Walter A. Canniff Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: OGLMC-627

Scope and Contents

The Walter A. Canniff Papers, 1876-1961, regard the early history of the city of Grand Forks. The majority of the collection relates to the Grand Forks Fire Department, of which Canniff was a member for many years. Documents in the collection include programs, bulletins, and artifacts. There are also a number of photographs, many of which are of fires in Grand Forks.

Dates

created: 1876-1961
Other: Date acquired: 05/06/1981

Creator

Canniff, Walter A. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Biographical or Historical Information

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"Walter A. 'Peewee' Canniff, 78, St. Anne's Guest Home, city mail carrier here for 33 years until his retirement in 1945, died Sunday at a local hospital where he had been admitted earlier in the day. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Rev. John E. Moore officiating and burial in Calvary Cemetery. The body will lie in state Tuesday afternoon and evening at Grand Forks Norman Funeral Home, where a vigil will be held at 8 pm. Mr. Canniff married the former Mary Ellen Mahoney here in 1914. She died in 1920. He married the former Rose Carroll here on Nov. 22, 1926. She died April 21, 1965. Mr. Canniff began service here with the Post Office Department as a mail carrier on June 15, 1913. He continued here until his retirement on July 1, 1945, except for service at Billings, Mont., and Minneapolis, between 1917 and 1923. Mr. Canniff had been a member of the former Grand Forks Volunteer Fire Department and then served two years with the paid city department prior to 1913. He later was a call man with the Fire Department for 5 years before his retirement. He had been disabled following a heart attack, which occurred while fighting the Frederick Hotel fire here in December, 1944. His father, the late Harry G. Canniff, had been a volunteer firemen here in 1880. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Canniff was the dean of city mail carriers. He worked Route 3 of the local postal service for many years, which included N. Fourth and Fifth Streets. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. In 1960, Mr. Canniff was presented with a 50 year membership award by the Grand Forks Knights of Columbus Council 1260. Until recent months, Mr. Canniff had lived at 105 Fenton Ave. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Louis R. Stacey, St. Paul; a son, Ralph Canniff, Santa Barbara, Calif.; 5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Two brothers, William and Arthur Canniff, are deceased." Source: Grand Forks Herald, 2 October 1967

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