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Anyone who knows the River and the Lake knows that when you have a succession of northerly and easterly winds, as we have had lately, these winds drive all the dirt onto our shore. This is especially true of the long eddy below the Steamboat Wharf and extending to Mississaugua Point. Sewage has been flowing down the Niagara for ages. We who have fished nightlines in the River have had means of acquiring firsthand knowledge of its pollution. So Dr. Curry's discovery makes us old timers smile a bit.
As boys, we never used what is now called the Lions Beach for bathing. It was too dirty for us boys for one thing and too public for another. Our favorite spots were at Houle's Hollow and the big rock above the old Ferry. In case you don't know where Houle's Hollow is, it is just beyond Fort Mississaugua, where there used to be a roadway down to the Beach. It got its name from a family who lived in a little house on the southwest corner of Simcoe and Prideaux Streets. This house is still standing on Prideaux Street and is now owned by Mrs. Maloney of Toronto. Henry Houle moved it to its present site and it was acquired for a time by the late Miss Ann Manifold. Then John Porter bought it and enlarged it, later selling it to the Maloney's. The big rock above the old Ferry was known as "The Coffin Rock," from its size and shape. When I was a boy a Seth Green, an American, introduced the shad to our Lake. Talk about pollution - that was when we got it. These fish multiplied very rapidly and died in thousands and were washed up on the shores, creating a stench and breeding a myriad of flies. I used to see a man named Harkins who lived not far from the lake, loading a dumpcart on the shore with these dead shad. These he plowed into his land as fertilizer.
Of the thousands and thousands who have used our polluted water in which to bathe, we have been entirely free from any ill effects. Our Town water, which comes from the same source, is filtered and chemically treated until it is entirely free from any suspicion of contamination.
Some years ago, when I was Reeve and Bill Harrison was Mayor, we attended a session of the Commission that was investigating the pollution of boundary waters. This commission made a thorough examination of the river and lake hereabouts. I was employed several times to convey its investigators about the mouth of the River and several miles into the Lake. A young man named Avery had an office next door to the present Advance Office, where he prepared his samples of water for shipment. By the way, he took daily samples of water from four springs and found in three months, no sign of anything harmful in any of them. The Springs were at Fort George, on Nelson Street, in the Fell lot and what was known as the Elliott Spring.
We have been free from Polio for many years and I really do not see why we should entirely forsake the comfort of a cool dip in the lake or river just because Dr. Curry has got the wind up. Of course, boys and girls, just learn to keep your mouth shut, which is pretty good advice at all times and on every occasion.
Not many of us remember the imposing dome that used to be on the roof. It gave quite a majestic appearance to the building and personally, I am sorry that it ever was removed. I may as well tell you how and why this was done. During the winter of 1917 and 1918, the Polish Army occupied the two halls and the basement and in using the basement for bathing and sanitary purposes, much water was allowed to seep into and about the foundations of the building. It was later found that some of the foundation had settled and that this had affected the timbers, which supported the roof and the tower. There seemed to be danger that the Tower might come down. From the interior, it was directly over the center of the large hall and it was decided to remove the tower in the interests of public safety.
Originally, the chief use of the main building was for and by the Counties' Courts. For the convenience of the public, this was the center for use of the three counties whose names appear on a tablet on the front wall of the building. One must realize what an important part our small Town has played in the affairs of the district, and in fact of the whole Province of Ontario. Here were trained large numbers of the men who uphold the honour of our Empire in two world upheavals. Then too, this old building has had many peaceful activities within its walls. Here was our first moving picture show run by Mrs. Norris, who afterwards build the Brock Theatre, although it was not known by that name.
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Speaking of changes in the Town Hall Building reminds me of other things that have changed. For instance, there used to be porch roofs in front of several of the stores on Queen Street, extending out over the sidewalk. A small store that stood on the site of the Reid Paint Shop had such a one, as did also a small store that stood on the site of the Brock Theatre. I remember also Young's Candy Shop at the Dock, where the Quinns now live, had such a cover. Of course, there were no canvas awnings in those days.
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OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HOSE TOWER
We can smile as we think back to the days of Simcoe and recollect that about the only reason their settlement was chosen was that they were further from the Yankees than we were. Bless you, we have lived alongside of those same Yanks these many years and they are not so much different from us when you get to know them. To be sure, they still like to brag a bit, but that is only to keep up their pride. They too have grown a bit too big for their britches, but we don't mind. Toronto is just a wee bit that way too, but we of the First Capital have a lot to be proud of. I was in Toronto lately and I couldn't help thinking of what it must have looked like to Lady Simcoe. There was no Royal York Hotel to live in and put on a bit of the dog. They lived in a Tent and when think of what a comedown that must have been for a cultured lady from the old sod, you must admire her fortitude and her devotion to her spouse that made her leave her home and come to a wilderness. Most of us give little thought to the lady, but she no doubt was a great comfort to Simcoe in the new land. And think of the many discomforts she would have to put up with before she even got here. When you see our daintily (or scantily) clad females about our streets, think of her. There were no streets, nor were there any ways of passing the time such as our ladies enjoy. So girls, be thankful that you don't live in Lady Simcoe's times, nor in her primitive days.
About the park, he would find sundry benches and tables sadly in need of repairs and paint and he would find many wide open spaces which could be improved by a little judicious tree planting each year. I fear that our ghost would wish he could reappear in the flesh to smarten things up. He probably would want to remove the unsightly heap of cans and bottles that adorns the very center of the park.
This ghost and his fellows planted trees on our streets, which give an air of charm such as few small towns can boast of. I fancy I see those ghostly visitors going up and down our streets and appraising the amount of wasting Father Time has done to our trees. Here is one that is just an eyesore and should be replaced. There is where there was another, gone, leaving a gap.
The ghosts of later day, left behind a whole series of concrete walks. They too have suffered from the ravages of that same Father Time. Many of them furnish an excuse for biting where the dust used to be. These ghosts, I fancy are saying to one another; "Boys, we did a lot of good work; what are the boys of this later day doing to save our work from destruction. We better go back and speak to those boys about it." So if you should happen, in passing through our park or along some of our streets, and should hear some strange sounds and see some eerie sights, don't be unduly alarmed. They're only the ghosts of the men of the past who did things and they mean us no harm. You'll be a ghost some day yourself, so it would be better to get really acquainted with them and find out what is making them so uneasy.
Seriously though, we do love to think that when we have done a piece of good work, we would like to think that somebody would look after it when we are gone. What real satisfaction is there in a tablet or a monument, when the things that we have lived for and the good work we have done, are allowed to wither and decay through someone's neglect. For "Here we have no continuing city," and according to Shakespeare; "The evil that men do, lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." An old friend of mine used to say, "We have no future; we have only today." Another quotation that is very apt is: "Count that day lost, whose low descending sun views not some good or generous action done." With these few words we'll sign off for the present.
Another case is that of the house at the corner of Prideaux and Regent Streets. This was built in 1816 by Alexander Stewart, a Lawyer who was the son of Captain Stewart. Another case that I have in mind is that of the house now owned by Mrs. Drope. As far as I know, several persons owned this property before the late Mrs. Gooderham acquired it. I myself remember different people who owned it. When I was a boy, Mr. Fred Paffard lived there. He was the brother of the late Henry Paffard and has several of his family living here, Mrs. Billups being a daughter and Mrs. D'Arcy and Mrs. Valentine being granddaughters. Miss Carnochan says the first owner was Charles Richardson and the house was long the residence of James Lockhart. I remember at least two Buffalo men who owned it, Berge and Silverthorn.
I was asked recently about a Mrs. Kerr and her name was connected with the house now owned by Dr. McGarry. There was a man who owned the house at one time. He was a retired Clergyman, the Reverend Matthew Kerr. I have heard him preach at St. Mark's and he was the uncle of Miss Lucy Purkis, from whom Mrs. Smith purchased it. You will notice the difference in the spelling of the name. Now the Mrs. Kerr referred to was the wife of Dr. Kerr, one of the Town's first Doctors. Mrs. Kerr died in 1794 and is buried in St. Mark's Cemetery near the northerly section of the graveyard. Dr. Kerr came to Niagara about 1790 and was a very busy man. He sat on the Land Board and was Master of the Masonic Lodge for seventeen years altogether and was Grandmaster. His wife was a daughter of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant. The Doctor on retirement went to Albany, New York where he died in 1824. I don't know whether he lived in the McGarry house or not, but Miss Carnochan says that he lived on Prideaux Street for a time. I do know, however, that the Reverend Matthew Kerr owned it in my time.
I hope nobody will take offence at these notes of mine. My only desire is to write what I believe to be right, without stepping too heavily on anybody's toes. I was interested in reading the account in last week's Advance of the near drowning of six men off the river mouth. The boys who went to the rescue deserve a pat on the back for doing so. My object in writing this is not so much to praise the rescuers, although I do so with much pleasure, as to point out the folly of so many people who know nothing about boats taking risks that they so often do. Now, let me say that I was brought up about the water and had for my training in boat craft, my father who had been a sailor and fisherman from boyhood.
In the first place, nobody with much sense as God gave geese would venture into the rough water on the bar at the river mouth with six men in a fifteen-foot boat, especially with an outboard motor. I suppose that is what they had. Those darned sawed off rafts are safe nowhere but on a pond where one could wade ashore. And the silly fools who embark in them and venture into a deep river or a rough lake are only asking for trouble. The only wonder is that there are not more accidents. Perhaps, when someone does drown in one of those frail rafts, some other ninny will rush into print to criticize the Life Saving Crew, because they have not realized that there were idiots abroad asking for trouble. I have known of the work of that same Life Saving Crew since it was established some sixty or seventy years ago, and I have always found them to be alert and invariably eager to help those in distress. If some of those people who think that because they are in a motor boat they are safe, many of them have another think coming. An engine may be good to propel a boat, but it does not help when the boat is in trouble. There have been a lot of accidents, some of them fatal, from these outboard motors. The trouble is that so many using them know little and care less whether they are safe to use and when and where.
Out in the lake was the late Albert Ball, baiting a sturgeon line and having with him Walter Reid, his grandson. Working on another line was his son Charlie Ball in a skiff alone. Mr. Ball made shore above the Two Mile Pond, but Charlie hung on till Captain Greiser and his crew came to his rescue. At first, they took his skiff in tow but not being able to make headway, they had to let it go, having taken Charlie aboard their boat. They made shore under the lee of Chautauqua wharf. A lot of dudes from the nearby hotel proposed three cheers for the gallant crew. I shall never forget the language of Captain Greiser (a language more forcible than elegant) as he told them to forget the cheers and come down and get themselves wet helping to pull the lifeboat up on the Beach.
Meanwhile, Charlie's skiff was making slow but sure progress towards shore, without any other guidance than wind and wave. Several of us walked up the lakeshore and the boat came to shore on the Four Mile Point and I don't believe the darn skiff had shipped a tub of water. A large sturgeon which Charlie had landed before the storm broke, was in the stern and it just trimmed the boat right to keep its stern to the wind and ride out the storm. To be sure, it was a properly built skiff and seaworthy and had no tin can tied to its tail as some of these modern so called boats have.
The modern craze for speed has made people forget safety, both on land and water. People don't go for a quiet row any more. We had at one time, six boathouses catering to the public demand for a quiet time on the water. Now it is nothing but speed and noise.
Those happenings brought home to the people, the need for a hospital of our own. After the War was over, the question of a memorial to our boys who had given their lives was much discussed. Various ideas were brought forward and after a Public Meeting or two, two subjects were submitted to a vote of the people: a Clock Tower and a Hospital, the Clock Tower winning out. Well, the Tower was built, financed by the Commissions from the sale of Victory Bonds. I do not intend to enter into any discussion of the merits or demerits of either enterprise. I should like to say though, that the matter of a Hospital did not die as a result of the vote and there were people who were ready and willing to give us a hospital. Probably the people who were best able to start such a project were the Nelles and Dr. J. F. Rigg. Mrs. Nelles was a most outstanding woman and to her more than anyone else, must be given the credit for the success of the project. The hospital was first housed in the house on Gate Street, Cornella it was called. Soon, it was found that the residence of the late Dr. Hedley L. Anderson would be the ideal place and Mrs. Nelles furnished the money to buy it. She and her husband, who headed the Board for several years, made the thing a going concern. Many of our good women gave generously of their time and labour and still continue to do so. Yet, is it not a sad though that an outstanding woman like Mrs. Nelles is entirely forgotten when hospital matters are mentioned.
I served on the Hospital Board from 1922 until I was forced, through a breakdown in my health, to give up in 1944. Yet I had been Chairman of the Board for several years, succeeding Dr. Rigg in that position. Then, on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone of the new Hospital building. I was present as a very much-interested spectator. I quite innocently took a seat beside the Rev. Mr. Hughes before the ceremony began and was chatting with him, when a lady came up and calmly told me I would have to vacate my seat. Do you know that hurt and still does, so that when I write of the Nelles I have a fellow feeling for them, although I was never in their class as far as importance is concerned?
I have not a list available of those who furnished equipment or other furniture but Mrs. Trounce and Miss Lansing come to my mind. And the Gooderham family who gave and furnished the Nurse's Residence. And that is gone too and now a more pretentious one is taking shape before our eyes. The new hospital and the new nurses home quite put our old ones in the shade. But let us not forget the unselfish deeds and efforts of those that fathered and mothered the hospital idea, when things were not so propitious and Government money was not so plentiful and available to small committees.
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One privilege, which I did not much emphasize, was that of pointing out anything that one may think needs change or improvement. I have been a member of most of the public bodies in our Town at one time or another. From the viewpoint of such a member and also from that of the man on the street, I can see the value of freely given criticism of any conditions that we feel might be changed to advantage. Have any of my readers seen anything they think should or could be bettered by improvement or alteration?
BYRON - WELLINGTON INTERSECTION
