Still a towering main story after all these years

CAPTION: The Main Street bridge was visually stunning against the backdrop of a bright blue sky this morning.

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

It’s Closing Day in Welland.

The Main Street bridge is closed to traffic for the next five months so that it can get a new paint job to give it a spiffy look. The price tag: $3.4 million. This includes stripping the lead-based paint now on the structure, making repairs and giving it the new coat of paint. It’s expected the  paint will last 25-30 years.

This bridge, Bridge 13 as it is known in canal parlance, was opened to pedestrian and motor traffic on Tuesday, April 21, 1930 at 1 p.m.

“The cost of construction of Welland’s Main Street lift bridge amounted to $986,363, an amount considerably in excess of that of any other bridge on the canal,” the late historian William H. Lewis wrote in Volume 3 of his fine trilogy, A History of the City of Welland, published in 2003.

CAPTION: This sign greets onlookers on the west side.

Mr. Lewis, an outspoken preservationist when it came to the Main Street bridge in particular, wrote: “From its inception, the Main Street bridge and the two now-removed 2,700-ton counterweights towered over the central cityscape of Welland, and to this day is a dramatic symbol and unique reminder of the city’s canal heritage. To remove the bridge for whatever reason would be an unthinkable outrage.”

Today, around mid-morning, a few rubberneckers stood on West Main Street near the bridge watching Closing Day get underway. A woman who was out walking her pooch stopped and talked to two construction workers along the canal trail near Bogner’s photography studio.

Let’s not forget that one of the largest crowds in Welland’s modern-day history turned out for a Main Street bridge-related event in 1972.

CAPTION: The glory of yesteryear is captured in this photo on display in a window showcase at Bogner Photography and Gallery, 28 West Main St. It shows the laker, Stadacona, and the Main Street bridge in raised position in the background.

Mr. Lewis recorded the grand occasion with these words, here excerpted from his book: “What followed was an outpouring of civic enthusiasm perhaps not seen in the city since the spontaneous celebrations that marked the end of the Second World War a generation before. On the evening of Friday, December 15, 1972, and in spite of a snowstorm and bitterly-cold weather, some 25,000 persons thronged downtown Welland to be part of history. They had come to witness the Welland Ship Canal Bridge 13, the Main Street bridge, being raised for the ceremonial passage of the last commercial vessel ever to pass through centre of the City of Welland….”

Now here’s a thought: perhaps Wellanders of the current day would respond with equal enthusiasm for an Opening Day ceremony, at the end of this somewhat controversial bridge rehabilitation project.

It’s not too late to start planning such an event, Opening Day in downtown Welland.

CAPTION: The Stikks Family of Welland looking somewhat dishevelled on their early morning visit to the Main Street bridge work site. The Stikks Family appears as an editorial cartoon on the blog. (All photos by Joe Barkovich).

(A former reporter and editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

Tracks of time

CAPTIONS: Above, the danger to be found at the former railway swing bridge in Welland, the scene is eerily similar to its condition in the summer of 2013; a view of the bridge taken from the east side; bottom, the yellow security gate on site to keep out trespassers is seldom closed. (Photos by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

It is time for Welland to engineer a leap from the city’s 20^th century image to one for the 21^st.

Welland’s motto, Where Rails and Water Meet, is dated, faded and irrelevant. The motto was applicable to the city as it was in the late 1800s and 1900s but it misses the mark in 2014. On the tracks of time, sad to say, it was left behind decades ago.

Thanks in large part to the role played by rail and water ways in Welland’s early industrial and manufacturing development, it conveyed the image of a city on the move. But no more.

Oh, those glory days! As a kid growing up in Welland in 1950s and 1960s, I can attest to some facets of life in the so-called boom times. Back then, according to old-timers’ memories relived in coffee conversations, a worker could leave one well-paying job one day and start at another the next. Industries provided jobs for just about anyone interested in putting in a hard day’s work.

Life in those years led to a high-gloss report in Saturday Night magazine, published Nov. 14, 1950. The piece provided a “travelogue” about communities in this part of the peninsula. Here’s an excerpt from what was written about Welland:

“Welland’s three major plants – Atlas Steel, Electro Metallurgical, and Page-Hersey Tubes – employ 5,000 people and are all expanding. Atlas, pioneer of stainless steel, recently opened a big cold reduction mill while Page-Hersey, making Canada’s only 16-inch seamless weld pipe in a new $5 million plant, provided the bulk of the newly-opened Western oil pipeline.”

Fast forwarding to present day, we know what happened this week at the sprawling, former Page-Hersey (and subsequent incarnations) site on Ontario Road and Dain Avenue. It was reported that current owner Energex Tube idled operations for an unspecified time, casting doubt about the future of 126 hourly and 36 salaried employees.

To many, the city is adrift in the economic uncertainty of the so-called post-smokestack, post-blue collar age. For Welland and Wellanders, an all too familiar pattern of recent years seems to be one of: one step forward followed by two steps back, or two steps forward and one step back. For example, consider the recent economic development plan (presented to the city council Tuesday, March 18, 2014) reporting that Welland’s employment base increased even as old factories were in the process of closing and laying off workers. Then factor in this week’s Energex Tube announcement about idling its mill operations indefinitely. In my perspective, this is example of one step forward, two steps back.

For too many years now, the City has been living behind a motto and image that are from another era. The late, great local historian William H. Lewis makes this a salient point in a chapter in Volume 2 of his Welland trilogy, A History of the City of Welland.  Mr. Lewis devotes 29 pages in the book to Chapter 5, Where Rails and Water Meet. He tells a great story about the association of railways and canals, indeed it is one of the most captivating chapters in his work.

Did you know, for example, that by the late 1800s, “Welland had become the major transportation hub of the Niagara Peninsula for shipping and railway traffic”, that Welland was served by six rail transportation companies and at one time 46 passenger trains stopped at one or another of Welland’s train stations each day?

But Mr. Lewis also writes (the book was published in 2000 in its first edition) after going to great lengths tracing the decline of railways in Welland: “The railroads, which for so many years were vitally important to the life and prosperity of Welland, have all but disappeared. Only some ruins remain.

“Where Rails and Water Meet is no more.”

This point-blank pronouncement certainly was not made by a shoot-from the-lip irresponsible chronicler; Mr. Lewis knew the Welland story and Welland history after perhaps decades of research and study – some of it gained on walking tours of local points of interest, canal artifacts among them.

Some readers may point to the Townline Tunnel as a modern-day  example of where rails and water meet. Although the configuration is there, the presence of these two transportation modes is barely noticeable among city folk due to the canal relocation project, completed in 1972. The old saw: out of sight, out of mind certainly applies in this instance. And of course the role of the railway is a far cry from what it used to be.

Another figurative example was (and still is though in diminished capacity) is Bridge15, the former railway swing bridge situated between Sixth and Seventh streets on the east-side. Literally in the shadow of the high profile vertical lift bridge at Main Street, Bridge 15 is obscure to most in the city except perhaps neighbourhood residents. Built around 1910, it is a relic and an eyesore, but it’s also much more.

At best, this bridge, due to unfinished work, is an accident waiting to happen. At worst, it’s a possible death trap in waiting. The accompanying photos (taken Thursday, March 27, 2014 around 11 a.m.) show the gaping spaces in what used to be one side of the decking on which the west-bound line ran. I have photos in my archive that show this bridge in similar condition in the summer of 2013. As of Feb. 26, I know the City and the bridge owner, Canadian Pacific Railway, were in negotiations for completion of the work. One would hope this work will be consummated ASAP, certainly before the start of summer holidays, when cyclists and walkers – many of them children – use the bridge to cross from one side of the waterway to the other. (Regarding rail traffic, the bridge is used only occasionally by a local short line railway servicing the Vesuvius Industries plant on the west side.)

Worth drawing attention two is another reference from Where Rails and Water Meet, by author Lewis. He writes that a design for an official crest for the City of Welland was approved by the town council in 1913. He also draws attention to the fact the crest “was updated” in the early 1950s. For this writer, the question arises: if it was updated about 60 years ago, could it not be updated again – in a way that would make it more relevant to our times? The city motto appears on a banner near the bottom of the crest.

But why so much hubbub about something like a motto? Because Welland needs something positive that can inspire, motivate, challenge, invigorate, uplift us as a community. A new motto and maybe an updated crest could be a vehicle to put that process – and it would be a long-term process – into action. I’m tired of the bile and blather of on-line commentators hiding behind the protection of pseudonyms and anonymity – their rants and ravings take a toll on the community’s psyche, nourish negativity and undermine morale. It’s time this is upstaged. I’m not so naïve to think an updated or new city motto would be the end-all to our problems –  but it could become a platform from which we could build on.

Looking into the rear-view mirror at what used to be is an easy enough exercise. But Welland and Wellanders must spend more time looking ahead – as some grass roots groups are doing on their own initiative, and that’s encouraging, perhaps even promising. Here on the tracks of time, Welland is in need of an elixir, something to replace a dated, faded motto – or is it an epitaph: Where Rails and Water Meet.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ont., Canada’s Rose City.)

 

 

Garden Routes Home: We set out on our journey

CAPTIONS: Above, a sideyard rose bed near peak bloom in the summer of 2013; centre, the pale yellow David Austin rose Jude the Obscure; bottom, cheery purple coneflower –  a delight for the eye! (File photos by Joe Barkovich)

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Welcome to the launch of Garden Routes Home, a feature about local gardens and gardeners with special reports on rose shows, garden walks and other seasonal attractions in our community.

My blog will provide a bountiful bouquet of annual, perennial, ornamental, hosta and container gardens; a potpourri of interviews for the latest in garden gab and yes, gossip; garden tips; and last but not least, words to grow by.

Words to grow by? Here’s one example:

For years I kept a garden journal. I was faithful in recording things like: weather conditions, new assets and where and when they were planted, spraying dates, condition of blooms and more.

I did this for half a dozen consecutive gardening seasons.

I still have my garden journal and refer to it every now and then.

I cannot say why I stopped observing and recording what I refer to as goings-on in the garden beds.

But I wish I hadn’t.

I won’t say I will put pencil to paper once again this year, although the thought has crossed my mind.

But the urge is growing, so let’s see what happens.

****

Let’s begin our Garden Routes Home  journey with a look at Welland Horticultural Society’s planned activities for the year. Incorporated in 1918, this may be Welland’s longest-running volunteer-based organization. Now in its 96^th year, the Horticultural Society invites community involvement and participation and certainly merits your interest and support. Its longevity is  a record to be proud of.

Welland Horticultural Society calendar:

The Horticultural Society meets the third Wednesday of each month except July and August. It convenes at Wesley United Church, 244 First Ave. N. and meetings start at 7 p.m. Here’s a look at this year’s calendar and guest speakers at meetings:

April 16: Vivian Shoalts Master Gardener from Port Colborne, speaks on amaryllis;

May 21: Dan Cooper speaks on low maintenance gardening;

June 18: Karl Vahrmeyer speaks on hydrangeas;

Sept. 17: Dixie Slaney speaks on colour combinations in the garden;

Oct. 15: Kristi Montovani speaks on living roofs;

Nov. 19: hands-on project fair, elections;

Dec. 10: Christmas social.

2014 Special events:

May 17: Plant sale, Niagara Regional Exhibition grounds;

June 21: Rose show, Seaway Mall;

July 5: Garden walk, several outstanding, local gardens opened for public walkthroughs;

Oct. 15: Photo contest.

Rick Demers is the society’s president, he can be contacted at 905-732-6041. Or, for more info: visit the society at www.gardenontario.org/site.php/wellandhs or e-mail: wellandhorticulture@gmail.com

Coming up next month: Listings for Pelham, Port Colborne horticultural societies.

Garden tip: Prune roses when the forsythia blooms, usually in late March or early April. Or better yet, keep an eye open to when City of Welland horticulture crews start pruning in parks and other public sites, like Parkway Drive rose beds. When they are in action – you know it’s time to get out your garden gloves and pruning scissors and get to work! They’re the best to set your garden clock by.

Name dropping: Welland resident, the late Lt. Col. Hugh A. Rose, twice served as president of the Canadian Rose Society, 1930-31 and 1946-47; and,

Wellanders by reputation are accomplished rose growers. One such exhibitor was the late John Rohaly. His proudest achievement came June 27, 1979 at the National Rose Show at Hamilton’s Royal Botanical Gardens. He had eight entries and came home with seven ribbons: a first prize winner (Chicago Peace), four seconds and two thirds.

Words to Grow By: “The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic. Always enterprising, and never satisfied. They are forever planting, and forever digging up. They always look forward to doing better than they have ever done before. ‘Next year…’ they say, and even as they pronounce the words you become infected by their enthusiasm and allow yourself to be persuaded that the garden will indeed look different, quite different, next year. Experience tells you that it never does, but how poor and disheartening a thing is experience compared with hope!” – Vita Sackville-West, in Country Notes, 1939.

Sunset today, March 28: 7: 25 p.m.                                Sunrise Saturday, March 29: 6: 48 a.m.

Comments, tips  or suggestions? Respond here on the blog site or by e-mail: fromareportersnotebook@gmail.com

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario, Canada’s Rose City.)

 

Mother and child

Iconography is a beautiful part of prayer in the Taizé tradition. This icon of the Blessed Mother holding the child Jesus was part of the Taizé Prayer for Lent at St. Kevin parish, Welland, Tuesday evening. The service took place on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, when Mary was told she would bear the child Jesus. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

‘Stay with me…keep watch with me…’

A Taizé prayer service for Lent was held at St. Kevin parish, Welland, Tuesday evening, one of four in the Taizé tradition held during the year. It is about an hour of meditative silence and chant, repeating certain biblical expressions that express the need for the mercy and love of God and pleading for the light, that for Christians, only Jesus Christ can give. The silence is made up of moments of quiet, time to assess one’s own life and give direction to what needs to be done to live with joy and courage facing the problems that life presents. The program of chant, hymns and music was performed by the parish choir and musicians. Candles provide light in the altar area and lighting in the church is turned down during the beautiful service. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

It’s My Life, Sort Of: The Big Sleep

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

Many years ago, I watched a movie with my dad. It was The Big Sleep, starring Humphrey Bogart.

Now I am about to star in my own version of The Big Sleep. Well, kind of.

I am taking part in a sleep study. This is because I am given to snoring at times. Well, so my wife tells me. And tells me, and tells me.

Often I am tempted to say: “Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! Enough already!”

Instead it comes out: “Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.” I nod off easily at times, you see.

But snoring isn’t the biggest of my problems.

My wife suspects I have ceased breathing on two or three occasions in the dead of night. Now there’s an expression for you – the dead of night. I would argue this point with her but can’t, really. How am I to know with certainty I did not experience interrupted breathing (sleep apnea) – I am asleep when this allegedly happens! Dead to the world, as a well known Zzzzzzzzz-saying goes.

So in April, I will be an overnight guest at a  snoring and sleep centre. I’d heard of the place before but to tell the truth, never dreamed I’d be going there, not ever. Someone who has been through it already tells me not to worry: “Don’t lose any sleep over it,” he said Wednesday with a chuckle.

My participation is the result of meeting with a doctor. There, I answered (with my wife’s input at times) a probing three-page questionnaire and answered even more questions during verbal interviews – first with the doctor’s assistant, then the doctor himself.

Some of the questions I didn’t even answer, my wife spoke on my behalf.

Question: “Do you find yourself falling asleep during the day?”

Wife’s answer: “Oh, he falls asleep sitting upright while watching TV. He falls asleep in the car when we go out for a drive. He’s fallen asleep lying on the floor watching TV while we’ve had friends over. He goes to bed and wants to read for a half hour but he’s asleep in five minutes.”

Question: “How long has this been going on?”

My answer: “Oh, just recently I’d say.”

Wife’s answer: “Oh, some of this has been going on for years.”

These signs and others are indicators of having a sleep disorder, from what I understand.

There’s written proof too: When my scores were tallied (based on the responses I/we had given), they were on the high side of the scale indicating that I do have sleep issues, said the doctor’s affable assistant.

Before departing, I was given an Orientation Form with directions to the clinic and a list of do’s and dont’s, things like: Do not arrive early as you will not be able to enter before 9 p.m., no alcohol the day of the sleep study, no caffeine after 5 p.m. the day of the sleep study (includes cola drinks and chocolate), and so on.

Now I am in rehearsal for my role in The Big Sleep, following directions as given so I play the part well.

But one thing I can’t understand: Why is Edward R. Murrow in The Big Sleep rehearsal? I keep hearing his voice telling me over and over: “Good night, and good luck!” as I drift into dreamland. “Good night, and good luck.”

Zzzzzzzz…….

I already have one key line from the script committed to memory: “You must provide at least 48 hours notice of cancellation or you will be billed $350.”

Wow, talk about a rude awakening.

I can see myself losing sleep over that.

(A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. It’s My Life, Sort Of appears periodically on the blog)

Parting shot

Winter 2013-14 left hundreds of reminders of its beauty and beast personas. An ice storm in late December gave us images that were representative of both, like this formation on boughs of trees on the Niagara College campus, near First Avenue and Woodlawn Road. Ice can be beautiful, but it can bring with it peril. In my book, this is the last “official” photo from a winter that will not be soon forgotten. The spring equinox starts at 12:57 p.m. Eastern time on March 20 – tomorrow! Sunny days and warmer temperatures are ahead and blooming flowers not far behind. We hope! (File photo by Joe Barkovich)

Spring is in the air!

A wall of tulips greeted visitors at Canada Blooms today in Toronto. Although it was a bit nippy outdoors, flowers like these had onlookers – Wellanders among them – looking ahead to first sightings of early spring flowers in their gardens. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

Having fun, naturally

Jill Bienenstock, educational consultant with Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, is shown in part of a natural park/playground at the Canada Blooms exhibition in Toronto. A similar project is proposed for southeast Welland by Cordage Green Housing and Community Services in the McCabe, Southworth and McLaughlin streets area as part of an affordable and sustainable residential neighbourhood. A fund-raising initiative for the park, which uses only natural materials as shown here, is getting underway and plans are for construction to start this summer. The eye-catching display was wooing the attention, and hands-on curiosity, of many passersby today at Canada Blooms. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

For St. Paddy’s Day, a last toast to Shamrock

An excerpt from a story written by T. N. Morrison.

By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large

For this scribbler, it became a tradition to reminisce on or close to  St. Patrick’s Day about the newspaper editor who gave me my start in the business.

He is, of course, T.N. Morrison, who hired me at the Tribune way back in April, 1969. He was best known as Tommy Morrison, although I always called him Mr. Morrison, out of deep-seated respect, I guess. That, and because he was my boss.

He hired me on a whim and a prayer, I’ve said this before. The whim was his; the prayer, mine. I’m forever thankful it worked out for both.

You couldn’t ask for a better boss, a better teacher, a better cheerleader, a better friend. Mr. Morrison was all this – not just to me, but to everyone who had the opportunity to work for and with him, I daresay.

He and his wife Marg lived at 66 Regent St., in the east-side King Street neighbourhood for many, many years. Their home was known as the Shamrock Inn and it was the venue of many parties – St. Paddy’s Day parties and otherwise. A confrere, Louis J. Cahill, former St. Catharines newsman turned public relations communicator, would tell me about some of those good times over dinner. Both these storied practitioners of the printed word are gone now, but both live on in memories.

On St. Patrick’s Day, you could count on Mr. Morrison to arrive in the newsroom wearing a green sport jacket, white shirt, gray slacks and green bowtie or tie. “Top o’ the mornin!’” he might say while walking by.

Fortunately, I’m not the only former newsroom staffer still with memories about the much-loved Managing Editor. Another is Bob Chambers, one of the newspaper’s two full-time photographers back in the day (Chambers was on staff 1957 to 1970). He comes into this story on a whim and prayer – both mine.

I was hoping for a photo of Mr. Morrison – one that had not been in circulation for a while, out of the public view. Chambers e-mailed an eloquent response, part of which appears below:

“So do I have a photo of Tommy? Not that I know of. Even the Tribune Staff photograph of the entire editorial department including all the district offices – Dunnville, Port Colborne and Fort Erie – that ran in the newspaper’s Centennial edition (1962) doesn’t include Tommy. He didn’t want to be in it. He said that the staff did all the work. So, he took the picture – well, clicked the shutter of the tripod-mounted camera, after Cec Mitchell and I set everything up. He even refused a photo credit line.

No, I’m afraid that all my pictures of Tommy are filed in my memory bank. Like every day, at 1:15 as I remember, the good ship Morrison sailed majestically through the newsroom, as back from lunch at home with Marg, he was ready to Captain our ship for the afternoon, including putting his final stamp on that day’s Page One and writing one or more of the next day’s editorials. Often his office door was closed for the writing bit, but basically it was never closed at any other time. How do you photograph things like that. But how I wish I did.”

Mr. Morrison gifted me with some mementoes a few days before he retired in September 1972, after setting aside this and that from deep in his desk drawers for personalized keepsakes. One is a draft copy of the story he had written for the newspaper’s 100^th anniversary special edition. I still have it, tucked away in one of the hard-cover compilations about The Tribune’s history.

Then there is photographer Cec Mitchell’s contribution to this reminiscence.

Mitchell, known affectionately as the “Happy Snapper” by newsroom staffers, has a photo of Mr. Morrison on file somewhere, but he could not place his fingers on it in time for this post.

He did, however, turn a memory into a lasting image, so alive is it in its conveyance:

“I’m sure it was before your time there but for a few years the gang decorated Tommy’s office for St. Patrick’s Day. One year Tommy arrived at work to find his chair already occupied – by himself!

The gang had borrowed a mannequin from his brother’s store (Morrison’s department store, 603 King St.) and his wife Marg had sneaked out some of his clothes to dress the dummy. A balloon for the head, a hat and a life-sized cut-out photo of his face completed the figure. A bottle of Irish whiskey and a glass on his desk completed the scene. After the surprised Tommy had his photo taken with the scene, he left it and worked at a desk in the newsroom until Mr. Foster (Henry J. Foster, the publisher) arrived to view the scene.”

Could this be the photo that lensman Mitchell might have amongst his files? I wish! Where is that picture – what a pile of gold for a St. Patrick’s Day remembrance it would be!

Thomas Nixon Morrison’s career at the newspaper started in November, 1929 as sports writer/editor. He was the newspaper’s longest-serving Managing Editor, 1952 to 1972. In total, 43 years and then some – what a headlined career!

For this scribbler, old traditions die hard. For St. Patrick’s Day, I will again drive by the old homestead that used to be known as the Shamrock Inn and call to mind one T. N. Morrison – “Tommy” to most people, Mr. Morrison to me.

Then I’ll have a Kilkenny or two, as in past years and maybe a shot of a choice Irish blend with a friend, savouring for one last time the warmth of the experiences and the memories left us by the gentle man and gentleman who liked being known as Shamrock.

CAPTION: Shown is an excerpt from the story that was written by the Tribune’s T.N. Morrison for the newspaper’s 100^th anniversary edition in 1962. The draft was given to me as a parting gift shortly before he retired in 1972. (Photo by Joe Barkovich)

 (A former reporter and city editor, Joe Barkovich lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario.)