AROUND AND ABOUT
Author: Joe Barkovich
Photographer: Dave Hanuschuk
[Date Unknown]
WELLAND-John Aceti has clipped his last customer.
The well-known West Main Street barber has retired, but he’s not happy about it.
Aceti says he decided to take his doctor’s advice to slow down a bit. He says he was just too tired to go to work anymore-even though going to work just meant walking through his house and into his shop-they’re in the same building.
But hey, it is understandable that he’s too tired to work; John Aceti is 81 years old.
He’s cut hair here for about 50 years and before that, for a few years in Toronto.
He says a lot of his clientele who were boys when they started coming to him stayed with him all these years.
“I watched a lot of the guys grow up,” he says.
The affable haircutter got his first job at an East Main Street shop in the basement of a building which was adjacent to the old Park Theatre. A few years later, he bought an established barbershop on West Main, changed its name to John’s Barber Shop and has been there ever since. That was in 1947.
The price of a haircut back then was 75 cents. When John decided to call it quits, he was charging customers $6-not much considering some of the prices for a haircut these days.
“I own my own building,” he says. “I didn’t have to pay rent so I didn’t charge my customers too much.”
He wishes he was back cutting hair.
He misses the people and is touched that they still miss him. He’s been getting phone calls and cards and letters from many of them, wishing him well.
Every so often, he goes into his barbershop and thinks back to the old days. John Aceti says he wishes he could turn back the clock to when the brushcut reigned supreme to when barbers used styptic pencils a lot more than they do today; to when a barber’s service charges listed things like singles, 25 cents; hair tonic, from 25 cents; and razor honing, 75 cents. He wishes he could turn back the clock to when he was younger. Ah….those were the days.
[Welland Tribune January 30, 1947]
Salem, Jan. 30-Gratifying reports were presented at the congregational meeting of Salem United church. Reports of the Sunday school W.A. C.G.I.T. group W.M.S. and Baby Band were read and all showed an increase of activity during the past year The treasurer’s report, read by Harold Gent, showed an increase in givings.
Rev. W.A. Dempsey, the pastor reported 20 families affiliated with the church, with a membership of 51. During the year the pastor officiated at two marriages and three burials.
Charles Bailey and John Blanchard were re-elected as Stewards and present elders were reappointed James Farr, Leroy Hayward and Kenneth Strawn were appointed as additional ushers. Franklin Blanchard, R. Henderson, C. Bailey and Asa Chambers were named church trustees, and Ernest Brown and R. Henderson as parsonage trustees. E. Hayward and G. Metler were appointed auditors.
Votes of thanks were passes to Mrs Ernest Brown for use of their home for the meeting and the pastor and Mrs Dempsey for their leadership during the year.
The ladies served refreshments following the meeting.
[Welland Tribune January 2, 1947]
The funeral of the late Frederick Boyd, who died at his home, 32 Myrtle avenue, on Sunday, December 29, in his 75th year, was held from the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home, 152 Hellems avenue to the Church of England cemetery on Smith street, on Tuesday afternoon. Rev. A.H. Davis, rector of Holy Trinity church officiated. There was a large attendance of Free Masons, and of Legionnaires. The casket bearers were members of Cope-Stone Masonic Lodge, and members of Welland Canadian Legion. Members of the Legion formed a guard of honor at the cemetery, and they deposited poppies upon the casket. The guard of honor was under direction of Legionnaire Harry Oakes.
The casket bearers were Brethren W.J. Thomas, W. Rowe and Harold Headington representing the Free Masons of Welland and Legionnaires Arthur Hanson, Herbert Walker and A.G. Tulk from Welland Canadian Legion.
The Last Post and the Reveille were sounded.
[Welland Tribune January 3, 1947]
The funeral of the late Mabel Ann McCaffery, widow of the late William McCaffery, whose death occurred on December 29 in her 69th year, was held Thursday morning from the late residence, 156 Fares street, Port Colborne, to St Teresa’s Church, where mass was sung by Rev. B.P. Malone. Interment was in Mount Joseph cemetery.
The pallbearers were Fred Beck, Clarence Beck, George Kelly, George hall, Reeve James P. Greenn and Frank Godak.
Among the floral tributes was one from the employes of Humberstone Shoe Co. Ltd.
Friends and relatives attended from Youngstown, O., Mayville, Dunkirk and Buffalo, N.Y. Welland and Montreal.
[Welland Tribune January 7, 1947]
Dr. D.C. McNeill, who has been appointed radiologist at the Welland County General Hospital, was guest of honor last night at a reception tendered by the board of governors and the medical staff. Dr. McNeill arrived in the city yesterday to take up his duties.
Born in Toronto in 1916, Dr. McNeill graduated in arts from McMaster University in 1936 and in medicine from the University of Toronto in January, 1943.
He enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps in May, 1942, and remained in the service until March 1946, specializing in X-ray work during the greater part of that period. Following his discharge he took up post-graduate work in Toronto Western Hospital.
Dr. McNeill is married and has one son. He is a golfing and fishing enthusiast.
[Welland Tribune January 6, 1947]
Provincial Constable Almer Charles McNamara died early this morning in the Niagara Peninsula Sanatorium in his 38th year, after a five months’ illness.
A popular member of the local detachment of provincial police since the fall of 1939, Constable McNamara was a fair and efficient police officer, and his courtesy and affability won him many friends throughout the district he served.
Constable McNamara was born in East Toronto, and lived there until he joined the provincial police in 1939.
He is survived by his widow, Catherine Shaughnessy, and four children, Charles, Joan, Michael and Paul. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. H.J. Lawrence and Mrs. H. Rose of Toronto.
The funeral will be held from the H.L. Cudney funeral chapel, 241 West Main street, on Wednesday, January 8, at 8.30 a.m., to St Mary’s church for requiem mass at 9 o’clock. Interment will be in St Francis De Salle cemetery, Pickering.
[Welland Tribune January 6, 1947]
The death occurred in Toronto this morning of Fred S. Dilworth, a former well-known resident of Welland. He had not been in good health for some months and on Thursday last suffered a heart seizure from which he never rallied.
Native of Toronto, Mr. Dilworth was the son of the late Joseph Dilworth, and for a time was associated with his father in the drug business in Welland, and later he was a partner of the late W.G. Somerville in the operation of the contracting firm of Somerville and Dilworth.
For 20 years, Mr. Dilworth owned and operated the Empire Sales Company in Toronto, which was associated with the Westinghouse Company.
He is survived by his wife, formerly Minnie B. Somerville; his daughter, Shirley; a brother, Walter and a sister, Amy.
The funeral will take place in Toronto on Thursday afternoon.
[Welland Tribune January 4, 1947]
Fonthill, Jan 4-The funeral service for Mrs Harry Beardwood, who passed away at the Welland County General hospital on Sunday, was held from the Drake and Barron Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon. The many beautiful flowers showed the affection of a large circle of friends.
Rev. W.J. Wismer, pastor of the Baptist church of which the deceased was a member, brought a comforting message to her family. Mrs. C.L. Gregory at the organ accompanied Mrs. F. Benson who sang “Good Night and Good Morning.”
Interment took place in the Fonthill cemetery. The following were pallbearers: Courtland Haist, Harry Metler, Fraser Ryan, Gordon Ryan, F.E. Davidson and Harry Rogers.
[Welland Tribune January 8, 1947]
Konstantin Kokotilo, who had resided for 43 years on Bottridge Street in Hamilton and had lived with his daughter, Mrs John Durley, 174 Beatrice Street , Crowland, for only a few months, died at her home early this morning in his 67th year. He was formerly employed with International Harvester Limited, Hamilton, and was a native of Austrailia. He is survived by his widow, Mrs Kokotilo; also five daughters, Mrs John Elaschuk, Toronto; Mrs John Pelech and Mrs Alfred Martin, Hamilton; Mrs John Durley and Miss Veronica Kokotilo of Crowland, and a son, George David Kokotilo, of Hamilton, and eight grandchildren. He was a member of the Church of St Peter and St Paul while in Crowland.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 11, at 9.30 a.m. from the late residence, Beatrice Street, to the Church of St Peter and St Paul for Requiem Mass at 10 a.m., with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery.
[Welland Tribune January 7, 1947]
The death occurred at the Moyer Nursing home, King street, Humberstone, yesterday of Mrs Margaret Hughes, widow of the late John F. Hughes, in her 79th year.
The late Mrs Hughes was born in Port Colborne and had lived there all her life, residing for many years at 191 Alexandra street. Death followed an illness of about two months. She was a member of St James Anglican church and a life member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the church.
Surviving are two sons, Roswell A. Hughes and Edward A. Hughes, both of Port Colborne, and four grandchildren. Her husband predeceased her in October, 1938.
The funeral will be held from the Dell and Merton funeral home, 50 Clarence street , Port Colborne, on Wednesday, January 8, to St James Anglican church, for service at 2.30 p.m. Rev. H.G.L. Baugh will conduct the service. Interment will be in Overholt’s cemetery.
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