II - BUSINESSWOMEN, BICYCLES, BANDS, AND OTHER BITS
Articles collected from May 22nd, 1952 - September 18th, 1952

MUNICIPALITIES
I was thinking of those men who ran our Town when I was a lad and how they would face up to the problems that confront the present generation. I well remember when 15 or 16 mills on the dollar would run the Town and that on a very low valuation of the various proportions throughout the Municipality. In fact, there used to be a government regulation that forbade a municipality to go over 25 mills. When in the course of making some of the improvements that we now accept as an everyday condition, the limit was being approached. It was considered good business to have the assessment raised. Even then, they usually wound up in the red and, periodically, they would issue debentures to wipe out the accumulated indebtedness. They remind me of a man who once owed McClelland's store a debt that had been piling up. So they sent for him to come in and see them about liquidating the debt. As a result of the conference, a note was drawn up and duly signed and as the gentleman was leaving, he was heard to say with a sigh of relief, "Well, thank God that's paid."

I should think that some of our earlier Town Fathers would die of shock if they were confronted with EIGHTY MILLS. However, they hadn't quite so much government interference with Municipal affairs. And they had less to see to than the present councils have. For instance, Police matters were only a side issue. They didn't have to keep a Town foreman. A couple of old men with a hammer and nails and a wheelbarrow did all the sidewalk repairing. Once in a while, a few roads were scraped. All Town Officials worked for a mere pittance. There were no expensive Fire Trucks to buy and maintain. Streets did not have to have the grass cut; the cattle did that for them. Of course, that generation did see the necessity for improvement for they initiated our Water and Electric Light Utilities.

They began our cement walks. The men who came after them carried on and very materially improved the Town. One thing I noticed when I came into Council was that in making estimates, they never provided anything for contingencies and this was one of the causes of their going into the rod. When I became Chairman of Finance, I made it a matter of policy to provide two or three mills for unforeseen expenditures. Invariably, some people representing good causes would come along with requests for grants and quite frequently, they were granted, often without a thought of where the money was to come from.

Then too, look at our schools and hark back to "those good old days," when you didn't even need to have a Caretaker. Think of a Teacher working for 25 dollars per month, when a Public School Principal got 60 dollars a month. It does seem to me that the present day Teachers don't half appreciate the fact that they are a mighty well paid class; and at that, they don't stay put like some of the old girls that I have known.

Back to Top

THE NIAGARA ADVANCE
Let us reminisce a bit about some of those people I have mentioned before we leave them. Melville Millar was in partnership with Bill Harrison for a time. He was a shrewd businessman. It was while he was with Harrison that they started the Advance. Harrison had been left the plant of the old Niagara Times when Hiram Moshier moved out. Ed Brennan was brought in to run the Advance. It was first located in the present Harrison Building. Brennan finally took over the paper and plant and moved it to the Stewart Building, then owned by Will Campbell whence he again moved to the building on Picton Street. Mr. Millar moved to Toronto, where inaugurated a new Golf Course, which he operated until his retirement some years ago. Millar was quite an amateur artist. He painted a large picture on canvas for St. Mark's Choir, where it was used as a drop curtain in the Parish Hall.

Back to Top

QUEEN'S ROYAL HOTEL GROUNDS
I was looking at what used to be the grounds of the Queen's Royal Hotel the other day. And I couldn't help thinking that there ought to be a sign erected with "Ichabod" on it in letters several feet high. What a place that used to be. It was known all over the Continent of North America. It had its Boathouse where Dan Sherlock looked after the convenience of the Hotel Patrons. Fishing was good.

There was a Bathing Pier and a long row of Bath Houses. There was a long pier jutting out over the bar at which yachts could be moored. A bus and a baggage wagon met boats and trains for the convenience of the guests. There was a long row of stables on King Street opposite the end of Delatre Street. Not many will remember when the spring flowed out near the Railway Bridge. There they had a ram pump that pumped drinking water to the Hotel. Once in a while, some mischievous kid would place a flat stone on top of it and watch with fiendish glee until some irate person from the Hotel would come to put it in motion again. They had an Icehouse at the foot of King Street, later moved up near the Hotel itself. And then the gashouse, where they produced illuminating gas for their buildings. Henry Houle was the Engineer at that plant for years. When we got electric lights its building was moved to the end of the breakwater and a pump installed to furnish bath water for the Hotel Guests. This small building had quite a career, for it was eventually moved again and became the headquarters of the newly formed Golf Club. It has been added to from time to time, until if it could see itself, it would not know it was once a gashouse. Of course, I would not say that it is not still a gashouse, but the product is of a different variety. They had a bowling alley, a long building that stood on the brow of the hill. Bowling went out of fashion and the building was made into sleeping apartments. They also had a Billiard room. This stood just to the right of the gate at the end of Regent Street. As time marched on, Tennis Courts were made and later the bowling green was laid out and the Stables and Bowling Alley removed. Now it is gone, and is only a memory. While McGaw and Winnett ran the place, it certainly was an attraction. During the season, thousands of people came to it from all over.

After Mr. Winnett finally retired from business, it seemed to lose its charm, and finally the buildings were torn down, the contents sold at auction and the then owners allowed the grounds, or what was left of them, to be sold for taxes. Thus passed from our midst, one of Niagara's greatest charms.

And so, time certainly marches on. The Bowling Tournaments and Tennis Tournaments have left us, The Boat Service likewise and the Railway Service. But still, with all these losses, old Niagara has a quiet charm all its own, which has a warm spot in the hearts of the thousands who have lived or visited here and have left us.

Back to Top

BICYCLES
It seems to be that man has from time immemorial had an appetite for speed and has devised many moans to that end. I wonder how many are familiar with the story of Daedalus, who made wings of wax with which to shorten the time of his journey from Crete to Italy. He arrived safely but his son Icarus inadvertently flew just a little too close to the sun and thereby ended his trip in the briny. We hear today of not a few travelers who have ended journeys from here to there in a similarly tragic manner. Verily, there is no new thing under the sun.

I was thinking lately of the bicycle, one of our modern ways of saving time in getting about on this terrestrial ball. Not many will remember the first of these machines. One seemed to be perched in midair. I very well remember them, although I never attempted to mount one of them. Tom Ferguson had one, but they were not plentiful. There were hazards in both mounting and in staying mounted. One was well up in the air on a contraption that might cause one to lose both poise and dignity in the twinkling of an eye. A patch of sand, a hole or a rut and one speedily became a fallen mortal. Of course, we had no hard roads then and the bicycle was not popular with horses. So there came into being certain by-roads called cinder paths. I believe one might find traces of the one that went across the common on the west side of the road, through Paradise Grove. And I would remind you that it was no small feat to get aboard one of these machines, if there was no box or stump in the vicinity. Then, going down a hill always sparked the delightful uncertainty of whether one might just inadvertently (I like that word) alight from his lofty perch and emulate the Moslems, by bowing to the dust with his nose buried therein. And finally, to add to one's humiliation, the chance of finding one's back hair combed by the small rear wheel did nothing to comfort one in one's hour of humiliation. Tires of course, were hard in those days. The pneumatic tire had not then been invented. By the way, I wonder how many of you know how the soft tire came to be thought of. I once read a book by a Judge Bodkin, an Irishman, who tells the story in his book. He had a neighbour, a Mr. Dunlop, in Dublin, who had a boy with an ailing back. He had a tricycle but the jolting of the machine caused him so much pain and discomfort that his father, with some canvas and some rubber contrived a set of soft tires for the tricycle and the boy was thus able to ride his tricycle in comfort. These tires were such a success that Dunlop began manufacturing them for sale and later put up a plant in England. So you motorist who ride bikes or cars may thank a boy's ailing back and a thoughtful parent for the comfort you now enjoy. When the modern bicycle came along, it was rather looked down upon by the bicycling fraternity as being too sissified for 'he men' and it was long known as a "safety bicycle." It soon caught on with the public and now is a very common article on our roads and highways. With the coming of the hard surfaced highways, it became the cause of a lot of conflict. On the one hand, the automobilist seems to think that the rest of the world should leave the world and climb a tree while the poor pedestrian doesn't seem to have a friend. For neither the fellow in the car or the kid on the bicycle seems to care a darn as long as you can hop like a toad out of his way. We have a bylaw that forbids the riding of bicycles on the sidewalks of the town, but in tripping along our streets, you meet many of the younger fry, coursing along as if the world belonged to them. They sometimes make a nuisance of themselves on the road, as one often sees them weaving about in a most confusing manner. It all boils down to this: motorists, Bicyclists, and pedestrians should all practice courtesy. If you do this, you'll be a much nicer fellow to get along with. I cannot refrain from pointing out to motorist and cyclist alike that the fellow on foot was here first and has his rights. Besides, you fellows on wheels will live a lot longer if you forget to hurry once in a while.

Back to Top

BANDS
I used to hear a character on the radio years ago, one Baron Munchausen. Any of you who are acquainted with the Baron know that the Baron had a reputation of being a teller of tall tales. He had a servant named Charlie, who sometimes seemed to doubt the exact truthfulness of some of the Baron's tales and the Baron's invariable retort to Charlie was "Was you there, Charlie." I am almost tempted to ask that some question of my readers, when I think of the splendid Band Concert given in our Town Hall of Thursday of last week. What a Band. I have hears a good many band concerts in my time, and I don't believe I ever heard a better one than that which was given by Fred Willett and the Thorold Reed Band. It is a splendid organization and Thorold must be proud of it. It seemed to me to be a well-balanced group, and every section of it was excellent in itself. Its sweetness of tone was lovely in its softer numbers, while at times its volume was thrilling. The busiest men in the outfit were the leader and the drummer. On these two depend much of the timing and they were perfect. The trumpeters were sweet and melodious and the rest of the brass section filled in the harmony and the background well indeed. The reed section was sweet and the timing and the precision of the whole group was admirable. As to the several numbers on the programme, they were all well done, but I think I liked the Poet and Peasant overture best. I have listened to many of the find bands that have made their appearance at the Exhibition Band Shell at Toronto, and I couldn't help thinking while listening to the Thorold Band, that they would fit in there as well as those bands that are imported from over the border.

Being good enough to take prizes on various occasions, why aren't they good enough for a place at the Fair where people from all over the Continent can hear them. Anyway, those who heard them enjoyed a treat while those that stayed away missed an opportunity to hear good music. On behalf of those of us who were there, may I say "Thank you, Fred Willett, and your fine Band. They are well led and well trained, by a very talented leader. In lighter vein, how about taking up a small collection towards getting father George a new head covering. He was so darned proud of his son Fred and his Band that I was afraid his cap wouldn't fit him any more. And his smile, well you should see it. One can understand why the word "smiles" is the longest in the English Language because there is a mile between the first and last letters. What Baron Munchausen could do with that small world. Thanks again Fred and we hope to hear you again.

[From January 28^th, 1954:]
Many years ago, I was in the 19th Lincoln Regiment when our Town had No. 1 Company of that body as its very own. Like everything else that it could, St. Catharines was instrumental in having our Company taken away and added to their own three companies to make a four-company battalion. However, I had the duty and pleasure of marching behind the Band of that day, then led by an old gentleman named McManus. His son Billy formed one of the first Bugle Bands and incidentally had himself made Bugle Major, thus depriving our Bugle Major Jimmy Hartley of that rank. The Regiment was then commanded by George Carlisle of St. Catharines. I never dreamed in that far off day, that I would ever hear the band of that same regiment give a concert in a Niagara Park and wonder of wonders, under the leadership of a resident of the Town of Niagara. And would you believe it, it was on my birthday too, for which I must thank Art Willett. I think everybody and his wife were there, for there was the biggest crowd in and about the Park that I have seen in many a day. And the Band. My favorite music is Band Music. I think there is more variety of tone and harmony in a good band than in any other form of making music. In my long life, I have listened to all kinds of bands under all kinds of leaders. We always had a band of our own and as long as I can remember, there have been bands visiting the Town. Our own band had many calls out of town. I can remember them leading a funeral procession at Fort Niagara at the funeral of Captain Dove who had been drowned by crossing the river. The tune they played as a dead march was Sicilian Mariners. And they were always available at any local celebration. And there is much in the type of leader that a band has. I remember that one year, when troops were arriving in Camp, the York Rangers were marching up the hill from the boat landing. Their leader was a little bit of a man and he brought them up that darned hill at such a quick pace that the men simply couldn't keep step. A bandleader has a great deal to do with arranging the number and kinds of instruments in his band besides training the players. I must say that in my humble opinion, Bandmaster Willett is doing a fine job. Anyone knowing the Willett family would expect nothing else. Anyway it was a fine night and a fine concert and one could wish that more such were available. Many Towns pay good money for such concerts and they are beyond price.

Back to Top

THOROLD TOWN BAND [November 19^th, 1953]
It is too bad that we have no Town Band. For more years than I can remember, the Town had a Band. When I heard that Fred Willett was coming to Niagara with his Thorold Band, I thought we were in for a treat. I was always fond of Band music and I always made a point when I could get to the Toronto Fair, to listen to the various good bands that were to be heard at the Band Shell. And they had good ones too, both English and American. But I honestly think that the Band I heard on Wednesday night in our Town Hall was just as good as the best of them. And let me tell you that Fred Willett, as a Conductor, appears to be just tops.

I used to do a little tooting at one time myself, and I listened with the utmost satisfaction to the various performers. Taking the Band as a whole, their timing was delightful. They started off with a march that was performed with vigor, and a volume that was simply great. They had a soloist in one number that performed miracles of triple tonguing and he seemed to do it with ease. He was a dandy. I noticed another player alongside of him who got a lovely, sweet tone from his instrument.

I think I enjoyed the number "Little Brown Jug" about as much as any. It was announced as a Clarinet Solo, but every time the soloist started up, some group would stand up and steal his thunder. Sometimes the Trumpets would take over, or the Trombones, or the Basses, or the Reed Section. He finally got in the last lick, however. The number "Atlantis" was splendid and the familiar "Colonel Bogie" was great. That, by the way, is my favorite March. The Chorale, the concluding number was beautiful. Thorold is to be envied and congratulated on having such a musical organization and the Band is to be congratulated on having such a conductor. Truly, it was a fine performance by and excellent band. We listen every Monday evening to "The Band of America," led by Paul Lavelle, but I would prefer to listen to the "Thorold Reed Band', led by Fred Willett, rather than any band I hear on the radio.

Back to Top

NIAGARA'S TOWN BAND [From January 28^th, 1954]
So far, we have discussed musicians more from the vocal standpoint. A few words about other kinds of music and musicians would not be out of place. As long ago as I can remember, we had a Town Band. For a long time, Professor McKie was Bandmaster. The Band met in the old Stone Barracks, now the Masonic Hall. They had a room whose door opened on Prideaux Street. After the Masons acquired the building that door was closed, the building roughcast as it is at present. The McKies lived nearby on Prideaux Street in the house now that of Mrs. Florence Scott. They also owned the one next door. The Band had their quarters later on in the Rogers Block at the corner of Queen and Gate Streets, which building was taken down long ago. After Mr. McKie passed on, Charlie Sage and Dick Allen led the Band. Sage was a Painter who worked for Willard Platt at the old Carriage Works on Johnson Street. He was a good cornetist, but when Mr. Platt's business seemed to fold up, Charlie went to Detroit, coming back here eventually to end his days. One must remember that Bands and their instruments have undergone great changes since the days of which I write. Tommy Allen, Jack Sadler and Charlie Sage were fine artists with the cornet. You never hear of a cornet nowadays. Of course, they are all trumpeters now. I remember two tall men as Drummers, Sam Campbell and John Elliott, and Charlie Smith with his kettledrum. George and Henry Ellison played the heavy basses, as did Johnny Garrett later on. Bill Clark, Bob Allen and John Lavell were long time members of the Band, as was Bill Curtis.

I couldn't begin to tell you of all the men who played in that old Band. They are all gone, except perhaps Ike Lavell. Do you know, that old band played a useful part in the life of the Town. Any holiday and any public gathering was not complete without the old Band. We must still have sufficient musical talent among our men to man a Band and I am sure most of us wish that someone would come along who would undertake to get up a Band.

Back to Top

OUR OLD TOWN BAND
Before we leave the subject of Bands, some of us were talking of our old Town Band, and the people who belonged to it. We were wondering what had become of the instruments that were used by the Band. There used to be quite a collection of these instruments. I remember that when the Polish Army was here, they borrowed the instruments and made up a Band of their own, and they used to play. I well remember the original Armistice Day Parade in which the Poles took part and the Band played for the parade. I think it must have been earlier during the First World War, that Chadwick took charge of the Band. He however, took charge of a Band going overseas and our Band then became defunct. I was under the impression that the Poles returned the instruments and that they were stored in the room in the upper story of the Town Hall. Perhaps someone can tell us what became of them, as they were the property of the Town after the Band folded up.

Perhaps someone may come along and start up a band. I remember Mr. Coombs of St. Catharines giving a talk about a chap who arrived at a small town and who had some musical talent. He used to play for his own amusement, but his music attracted others and led ultimately to the formation of a musical group that enriched and enlivened the whole community. Let us hope someone like that will turn up here. There is plenty of musical talent in the Town if someone would uncover it and turn it to some use for entertainment of the people of the Town and surrounding Territory.

Back to Top

MUSICIANS
THE BLAKE FAMILY
Having discoursed at some length about those who have lived in our Town, I thought it might be acceptable to say a little about people who had not been so practical in their contribution but have, nevertheless, given something to add to the enjoyment of life by the people. I am referring to the Musicians who have been among our citizens in the years past.

There have been families and individuals, some of whom have been prominent in musical circles and some not so much so. Miss Carnochan, in her History of Niagara, makes mention of various musical people, many of whom I remember. There were the Blakes, for one example of a musical family. Ada Blake was organist at St. Andrew's Church when I first remember her and she was followed by her sister Annie, now Mrs. Harrison. Both were and are fine musicians and were quite generous in their services, not only to their Church but also to many other musical organizations. Their other sister, Gertrude Blake sang in the Choir for many years, besides being active in the Sunday school and the Bible Society.

THE BURNS FAMILY
Another family that gave much in the way of musical services was that of the Burns. Robert, Joe and Salome were all gifted musicians. Bob had a dandy bass voice, while Joe sang tenor and Salome was an organist and pianist of great talent. Many of the old folks will remember Bob Burns as having the Dry Goods Store in the building now occupied by the Greaves Factory, while Joe Burns will be remembered as Town Clerk and later Collector of Customs.

WILLIAM QUINN
I remember William Quinn when he first arrived in Niagara. He was a musician of great ability and it annoyed him greatly that all the Church Organists were female. He said to me one day, "Think of it: four Churches in this Town, and a brat of a girl on every organ stool in the place." They were at that time, Miss Alice Paffard in St. Mark's, Miss Mary Walsh in St. Vincent's, Miss Salome Burns in Grace Church, and Miss Blake in St. Andrew's. Mr. Quinn was a bit eccentric, but he knew music and had been a Church Organist in Ireland before coming to Canada. I remember a certain lady, a summer resident, who asked Mr. Quinn about some repairs to her violin and he offered to fix it for her. Having made the necessary repairs and having tuned it, he tried it out and was struck with the fine tone of the instrument. He saw George Ellison passing and knowing that Mr. Ellison was a violinist himself, he called him in to listen to the instrument as he played on it. Mr. Ellison too, admired its tone and he said, "I didn't know you played the violin," Mr. Quinn. "Ah, said Mr. Quinn, "if you knew all I know, you'd be a wise man." I remember that the late Canon Garrett had composed a little hymn for the infant class in Sunday school, and Mr. Quinn wrote a tune to fit it. It was quite a nice tune, too and later on Professor McKie who was then our Bandmaster made a March out of the same tune. So you see that we had musical talent in our wee Town.

MR. ANDREWS
We once had a Music Teacher named Andrews who was Organist of St. Mary's on the Hill in Buffalo. He taught our Choir for six months and while he was at it, he founded a Choral Society and nearly all the young singers of the Town belonged to it. I was quite amused soon after we got started, to notice that few singers among the sopranos, could take the high "C", only perhaps four of five of them, but you know how it is, girls. We can't let anybody put anything over on us, so it wasn't long till girls that had never had even a nodding acquaintance with a high note, were lifting the roof. I was taught that example is better than precept, and it was proven to be true in this case. I think Mrs. Harrison was one of the few that could set an example, for she had a good voice. In the course of our practices, Mr. Andrews divided us into two parts. Our division of the basses was placed behind a row of tenors and I just happened to notice that a tenor in front of us was holding his music upside down but singing away with great gusto.

THE ELLISONS
The three Ellisons played in the Band for years and were all of them good all around musicians.

THE CLAUS AND PAFFARD GIRLS
There were two Claus girls who were good musicians. Kate, the elder, was organist at St. Mark's for years, while Nellie was the leading soprano. Kate was succeeded by Alice Paffard, daughter of our long time Mayor. She was sometimes relieved by her sister, Bertha. My brother Charlie and I used to alternate in pumping the Organ six mornings a week from eight to nine o'clock for Miss Paffard, for which we received the remuneration of five whole cents per hour. Miss Paffard continued as Organist for a good many years, until the family moved from Town.

D'ARCY CASKEY
Another Town man who had a great deal of musical ability was D'Arcy Caskey. He was in a Glee Club for years and many a pleasant evening we spent in the home on Davy Street. I don't know of any of that Club who are still in the land of the living except myself. D'Arcy was a gifted fellow in many ways. He was with his brother-in-law, Jim Skelton, in the old Niagara Times for a time, besides being a pretty fair farmer. Owing to a breakdown in health, he gave up his work with the paper and took to carpentering at which he was good. He served St. Andrews for years in the Choir as its leader and afterwards served Grace Church in a similar capacity. We among us expanded our Glee Club into a Choral Society, of which Mr. Caskey was Musical Director and I was President. D'Arcy's last sphere of usefulness was as Librarian of our Public Library, which office he filled until the Grim Reaper terminated a long and useful life.

GEORGE CORK AND ALBERT ANDREWS
I was privileged to attend school under two Principals who were musical. George Cork in Public School and Albert Andrews in High School. Both had musical ability of a very high capacity. Mr. Cork sang in the Methodist Choir, and took part in many musical events of the day. I well remember a Cantata he organized and in which I had a small part, having to recite a poem called "Boys Rights." My first appearance in Public and golly was I scared. It seemed to me that the audience was just one big eye staring at me. Mr. Andrews was leader of the Methodist Choir for some time and he just fairly reeked with music. I shall never forget the singsongs we had at High School with him and he fairly oozed his pleasure in them. But, alas, time marches on and these dear men with it. I can only recollect two of Mr. Andrews' pupils left in Town beside myself.

ARCHIE HAINES
We must not overlook Archie Haines in our list of Musicians. Most of us will remember the Singsongs he conducted in Simcoe Park on Sunday evenings during a good many summers. I must confess that I liked and admired Archie very much and I was sorry when he passed on. He gave many years' service to St. Andrew's Church as Leader of the Choir. He served the Town in Council for ten years and I always reckoned him as one of our best men. Such men are not easy to replace.

Back to Top

FLAGS
I want to say something about Flags. This has been in my mind for some time. We are continually seeing letters from people advocating a Canadian Flag as separated from the Union Jack. Some years ago, there were submitted to the
Dominion Government, a multiplicity of suggestions as to a flag to be adopted. There seemed to be no settled opinion as to the make up of a flag and so the matter was allowed to drop. Well, "I was born in Canada, beneath the British Flag. My grandfather, my father, myself, my brothers all have served under that flag and were proud to do so. My family has been in Canada over a hundred years, and never wanted any other emblem.

But for those who desire something distinctive for Canada, I have a suggestion to make. I have a stand of colours that I secured for the Royal visit in 1939. Australia and New Zealand are represented by a Union Jack of a dark blue colour. In an early translation of the French Version of "O Canada" there is a line which runs thus, "Thy brow is crowned with leaves of red and gold. " My thought is that we should retain the Jack in the upper corner of our Flag, but vary the colour of the fly. I would like a nice golden colour with a large Red Maple leaf. Our country is known all over the world by the Maple Leaf. Or, make the colour a darker tinge of red, say maroon, with a large golden maple leaf. I would prefer the first of these suggestions myself, but why not invite opinions from the readers of this paper. But let us remember that we are British and intend to remain so. It is a proud heritage. It has been fought for and no doubt will be again, if necessary.

Back to Top

BUSINESS WOMEN OF OUR TOWN
MRS. WILSON
I thought I should like to reminisce a bit about the women of our Town who have carried on businesses of various kinds. I have hitherto not said much about the women as they might resent a mere male discussing them. But however, here goes. The first woman that I remember in business was a Mrs. Wilson who had a Candy Shop on Ricardo Street. She had a small frame house consisting of two rooms and a lean-to kitchen. The one room, as you entered, was the shop. Here she sold candies and biscuits, also Ned Patterson's bread. I occasionally had the job of lugging a large basketful of the same bread from Patterson's shop, which was located in the McKenzie building. She kept some chickens, which could frequently be seen strolling about the floor of the shop. The other room at the front was her living room. Here she slept and knitted and entertained her cronies who gathered to discuss the people and their doings. Of course, we poor males were never allowed in here, except that some of that sex once entered there in the night and robbed the old lady. After that, my sister slept with her for company for a long time. The old lady's hiding place for her little hoard of cash had been under a corner of her rag carpet and the robbers evidently had known of her hiding place for they went directly to it. After that, she used to put it in a pitcher and hide it in her kitchen stove. Unfortunately, she forgot it one morning and there emerged from the ashes, a molten lump of mingled copper and silver. The old lady finally left for Ballymiladdy in Northern Ireland, whence she had come and we knew her no more.

MRS. YOUNG AND MRS. MELLON
Down the street in the house now the Quinn's, lived the Youngs and Mrs. Young also had a bit of a Candy shop and next to her on the corner, her mother Mrs. Mellon, kept a Boarding House. I only knew Auntie Mellon by sight, but one thing I remember being told about her. My Dad was sailing a Schooner that had been laid up for the winter in the slip in full sight of Mellon's windows. On St. Patrick's Day, some one put a St. Patrick up in the rigging of the vessel as was quite often done in those days. A Norwegian sailor whose name I never knew, was ship keeper and Mrs. Mellon prayed that he would be drowned and his body never found, which actually came to pass not long afterwards.

MRS. MORRISON
My father had sent the sailor and my Uncle Johnny Keith out with the yawl boat to carry an anchor out which would be used to warp the ship out from the shore, the wind being easterly. Somehow, the line became foul and carried boat and men down. My uncle escaped, but the Norwegian never came up. In this same house later on, a Mrs. Morrison kept boarders. She was a dear, motherly old soul, whom everybody liked. She also kept in the house, now the home of Mrs. Steve Sherlock. This house formerly stood on Delatre Street and the Morrisons had it moved to its present location. The last place where Mrs. Morrison kept boarders was in the O'Melia house on Ricardo Street. She was a dear old soul and was a loss to the neighbourhood where she died.

MRS. LONG
Another woman who was in business was Mrs. Long. When I first remember her, she was keeping the Lake View House and it was while she was there that the roof burned off the house, whereupon she moved up town to the Whitewings, which then stood where Ernest Kemsley's building now stands. She must have been in business a long time, for at one time she occupied the building that stood next to Marino's and at another she was in the hotel, later that of Jim Walsh. I have seen her name over the door there. She was a very respectable person and always kept a good house. Her son Bill Long was also a well known Hotel man who built and occupied the Hotel now known as the Prince of Wales.

MRS. MARY SHERLOCK
A woman who will be remembered by many of the present day was Mrs. Mary Sherlock. I remember her as keeping store in Marino's, where she sold fruit and vegetables. She was a good businesswoman, having been left a widow with a family. Her husband was a comparatively young man when he died. They then lived in the building that now houses the restaurant next door. She later moved to the Dock, after purchasing the house now occupied by her daughter-in-law, where she carried on a successful business keeping boarders, later purchasing the house on the corner where she continued business. Any woman who can face the world and care for a family, making a living for herself and a growing family of children, deserves a medal. It's a wonder someone hasn't brought for this idea before now.

THE MISSES PETLEY
Two good women who once were in a business which continues to the present day, were located in a building which once stood about on the site of Daley's store, but which was burned in the big fire of 1886. They were the Misses Petley and they had a Dressmaking and Millinery business. However, being burned out did not deter these good women from carrying on, so they moved to a small shop which then occupied the site of Gus Tranter's Tonsorial Establishment. Here they carried on until their days were numbered, when Mrs. Mulholland inherited the business and she and her son Tom carried on and expanded the business. Tom, by the way, was a schoolmate of mine in High School and we afterwards sat together on the High School Board. Tom unfortunately did not live to the ripe old age one who knew him could have wished for him and he left his widow and young son to carry on.

MRS. MULHOLLAND
The second Mrs. Mulholland was equally successful with her predecessors. She has recently passed on leaving her son Joseph to carry on the good work. The new store and dwelling are a credit to the community and while the present owner of the business is a good businessman, I wish to lay emphasis on the part these good women have played in the business life of the community. At the same time, I must give Joe a pat on the back. He certainly is clever and has a good artistic sense and runs the business on sound lines. Long may he continue.

MRS. JAMES SWIFT
A pioneer in the making and selling of ice cream in our Town was Mrs. James Swift. She started her business in the McKenzie building. She was famous for the quality of her light cakes that accompanied the cream. One received a good big dish of ice cream and a generous slice of cake for a dime. Her customers among the young people of the day were numerous, but her supply was limited, as her product was all hand made. She raised a large family as Mrs. Gurvine, but in later life, she married James Swift, a quiet, grave, dignified old gentleman whom I well remember. This business proved so successful that the dear lady built a new store across the way, now the Home Bakery. Here she carried on until she and her husband were called hence.

MRS. MARA MURPHY
Mrs. Swift's venture having proved successful, Mrs. Mara Murphy emulated her and opened a similar establishment in the Kearins store, which then stood on the site of the Brock Theatre. After Mrs. Swift moved across the street, she moved into the place vacated by Mrs. Swift, and in the course of time, she too passed on.

When I was young, Harry Woodington had a grocery business in the brick building which now houses The Family Store. He also had the Liquor Store in the shop now Eaton's Order Office. Harry died suddenly leaving to his widow the task of carrying on, which she did very successfully. One must admire that quality in a woman who suddenly is deprived of provider and who rises to meet the responsibilities thus thrust upon her with courage and good sense. However, Mrs. Bottomley, as she was later known, played her part and played it well. She met Joe Bottomley, a commercial traveler and married him, but Joe, while a nice fellow with a handsome face and smooth tongue, was not much help to Margery, and eventually left her and died in England. She later, feeling the weight of advancing years, closed up the business.

THE MISSES MILLER
Then there was the Misses Miller who kept Boarding Houses in various parts of the Town. They were related to Mrs. Bottomley, but owing to a family quarrel, had no dealings with her. There were four sisters, two of whom stayed with Mrs. Bottomley, the other two preferring to be on their own. The last place where they did business was in the old Kirby home on Front Street. Old age overtook them and wrote finis to their business career and their lives.

MRS. PADDY MILES
The Caughill coal business was started by Paddy Miles, after he retired from his job as Conductor on the Michigan Central Railway. After his death, Mrs. Miles carried on for some years quite successfully, ultimately disposing of the business to Harvey Caughill. Mrs. Miles was for many years, housekeeper to the late Senator Plumb and after his death, she built and occupied the cottage, now the home of Mrs. Bernard on King Street. Mrs. Miles was a tall, quiet-mannered woman and was liked and respected by all who knew her.

MRS. ARTHUR HARVEY
Mrs. Arthur Harvey operated the Oban Inn for a number of years and did it very well, but finances forced her to give it up. It became the property of the Holmwoods and Mrs. Holmwood made quite a success of it, so much so that after the death of her husband, she was able to dispose of it to good advantage and moved to the States.

MISS IONA BILLING
The names of some others occur to me but as they are still with us, I feel a bit dubious about discussing their abilities in a business way. Miss Iona Billing was a good businesswoman and carried on the Shoe Business that she purchased from the estate of Peter Healey.

MISS SPENCER
Miss Spencer has had a long career in the restaurant and tourist home business and has been very successful.

Back to Top

PROMINENT WOMEN IN OUR TOWN
MISS AUGUSTA WINTERBOTTOM
Perhaps it would not be a bad idea to reminisce a bit about some of the women who have made a mark in our Town. There was Augusta Winterbottom, who for many long years taught in Public School. A very energetic person she was and a fine teacher. There was not much money in teaching in her day, but that did not prevent her from putting zest into her work. I have heard my mother tell of going to school to her in the Stone Barracks, which later became the Masonic Hall. Many years later, my daughter taught an overflow class in the same building. Of course, I had the privilege of being one of Gussie's pupils, for we never thought of calling her anything else, except to her face. Miss Winterbottom taught in St. Mark's Sunday school as far back as I can remember and was still there when I became Superintendent of the School. She was very much interested in the Public Library and spent fifteen years as its Librarian. Altogether, she was a very useful citizen and most worthy of an honoured place in our Book of Remembrance.

KATE CREED
One lady who was more of a contemporary of my own was Kate Creed. Kate was the daughter of Obadiah Creed, an old soldier, who was for some years, Janitor of one or the other of the Town Schools. Kate was for a long time, a teacher in our Public School, but after leaving here, she taught in St. Catharines. She never gave up her home here, however and always was active In Church and Sabbath schoolwork. She also was very prominent in the work of the Niagara Historical Society. I had many conversations with her on historical matters and she once suggested to me that I should take over a part of an essay which she proposed to do for the Historical Society and which she was to call "Vanishing Niagara." She suggested that I should do the Dock part, as I was familiar with that part of the Town. This plan was carried out and she intended to have both papers printed as a pamphlet for and by the Historical Society. The printing never was done and in later years when she and I were convalescing from illness in the local hospital, she suggested to me that we should each revise our papers and have them printed. So I went over mine and I suppose she did likewise, but unfortunately she became ill and died. I contributed my paper to the Niagara Advance where it was printed, but her paper and others of her papers seem to have been done away with, much to my regret. For she had compiled a most interesting description of places about the Town which would have proved valuable in days to come.

Certainly, Kate Creed made a valuable contribution to the life of our Town and I am glad to have been able to pay this small tribute to her memory. She did not spare herself and well deserves some memorial from the many that benefited from having known her.

MRS. MUSSEN
Another lady that I have in mind is Mrs. Mussen. I knew this lady's family, the McGaws, from my boyhood days, as her father was one of the proprietors of the Queen's Royal Hotel and Christine and her family spent at least part of every summer here. She finally met Joe Mussen and married him and they came to live here permanently. Their home at the corner of Queen and Simcoe Streets became one of the show places of the Town. She was prominent in Church work, having served for many years in the Ladies' Parish Guild. She was also one of the first members of the local Women's Institute, and was its head for many years. She was also active in Girl Guide work and was well up in the ranks of that movement. She also served for some time on the Board of Education and on the Board of the Public Library. She too, was a worthwhile person to have in our midst and one whose place it is not easy to fill.

MRS. ELIZABETH ASCHER
I feel that I should not pass over Mrs. Elizabeth Ascher in mentioning women of note in our Town. Although she was my own sister, still she was a person of importance and one of considerable ability. She was for many years the local correspondent of the St. Catharines Standard and while serving in that capacity, she also wrote many articles that were printed in Toronto and Buffalo papers. She was Regent of the I. O. D. M. for many years. She also served as Secretary of the old Public School Board and when the Board of Education was formed, became its Secretary and served as such for some years. Perhaps her greatest claim to remembrance lies in the active interest that she showed in the welfare of the Polish soldiers and people. She laboured diligently in gathering articles of clothing which were sent to the people of Poland who suffered great hardships during the First Great War. She was an active member of the Niagara Historical Society and contributed articles of interest to the publications of that Society as did also some others whom I have mentioned or shall mention in these reminiscences, notably Miss Creed and Miss Carnochan. The Polish people appreciated her work for them and bestowed on her the Polish Cross, which entitled her to the equivalent of "Dame" in Polish as her title. Another of her activities was in the old and forgotten Niagara Literary and Musical Society of which she was a junior member in her early days.

MISS SALOME BURNS
Another lady whom I should like to mention was Miss Salome Burns, who played the organ in the Methodist Church for many years. She was one of a very musical family, both of her brothers Bob and Joe being well known for their musical talent.

This trio of musicians could be found in the ranks of almost all of the various organizations of their day. Bob was Choirmaster of the Methodist Church for years. Salome had some renown as a Music Teacher. She was a quiet, ladylike person, respected and well liked by all who knew her.

ADA AND ANNIE BLAKE
Another family of musicians I must speak of is the Blakes. Ada and Annie Blake were famous for their musical talent. Ada, the elder, of these two sisters, unfortunately for us, married and went away many years ago, but Annie is still with us in the person of Mrs. Will Harrison. She is an accomplished organist and pianist, serving in turn St. Andrews and Grace Churches.

There is much that could be said about the women in general of a past day, and perhaps it is rather presumptuous of a mere man to speak about the sex. But one must remember that all of us men were born of woman, hence we have a vital interest in the sex. I remember that I used to belong to the Order of United Workmen and most of us had wives, who, of course were women.

We used to have an annual open meeting and all the dear women vied with one another in providing cakes and pies and other edibles dear to the heart of man. It was quite noticeable to us men that only a very few of the dear ladies could make a really good pie or cake. Of course, we men made sandwiches and made them right but other succulent articles were beyond our capacity, except to consume them. A rivalry was set up among the ladies and it was quite remarkable what a lot of them improved their cookery or bakery or whatever you call it. Now, very few women there are among us who can't make pies and cakes fit for any man's taste. Nothing like a little competition is there, girls.

I want to take a little time out to speak of other things. While listening to a Band Concert in the Park a while ago, I was asked if I remembered a fence around the Park. For nearly forty years now, the Park has been furnishing entertainment to the Town people and visitors. I dare say most of us take it for granted. It has been with us during two World Wars and we have had some very noteworthy happenings and celebrations within its bounds. This past summer, we have had a very outstanding musician in charge of it. He furnished a fine orchestra for dancing and he gave free an admirable Band Concert by the Band, which he conducts. And more than that, he kept the grounds scrupulously clean and gave good service to the people, something that was decidedly lacking the last year or two. So why not speak up or write up and give Fred a pat on the back for his good work. I know he would appreciate a word or two from you and me and all of us.

Back to Top

CIGARS AND CIGARETTES
Lest I be accused of unduly knocking the female sex, perhaps it would be as well to comment on some changes in the habits of the males. One think I have seen is the change in smoking habits. When I was a boy, the cigarette was not a man's smoke. Only the sissies and dudes would be guilty of using them. Men smoked cigars and pipes. Well I remember the old clay pipes and the corncobs. A few of the very old women smoked a pipe. My Dad smoked, as did most of the men of his time. But now, I'll be darned if I like to see a woman or girl smoking. It may be smart and it may be fashionable, but to me it is a disgusting habit. I don't suppose that lipstick and cigarette smoke add to a woman's charm for the male sex. But we were through with discussing woman. Cigar butts were common on our streets. Some of our "lewd fellows of the baser sort," used to pick them up. We called that practice, "Shooting Snipe." There was one thing about the cigar: when you threw it away, it just went out. The cigarette, on the other hand, has caused many a fire as most of them, if thrown down, will smolder away to ashes. Eddie O'Melia and I saved the steamboat wharf from going up in flames one windy night. Someone had thrown down a lighted cigarette and it landed among some dry refuse in a crack in the planking. It was burning nicely when we sighted it and dumped some pails full of water over the fire.

Back to Top

FIGS IN NIAGARA
I was listening to the radio the other day, and some paper was telling of some man who had a fig tree some place in Ontario, which naturally grew figs. I very well remember figs being grown right here in little old Niagara in the banana belt of Ontario. Some of the older people will remember Henry Paffard. Besides being our dispenser of drugs and medicines and being our Mayor whenever he cared to be and doing a few dozen other things for the people of Niagara, he was a pretty good gardener. His garden has been changed into a hive of industry, wherein Art Wilson and his myrmidons convert the motorists' needs into coin of the realm. This garden included also the Greaves property adjoining. Here Henry Paffard lived in the house, which was removed to another site, and here he took pleasure in a beautiful garden and it was a well-known fact that he grew figs.

Another gentleman who loved gardens and gardening was Charles Hunter. He built the house now owned by the Salts and he too grew figs in his garden. In later years, John Morgan owned and occupied the place and I remember meeting him on Queen Street one day. He had a quart berry box full of ripe figs and I had the pleasure of being the grateful recipient of one of those delicious fruits, which I consumed forthwith with great gusto. Yum-yum. So when you hear someone bragging about fruits, we can swell out our chests and feel proud of the climate that we enjoy. Someone about here has grown lemons too. Perhaps some of my readers can furnish information on this head.

Back to Top

GARDENS
It must be an eye opener for some of our visitors from below the border to see the profusion of beautiful blooms that are found in the gardens of the Niagara Parks Commission. But you will find in the gardens of our Town, many lovely sights. For instance, Irving Gordon's place on John Street is well worth a visit for he seems to have the gift for producing flowers in abundance. And any of the larger summer residences furnish a variety of flowers not to be surpassed anywhere in Ontario.

Another of our citizens who has a nice taste in gardening and horticulture is Doug Rodgers. His own place is a sight for sore eyes and he has done much for others in laying out grounds and plots of plants and flowers. I see no harm in commenting on some of the beauties and attractions of our Town and District.

Many of us are prone to grumble at our climate, but we don't have tornadoes or earthquakes, neither do we have the torrid heat of the tropics or the biting cold of the polar regions. While we have our dry spells, we are not burned up like some spots in the U.S.A., nor do we get cloudbursts such as they have had in Texas and California.

Back to Top

MOTION PICTURES
I remember the first motion picture that I ever saw. It was on Yonge Street in Toronto. It was a little dump of a place, seating about 50 or sixty people. The old flicks were very trying on the eyes. That would be about 60 years ago. The first picture show in our Town was brought here by Mrs. Norris in 1913. I remember her coming to the Town Council of which I was a member and seeking to rent the small hall. We agreed on terms and the show was ushered in and she carried on there for a while. Then, when the First World War came along, she built the present theatre. She does not seem to have made a success of it however and ultimately gave it up. She had ideas, but not sufficient dollars to carry them out. She had contracted so much debt that she could not pay. George Reid bought the place and moved his business from his old building. Mrs. Norris later ran the Oban Inn for a time but was not successful there either. So she departed hence and the place knew her no more. She ran a Boarding House at Camp Borden for a time in the early days of its becoming a Military Camp.

Back to Top

ROADS
The Town has undergone many changes as to Streets and Roads in my time. As I look at our new Hospital, I think of the sunken roads that led through its grounds from the head of Melville Street to the end of Picton Street. That was the short cut from the Dock to the Uptown section. There was no road on Byron Street from St. Mark's Church to the Fort. I remember that General Logie lived in the Ellison house, now the home of the Legion during the time of the big Camp in 1915 and he had a tennis court built on Byron Street, just in front of where Jack Harrison's house now stands. There was no road on Wellington Street from Byron to Picton. The main highway to the River Road was that running across the Common to Picton Street. This was closed to traffic by the Army while the Camp was here and the only way to get to the River Road was by way of John Street, which wasn't much of a road for traffic. There was no through road by way of Ricardo Street either. Queen Street from Simcoe was not much used, as there were no houses out that way. From the end of Queen Street, a road led along the Lake bank outside a fence that bounded the Crooks Farm. I remember driving Ned Patterson's horse and wagon along that road to get to the Two Mile Pond where men were fishing dragnets. I should think that about one hundred feet of shore has been eroded since that time. In 1924, I was Assessor and had the task of dividing the Chautauqua land into lots. Since that time, fully 50 feet have gone into the Lake. Nobody worried very much about that, however, but since this particular piece of land has been built upon, the chorus of complaints has been heard all around the Lakefront on both sides of the line. My own experience has been that in five or six years, you will hear an equally loud anthem about low water. Another road used as a short cut was on the Mississauga Common from Front Street to Mississauga Street. Another ran from Queen Street to Houle's Hollow, just west of Fort Mississauga. How many remember where Kennedy's Hollow was located. It was at the lake end of Queen Street. There can still be seen, part of the road that led down to the Beach. And how many know where the Half Moon Battery was. All traces of it were removed by the Parks Commission but I think I could locate it from the water, as there is quite a prominent point on the shore.

Back to Top

VANDALISM
One often hears the saying "Boys will be boys." All right, but they needn't be destructive hoodlums. Some of the latter variety of boys have mutilated the swings in the park. It would give me much pleasure to see those boys well kicked with a solid pair of top boots with copper toecaps so darned hard that they wouldn't sit down comfortably for a while. Boys, those things are not fun. They just serve to show that you have not grown up to have any common sense. A great many small children take a lot of enjoyment out of those swings and you ought to be darned well ashamed of yourselves. And to smear with old paint, a well-painted fence isn't funny. One reads so much and hears so much of deeds of violence committed by teenagers, that one may be pardoned for regretting that all of us must pass that period of life to which these young hoodlums belong. Apparently, we have some of them in our midst. There are so many opportunities for the youth of this day to make something of themselves, too. Many more than were available when I was in my teens. One heard on every hand, "Go over to the States. You'll never get anywhere in Canada." That is all changed, and one hears nothing but encouragement about Canada and its golden opportunities. So, if our teenagers would only put their overflowing spirits into making something of themselves and their country. How much better it would be for them and their community rather than to sneak around under cover of darkness and be up to silly and destructive pranks that serve no good purpose and cause annoyance and expense to their neighbours.

Back to Top