Person Page - 322

Fatal Accident at Wilno
A sad and fatal accident occurred at Wilno on Tuesday morning, November 24th, with Charles Zummach, aged twenty-two, the victim. The young man at the time was engaged loading pine poles on a flat car for the Harris Tie Co. The lifting pole was elevated some ten or fifteen feet when the tongs gave way and the heavy pole descended swiftly on Zummach. His leg was broken at the thigh and he suffered severe injuries to his spine. His fellow-workers bore him to the Exchange Hotel nearby. Dr. McDermott, of Killaloe, was summoned and responded with all possible haste, but the young man was beyond the stage where surgical skill availeth and he was dead thirty minutes after the Doctor's arrival. The body was taken to Killaloe on the afternoon train for burial. He was married but a year and leaves a widow. ( Miss Dodd, of Bonnechere) and infant child. The sympathy of many friends is extended to her in her sad affliction.^9,4

Anne never married according to a grand-daughter of her sister, Clara. She was still living with her parents at the time of the 1911 census, and with her sister's family in 1921. Her death registration shows that her address was still the same as her sister Clara's address.^12,9

Oldest Furniture Factory In Canada Now on War Basis
     Napanee Firm Originated Back in 1836
     By MART MELLOW
      (Staff Reporter)
     NAPANEE Oct 29 — Built in 1830, the oldest furniture factory in Canada, the Gibbard Furniture Company is today turning out war supplies. Officials did not care to have the nature of the war work publicized.
     For the first time in the history of the factory, girls have been employed to work at the lighter machinery in the plant and with 25 of them taking part of the load off the men's shoulders, it has become possible for the factory to have two shifts. Working hours for the girls and some of the men are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The girls are not yet allowed to work at night.
     The night shift starts at six and production continues until four in the morning.:CR:]     Coveralls Worn
     Much like other war industries the girls wear the trim dark blue coveralls to work and while at the machines wear nets to cover their hair. They find the work easy. One girl said that if a girl could not do one type of work she was given a chance to demonstrate her skill on a different machine. Working with their hands and seeing their efforts take shape proves a continual source of satisfaction to the girls.
     Undreamed-of Expansion
     Little did the original owner, John Gibbard often called "Napanee's grand old man" realize that after 106 years, the factory would not only be carrying on in the same role as it has from the first, but also be helping to serve the country's needs in war. In fact, the factory was not intended for Napanee but was originally intended to have its start in the United States.
     In the village of Wilton, John Gibbard learned the carpentry trade from his father. It was there he had been born and brought up. At 24, he decided to start out on his own and with Oswego in view, he waited at the Deseronto dock tor a boat which failed to turn up. With night approaching he decided to go back to Napanee where he stayed for the rest of his life. If the boat had come in on time it is probable that Napanee would have been without its leading industry and Canada without this nationally known furniture.
     After securing a location, the beginnings of the factory were undertaken on the west bank of the river below the falls. Twenty years later the factory moved to the present site on the canal, only to be wiped out four years later by fire. Three times the plant was burned out but each time a more modem building was erected and in 1892, following the third fire new machinery was added and the name Gibbard Furniture Company applied. The same name was used until a few years ago, when the factory changed hands and is almost the same with the exception of "The" in front of the former title.
     Until that time the factory had been in the hands of the Gibbard family and handed down from one generation to the next, until the present time when the president and manager is Jack McPherson.
     There is a noticeable family atmosphere among the employees, due largely to the fact that fathers and sons have worked as craftsmen in the factory and are followed today by their daughters working side by side with them. Two employees James Douglas and James A. (sic) Moffat have been with the company for more than 50 years. The secretary, Werk Poole, said six employees have served for 40 years and others over a period of 30 years. The night watchmen, too, has been covering the plant nightly tor many years on his tours of inspection.
     Visitors to the town are continually surprised when shown through the factory, at the clean and bright interior accustomed as they are to seeing the congested and often dirty factory districts of some cities.
     Helping to promote this "family atmosphere" is the large recreation room installed over a year ago, where many off-work evenings are whiled away at ping pong or a game of pool The modern and fully-equipped kitchen has been found just as attractive as the recreation room and both get a fair share of attention when the employees are off duty.²⁰

The registration listed the following official witnesses: James Heard Moffat.³

The registration listed the following official witnesses: James Heard Moffat.⁵

Survived by her husband, Rev. Harry Bridle. Survivor(s): Margaret Ruth Pearson.³