Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, Monday Afternoon

The letter reads:" Dearest, How do you like this little surprise party? It is the latest way of sewing for the Red Cross - You remember I told you I was to meet Maud at two o'clock this afternoon, and we were going down to make surgical dressings? Well, thru a little misunderstanding about our meeting place, we missed each other; so I returned home. Mother thought I looked tired and insisted upon my taking a nap. I cam up to my room, and for an hour I've been trying to sleep, but "thought"(???) has prevented it. Artie dear, I have such an awful attack of the blues and while I was lying there trying to fight it, and also wishing that I knew your address - for I felt so much like writing to you, the thought came to me, that I could send a letter to you thru Chaunce, if I knew his company number. Hence - ensued a little chat with Mrs. Leake on the phone, and receiving the desired information, rushed to my desk, and - thus endeth the little tale. You are just about reaching Washington now, and I bet you are tired after that dreadfully monotonous trip. Take good care of yourself my "___"(?) Good luck, and lots of other wishes. Lovingly "Me". P.S. Write real, real soon and thank Chaunce for playing postman. L.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, Friday P.M. (2)

The letter reads: "My dear Artie, Thank you so much for the perfectly exquisite La Valliere. I just love it, and it is what I have always wanted. With great sincerity, Lessie. P.S. I am looking forward to seeing you Sunday. Again I say - come early. L.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 10 October 1917

She begins by apologizing for telling Arthur he should have written to his mother when he was in Halifax. Eleanore Celeste just heard that his mother did receive a letter, but it came two weeks after she had received her letter. She writes about her studies in history, and the books she has read ("A Wanderer in London"). A small paragraph is written in french. The letter is labelled number 10.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 26 July 1916

Eleanore Celeste has just been out golfing in the rain. She plans to meet Arthur at the train station.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 7 August 1918

Eleanore Celeste mentions a lecture her sister attended about a man who discovered his friend was a German propagandist. She wants to go to "France as a nurse, or to do canteen work, etc." but has just heard that if she goes and then marries an American soldier, she will be sent home. The letter is labelled number 139.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 6 May 1919

Eleanore Celeste has just received four letters from Arthur. She includes a poem by Darrach: "The weakness that you know is yours, She in her strength would vitally sustain, And that fine strength you drew from her, You would when she had need, return to her again. Yes, where your strength were great and she were weak, You'd courage her and strengthen her, Until the heavy burdens given her to hear, Would be tasks easy for her new formed will." The letter is labelled number 272.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 29 January 1919

Eleanore Celeste has just received twenty five letters from Arthur. She writes about travelling with Arthur one day, but also mentions the cost. She mentions the idea of continuing her substitution work after they are married. The letter is labelled number 221.

Broadside reporting the Fenian Invasion of Canada, June 2, 1866

The Fenians were a group intent on securing Irish independence from England. The movement had its origins in Ireland in1857, under the leadership of James Stephens, with the assistance of John O'Mahony, an American who had raised funds for the cause. The American branch of this movement was especially successful, having raised $500 000 and enlisting about 10 000 American Civil War veterans. The group split into two separate factions, one desiring an invasion of Canada and the other preferring an uprising in Ireland. It soon became apparent that an uprising in Ireland was not imminent, and a decision was made to invade Canada. In April, 1866, a raid was launched against New Brunswick. It proved unsuccessful, and another raid was attempted on June 1, 1866, this time in Ridgeway, near Fort Erie, Ontario. The Canadian militiamen were defeated, but the Fenians subsequently withdrew. A third incident occurred on June 7, this time at Missisquoi Bay in Quebec, when the Fenians crossed the border, remained there for 2 days, and withdrew. A failed uprising in Ireland in 1867 signaled the demise of the movement. The Fenian threat helped to promote a sense of union among Canadians and provided an incentive for Confederation.

Arthur A. Schmon fonds

Arthur Albert Schmon was born in 1895 in Newark, New Jersey. During his studies at Barringer High School in Newark, he met Eleanore Celeste Reynolds who was to become his wife in August of 1919. Mr. Schmon studied English literature at Princeton and graduated with honours in 1917. That same year, Mr. Schmon joined the United States Army where he served under Colonel McCormick as an adjutant in field artillery in World War I. In 1919, he was discharged as a captain. Colonel McCormick (editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune) offered Schmon a job in his Shelter Bay pulpwood operations. Mr. Schmon accepted the challenge of working at this lonely outpost on the lower St. Lawrence River. Schmon was promoted to Woodlands Manager in 1923. In 1930, he became the General Manager. This was expected to be a seasonal operation but the construction of the mill led to the building of a town (Baie Comeau) and its power development. All of this was accomplished under Schmon’s leadership. In 1933, he was elected the President and General Manager of the Ontario Paper Company. He later became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Arthur Schmon made his home in St. Catharines where he played an active role in the community. Schmon was a member of the Founders’ Committee at Brock University and he was a primary force behind the establishment of a University in the Niagara Region. The Brock University Tower is named after him. He also served as Chairman of the St. Catharines Hospital Board of Governors for over 15 years, and was responsible for guiding the hospital through a 3 million dollar expansion program. He was a Governor of Ridley College and an Honorary Governor of McMaster University in Hamilton. Mr. Schmon died of lung cancer on March 18, 1964. He had been named as the St. Catharines’ citizen of the year just one week earlier. Mr. Schmon had 2 sons Robert McCormick Schmon, who was chairman of the Ontario Paper Co. Ltd., St. Catharines, Canada, and the Q.N.S. Paper Co., Baie-Comeau, Canada. He was also director of a Chicago Tribune Co. He died at the age of 61. Another son, Richard R. Schmon, was a second lieutenant in the 313th Field Artillery Battalion, 80th Infantry Division in World War II. He was listed as missing in action on November 5, 1944.

Pamphlet: "Some Canadians are Wondering Just What Is Being 'Controlled'"

A pamphlet by the Buffalo Citizens' Committee of 10,000 for Law Enforcement that questions "what is being 'controlled" in Canada by Government Liquor Control. The pamphlet includes statistics which they report are from provincial liquor boards across Canada.

Canadian Military Institute: Officers of the British Forces in Canada during the War of 1812-1815

There is a note in the front cover written to Mary from B. Johnston on April 22, 1942. He refers to page 73 of the book in which William Woodruff is listed as a Lieutenant and Richard Woodruff is listed as an Ensign in the Niagara District. A full text version is available at the following link: http://www.archive.org/details/officersbritish00instgoog

World War I Memorial Plaque

World War I Memorial Plaque (17 ½ cm in diameter). This is a bronze plate encased in a 26 ½ cm x 24 cm wooden frame. The inscription on the plate is “He died for freedom and honour, Samuel DeVeaux Woodruff”. [In 1916 the British Government decided to issue a memorial plaque to be given to the relatives of those who died in the Great War. On the plaque is a figure of Britannia who is facing left and holding a laurel wreath over the box where the serviceman’s name is placed. In her right hand she holds a trident which represents Britain’s sea power. There are 2 dolphins facing her on her left and right hand sides. A lion stands in front of her. He faces left with a menacing growl. A very small lion that faces right is located below the larger lion’s feet. He is biting into a winged creature which represents the German Imperial eagle. Near the lion’s right paw there are the initials E CR P which stand for Mr. E. Carter Preston who designed the plate. Some of the plaques include a stamped batch number in front of the lion’s rear left paw. This plaque was produced in batch 17].

British War Medal

This British War Medal was issued to those who had to leave their native shore in any part of the British Empire while they were on service. This is a silver circular medal, 3 1/2 cm in diameter. King George V is depicted on the front and St. George is on the back. This is accompanied by a watered silk ribbon which has a central band of gold and stripes of white, black and blue on both sides. "Lieut S. D. Woodruff" is engraved on the rim. This was issued 1914-1918.

History of the Late War between Great Britain and the United States of America

History of the Late War between Great Britain and the United States of America by David Thompson, late of the Royal Scots, Niagara U.C. , 1832. There is an inscription in the front of the book which says “[illegible] Nelles, Grimsby and it is signed by Joseph Williams [?]” The book is stained from dampness, but this does not affect the text, 1832.

The mexican war : a history of its origen, and a detailed account of the victories wich terminated in the surrender of the capital ; with the official despatches of the generals. To which is added, the Treaty of Peace, and valuable tables of the strength and losses of the United States Army.

UANL