[Welland Tribune May, 1929]
Victim of Cleveland Clinic Disaster was Internationally Known Specialist.
Welland county is mourning the lose of one of its most brilliant sons, Dr. John Phillips, who died late Wednesday night as the result of being gassed following the explosion and fire that day at the Cleveland Clinic hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, of which he was co-founder.
Dispatches from that city say that Dr. Phillips, head of the medical service of the clinic and silver medallist at the University of Toronto, in 1902. He was one who escaped from the building only to die later. He was able to walk home after assisting in rescue of others, only to be rushed to the hospital at night where he died.
Eight doctors lost their lives the last one being Dr. Phillips who, Cleveland dispatches describe, as a native of Welland and internationally known specialist and one of the founders of the Cleveland clinic. He was in the building when the catastrophe occurred but walked home believing he had not been affected by the gas. He was taken ill toward evening and rushed to the hospital where a futile blood transfusion was made.
Relatives of Dr. Phillips residing in this vicinity were expected to attend the funeral in Cleveland today.
[Welland Tribune May 1929]
Plain Dealer States Welland Old Boy was Renowned Leader in Medicine
That the late Dr. John Phillips co-founder of the Cleveland Clinic hospital, scene of one of the greatest peace-time hospital disasters of recent history, was renowned as a leader in the world of internal medicine and that he was accredited with the largest consulting practice in the history of medicine was noted in a recent issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer which reported in part as follows:
“Renowned as a leader in the world of internal medicine, Dr. Phillips was accredited with the largest consulting practice in the history of medicine.
Unaware that the blood-destroying gases had attacked him, Dr. Phillips had walked into the Wade Park Manor, where he made his home. A rest, he thought would be a wise precaution.
“A few hours later attendants called for oxygen, Dr. George W. Crile, intimate associate of Dr, Phillips, hurried to the hotel and ordered a blood transfusion, but died at 9.15p.m.
Caught on the Third Floor
“The gasses had sapped his blood. He was working on the third floor of the clinic when the blast occurred and escaped by leaping from the third floor to the fire net.
“Dr Crile, after an examination, declared that Dr. Phillips died from nitrous peroxide and monoxide gases. His death takes the second of four founders of the clinic. Dr Frank E. Bunts having died Nov. 28th 1928.
“Quiet, genial, industrious, Dr. Phillips enjoyed the confidence of the city’s wealthiest families and it was to him that thousands flocked each year for diagnoses.
“He had the largest consulting practice in the world,” Dr. Lower declared last night.
Dr. Phillips was born in Welland county in 1879and at 50 was the youngest of the clinic executives. He studied at the public schools of Welland, later attending and graduating from the University of Toronto with his degree in medicine. Although he left for graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and service in Cleveland soon after his graduation in 1903, Dr. Phillips always maintained friendships in Toronto and was as well known there as in Cleveland.
It was at his instance that more than 25 Toronto physicians were coming to Cleveland as guests of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine for a two-day conference and clinic, and Dr. Phillips was to have been their host at dinner at Wade Park Manor, where he died.
“It was only by the luckiest chance that members of the Toronto crowd were not in the clinic at the time of the explosion,” hospital authorities revealed “They had been there on an advance visit and left just a few moments before it occurred.”
[Welland Tribune 1929]
Purchased by Louis Blake Duff of this city—Building Erected in 1836
Another ancient landmark of the county has changed hands, this being property at St. Johns, history of which dates back to the year prior to Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne.
The land and premises in question were purchased by Louis Blake Duff of this city a short while ago from Mrs Pitts of St Johns. It is in two parcels, one on the north side of St John’s road, the other on the south side. Workmen are now demolishing the large frame store and dwelling on the north side of the street.
It is interesting to note that this building was erected by Zenas Fell in 1836. Mr. Fell was an engineer whose name was attached to many plans in the county. Over the front door is the sign of the Niagara and District Mutual Fire Insurance company, which was probably the first insurance company in the Niagara peninsula.
The date on the metal sign is 1836, and the plate is said to have been placed on the structure before the latter was actually completed.
While this is a frame building it is lined with brick between the uprights. The man who is now dismantling the property, W.A. Spark of Thorold road, states he never saw finer timbers than those used in construction of this property.
..goes a lot further back than twenty years; in fact it is a glimpse of the Merrittville of the 1850’s-“on the corner of West Main and North Main streets stood a long Gothic building, the property of Seeley & Betts. The front of this building contained a store while in the rear were apartments for dwellings. On the opposite corner the late Elias Hoover (sire of D.D. Hoover) kept the Welland house. Across from the store Wm. A. Bald had a dry goods store, and west of that stood his residence. There were no railways, and the canal, which was west of the present one, was content to have its boats hauled through by horse power and tow ropes. Steamboats were few and far between. The bridge over the river was an old wooden structure without a railing. Among the business firms were Daniel McCaw, who did shoemaking; (the business is still conducted under the family name), Mr. Shrigley sold drugs; Wellington Hellems kept a furniture store; Betts & Seeley had a sawmill. There was no jail; no church-an old log school house where model school now stands (later the Y.M.C.A.) served both as church and school and was lighted by tallow candles; oftentimes the members of the congregation bringing their own candles with them. The side walks were either Mother Earth or two planks with a space between them.
20 YEARS AGO
“A new industry will be established in Welland shortly with a capital of $150,000. It will be known as the Welland Tin Plate & Sheet company, limited.”-People’s Press. Yeah
The Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune
28 February 1929
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