Was Victim of Murderous Assault
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 15 June 1926]
Her many Welland friends will deeply regret to learn that Mrs. Percy Cook of Hamilton, who formerly lived in this city, and who attacked on Thursday by Joe Barty, Hungarian, died Saturday afternoon. Barty will be charged with murder.
Barty tried to rob the store where Mrs. Cook was employed. She attempted to stop him whereupon he struck her on the head with a hammer.
At the jail it was learned that Barty had not been informed of the death of the victim. A few hours after the crime, when informed that Mrs. Cook was in a serious condition at the hospital, he was little concerned; in fact, he was quite indifferent.
Mrs. Cook was to have visited Welland for several days, the guests of Chief of Police and Mrs. Harry Jones. She was to have arrived here Saturday.
An inquest has been ordered. The funeral will take place at Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon.
Mrs. Percy Cook Formerly of Welland Beaten by Thug With Hammer
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 15 June 1926]
Murderously assaulted at noon Thursday by a thug armed with a hammer, Mrs. Percy Cook, 168 Gage Avenue North, Hamilton, will recover hospital authorities now state.
Mrs. Cook, formerly lived in Welland, and while residing here was employed at the Plymouth Cortege Company where she was in charge of the printing press. She left Welland for Hamilton some four or five years ago.
She was attacked in S.S. Needle’s shoe store, 653 Barton Street East, where she is a clerk, when she resisted the effort of a burly foreigner to rob the cash register.
Her assailant was Joe Barty, 378 James Street North, a powerful Hungarian steel worker, who was captured before he escaped from the store by reason of the plucky fight put up by the woman’s husband and Mr. Needle, the proprietor. Inspector Cruickshank of the East End precinct laid Barty out prone with two blows from a short-loaded “Billy.”
Barty entered the store under the pretense of buying a pair of shoes. Mrs. Cook is usually alone during noon hour. As Mrs. Cook approached to wait upon him, Barty, it is alleged struck her two cruel blows on the head with a hammer. She fell to the floor and was believed to be mortally wounded.
Powerful as Barty was, Cook and Needle, both small men, rushed upon the brutal assailant and grappled with him. He shook them off several times by sheer strength and bit and clawed like one mad. Cook was bitten badly in the nose and neck. Needle feared Mrs. Cook’s life was ebbing away and ran to the street for help. Meanwhile Cook held on the powerful foreigner and both were in a clinch when Inspector Cruickshank reached the store and used his “billy” effectively.
Mrs. Cook is said to have suffered a fracture of the skull as a result of the blows from the hammer. She was reported tonight to be improved and her recovery is expected.
By
OLIVER UNDERWOOD
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 17 June 1926]
Going back to 1891, which is thirty-five years ago. That may or may not seem a long stretch of time: It all depends. For instance, if you hadn’t happened then, or if you were in the five-year old class or thereabouts, it likely seems a long stretch back. Contrariwise, if you had then been that many years or better in the world yourself, and can remember the things that were happening then, five and thirty years probably does not appear to you as half of a lifetime it does to those who were youngsters then. And it is none too comforting a reflection to realize that is what it really is.
It all depends. Anyway, perhaps a look-back on the Welland of 1891 as presented in the local papers in the merry month of May of that year may be of interest to the old boys and girls and to those who are not so old.
Take for example, the ad of O.H. Garner, in which appears the item: “Boat Tickets, Empress of India, 20 trips, $5.” Safe to assert that this same will bring a thrill of reminiscent joy to many an old-timer, for was it not a great day in one’s young life when one went to Toronto, with father and mother aboard that stately palace of the inland sea?
It was some journey in those days from Welland to Port Dalhousie, for one had to get up in the middle of the night in order to take the 6.41 on the old Grand Trunk.
A long sight better mode on getting to the boat was behind “Old Maud,” with father driving and mother beside him on the buggy seat, most likely with a lunch basket in her lap, while one was packed in between them seated on a now extinct article of furniture known as a hassock, with the top of the dashboard within easy grasping distance whenever Old Maude strutted an unusual burst of speed. If the family were more extensive, the seating arrangements were more complicated, but they always managed to stow all of them in, some way or other. Beats all what a lot of people a buggy could carry when need arose.
And if one were a boy he always went along with father to attend to the important business of putting the horse up for the day, which business usually included tipping the hostler the whole of twenty-five cents, and in some cases, a stop with father in a room in the hotel where there was a long, high counter with a rail along the top and another rail on the floor upon which one could stand for a better view of the beautiful decorations, tastefully worked out in soap upon the large mirror on the wall at the back.
And here was a shirt-sleeved man behind this counter whom father addressed as Eddie or Charley or Old Hoss. And this man would be glad to see father, and would say, “What’ll it be?” and father would answer, “A little Labatts’s and a bottle of pop for the boy.”
Then the man would serve father a large glass of some amber beverage and the boy would be handed a small bottle with a jigger on the top which the man would drive in with a blow from his hand and decant the foaming contents into a glass, and while one quaffed the sarsaparilla or maybe nectar, father would be putting the contents of his glass into him. Then father would order a seegar, first picking a clove or a few grains of coffee from a glass that stood in the middle of the long counter. These he would chew on, carefully wipe off his moustache, and the merry party would rejoin mother who was waiting at the boat, and who always asked where he had been so long. And father would of steer clear of her and mutter something about meeting a man from Pelham; and you would all go aboard the stately Empress and the trip was on.
The Empress of India has gone hence-still cleaving the waters of the upper lakes somewhere; a boat book costs $8 now instead of $5, and you get sixteen rides now instead of the twenty; there is no long drive nor tiresome steam railway trip to Port Dalhousie any more. Everything has changed save O.H. Garner, and he is still selling tickets here, there and everywhere.
Good For What Ailed You
There is another ad of interest, that of W.F. Secord of Welland-“LaGrippe is Here,” and going on to tell that “Thousands of cases have been cured.”
There has been a lot of grippe around in this year of grace, and some of the sufferers might like to get a little of the curative offered in this old-time ad. The name might be mentioned only for the fact that some of the brethren maintained that it is very hard to get nowadays, and if that were also stated it might be read by some who have cracked lips, and it would be sort of mean to make them laugh, for Brother Secord was booming his Red Rye Whiskey.
Strike On
Laborers working on an extension of the raceway at Brown Bros’ mill were offered a raise of 12¢, two cents per day, but struck for a 25-cent boost in pay. Nothing doing on that proposition, however, and by noon a full gang was on the job again, glad to get the extra shilling over and above the one dollar per day they been drawing.
New on the Job Then
W.M. German, M.P., left town to attend to his duties at Ottawa.
Another prominent citizen (then in the making) also left town, Master Harry Cowper, who went for a visit in Toronto. It is not stated whether or not he travelled on a half-fare ticket.
One Tory to Another Tory
After noting the politics of the newcomer, one does not need to be told that it was the Welland Telegraph that handed out the following glad-hand: “The new Conservative newspaper, The Standard of St. Catharines, made its appearance on Tuesday and received a cordial welcome at the hands of the public. It is a well got-up sheet, brim-full of spicy local news and vigorous articles. Nicely printed, neatness displayed in every column, and general healthy appearance, such as has characterized it so far, will make it a welcome daily visitor. The Conservatives of London have long felt the need of a good organ, and now The Standard has appeared, and they should liberally support it and keep it up to the degree of excellence it has started with.”
Evidently, they did and it has; ask J.D. Chaplin, M.P.
Art, or What Have You?
C. Swayze, photographer at Welland, offered cabinet photos at $1.50 per dozen, and for only $8 one might obtain a dozen cabinets and “a life-size picture, framed in an 18×22 inch gilt frame, with moulding three inches wide, very handsome.”
The world has moved upward and onward quite a bit, after all, when one looks back at those activities, anyone willing to take a dare, and go in and ask Walter Dixon to get him out such a job?
Here’s a mean slam at somebody: “Complaints are being made of gentlemen residing on East Main street of allowing their fancy fowls to wander at large to the detriment of the immediate flower beds and lawns.” Chickens would find that a fine grazing ground in these days of the motor car.
Any of the old-time horsemen will testify that Billy always knew how to handle the ribbons, and here is a news item that shows it: “W.J. Best’s horse tried to run away, but by the quick and timely action of its master his mad career was cut short without any damage being done.”
Precursor of the Bob
Wonder what in heck the lower portion of the uniform consisted of? In those days real gents were supposed to blush vividly and look the other way at the exposure of anything above a jane’s shoe, and surely, they could not have worn bloomers. But here’s the item: “A girls’ baseball club is the latest addition to Welland’s sporting fraternity, and it’s the most handsome nine in the district. The club rejoices under the name of the Sunflowers. The members wrangle over strikes, fouls, outs etc., and raise the temperature for the umpire, just like a league club. An exhibition game by this club will be a big attraction at the county fair.”
They Had No Bananas Maybe, But-
The following liquor licenses were granted in Welland: J.R. Dowd, W.J. McCoppen, Wm. Earley, G.W. Ramey, J.B. Flynn, J.C. Seglehurst, D. Poole, Brown Bros. and W.F. Secord.
C.H. Reilly had some new lines of gents’ fine congress gaiters.
The business card of W.H. Lowe, carriage painter and agent for sewer pipe, seems to hook up with our present city assessor.
B. Lundy announced the removal of his book and stationery store to the Griffith block, near the postoffice; and it is gratifying to note that he makes a strong play on his stock of Bibles and hymn books.
The Ross Co. then carried a complete line of boots and shoes, and they had just purchased 50 suits of men’s clothing which they offered at $5 a suit.
Most of the Telegraph’s single editorial column is devoted to calling The Tribune this, that and other anent political matters, which were evidently stronger meat then than in these days.
The Pioneer of Boom Fonthill
An item in the correspondence from that up and coming village says: “Mr. John Gore, the ninety-year old furniture merchant, has added baby carriages to his business.”
Social Note from Falls View
“If that poor, hungry, emaciated individual who stole the eatables at the party held in Stamford Temperance Hall last week, will return the basket and plates, no further questions will be asked.”
That is that, but on the other hand, listen to this one from Stevensville: “Mr. Lepper of Thorold will be engaged at the mason trade with us this summer. Mr. Lepper will be an addition to our society’s circle.”
Thorold Challenges the Ancient Egyptians
“Mr. A.W. Butler is to be congratulated upon the excellent manner in which he preserved the body of Joseph P_ for a week, no change being noticeable.”
Port Colborne Troy Knock for W.M.
“Mr. German has been elected not quite two months, and the shipping was never so bad in the spring as at the present time.”
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 6 May 1926]
Letter written in reference to article of 27 April 1926 by Meta Schooley Laws
Editor Tribune and Telegraph
Very interesting and informative are the articles on “Point Abino and Vicinity” contributed to the Tribune and Telegraph by Meta Schooley Laws, I have never seen, nor even been near to Point Abino, but I read these recollections of folk-lore, legend and reminiscences with attention and appreciation.
In the issue of April 27th, the authoress gave a scrap of information about Otway Page. This pioneer of Bertie was a prominent man in his day, but, so far as I know, no comprehensive biography or sketch of his career has ever been published. He is often mentioned in old records, but I did not know until reading this recent reference, that he was once High Sheriff of the Niagara District. I hope that Mrs. Laws will give T. & T. readers some more particulars concerning him.
That was a pretty good story of the Governor drawing to the roadside in the snow and waiting, uncovered, while the funeral passed. I doubt, however, that it was Governor Simcoe. Probably it was one of his successors.
The Governor who had a residence near Niagara Falls was Sir Peregrine Maitland. He bought a large tract of land on the brow of the mountain in Northern Stamford and built a 22-room cottage. The estate was called “Stamford Park.” Governor Maitland left the province in 1828 and the “cottage” was burned some years later. Another house was erected on the grounds, but not on the same site. This was occupied by the late William Henry and was burned in the ‘eighties’. The original gate-ledge of the Governor’s park still stands, though recently much altered. It is on the road from Stamford Village to St. Davids, just where it detours to the west before passing down the ravine. The original iron gates were purchased by Colonel R.W. Leonard and are now at the entrance to the grounds of his residence in St. Catharines.
ERNEST GREEN
Some Gleanings From First 1884 Issue of Welland Tribune
Older residents of the city and Welland county will be interested in the first copy of the Welland Tribune issued in 1884, the 27th year of that paper.
The legal cards, all of Welland show A. Williams, J.F. Saxon, Harcourt & Cowper (Richard Harcourt and T.D. Cowper), W.M. German, and L.D. Raymond, father of Col. L. Clarke Raymond.
Physicians are:Dr. J.E. Hansler, Fonthill; Dr. M.K. Collver, Stevensville; Dr. Burgar, Dr. Cook and Drs. Schooley & Montague, Welland; Dr. Park, Port Robinson.
Hamilton Weller is the Welland dentist and the only member of that profession here using a professional card.
The British Hotel, Thorold, John Coan, proprietor; and the Windsor Hotel, opposite the court house, Welland, B. Noble, both make mention of their well-stocked bars as well as their stable accommodations.
Farms and other real estate are advertised by the following: F. Swayze, G.W. Winney, A.C. Yokum, G.W. Spencer, W.H. Hellems, D. D’Everardo, Welland; Sam’l Reece, Pelham; Samuel Morse, Niagara Falls South; H.N. Wilson, Marshville; Paul Beam, Stevensville; Robert and Wm. T. Cook, Port Colborne.
E.R. Hellems solicits business as an auctioneer.
James Haun, jr., Ridgeway, advertises for a teacher for S.S. No. 12 Bertie.
P.H. Bouck, near Fonthill, has an estry buck sheep, and asks the owner to come and get him.
Various articles are offered for sale by Robert Spence, Niagara Falls South; J. Jepson jr., Niagara Falls Town; James Garner, Fenwick; Jas. H. Hodges, Welland; and R.L. Benner, Port Colborne.
A. Reid, secretary, Crowland, gives notice at the annual meeting of the Welland County Agricultural Society.
T.H. Macoomb announces a new term for piano and organ instruction and Eddie Macoomb’s new class for the violin at Welland; Miss Alice A. M. Hopkins of Port Colborne was another instructor in the musical arts.
Geo. H. Burgar issues marriage licenses at the post office, Welland.
Election cards by J.R. Haun, Port Colborne; Herbert Griffiths and Geo.Stalker of Welland, and Sylvester Smith of Stamford.
J. Murison Dunn, B.A., Head Master, gives notice of the re-opening of Welland High School.
Geo. J. Duncan, Sheriff, gives notice of a sale of lands.
Business houses advertising are C.J. Page, Orient block, Welland; C.B. Bennett, Port Robinson mill; M. Whalley & Co., clothiers, Welland. T. Griffith, dry goods, etc., Welland; Peter McMurray, stove and tin store, Welland; Carter and Benner, Port Colborne, lumber wagons and sleighs; Brown Bros., wines and liquors, Welland.
George Baxter was County Judge and Division Court Clerks were G.L. Hobson, Welland; Edward Lee, Marshville; Thomas Newbigging, International Bridge; John A. Orchard, Drummondville; George Keefer, Thorold; A.K. Scholfield, Port Colborne.
Railway timetables show the Great Western Air Line, the Michigan Central and the Welland Railway, now Canadian National.
Further advertisements are Stone & Wellington, Fonthill Nurseries; T.L. Nichols, architect, Welland; A. Hurrell, Amigari, general merchant; C.H. Reilly, boots and shoes, Welland; E.A. Gill, marble works, Welland; E. Cutler, Ridgeway, contractor and general store; Thos. H. Madgett, photographer, Welland; H.W. Hobson, druggist, Welland; H.N. Hibbard, notary public, Ridgeway; J. Priestman jr., and J.F. Hill, insurance, Welland; R.H. Tisdale, Attercliffe and Gearin Bros., Thorold, insurance.
Financial advertisements by John Broadwood, Niagara Falls South, and J. McGlashan, Welland, manager Imperial Bank.
Samuel House, Stevensville and H.A. Rose, Welland, offer general merchandise, and James Bridges, Welland, announces the sale of his store to Taylor Bros.
J.H. Stanley has a large ad of his stores at Port Colborne and Dunnville.
Miss C. Hooker is another piano and organ teacher, at Welland, and C. Swayze another photographer.
Thomas Cumins, Welland, extols Sulfphur and Iron Bittters at 50¢ the bottle, in a halfcolumn ad; White Bros., carriage makers, opposite the Dexter House, Welland, announce that they “have in their livery department a good, and safe stud of horses, stylish carriages, open and top buggies etc., ready for the road at all times,” while Warren Spence, Drummondville, advertises an extensive stock of carriages, harness, etc.
F. Swayze is an accountant and conveyancer at Welland, and H.D. Lock and W.H. Turner, merchant tailors.
Z.W. Durkee, Thorold, offers pianos, organs and sewing machines at 20 per cent off, and R. Moderwell advertises the Thorold Hardware Store and public telephone office.
J.H. Burgar, Medical Hall, Welland, is agent for Galvanic and Faradic batteries.
L.E. Browne, District Master, calls the annual meeting of the Niagara District Lodge Orange Young Britons at Port Robinson, and George Elliott of that place advertises his coal yard.
Mrs. Emma Price, West Main St., Welland, has a hang-over notice of her store being headquarters for Santa Claus. T.H. Allen, International Bridge has a similar ad of Christmas groceries, and G.A. Rysdale of Niagara Falls Village, announces that he has opened a meat market on Ferry street, next to town hall. Another new store is that of Alex McQuinn at the Canada Southern Junction.
Dr. Brewster, Ridgeway, is not only that but conducts a drug store as well.
Ross & Co., Dry Goods, Welland, offer a belated Merry Christmas as do Balfour & Co. of Port Colborne.
And that brings the end of the old names revealed through the advertising columns. There are a lot more such in the news sections, but that is another story-maybe.
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
14 January 1926
By
OLIVER UNDERWOOD
Sept. 19, 1903, less than twenty-three years ago, is a date marking the opening of an epoch in which the city is still living and one enjoyable or contrariwise to the inhabitants thereof, according to whether they have the good fortune to sit calmly behind the steering wheel and placidly watch the pedestrians precariously leaping from curb to curb; or whether they perforce emulate the nimble chamoix in a series of more or less graceful hops that carry them from one side of the street to the other.
In other words, on that date the then and still intrepid J.F. Gross, then as now truly the captain of his soul, drove the first horseless carriage to appear upon the streets of Welland; and if the dope of the old-timers is right, the first one to be propelled anywhere in the Niagara District.
And she was some lil’ old boat, that bus, according to the tales of the said old-timers.
She wagged her tail, barked gleefully and came to heel, more or less, at the call of her name, which was Kensington Steamer; and she set the present Solicitor back all of $345, freight and duty paid.
And the driving of her was some trick-a far cry from the easy job of this day. The levers and thingamajigs were decidedly complicated and in addition to keeping ones eyes on the machine, Mr. Gross had to keep the other peeled for approaching horse-drawn rigs. When one of the latter hove insight it was generally necessary to bring the Kensington to a dead stop, while the legal luminary vaulted lithely or climbed slowly to the ground, took the meeting equine by the short hair or the bridle, and led him or her safely past the waiting horseless vehicle.
Should Brother Gross omit this Stop stuff at the near approach of a horse, he had to eventually pull it off just the same; only the procedure was lengthened by his having to assist in prying the horse out of the limbs of a tree or from the cross-arm of a telegraph pole, aid in assembling the scattered fragments of the attached rig, speak some mollifying words to the other driver, and whisper to him that he come into the office tomorrow, when J.F. would write a more or less sizable cheque to cover the damage done; and all would again go merry as a marriage bell.
Somebody gives Pete McMurray as authority for the statement that these stunts with the cheque book got so repetitious that Mr. Gross finally employed an outrider to precede his flaming chariot, tooting loud blasts on a trumpet, that oncoming horse drivers might take warning; and either turn down the first concession or anchor their steeds firmly to a convenient tree or snake fence.
But let it be remembered that Pete wasn’t the good churchman in those days that he is today; and it may be, and likely is, that this stuff is only a pipe-dream.
Reference is made to the Gross flaming chariot; that is no far-fetched raze on this predecessor of the tin one of today; for, to relieve any probable monotony, the contraption used to catch fire every so often; and when that happened, there was no slow climbing to the ground on the part of Signor Gross; he leapt, and he leapt pretty darn quick, with no quibbles about it.
This little idiosyncrasy of the Kensington continued to her last days, ever when she had passed from the Gross kennels into the hands of Billy Wilson, sometime landlord of the old Mansion House. Mr. Gross got so used to the fiery-flames act that he used to just sit around, and let herself burn till she got tired of it or burned out; but mine host Wilson, the first time he found himself giving himself an imitation of Abednego, or whoever it was that wallowed in the fiery furnace, lost his head entirely, headed the boat for the canal, (it happened just about where the post office now stands) and by the time the Boniface was landing all spraddled out on the green sward of the canal bank, the smoking monster was plunging under the waters of the canal; and it took George Wells and the whole fire company to drag her out on terra firma again.
But she went on running, just the same so that’s the kind of a boat she was. Cars wuz cars then.
The Kensington liked like a buggy with a sewing machine, a hot-water boiler, and such-like didoes tacked under the box; and she made more noise than Hartley Horton’s threshing outfit coming down the Canboro Road according to the bards of yesteryears.
So much for what purports and appears to be the first motor car hereabouts. There is a tale about a car constructed by Ben Neff of Port Colborne, all on his own; using a cold chisel, a hammer, a screwdriver and a can-opener to assemble parts obtained from goodness knows where. But the Neff outfit seems to post-date that of Mr. Gross, which was a real, sure’nuf boughten car.
If this historian is wrong, anybody who can tell it better has the floor.
First Garages
In the classified business directory of the latest edition of the Welland City directory, there are no less than thirty-eight businesses listed in connection with automobiles-garages, auto repairs and parts, painting, tops and trimmings, etc. Some of these are duplicates, but at that; the number to say nothing of the number of cars upon the streets, bespeak the part the automobile plays in the life of today.
And yet it was only fifteen years ago, back in 1911, that Welland had its first automobile agency; that of W.G. Somerville & Sons, who handled the now defunct E.M.F. and Flander’s cars which in due course merged into the Studebaker of today, which that firm still handles.
They received the first carload of automobiles reaching Welland consigned to a dealer. There were three of them; and one went to the late former Mayor of Welland, George W. Sutherland; the second to Dr. Garner, then in practice here; and the third was held by the firm for display.
The first Ford did not burst upon the landscape until 1912. While the E.M.F. and the Flander’s have gone to the bourne whither have departed croquet, the bustle, ping-pong and calf less skirts, the Ford still lingers and may still be seen now and then about the streets of our fair city, according to Gerry Nash, who now acts as intermediary between Henry Ford and the general public hereabouts.
In fact, it may be set down that there are quite some Fords going; and no doubt Brother Nash will be pleased to furnish specific statistics as to their numbers; he being fully qualified to hand-out the tall ones.
But the late Richard Moore, father of Postmaster W.H. Moore, was the first one to wish the Ford on this municipality; and during his first year with the agency he sold the tremendous total of thirty cars, which does not include tractors, either; the last having not then been invented.
And who drove the First Ford in Welland? C.J. Laughlin, of the Laughlin Realty Company, was the first man to shake the reins over a Lizzie. That is no small honor, which does not seem to be the case as regards another and vacant niche in the local Hall of Fame, which should be filled by the man who tossed-off the first glass of 4.4. Much digging has failed to reveal any one who will admit that this distinction can be wished on him.
But that is another story for some future day and makes it time to close this one.
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
30 March 1926
Gleanings From A Welland Telegraph of 1886
By
OLIVER UNDERWOOD
A good deal of water has gone under the bridge at Welland the last forty years. That strikes one in a look-back on the Welland of 1886 afforded in a copy of the Welland Telegraph of March 19 of that year. Old Wellanders of those days will doubtless be interested in recalling the times and events recorded in its columns, and the newer ones may care to glance back at the town that preceded the city of the present age.
City Treasurer A.W. Jackson has graciously dug up the dusty archives of his office, and reports that the town then boasted a population of 1850 and that Richard Morwood was the incumbent of the mayor’s chair.
The paper itself is an eight-page sheet of six columns, published by Sawle & Snartt and issued every Friday at $1 per annum in advance; otherwise $1.50.
Column one of the front page is devoted to professional and business cards. The medical men are Dr. A.B. Knisley, Stonebridge; Dr. J.E. Hansler, Fonthill; Dr. McKeague, Wellandport; Dr. C.T. Krick, Marshville; and Dr. J.T. Carroll with an office at Main and Frazer Streets, and Dr. S.H. Glasgow office over Garden’s store, in Welland.
Next comes the legal profession, and her one finds names of today-W.M. German and Harcourt & Cowper (Richard Harcourt and T.D. Cowper); the former with an office in the Frazer House and the latter opposite the court house. Also L.D. Raymond, father of our Col. Clarke Raymond, and A. Williams, rounding out the list of barristers at the county seat. J.F. Saxon had a law office at Fort Erie and Pattison & Collier maintained offices at St. Catharines and Thorold, and the senior partner was in Welland every Thursday.
Hamilton Weller practiced dentistry in the Griffith Block, Welland, and H.G.A. Cook of Drummondville, visited the town on Wednesdays over H.A. Rose’s store, West Main Street.
George Ross was a surveyor, and insurance agents were F. Swayze & Son and S.H. Moore of Welland, and Chas. Treble, Fort Erie.
E. Box and E.R. Hellems were auctioneers at Welland and John Weiss at Stevensville.
Hotel cards are the Queen’s Hotel at Welland, Wm. Early, “Best of liquors always on hand”; the Brunswick House, Niagara Falls; F.T. Walton, where “Driving or sleighing parties will find good accommodation and large rooms for entertainment at all times,” and the Durham House, Wellandport, L. Durham, which offered much cordial hospitality in the announcement that “A large barn and driving sheds have been added to the house, and an attentive hostle is always on hand.” The bar is supplied with the choicest wines, liquors and cigars.”
Passing, more or less regretfully, from memories of these bonifaces, the local news is found. The old town wasn’t doing any too badly according to the following item: “We were informed by a gentleman of this town, a large employer of labor, that there was not an unemployed carpenter in town, and that he had a lot of work standing for want of hands.” “There is,” he added, “more work of all kinds than there are men to do it.”
What’s this! Boy, page Billy Wilson, sometime of the Mansion House and now of His Majesty’s Customs. Tonight at the rink the five mile race for the championship of the County of Welland will be skated for a prize of $20 to first, and $10 to second. We are told the following entries have been made: W.W. Wilson, T. Holder and L. Asher, of Welland; D. Mitchell, J. Blout and J. Cook, Niagara Falls; and McIntosh of Thorold. The gentlemen entering have a local celebrity and a pleasant, exciting contest may be expected, that will be of more than passing interest.
Not only sports were a part of life, but lovers of the Thespian art, had something to look forward to. For there was coming at Orient Hall for one week, Robert H. Baird, making this third annual tour of the province and his first appearance in Welland, in such sterling offerings as “Uncle John,” the Irish drama; “The New Cathleen,” that beautiful domestic drama; “Cast Adrift,” not to mention, “Hand and Glove,” and crowning all, that heart-throbber of old, “Lady Audley’s Secret.”
And the sheik of this day, who has to wreck a five-spot for a night at the show with his favorite queen, may well look with regret at the era of the ten-twent and thirt, for the popular prices of 10 and 20 cents were announced.
A cricket club was organized with these officers: Hon. Pres. R. Harcourt, M.M.P. President Jno. McCaw; Vice-President, Major Snartt; Secretary-Treasurer A.F. Crow and Sidey, Sears, Garden and Jackson on the management committee.
Lenten services at Holy Trinity Church were conducted by Rev. R. Gardiner.
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Shotwell, from which family the name of one of our streets is derived, gathered to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, proceeding to the Shotwell home from the residence of M. Beatty. The honored couple were presented with a silver cruet, butter knife and mustard spoon, a crystal shell plate, and, of course (for no function would have been complete in those days without one) a silver and crystal pickle dish. “When ‘twas nearing midnight, or had perhaps reached that hour, the guests departed for their homes, well pleased with an evening well spent.” The explanatory and somewhat apologetic reference to the breaking up hour indicates that our elders kept better hours than the present generation with whom midnight is but just the spank of the evening.
An ice race was pulled off the previous week. The footing was soft and slushy. C.F. Dunbar’s “Victor” was the winner over C. McNeil’s “Little Gertie”and W. Best’s (our own Billy, maybe) “Nellie Grey.”
Fire destroyed the planing mill of Rounds & Sons and O.E. Rounds, with a loss of $7000. The mill was originally built by Ebenezer Seeley in 1848. It laid idle from 1859 to 1870, when it was reopened by the Rounds’. The location was near the old Beatty plant on North Main Street.
In the Personals the following names are noted: Rev. P.K. Foot of Port Colborne, who was to hold service at the Welland Baptist Church and Grand Trunk travelers reported by the agent, O.H. Garner: J.C. Page, Colin Campbell, James Sayers, James Farr, H.A. Rose, J.B.Brasford, Geo. Cowper, J.H. Burgar, J.V. Strawn, John Hill, E.W. Damback, Richard Foster, W. Michner.
A column is devoted to the police court proceedings in the case of a couple of Wainfleet cut-ups who drove to Welland, got all lit-up and were charged with “defaming the Lord’s Day and with drinking in a riotous manner through the streets;” the riot including firing a revolver in the course of the joy ride. Fine and cost of thirty days. Fine paid. Which was the end of a perfect day.
The old burg must have been one grand little fashion centre. It is recorded that J.E. Whalley had gone to Europe to buy his stock of gent’s furnishing goods.
These names are mentioned in a report of annual meeting of the Niagara District Division Pomona Grange: John A. Ramsden, James J. Moore, Elliot Henderson, E.F. Leidy, E.W. Fares, S.W. Hill, Jonas Sherk, Duncan Schooley, Alexander Servos, David Fritz, John Scholfield.
There is a column and a half editorial about the raceway, in which the paper takes issue with The Tribune, and another editorial hands the following can of raspberries to an esteemed contemporary of the present day: “If Niagara Falls Review is not meeting with as much success and patronage as desired, it is not to be wondered at. Its pages are sicklied o’er with the bilious hue of jealousy, and its time appears to be devoted to continued mournful plaints of the ill treatment it receives from its neighbors. There is nothing tries the patience of the public more than a man with a grievance. A more admirable method and a mere certain road to success for the Review would be to stick strictly to business and not waste so much valuable time pulling other people to pieces.”
Ho Hum. Journalism is more peaceful nowadays. Likewise, decidedly tamer. It would be difficult to picture Bro. Duff thusly walloping Bro. Leslie or the latter countering in like manner.
At Niagara Falls: “The mud and soft roads have surrounded us.” “Arrived the first robin of the season, on Wednesday, a.m.” (March 17).
Divertisment of the cognoscenti at the cataract. “Buckley’s roller rink was well patronized Tuesday evening, and every visitor was well satisfied that Buckley had furnished the curiosity of the day and hour. At 9 o’clock the trained mare, “Dolly Stone,” was led into the circle and the performance commenced. She selected the colored ‘kerchiefs, picked up the half-dollar, walked the six-inch plank and balanced on it to the satisfaction of everybody. But her great feat was skating on rollers-genuine, graceful skating, without either tumbles or mishaps. We can not describe the performance, for to have a knowledge of Dolly’s wonderful acts, they must be seen.”
Those were present at a meeting of the offices of the 44th Battalion: Col Morin, M.P.P. Majors Bender and Tatters all, Surgeons Oliver and Glasgow, Adjutant Brennan, Captains James, Greenwood, Raymond, McMicking and Barwell; Lieutenants Vandersleuys, Bradley, Abbott, McKenzie McIntyre, and Skinner.
Every countryside correspondent makes passionate and bitter mention of Mud! Mud! Mud!!!
At Fonthill, “Another pleasant party was held at D’Everardo hall, under the management of Dr. Emmett.”
That’s about all on the four pages carrying stuff of local interest; the inside four being made up of clips.
There is a goodly volume of advertising, Pursel Bros., Welland, tell the world that business is booming in their men’s clothing, furnishings and hats and caps. Menno House is in his new quarters at Stevensville with a large stock of general merchandise. Sundry legal notices bear the name of Sheriff Geo. J. Duncan; D.W. Horton, President, and W.T. House, Secretary, call the annual meeting of the Horse Bleeders’ Association at the Mansion House, Welland. J.H. Stanley of Port Colborne tells the femmes about some perfectly grand spring millinery.
Mr. Vanderburgh informs the great unwashed of Welland that he has employed a first class barber, and also that he had “fitted up a nice bath room, which is constantly supplied with hot and cold water, and hope to receive patronage of the general public for the same.”
Welland market reports quotes fall wheat at 76¢ and spring at 70¢, oats 28¢, eggs 14¢, butter 16¢, potatoes 50¢, pork 5 and 6¢, beef 4 and 5¢. Bran was 70¢ and middlings 75¢ with corn meal at $120 to $2 and chop $1.
Lookit, lookit! Coal, egg and chestnut, $5 and $5.25. (Business of regretful sobs from the householders).
F. Macoomb, at the Beehive, Welland, advertised some grocery snaps, and H.B. Hyatt was prepared to supply furniture. C. Swayze was an “Instantaneous, dry plate” photographer, besides stocking some nifty Chromes.
Thomas Griffith, dry goods, etc. had a “holiday announcement” the same being a trifle stale along in March. H.W. Hobson, Palace Drug Store, also offered photograph albums with which to entertain callers. Brown Bros. paid cash for wheat at the feed store next to their liquor store, thus saving the farmers many steps. J.H. Burgar, chemist and druggist.
O.H. Garner must have conducted sort of an antediluvian five-and-ten what with “Vases, with or without flowers; photo albums, large and small; ladies and gents’ companions; picture frames, cabinet, plush and easel; poets, 75¢ to $4; miscellaneous and toy books; autograph albums, gold pens and pencils, ladies and gents pocketbook companions and plush looking glasses, views of Niagara Falls; violins, accordions and mouth organs.”
J.F. Hill, general insurance. B. Bridges, “The finest stock of groceries in Welland,” and pure wines and liquors. T. Best’s clothing house, Port Colborne, Geo. Stalker, the Glasgow Grocery, Welland. Imperial Bank, with eleven branches throughout Canada, M.R. Detenbeck, Stevensville, J. Brasford, leather store, McCleary & McLean , planing mill, Thorold.
J. James, merchant tailor, International Bridge-“Try James’ First Prize Pants, only $4, made to order.” C.J. Page, groceries, hardware, crockery; Orient Hall, Welland. Thomas Cumines, druggist AND pure wines and spirits, Ross Co., mantles, shawls, etc., etc., including ladies shirts, but no mention of any for gents.
And last, but not least-decidedly not, in view of their then importance in the scheme of things: Perry Davis Pain Killer, Campbell’s Cathartic Compound, Campbell’s Tonic Elixir, Burdock Blood Bitters, Hagyards’s Yellow Oil, Freeman’s Worm Powders, McGregor’s Speedy Cure, Hayyard’s Pectoral Balsam, Ayer’s Sarsaparilla, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, Putman’s Corn Extractor, Ayer’s Hair Vigor, Hall’s Vegetable Sicilian Hair Renewer.
And C-Saw Consumption Cure, which appears to have the revolutionary discovery of a county inhabitant out Amigari way, and of which it was asserted that, “Nothing on earth has ever been heard of so wonderful in its effects for the cure of consumption and cough.” Strange that the world has not worn a path to the door there of R. Moore.
But then, Emerson wrote about mouse traps and not about consumption cures-mouse were the only traps he mentioned.
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
21 October 1926
35 YEARS AGO
By
OLIVER UNDERWOOD
On Dominion Day, 1891, thirty-five years ago, there floated over the building of the old Welland Tribune a new banner of red, white and blue bunting, with the word “Tribune” affixed in satin gold letters on the middle strip. A few days previously the banner had been presented to J.J. Sidey, editor and proprietor of the newspaper by its staff which numbered all of twelve people whose names were attached to the presentation.
Four of these old-timers are still attached to the present paper: the perennial George Wells, whose hair may not have been of quite so silvery a hue then but who is unchanged otherwise; Chas. Peach, who is still slinging type in the composing room; Harry C. Casper who wasn’t so hard-boiled then as he is today and who likely was then manipulating a composing stick instead of the linotype over which his fingers-all of them even unto the thumb-now swiftly play. For Harry does not use the one-finger system in vogue in the news room; not for him the hunt-and-pick stuff; i.e. hunt the keyboard for the wanted letter and then peck it with one finger. The fourth is George E. Scace who is still slinging “pikey.”
There is yet another name, but its bearer deserted the printer’s trade for another vocation. Harvey Dawdy was then The Tribune’s printer’s devil. A year later he went into the hardware and plumbing business with John H. Crow.
The remaining names are Ed McCann, Tom Phillips, Miss Ross, Allie Eddy, Miss Jennie Ross and S.J. and H.C. Sidey.
(The article on the presentation of the flag was written by Frank C. Pitkin on Friday. Little did he that before another noon had come the Harvey Dawdy he wrote of would have passed from earth.)
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
13 July 1926
By
META SCHOOLEY LAWS
“Father can tell you things that you don’t know about, Squire Sloan,” was the greeting I got from a friend the other day, and “I’ve heard father talk about the old sand pit at the Point,” someone else chimed in. Needless to say, I was delighted, because the chief purpose of these letters is to arouse interest in those days, before it is too late for their history to be recalled by one and another of us.-If only we can today “serve our day and generation” (a phrase which would seem to have been a sort of watchword of those days) as well as they served theirs; if we can only build today as firmly and with as good material, as that with which they laid the foundations yesterday!
Squire Sloan and auntie were certainly outstanding figures. She always wore a velvet hood trimmed with a band and a short cape of mink, and a long heavy black cape in the winter. Her’s was not exactly a bed of roses, for like many of the men of his day, he was rather fond of the cup which “inebriates but fails to cheer,” to paraphrase an old adage. Because of this habit, the stern old Presbyterian pioneer had opposed his daughter’s marriage to the gay young “Yankee,” but Margaret had her way, and when long years afterward her youngest sister on a visit to her, ventured to ask whether she would not have been wise to heed her father’s warning, Auntie said almost fiercely, “If I could have seen every step of the way ahead, I would have done the same. I never had an unkind word, Mary.” And her influence over him was wonderful. Often a neighbour was seized with a sudden need to hitch up and hasten to the village, after watching Auntie walk past the house, perhaps in a driving snowstorm, for they knew her errand though none ever dared mention it to her. She would go to the store and from there to the hotel bar. “Come,” she would say to him. “It is time we went home,” and no matter how much he had been drinking he would turn back to the bar and order-“two fingers” all round. Lifting the glass high, he would say, “Gentlemen, Lady Sloan,” and after the toast was drunk, bow low to her as if she had been a queen, and accompany her out.
Perhaps she had to unblanket and untie the little bay team that he always drove, but he never refused to go with her. Only once was he known to be angry, but those who provoked him never forgot it. There was a smallpox epidemic threatened. One man, a Negro, had died, and those who had never had the disease feared to attend the burial. Squire Sloans’s pock-marked face attested that he was immune, and after inducing him to drink more than usual, they sent him to the cabin, and he laid out the body and closed the rude coffin. Then he went home with his wife. When he realized where he had been, he returned to the village and strode into the group of men, in a rage. “I would have looked after the man, but you made me expose my wife, and if she dies”- and his look told the threat his lips did not need to utter. Fortunately for all concerned Auntie escaped the disease.
She outlived him many years and a better neighbor than W.M. Sloan, a more upright man never lived, and to the wonder of the other women his wife would have stoutly added, “No woman ever had a kinder husband.”
They had no family but one and another of the nephews often shared their home for months at a time and their adopted daughter, still living, cherishes their memory as though they had been her parents.
But to return to the Point. The winter of 1878 witnessed the last of the lumbering operations on the beach. The Decews, whose name is preserved in the little hamlet of Decewsville on Provincial Highway No. 3, just west of Cayuga, bought all the remnants of the virgin forest in that vicinity available, especially the oak. All through the winter of ‘77-‘78 the operations were carried on. The Dickout Woods was one that was practically stripped. In the spring the logs were hauled to the Beach at Point Abino. Huge rafts were built and tugs came in the early summer and towed them away. The lumbering outfit especially the wagons with their huge hind wheels stand out in memory. The huge logs, which required three teams to haul them, are not forgotten. I only know two oaks as large still standing, they gave their name to my Haldimand farm home, “Two Oaks”-great spreading trees under one of which more than once family gatherings have picnicked.
If these forests had been even partially replanted perhaps the “Chicago water steal” would not have to make so apparent a lowering of the lake level today, for the depletion of forests without doubt is a very potent factor in this matter, greater perhaps than Chicago’s much mooted drainage canal.
We have referred to the Dickouts. Squire Dickout was an early local preacher. His wife was one of the Morgan girls, from Morgan’s Point. Point Industry some of the old maps call it. He read “The Country Gentleman,” one of the oldest agricultural papers published on the continent, and one which is still issued. He was lover of trees and the row of beautiful maple trees which border the road along what was his farm are still his beautiful monument.
He laid out a little park opposite his home and planted the first peach orchard in the section. Red cherry trees bordered both sides of the road east of the house, and the fruit hung there in the summer, purple and luscious. Both Mrs. Dickout and “Grandma” were famed for their “Cherry Bouse.” The recipe is still extant but I fear me that it is taboo these days-too high a percentage of-. But these were the days when the various “moonshine” concoctions were unknown, and it would have been difficult indeed to have convinced these folk that any possible harm could be associated with the pure juice of the grape or cherry as they prepared it.
Wild berries were abundant. Their flavor is vastly superior to the cultivated varieties of today, though the latter are much more attractive to the eye. Oh, for the taste of the contents of one of the big stone jars of raspberry jam! Those of us who remember them cannot be overly enthusiastic about the manufactured article with its commercial pectin. These people knew nothing about balanced meals. Their tables were an utter defiance of every known rule of the dietician today. No menu card of today is big enough for the list of viands served at their feasts, yet, I wander through the cemeteries and read the names of these old people and their ages, 78, 80, 90 etc, etc, etc. How did they do it? Sometimes we order whether, the necessity for a strictly ordered diet proportioned as to the contents of the proteins and what not, is not laid upon us because we have forsaken the cool sequential vale of life, along which there “kept the even tenure of their way,” rather than for any more easily controlled cause.
Just north of the marsh, through which was the approach of the Point lived the Parneys (the name is spelled Parnea) and on the opposite side of the road the Pages-or rather Otway Page. The latter farm is still in possession of the family. Old Mr. Page was famous for his maple syrup and sugar. His oldest son, whose widow is still living, was the first in that neighbourhood to obtain the degree of B.A. They were a family of marked intellectual tastes. One daughter still lives, and could no doubt make a valuable contribution to Point Abino here.
Along the road too, was old Mrs. Tolson’s little home, where she and her one son lived. The little shack in the main road in which he lived after his mother died looked as if the old one had been lifted up and set down again. It was old, even if newly built.
The neat little Snider home was there too. The Snider girls could doubtless furnish stories of the Point also.
Then the Sherk farm, now the home of the youngest son, whose mother still lives with him. Chris Sherk always had beautiful horses. He had a half mile track on his farm. One of his horses, a beautiful black animal whose coat shone like satin, passes before my mind’s eye now, though it is more years than one likes to remember, that its master drove it to Ridgeway, passing the gate of Maple Grove farm on which the children swung and watched for it. I can still see him on his “Sulky” carrying the long whip which his horse never felt, I am sure.
Have you ever read “Aunt Jane of Kentucky?” It is a beautiful collection of pioneer character sketches. “Child” says Aunt Jane to her listener, “nearly all my stories end in the church yard,” and so do these, and yet, remembering the number of pioneers homes which have passed unto the hands of the lesser people than those who braved loneliness, privation as they strove to establish homes in the wilderness, one thinks of the warning crouched in these lines from
Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey
Where wealth accumulates and men decay
Princes or lords may perish or may fade
A breath can make them, as a breath hath made
But a bold peasantry, their country’s pride
When one destroyed, can never be supplied.
Of course, the word “peasantry” was never properly applied to Canadians. Exchange that word for this coined one “ruralry” and in those lines, is described the real menace of Canada today, for one of the plainest truths taught by the page of history is this “Rural decadence spells national disaster.”
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
13 April 1926
By
META SCHOOLEY LAWS
The writer is indebted to Mr. Green for his kindly words. He may easily be correct about Gov. Maitland rather than Gov. Simcoe having met that funeral procession. Grandmother told us that story and was an eye-witness of the incident.
As to Otway-Page-His granddaughter, Mrs. Wilson Bowen, who lives with her daughter in Welland, was the authority for stating that he was Sheriff of the district. Mrs. Bowen remembers her grandmother who died at the home of her son, Otway-Page, the writer remembers.
Mrs. Bowen could doubtless recall much of interest regarding the family. They were connected with English aristocracy.
A grandson, Thomas Otway-Page, was a graduate of Queen’s University, the first in that section. He taught high school for years at Van Kleek Hill, very successfully. The other brother, A.E. lived on the homestead where one of his sons, still resides.
The other day I came across some notes father wrote during the last few months of his life, (in 1925). According to these, there have been Methodist meetings at or near Ridgeway for 126 years.
William Baxter was very prominent in the early days. The first services were held in a barn, not far from the present Baxter Church.
Mr. Baxter was a class leader, tall, clean shaven, with piercing yet kindly eyes.
The requirements of the “discipline” regarding dress, etc., for the women, were rigidly adhered to at that time. Squire Benjamin Learn was another prominent man. His great-grandson lives in Crowland, J.A. Learn. Old Peter Tuttle was another of the group.
The circuit was very large, and included Macaphee’s, 133 miles away; Lyon’s Creek, 14 miles in another direction, and Morgan’s Point Church, some 17 miles up the lake.
The roads were nearly all bridle paths.
But the services were very interesting. The singing was hearty. A tuning-fork was the only “instrument,” but singing schools were quite the order of the day, or night, rather-and many of the young folk sang by note, reading rapidly and correctly.
There is a note also about “Little Tice Haun” who preached in the open, somewhere near the lake.
There were log seats fixed, for about a hundred people.
He was peculiar in dress and manner. He believed in baptism by immersion and “dipped” his converts three times.
Two of the Fretzs were among those presenting themselves for baptism, one day, but the one wrenched himself free from the preacher’s hands after the first plunge into the icy waters, and ran. His brother pursued, but in vain, and the meeting dispersed without any formality. That happened sixty years ago.
An old copy of the Telegraph some time in the spring of ’77 or ’78 contains an account of a wild goose hunt on the Maple Grove Farm. The account was written by father.
A large flock of geese settled on the wheat field just north of the building, for several nights in succession.
The old hunting instinct revived. Father, E.E. Fortner, who was his guest at the time, A.E. Otway Page, and one or two more assembled, just at dusk, and crept cautiously back the lane, using horses for concealment, for one of the men were sure they could approach quite near the birds in that manner.
They did get within fifty yards or so. A group of woman watched them from the back yard, but some one was so absorbed or excited by the sight of the big flock that he spoke aloud and instantly the flock rose and formed for flight. The old shot guns were hastily raised and one lone goose dropped with a broken wing.
We children fed it in the barn unit its wing healed and then freed it.
Grandmother was certain that the flock was descended from a flock of geese she raised which disappeared from that very field.
About this time Dr. Neff at Port Colborne had invited a group of his friends, of whom he had hosts, to help eat a wild goose he had shot. Mrs. Neff cooked the bird for a long time and the doctor essayed to carve it.
All his efforts failed, and the bird roasted to a delicious (looking) brown remained, practically, intact on the platter. “Well boys,” said the doctor, “perhaps we can get our forks into the gravy.” That episode saved “our” goose’s life.
Fifty years ago the Grange was a quite prominent feature of agricultural life in that section. The old Grange hall is still standing. Was it not remodeled and dedicated as Kennedy’s Methodist Church?
Like some other ideas borrowed from our American cousins, it did not take very deep root in Canadian life.
Still it served the purpose of suggesting the idea that farm folk had common interests, other than those of a purely social nature, and paved the way for other rural organizations of broader purpose, and great economic value. The Wheat Pool is the outgrowth of these early organizations. The rural fairs were also a real factor of rural life.
Every township had its fall show, which was purely agricultural.
The big county fair did not in those days require a “midway” to draw the crowds. What did bring the people together then? We drove 16 miles and always attended.
It is a question whether the races are any more interesting now than when Ryerson McKenney drove in them, as he always did. The great high-wheeled sulkies are a thing of the past, so is much of the real “sports-for-sports’s-sake” that characterized the races of those old days. Are the ideals like the sulkies, lower today?
We’ve gone a long way from Point Abino this time, but in spite of all effort to the contrary the mind wanders, as we did in those old days. We follow the old road, as then, past Ben Snider’s blacksmith shop; back to Netherby and across the country to “the Seventh” into the county town, to the Fair. Remaining perhaps for the concert in Orient Hall. Once we heard Mrs. Keltie and the Tandy Brothers sing. Welland has almost forgotten the “days of small things” when Orient Hall was her only amusement auditorium.
Or perhaps we drove on through New Germany, over Montrose Bridge, to Lundy’s Lane and the Falls, or Drummondville; we climbed up the stairs of the old pagoda and listened to the stories the old soldier told the tourists, of the War of 1812-14. Of course, he had not taken part in those battles, but we childen really thought he must have done so, for he described them so graphically.
Then we wandered in the cemetery across the street where the graves of friend and foe were marked with wooden slabs.
There is a dim recollection of driving out to Falls View one evening to see “the lights on the Falls.” What they were is forgotten-not electric lights then, 45 years ago surely. But they were accounted a ‘wonder’ for a rainbow almost as perfect as the one seen any sunny day above the Falls was produced by them.
Then the long drive home, But we had good horses, two to a buggy, and the time went fast; till Auntie Sloan’s light streamed across the roadway and in five minutes we were home.
The Welland Tribune and Telegraph
10 June 1926
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