a professional entertainer, a deep interest in genealogy and history consumes most of the rest of his time. Whelan lives in the same house-even sleeps in the same bedroom-he was born in. While he’s reluctant to disclose just how many years ago that was, the fact the youthful-looking Whelan has two young grandchildren gives a clue to his approximate age.
“When you do find something,” Whelan says of historical research, “oh, the feeling, the rewards. You think you just won the lotter.
CHAIRMAN
Now second chairman of the Niagara branch of the genealogical Society of Ontario, Whelan says he became interested in family and local history “because it was there.”
“It was just something of interest. And as it gets under y our skin, that’s it-you’ve had it” he says, a bright white smile breaking on his tanned face.
A self-confessed admirer of the off-centre facts in life, Whelan says he’s looking for the “horse thief” in his family tree. So far, Benedict Arnold is the only high profile black-mark in Whelan’s mother’s lineage.
Whelan, himself, ran away with the circus as a young teenager. He says he can’t help wondering what future generations of Whelans will think of him.
In one corner of Whelan’s dining room, Reuben, a yellow cockatiel, oversees the interview perched atop the outside of his cage. Behind an antique dining set, a bay window opens the room to a view of a lush rear yard. At the yard’s foot flows the Welland River.
The mysterious Brown Bridge pilings poke out of the water about a mile-and-a-half downstream.
Whelan believes the bridge was built by John brown, who died in 1797. Recently Whelan was told by an elderly area resident that the bridge collapsed under the weight of ice, in 1926.
The 83-year old gentleman who told Whelan that also gave him a detailed description of what the bridge looked like, and Whelan was able to make a sketch of it.
So far, though, the ice collapse has gone uncorroborated. *There are many blank areas in the 1926 newspaper that might have corroborated this.
Whelan says that during the War of 1812, Misener’s Bridge, which ran parallel to Brown’s Bridge further east on the river was burned. After breaking away from the control of the American army in 1813, the Canadians (then United Empire Loyalists) apparently torched the bridge to protect themselves from anther invasion.
Whelan believes that William Lyon MacKenzie, in his 1837 escape to the United States, crossed the Welland River over Brown’s Bridge. A newspaper publisher, expelled member of the Ontario legislature, and open advocate of an independent Canadian government. MacKenzie later returned to Canada on an amnesty grant for rebels.
COMMUNITY
In researching the area near the Brown’s Bridge, Whelan discovered it was a bustling, self-contained community at one time. Welland’s first library was there, doubling as a public meeting house. The library wasn’t moved to downtown Welland until 1858. There was a schoolhouse near the bridge site, on the Thorold side of Townline Road.
“This bridge has a lot of historical value,” says Whelan wrinkling his brow. “If we don’t get the information on it now…”
“I’m searching out anybody who definitely know about the area and particularly about its bridge,” he says. “I need help from this area’s senior citizens.”
Whelan maintains he will make sure any information he gets will be properly recorded, so this will be available to future generations.
“If you don’t know where you’ve been, how do you know where you’re going?” he asks.
[Welland Tribune November 3, 1943]
Central United church was the scene of a pretty wedding on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock, when Rev. G. H. Knighton united in marriage Elda Florence Bender, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs Oscar Bender and Warrant Officer Robert John Arthur, R.C.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. George Arthur of Welland. The chancel of the church was arranged with ferns and baskets of chrysanthemums.
The bride given in marriage by her father, wore a pretty streetlength dress of powder blue wool made in twopiece style and a becoming headdress of flowers and net in a matching shade. Her colonial bouquet was of ophelia roses and chrysanthemums of the button variety with a sprig of heather sent from Scotland.
Her attendant, Mrs. Fred Schulze of Welland, wore a becoming street length dress of coral wool with a headdress similar to that worn by the bride and she, too, carried a colonial bouquet of pink roses and baby chrysanthemums.
The best man was the groom’s brother, George Arthur of Welland.
Following the ceremony a reception for the immediate families was held at Rathfon’s Inn, where the bride’s mother received wearing a dress of gold crepe with black accessories and a corsage of roses and baby chrysanthemums. The groom’s mother, who assisted, wore a nut brown crepe dress wit matching accessories and a corsage of roses and button chrysanthemums.
The bride’s table was arranged with yellow centrepiece of chrysanthemums and matching tapers in silver holders and the wedding cake.
After the reception the bride donned a black wool with silver fox coat and black hat for a wedding trip to Ottawa and eastern points. Later they will take up residence at Truro, N.S.
Before leaving, the bride presented her maternal grandmother, Mrs. F. Barrett, with her bouquet.
Guests from out-of-town included Mr. And Mrs. William English of St. Catharines and Mrs. D.L. Thomas of Victoria, B.C.
Those who entertained for the bride prior to her marriage were Mrs. S. Roos of Welland, a tea; Misses Joy Green, Ella Cowper and Mildred Fraser, a kitchen shower; and Mrs. E.J. Pietz, Miss Marylou Pietz and Mrs Alfred Kramer, a variety shower.
[Welland Tribune December 11, 1943]
Suddenly at the Welland County General hospital on Saturday, December 11, 1943, Anthony Tavano, beloved husband of Helen Tavano and father of Joseph and Saverio Tavano in his 42nd year. The funeral will be held from the J,J, Patterson and Sons funeral residence, 19 Young street, on Tuesday, December 14 at 8.30 p.m. to St. Mary’s church for requiem mass at nine .Interment in Holy Cross cemetery.
Funerals – Anthony Tavano
A large number of friends and relatives attended the funeral service yesterday for the late Anthony Tavano, 161 Bald street, who died Saturday at the Welland County General hospital. The funeral was held from the J.J. Patterson and Sons funeral home, 19 Young street, to St Mary’s church, where Rev. A McMahon officiated at requiem mass.
Interment was in Holy Cross cemetery. The pallbearers were Sam Paonessa, Angelo Trepasso, Joseph Paonessa, Sonny Paonessa, Joseph Foochuk and Sidney Convay.
[Welland Tribune December 16, 1943]
The four-months-old son of Mr. And Mrs Arnold Baldwin, Gary Victor Baldwin, died this morning at his parents’ residence, 70 McAlpine street south. The funeral will beheld on Saturday afternoon at 2p.m. from the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home, 152 Hellems avenue, to Woodlawn cemetery for interment.
Funerals – Gary V. Baldwin
The funeral of the late Gary Victor Baldwin, four months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Baldwin, 70 McAlpine street south, was held Saturday afternoon from the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home, 152 Hellems avenue, with Rev. L.R. Ballantyne officiating. There were many friends and relatives attending and a profusion of floral tributes. Interment was in Woodlawn cemetery.
[Welland Tribune December 20, 1943]
The funeral of the late James Burrison, whose death occurred at Humberstone on Wednesday last, was held in Midland on Saturday afternoon. Rev. M. Stewart conducted the service. The remains rested at the J.J. Wichmann funeral parlors, Main street, Humberstone, until Friday night. Deceased had resided in Humberstone for the past three years.
The pallbearers were N. Edgar, L. Edgar. G. Galuley, E, Headerson, J. Mackley and L. Headerson, all of Midland.
Surviving are his widow, five daughters, Mrs. L. H. Thornton and Mrs. E.S. Hoover, London, Ont.; Mrs. J.A. Packer. Charwin, Alta; Mrs. T.E. Stephens and Miss Mildred Burrison, Humberstone and three sons, C.M. Burrison in Alberta, James Burrison, Ridgeway, and Thomas Burrison, at home.
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