356 Ridge Road

356 Ridge Road. Downtown Ridgeway Business Improvement Area. This spacious home at 356 Ridge Road was built circa 1884 for Lt Col. James E. Morin, his wife Jeannette, and their family of 6 children. Morin was a bright young man who went to work for local businessman Eber Cutler at the age of 14, and soon became Cutler's manager and lifelong friend. He was in the 44th Battalion of the army, saw active duty during the Fenian raids, and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1877. Morin served as M.P.P. for Welland County in the Ontario legislature from 1883-1890. He is also listed in historical directories in different years as a merchant, township clerk, and justice of the peace. The Morins moved to Welland in the 1890's and became very well known, but James Morin was still considered a favoured son in Ridgeway. Just after his death the October 14th 1902 issue of The People's Press printed that "A very large number of people gathered at the (Ridgeway train) station, where the remains of the late Lt.Col. J.E. Morin were brought for internment on Friday. The hearse containing the casket was followed to the cemetery by a large concourse of people, among which were the guard of honour consisting of commissioned officers of the 44th Regiment in full dress scarlet uniform, and the officers of the Welland County 2nd Dragoons in blue. A beautiful scroll of flowers with the word Ridgeway, in purple, was one of the evidences of the love and esteem in which the deceased was held among those who knew him best in his old home, Ridgeway." , The house was sold to Hugh and Harriet Sherk, founders of Sherk's Hardware in 1894. In the 1920s it was purchased by Dr. Roy Stackhouse for use as his home and office. Stackhouse was a popular local physician for many years and served at times as local coroner. A newspaper article at the Fort Erie Historical Museum shows him listed as a medical consultant in a murder inquest in 1928. After his death, his wife Mabel kept the house until the 50's when it was sold to the Kendricks, and then to Flora Baer Nelson who ran Maple Brae Nursing Home here from 1960 to 1982. Mabel stayed on as registered nurse for many years. It was purchased by Flora's daughter Donna Baer in 1995. Donna also operated Sweet Dreams Ice Creamery here from 1985 to 2003, which was taken over by Debbie Wagner until 2009. Many other shops have been located here over the years for shorter periods of time. , Picture from Cathy Herbert Collection , Research and text by Ada Sherk