[Welland Tribune February 9 1940]
Salem, Feb 9-Sunday school next Sunday at Salem United church at two o’clock; church services at 3 o’clock by Rev James Hampson.
The Y.P.A. will hold their services at 7.30 p.m.
Lorne Wiley and family attended the birthday party of their father Alfred Wiley at St Catharines on Saturday. Mr Wiley was 83 on Sunday. He is not in very good health as he has suffered a stroke.
Mr and Mrs Cecil Chambers visited Mr and Mrs Jake Wiley at St Catharines on Saturday.
Guests of Mr and Mrs George Chambers over the week-end with Mr and Mrs Charles Berry and Mr and Mrs Jack Langdon and daughter of Fenwick and Garth Chambers of Salem.
Mr and Mrs Walter Brown and sons Ralph and Harvey of fairgrounds, Mr and Mrs Hewlett Brown and daughters, Misses Phyllis and Viola of Welland; Mr and Mrs Ambrose Misener and family of Fenwick and Mr and Mrs Cecil Chambers and son Garth of Salem were guests of Mr and Mrs Hampton Brown on Monday.
[Welland Tribune January 1940]
Boyle Jan 10-Elmer Coyne spent New Year’s Day at the home of his brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs Harry Coyne of Bismark.
Rev George Comfort and son John of Dunnville called on Mr and Mrs Paul Comfort last Thursday.
Mr and Mrs Nellis Heaslip, Mr and Mrs Judson Jamieson and daughter Helen, Mr and Mrs Wm Cutler, Mr and Mrs Wm Heaslip and daughter Jean and son Billy were recent visitors at the home of Mr and Mrs Emerson Cosby of Bismark.
New Year’s Day visitors at the home of John Hill were Mr and Mrs Wm Schwoob of Fenwick, Mr and Mrs Sidney Heaslip and Peter, Mr and Mrs Wm Anderson and Leonard Cocks.
Gordon Schwoob of Fenwick spent a few days last week at the home of his grandparents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Schwoob.
[Welland Tribune 1940]
Boyle, Jan 4—Mrs Sidney Heaslip accompanied Mr and Mrs Wm Schwoob and Gordon of Fenwick to Toronto to visit the homes of Mr and Mrs Clarence Burmaster and Rev and Mrs Carmen Dyer a few days last week.
Mr and Mrs Wm Anderson, John Hill and daughter Mabel Hill and Leonard Cocks were Sunday guests at the home of Mr and Mrs Kenneth Overholt and Mrs Alberta Overholt of Forks Road East.
Mr and Mrs Wm Schwoob and Gordon of Fenwick visited at the home of Mr and Mrs Joseph Schwoob on Monday.
Mr and Mrs Alonzo Comfort of Hamilton spent the weekend at the home of Mr and Mrs Paul Comfort
Mr and Mrs Frank Anderson of Grimsby called on Mr and Mrs Wm Anderson recently.
Mr and Mrs Paul Comfort spent New Years day at the home of Mr and Mrs Earl Bossert of Buffalo.
Mr and Mrs John Gracey and family of Middleport were recent visitors at the home of Mr Gracey’s parents, Mr and Mrs John Gracey..
Drs. Malcolm MacLean and T.S. Perrett
Associate with the R.A.M.C Commissioned
[Welland Tribune 1940]
Two Welland physicians, Drs Malcolm MacLean and Thomas S. Perrett, will leave the city today to become associated with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Dr. MacLean medical practitioner in Fonthill and Welland since 1934 takes a commission with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force. One of the most popular members of the city’s medical profession, he leaves behind him a well-established practice to serve in the air force.
A native of Arnprior, Ontario Dr. MacLean is a graduate of the University of Toronto. After graduation he took a post-graduate course in Toronto Western hospital, and in 1934 began his practice in Fonthill. Two years later on the death of Dr. Duncan Allison, Dr. MacLean took over the Welland practice. He has served as an officer of the medical staff of the Welland County General hospital as a coroner, has held the position of surgeon at the Welland county jail, was examiner for Orient Lodge, I.O.O.F; and was associated with the Empire Cotton Mills, Ltd and the John Deere Plough Co., Ltd.
In the social sphere Dr. MacLean is a member of the Optimist Club and the Welland Club. He is a member of First Baptist church, Welland and has acted as a member of the finance committee of the congregation.
Mrs. MacLean will remain in the city for a short time.
Dr. Allan D. Rice of Toronto will occupy Dr. MacLean’s office during his absence. Dr Rice who like Dr. MacLean is a graduate of Toronto University, has been occupied with post-graduate work since his graduation..
Dr. Thomas Stewart Perrett, son of Lieutenant Colonel T.E. Perrett of Toronto, has been accepted with the medical unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and leaves Welland this evening for destinations unknown.
is a popular young Welland physician who came to this city a little more than a year ago from Toronto. He was born in Regina, was educated there, attending Regina Collegiate Institute, and in 1925 he journeyed east and came to the University of Toronto where he graduated in Arts and Medicine in 1932. He then took a post graduate course at the Toronto General hospital and finally came to Welland to open up a practice. He has been associated in Welland with the Physicians’ Building, East Main Street. He married Miss Evelyn Golding, daughter of W.H. Golding,M.P. for the Huron-Perth riding.
Dr. Perrett, who is being gazetted as Lieutenant Perrett, holds the honorary degree of Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and he is also a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
[Welland Tribune 1940]
Mrs Malcolm MacLean, a popular bride of last summer, whose husband has joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps associated with the R.C.A.F. was pleasantly surprised last evening at a party at the home of Mrs. Elgin Swayze on Parkway Drive. After an evening of bridge, supper was served from a table gay with pink tulips and white snapdragons, and lighted by pink tapers. Mrs Gordon Wright, Mrs Lloyd Falkenhagen and Mrs. Hugh A.C. Rose assisted. Bridge prizes were presented to Mrs. Raymond Zavitz and Miss Blanche Godin.
Mrs Malcolm MacLean, who leaves today to join Dr. MacLean in Ottawa was the guest of honor yesterday when her afternoon bridge club was entertained at the home of Mrs Gabriel J. Macoomb A presentation to Mrs MacLean, who also won the first prize at bridge was made by Mrs Hugh A.C. Rose. Other prizes were presented to Mrs Earl Donohue and Miss Blanche Godin. St Patrick’s color accents were used on the tea table centred with a silver bowl of sweet peas.
[Welland Tribune 1940]
From Ketchikan, Alaska. Frank Blasher, writes Welland city police department, saying he has found a gold medal owned by Corporal W.K. Chapman, who was formerly a police constable in Welland. The medal was presented to him “For Duty Nobly Done” in the Great War of 1914-18. The police department still has a medal found last Summer belonging to Private J. Howitt for services rendered in the Northwest India Frontier campaign of 1919. It is a Kaiser-i-Mind medal. Howitt was with the Highland Light Infantry in India and Afghanistan.
[Welland Tribune 1940]
Mrs. G.V. Cordon opened her home on Niagara street last evening for a meeting of the Joan of Arc chapter I.O.D.E. Mrs R.B. Burns presided and led in a discussion of ways and means for raising funds to buy more wool to knit into articles for the soldiers. Next month officers will be selected and the nominations committee includes Miss Minnie McPherson, Miss Katharine McKeon and Mrs Donald Carew with Miss Cora Marshall. Mrs A. N. Conklin and Mrs F. Durdan appointed to act as scrutineers. Mrs H.J. Dougherty and Mrs C. Gelling were introduced as two new members. L. B. Duff addressed the members in his inimitable and entertaining fashion. Mrs Cordon served refreshments at the close of the meeting.
During Ethelwyn’s stay at Union Springs Boarding School, New York, she experienced a Christmas which stayed in her memory all her life. In 1940 she shared it in a children’s column in the Welland Tribune. It is a real insight into how life was lived in the 1800s.
Christmas is supposed to be a call from Home Sweet Home, a strengthener and sweetener of domestic ties. Yet one of the pleasantest Christmas holiday seasons of my life was spent at a Friends’ Boarding School in Union Springs, on Cayuga Lake, New York State. Eight of us, five boys and three girls, being so far from home that the family purse refused to consider transportation charges, we were destined to spend the holidays together. The Friends’ idea being that the way to cure a person of wanting a thing extravagantly is to give it to him in reasonable amounts, there were none of us either boy crazy or girl mad. Sitting opposite to boys at meal time is a great destroyer of glamour and builder-up of companionableness. Miss Pope, the girls’ governess, who lived in the village and Elijah Cook the Principal, whose home joined the Seminary, were more than kind; but J.J. Thomas showed himself a super-man.As a trustee we were afraid of him; as a reprimander he was to be avoided. But now his great heart is moved to compassion. Poor little demons! So far away from home and mother! So brave and cheerful about it. Why, that girl from Canada had so sore a throat on Christmas Day, she was in the hospital wing, and could no more have eaten a slice of turkey than she could have chewed up her geography cover! Now, what to do about it? He goes into a huddle with himself and presently emerges with a radiant smile. This he conveys to the Girls’ Sitting Room, where are collected the homeless eight.
“How would you like to go somewhere?”
We are electrified. The writers of letters to home, drop their pens. The crocheters drop their crochet hooks. The checker players drop their boards. All eyes are on the speaker.
“You might drive my carryall to Blankley Quarterly Meeting next Seventh Day, and return that evening. No teacher would go with you; we can trust you.” He glances at my room-mate Mattie Williamson, who nods intelligently,(she later married a Methodist minister) and also at Daniel-I can’t recall his name, but a Daniel come to judgement could not be more impeccable. He is about to add the time worn “I am sure you will conduct yourselves in a way that will confer credit etc. etc.” but is overpowered by a chorus of young voices, exclaiming, rejoicing, delighting in anticipation. Not that we are crazy over Quarterly Meeting; but to go where we haven’t gone, see what we haven’t seen, do what we haven’t done—that is what youth desires.
As may be surmised, this carryall is not in the first heyday of youth. It is a large, top heavy vehicle, somewhat creaky in the joints and unsteady in the sinews, but otherwise still in the ring. Daniel the Dependable mounts to the driver’s seat. Mattie goes with him to do her back seat driving to advantage Three boys within try to sit by red headed Mate Moore, but Eddie and I see no one but each other. With a shout of acclaim we are off! The horses show signs of life, not to an indecorous extent, the intelligent brutes know they are going to Quarterly Meeting, but they are certainly in motion. Jiggetty jog, jiggetty jog; we laugh and sing and spare not! The wayfaring man in quiet country villages is accosted with: “Does your mother know you’re out?” the prevailing gag o the period. The fourteen miles of our pilgrimage are comfortably covered in less than three hours and we arrive in time for meeting, full of self importance.
A tall, wide, hospitable Friend and his fat and smiling wife were evidently apprised of our coming as they took us home with them to dinner. Never before or since have I been confronted with so large and thickly populated a dinner plate. On it reposed three large slices of turkey, two heaping tablespoons of dressing, the same of Irish potatoes mashed, ditto of sweet potatoes, ditto of creamed onions, ditto of mashed turnip, a large amount of cranberries, a sweet pickle and plenteous gravy poured profusely over all. Before seating ourselves our host inquired:”Which is the sick girl? This one? Fat as a match! Couldn’t eat her Christmas dinner hey? Well I’ll see she eats this one.” He seats me next t him. I blush as brightly as the red flannel bandage showing its edge so coyly among the white ruffles at my throat. Having lived on “milk-toast” three or four days, I am not afraid to eat, and my host’s hearty “Atta girl!” cheers me on. But at the advent of plum pudding, mince pie and pumpkin pie, enthusiasm wanes!
The short winter day draws quickly to a close. After a trip to the stables to inspect sheep, cows, ducks and chickens, we gather around the organ to sing with hearts and voices. Then we begin to talk of returning. But this we are not allowed to do without a parting lunch of doughnuts and cider. Eddie and I drive most of the way back and do not seriously imperil the lives of the party. We stop at a small hotel to “rest the horses.” One of them breathes heavily and the other shows signs of exhaustion. The boys treat us to soda water and we play games and start to dance. Oh that dance! If I live to be a thousand years old I could never forget it! Holding hard to your partner you went tum tumpty tum tum,(two steps to the left) and tumpty umpty, tum, tum (two steps to the right). Like the earth we have two motions; one on our axis, the other largely interfering with the axises(Goodness! What IS the plural?) We giggle and laugh, bubble and squeak. The landlord looks in, grinning from ear to ear from teeth to toes. Presently he reappears with a large tray bearing eight tall glasses of raspberry vinegar. This he observes grandly, is on the house.
So we all sit and sip and simmer down. Someone remarks that the horses having been watered have now regained their pristine vigour, and we promised J.J. not to be late. We resume our places in the carryall, Mattie and her Chosen One(was it Alf or Davy?) mount to the driver’s seat, and we move with conscious propriety through the quiet Main Street of Union Springs. Suddenly there is a jerk, a pause, a scraping, scrunching sound. Evidently something untoward has happened.We look out to see the right front wheel moving gracefully away into the ditch, while a broken axle drags on the ground. We all alight, villagers gather around and advice is freely given. The horses are not alarmed. Probably this is not the first time they have been compulsory witnesses of a similar scene. After some consultation, four of us start on the uphill walk to the school. One boy remains to guard the horses and three are sent to explain to J.J. We feel sorry for the explainers but they report next day that the sterling old gentleman blamed no one but himself. One of nature’s nobleman was old J.J. Thomas.
Interesting Reminiscences Penned by Miss Wetherald.
The following reminiscences were written by Miss Wetherald and sent to John W. Garvin who included them in his foreword of Miss Wetherald’s bound volume of the 1931 edition of lyrics and sonnets.
As a child I was never robust enough to enjoy outdoor exercise, although I took pleasure in all-day excursions after wild raspberries among the hills of Rockwood, usually accompanied by several of our household. Large pails were brought back brimming with the perfumed fruit, which was “put down pound for pound”,(a pound of sugar to each pound of berries) to ensure freedom from mould.
Long walks through the woods, which never had enough mosquitoes to frighten me away were always a delight… I am very fond of countrylife; less enthusiastic over farm activities. I was seven years old when we left Rockwood. Hills and rocks, woods and the smell of cedars all come back in the name. (At the age of eight accompanied by my sister and three brothers, I watched the slow-moving train draped in black passing by the railroad station near Haverford College bearing the dead body of President Lincoln. The aura of intense grief, nation-wide, and the sorrowful face of my father, made a deep impression.
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[Welland Tribune March 11,1940]
Death comes to Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald In Her 83rd Year: The funeral on Tuesday.
Fenwick, Ont., March 11- Death has ended the career of one of Ontario’s most renowned and well loved women in the person of Miss Agnes Ethelwyn Wetherald, distinguished poetess and writer. Miss Wetherald passed away early Sunday morning succumbing to an attack of pneumonia.
Deceased was a daughter of William Wetherald and Jemima Harris Balls of Rockwood, Ont., where she was born April 26, 1857. She was the sixth child in a family of 11 children, of which she was the sole survivor. Her maternal grandparents were Irish while her father was English coming to Canada from Yorkshire in 1820. Mr. Wetherald established in 1851 a boarding school at Rockwood, it later being known as Rockwood Academy, from which graduated many distinguished men. He later resigned his principalship to become superintendent of Havergal College, near Philadelphia, returning a few years later to settle on the farm near Fenwick, known as “The Tall Evergreens,” where he became an ordained minister of the Society of Friends. He had a fine mastery of English which he imparted to his family and it was in this home and under the fine tutelage of her father that Miss Wetherald received her early education. Later she attended The Friends Boarding School at Union Springs,N.Y. and subsequently Pickering College, Ontario.
Literary Career
As a writer, Miss Wetherald won her first prominence in the years 1887-88-89, when she contributed articles frequently to the Globe at Toronto. Each article was about a column in length and was signed by the nom de plume Bel Thistlethwaite, a contraction of the maiden name of her paternal grandmother. In June 1889, Miss Wetherald was requested by the editor to come to Toronto to write “Notes and Comments” and an occasional editorial. The editor was John Cameron.
The following year Mr. Cameron resign and returned to London, Ont., where in 1890 he founded a small monthly magazine titled “Wives and Daughters” and Miss Wetherald became assistant. editor. This little magazine continued publication for three years during which time Miss Wetherald capably wrote nearly all the editorials, as well as the book reviews and was responsible for selected poetry, the children’s department, etc. It was during those years in London that Miss Wetherald began writing her exquisite lyrics and sonnets, which have since charmed so many readers. By 1895she had enough for her first book, “The House of the Trees,” and other poems. In 1902 appeared “Tangled in Stars,” and in 1904, “The Radiant Road.” In the autumn of 1907 a larger collection of her verse was published in Toronto, “The Last Robin; Lyrics and Sonnets.”
Miss Wetherald returned to her home in 1893, going to Philadelphia in the winter of ’95-’96 as assistant to Francis Bellamy, the literary editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal. Her chance to assist Forrest Morgan, one of the editors of “The World’s Best Literature” came about through correspondence. He had written in praise of her “Wind of Death” and later asked her to be his assistant, in which capacity she acted for nearly a year and included in one of his volumes five or six of her poems.
Active to the End
Miss Wetherald, in company with her brother, Samuel, traveled extensively before returning to the quiet life she lived of latter years. One by one her large family predeceased her and for a number of years she left the shelter of her home only on rare occasions.
Happily engaged with her books, her writing and a large correspondence with friends far and wide, this quiet, unassuming little woman with her keen intellect and wide interests in the affairs of the world of today lived out her life to a happy end. Although she left her home but seldom, many famous people renowned in the world of letters and art found their way to her door.
A complete edition of lyrics and sonnets containing every poem which Miss Wetherald wishes preserved and comprising 350 in all, was arranged and published in 1931. John W. Garvin was responsible for the arrangement of this work. A couple of her better known poems also had the distinction of being a part of the public school readers in Ontario.
Miss Wetherald leaves to mourn an adopted daughter, Miss Dorothy Wetherald; two nieces, Mrs R.D. Linden of St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs Thomas Wollsright of San Francisco, California; one nephew, Rene Wetherald of St. Paul; and a host of sorrowing friends.
A private service for intimate friends will be held at the home on Tuesday, March 12th, at 2 o’clock, proceeding to the Friends’ church at Pelham Corners for public service at 2.30 p.m. burial will be in the Friends’ cemetery.
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