[Welland Tribune January 26, 1945]
Ridgeway, Jan. 26-Omer Hoover 74, well-known local resident for the past 20 years, died in his home Sunday morning, following a four weeks’ illness. Deceased was born in South Cayuga.
Funeral services were conducted in his late home, Highland avenue, Tuesday afternoon by Rev. E.J. Robertson, assisted by Rev. E. Marshall, Toronto, a life-long friend.
The pall bearers were William J. Athoe, Alva Cuttler, Marshal Zavitz, Ward Sherk, E.O. Bowen, T.H. Zavitz. Entombment was in Bertie mausoleum.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Buckmaster, and son John Ernest Hoover, of Moncton, N.B., who was home previous to his father’s death.
[Welland Tribune January 16, 1945]
The death of Henri Belanger, 49 Cozy street, took place at the Toronto General hospital on Sunday, January 14th, in his 39th year. Ill for some time, Mr. Belanger had been in the hospital for the past three weeks. He was born in St. Gervais, Que., and came to Welland 3 1/2 years ago, during which time he was employed at the Electro Metalurgical Co.
Surviving are his wife, Emilda Lapointe Belanger; a 1 1/2-year old son, Jacques; his mother, four brothers and two sisters in St. Gervais.
The funeral will take place from the J.J. Patterson and Sons funeral residence, 19 Young street, on Thursday, January 18th, at 8.30 a.m. to Sacred Heart church for requiem mass at nine. Interment in Holy Cross cemetery.
Henri Belanger
Funeral services for the late Henri Belanger, 49 Cozy street, who died at the Toronto General hospital on Sunday, January 14th, were held this morning. The funeral took place from the J.J.Patterson and Sons funeral residence 19 Young street, to Sacred Heart church where requiem mass was celebrated by Rev. L.J. Bouchard.
Interment was in Holy Cross cemetery. The pallbearers were Albert Lapointe, Robert Lapointe, Anthony Lapointe, Leo Belanger, Fernando Belanger and Edward Holle.
[Welland Tribune January 2, 1945]
The death of Fred Gobbi took place Sunday, December 31, at the home of his brother, Joseph Gobbi, 86 Empire street. In his 43rd year, the late Mr.Gobbi was born in Italy and came to Canada 16 years ago. He was employed for the past 10 years at the Canada Foundries and Forgings Ltd., and had worked until December 27th when he was taken ill.
He is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Gerome, both of Welland. His parents, Mr and Mrs Angelo Gobbi, predeceased him a few years ago.
The funeral will take place Wednesday morning, January 3, at 8.30 a.m. from the home of his brother, Gerome Gobbi, 76 Empire street to Sacred Heart church for requiem mass at nine. Interment in Holy Cross cemetery.
Funerals – Fred Gobbi
Funeral services were held yesterday for the late Fred Gobbi who died Sunday at the home of his brother, Joseph Gobbi, 86 Empire street, in his 43rd year. The funeral took place from the residence of another brother, Gerome Gobbi, 76 Empire street to Sacred Heart church, where Rev, L.J. Bouchard celebrated requiem mass.
Interment was in Holu Cross cemetery. The pallbearers were Guido …,Peter Michelin, Angelo Canez, Angelo Romanin, Santo Pellerin and Angelo Moras.
By Robert J. Foley
[Regional Shopping News, 28 March 1990]
One of the problems faced by the Welland canal in the latter half of the nineteenth century was the rapid advance in ship design allowing them to carry larger payloads. By the late 1850’s the ships became too deeply drafted to enter the locks. The problem was temporarily solved by building the Welland Railway which would off load the ships making them lighter and then reloading them at the other end. Railroads became an important mode of transportation in the Peninsula.
One of the major companies involved was the Grand Trunk Railway Company. They ran two round trips every week from Port Dalhousie to Port Colborne on the Welland line with stops at all the towns in between. Always on the lookout for ways to turn a profit, the Grand Trunk developed Erie Park on a stretch of beach immediately east of the harbour in Port Colborne.
Erie Park was ideal for family picnics for its beautiful sandy beaches were protected from the treacherous undertow by the harbour piers. It quickly became a favourite destination for people along the Welland line.
During the summertime the railway gave special picnic rates every Tuesday and Friday. The return fare from Welland was 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. Sunday schools and other groups would normally book their outings for other days of the week. The park was a busy place as even people from Port Dalhousie and St. Catharines preferred the sandy beaches of Lake Erie to the rocky shores of Lake Ontario.
At the north end of the park was a long pavilion for large groups with a smaller circular pavilion situated on a knoll. Individual family shelters were scattered throughout the grounds and all were furnished with tables and benches for the convenience of picnickers.
The train ran right to the park which was equipped with a platform near the gates. On picnic days there would be two or three extra cars put on to accommodate the families heading for a day of fun. Getting a good seat on the crowed train and a table in the park was all part of planning picnic day. It was the job of the fleet footed youngsters to jump off the train and race to claim a stake on their favourite picnic spot leaving the rest of the family to follow loaded down with food baskets and the like.
The passenger coaches of the day were all an open platform type and the shouts of the conductor and brakeman trying to keep youngsters from jumping on and off the train while it was still moving was a familiar sound on these occasions. Needless to say trainmen did not enjoy picnic days.
Once the picnic was finished and everyone was tired of swimming and playing it was time to take the ferry from the park to the west bank of the canal which left one in the business section of Port Colborne. The ferry, which was a punt, has a capacity of ten and was propelled by one man standing in the stern with a long sweep which he moved from side to side in the water turning it diagonally at each stroke. The picnickers found the skill of the ferryman fascinating and many children went back and forth just for the ride.
Charlie Hart was the proprietor of an ice cream parlour on West Street in those days and a trip to Erie Park was not complete without a dish of Charlie’s famous ice cream served by his charming and beautiful daughters.
Many a youngster sat and watched the boats clearing and entering the canal and perhaps dreaming of pirates and adventure which surely must be the life of every sailor.
After an activity-filled day the family would round up its far flung members and trudge back to the platform to catch the train home. The return trip was a little easier on the train crew as most of the nimble feet had been left behind on the sands of Erie Park leaving aching ones that could barely step one in front of the other in their place.
Despite sunburn, weary limbs, scrapes and bruises the kids would all perk up just a little at the mention of the next picnic day at Erie Park.
By Robert J. Foley
[Regional Shopping News, 9 May 1990]
When the early settlers came to Crowland, they were even more isolated than their contemporaries who took up land in the northern part of the peninsula. Things that one would consider basic necessities were scarce or non-existent to our pioneer forebearers.
The pioneer settling on his farm in Crowland before 1784, when the crown officially purchased land that included what was to become Crowland Township, was technically trespassing on Indian land. Fortunately the Indians were friendly and didn’t seem to mind the intrusion. Until the allotment of tools came through from the government the farmer was often without nails, hammer, saw, etc. The pioneer woman often had to cook without the benefits of sugar and salt among other things. Even flour was often in short supply. When grain was harvested in those first years, no mill was within reach to have it ground. The common practice of the day was to burn a hollow in a stump or the end of a good-sized block of hardwood tree which was rounded off at the end. The grain was pounded in a make-shift mortar until it was a very coarse flour or meal and suitable for cooking. Even after mills were introduced some pioneers continues to make small amounts of flour this way.
Most of us are familiar with White Pigeon but how did it get its name? Crowland had some heavy stands of pine when the first settlers arrived and in 1792 logging became a serious business in the Township. Loggers would work all winter and pile the timber along Lyon’s Creek to be floated down to Chippawa in the spring. To serve these lumberjacks a blacksmith shop and an Inn were built there. The story goes that the innkeeper had a daughter who usually dressed in white. The loggers began calling her the white pigeon and soon the inn became known as the White Pigeon Inn and the name struck throughout the years.
There is a legion connected with White Pigeon that may stir the imagination of some. During the War of 1812 the Americans had the free run of the peninsula for much of the time. Anything and everything was considered the spoils of war and subsequently the pioneers would often bury their valuables to save them from the enemy. Early one evening a man carrying a small, heavy chest took lodgings at the White Pigeon. He claimed to be a sea captain and through the entire evening he never let the little chest out of his sight. During the night he was observed entering the woods and after a considerable length of time re-emerged without his precious chest. The next morning he departed telling the innkeeper that he would return after the war. He was never seen again.
A subsequent owner, who purchased the property in the 1930s, was told by a fortune teller that a small chest was buried on his property containing gold coins. He laughed until he heard about the legend of the captain and his chest.
After two years of digging, sometimes with heavy equipment, he gave up the search for the elusive little chest. The mounds and depressions can still be seen to this day. The captain’s chest was just a fairy tale. Or was it?
One of the great success stories of the late 19th and early 20th century in Crowland was the Netherby Fair. The Welland County Agricultural Society had been formed in 1853 to promote farming in the country and to run the Welland County Fair. In 1880 one Wallace Tuft, who was a livestock breeder, organized the Netherby Union Agricultural Society. It took in much of the county and the reason for its founding is lost in history.
The Netherby Fair was the best in the peninsula and outshone the Welland County Fair and forced the Cook’s mills Fair to close.
One of the major attractions was the Crowland Band, which would delight the fair goers with stirring marches and reels. They were well regarded in the neighborhood and played regularly at Buchner’s Park and Asher’s Grove.
The main attraction at the Netherby Fair was always the harness races. Some of the participants in these sporting events were William Lynch, A.D. White, Albert Morris and Ryerson McKenny. Albert Morris went so far as to build a race track at his farm so that he and his friend Ryerson McKenny could train their horses. One of the most unusual occurrences at the races also produced the greatest upset in the history of the fair. Alex Hurst drove his horse, Rock, to one of the last Netherby Fairs. Some of his friends from around White Pigeon knew Rock for his speed and stamina. These friends persuaded Alex to let the horse be unhitched from the buggy and hitched to a gig and entered in the race. The seasoned racing veterans laughed at the idea of a buggy horse even entering such a race but entered he was. Alex’s cousin, Tom Dell, was chosen to drive Rock in his first race. Right from the start it was obvious that Rock was going to make a race of it. Rock nosed out the favourite at the wire much to the chagrin of the “Pros.” That race was talked about for years afterwards. *Alex Hurst was my great grandfather.
Many vendors and attractions were also seen at the fair. Joshua Beam, always impeccably dressed, was ready to sing and play the famous Doherty organ that he sold. Philip Koabel sold little sausages rolled in a slice of bread for 5 cents and George “Beans” Pattison hawked his chestnuts and peanuts. Silas Forsythe, a furniture maker from Black Creek offered his wares as well. On the last day of the fair, they closed the hall for the big square dance that capped the festivities. For years Pat McCourt called the dances.
The Netherby Fair was held on leased land and when the lease was up the owners returned it to agricultural use. The last fair was held on the ninth and tenth of October 1906.
LIEUT. WILL BURGAR
[Welland Telegraph, 22 October 1918]
Welland was shocked to learn of the death of Lieut. Will Burgar at his mother’s home at Niagara Falls early on Sunday morning. Death was due to Spanish influenza which he contacted at Niagara Camp. Will was born in Welland thirty years ago, son of the late Doctor Burgar, and was well known in the city. He was for some time connected with the Welland Realty Company. He was an officer of the 176th battalion, and after being for a time overseas, returned to Canada and was transferred to the forces at Camp Niagara. His mother and brother, Fred, reside at Niagara Falls; Ollie, another brother, is with the Pullman Company in Chicago; and his sister, Miss Donna, is overseas with a United States nursing unit. The funeral will take place at 2 o’clock today and will be private. The family has much sympathy in their sad bereavement.
By Guardian Writer
TIM BYNG
Date Unknown
Ontario Heritage Act-8 November 1986
One of Welland’s most historic buildings has been approved by Welland city council for heritage designation.
The Fortner House, now known as Rinderlin’s Dining Rooms, at 24 Burgar St., has been recommended for heritage designation by the city’s Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC).
Betty Ann DiMartle, LACAC chairman, told city council last week the property was considered for designation through research carried out in the summer of 1984 with the assistance of students employed under a Canada Summer Works grant.
The research indicates that the property and structure is deemed to have sufficient architectural and historical significance to the city to be designated as a heritage property.
City council approved the processing of the structure for heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.
DiMartle outlined the history of the structure to city council.
PURCHASED 1835
In 1835 the lands, which are adjacent to what is now the corner of East Main and Burgar Streets, was purchased by Thomas Burgar, the first postmaster for the Village of Welland.
Burgar Street, in all likelihood, was named after the Burgar family.
Burgar had a plan registered in 1855, dividing a portion of his holdings for sub-division purposes.
The lots were sold to George H. Burgar, the son of Thomas Burgar, in 1859. Based on available records, it is believed the house was erected on this property in 1859.
George Burgar was a carpenter by trade and was very active in local politics. He was an alderman for 19 years between 1871 and 1912. As well, he was mayor of the Town of Welland and in 1893 and 1894. In 1874, he succeeded his father as postmaster.
In 1868, Burgar sold the house and property to Jonathan S. Chipman. In the same year, Dr. W.E. Burgar, son of George R.E. Burgar, began his medical practice out of the house.
Several land transactions took place over the next several years. In 1875, John McDonald and others, sold the property to Mary L Burgar, the wife of Dr. W.E. Burgar.
During that period or ownership, in 1884, a large addition was made to the original house.
In 1888, a prominent citizen, Dr. Sinclair H. Glasgow, married Nancy Fortner, who had two daughters, by a previous marriage, Gertrude Maude and Theo. The following year, Nancy C. Glasgow purchased the property.
Dr. Glasgow was an alderman for the Town of Welland in 1891 and mayor in 1895 and 1896, and was the medical officer of health for Crowland.
In 1922, the property, which was to become known as the Fortner house, came under the ownership of the two Fortner sisters. The last sister, Gertrude Maude, died in 1970 and the original furnishings were auctioned off and the property put up for sale.** The last sister to pass was Theo Graham Fortner: 1881-1970. Gertrude Maude: 1879-1968.
RINDERLINS
During the next decade, there were several owners, and uses made of the property. In 1980, Emil Rinderlin purchased the property, renovated the house, and in 1981, opened up Rinderlin’s Dining Rooms.
“Mr. Rinderlin has undertaken extensive renovations to ensure that as much of the original structure as possible has been maintained,” the report said.
The three storey frame structure is an excellent example of the Queen Anne Revival Style probably the result of the major addition constructed in 1884.
This style was a result of a design period which “revolted at the rigid rules of classical architecture,” according to the LACAC. Report. The house is characteristic of the Queen Anne Revival Style by its “asymmetrical composition and whimsical detail which is evident in its turret, window gables, dormers, porches and balconies.”
This period also exploited fine materials in a “creative off-beat manner.” This is obvious in the original finishes of fine wood, unusual mouldings, panels and a handsome stairway.
Other significant adornments include a spindle tracery offset over the fireplace, a curved glass window and mirror at the front entrance, which at one time allowed a clear southern view down Burgar Street. The unusual half circle motif of the stair balustrades, which appear to be a fine cherry or mahogany, “would be typical of this period,” the report stated.
Summer is gone and the fall is going down
And soon in the dead of winter we’ll be found
Dig in your wallet to pay for heating fuel
Otherwise you may find your home a little cool
There will be snowy days with a lot of ice
To be out then sure wouldn’t be nice
Watch for icicles hanging from the eave
If land on you this earth you may leave
Glare ice there will be on some winter mornings
So lets keep everything clean without any warning
Some nights will be cold down around forty below
And we who have lived a few years this we know
The plows will be out sanding keeping roads clear
Give them room to work its that time of year
They do a good job out there in the worst season
If you have an accident you may be the reason
Sleigh bells will ring as horses draw people about
While others will be inside not wishing to be out
Winter birds are here like the blue jay and chickadee
And we may see a snowy owl if we look and see
The snow glistens covering the fields so white
But it sure won’t be gone within a fortnight
Some folks will go skating while others will ski
While reading writing walking etc are wished by me
Spot checks will be out to catch the impaired
As we know the road with them shouldn’t be shared
Hockey games will be played across our land
And some won’t be able to watch even if they stand
Snowmen will be made by children this we know
As they play with their friends outside in the snow
Some folks may go to a warmer climate somehow
While we wait for spring and wish for it now
Carols will be sung through the month of December
Which is what we from earlier times always remember
If schools are in they’ll have concerts like over the years
And most children will play their part without any fears
Christmas will be a time of joy for some sorrow for others
But to spend a lot of money buying things I say why bother
We know spring won’t be here for a few months yet
Yes after the poor weather it will come you can be!
Winston E. Ralph
RR#3 Bancroft, Ontario KOL ICO
[Welland Tribune March 7, 1945]
Fonthill, March 7-The death occurred suddenly Monday evening, of Robert John Lampman, Mr Lampman was born at North Pelham in 1875 and was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Abraham Lampman. He carried on the occupation of a farmer and also the caretaker of the North Pelham Presbyterian church cemetery. He was a Liberal in politics.
Surviving are two brothers, Ross of North Pelham, and Clarence of St Catharines; and two sisters (Eva) Mrs Edward Piper of St Catharines and (Muriel) Mrs Hart McPherson of Port Dalhousie. He was predeceased by one sister, Mrs Ray Lampman, 11 years ago.
The body is resting at Drake and Barron funeral chapel until Thursday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. when the funeral service will be held in the North Pelham Presbyterian church with Rev. A.W. Hare officiating. Interment will be in North Pelham cemetery.
[Welland Tribune March 1, 1945]
Deceased was in her 79th year; Born in Gainsboro Township.
Boyle, March 1-Funeral services for the late Miss Ella Alice Moore was held Monday afternoon, Feb. 19, from the Lampman Funeral Home at Wellandport. The service was conducted by Rev. Ernest Hayes, pastor of Bethel United church.
The floral tributes and large attendance of relatives ad friends bore tribute to the high respect with which Miss Moore was regarded throughout the community.
Deceased who was in her 79th year, was a daughter of the late Jesse and Miriah Moore, and was born in Gainsboro township at Boyle, where her nephew, Norval Lampman, now resides.
Following her parents death, Miss Moore took up residence with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr and Mrs Isaac Lampman, on the farm adjoining the homestead.
Deceased had been in poor health for a number of years, but had been able to be about most of the time until recently when she was stricken to her bed suffering from severe strokes. Death came on Friday, Feb. 16th.
Deceased is survived by her sister, Mrs Isaac Lampman (Deemie), also a number of nephews and nieces. One sister, Mrs. Emily Nelson, predeceased her a number of years ago. Interment took place at Hillside cemetery at Ridgeville.
The casket bearers were Murray B. Misener, William Butler, Bruce McPherson, Allan Thomas, Marshall Beamer and John Kaczmorek.
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