Oct. 14, 1992
25 Years Ago

Senators retire Finnigan’s No. 8 jersey: Former Senator Ray Kinsella, Frank Finnigan Jr., and Ottawa Senators President Bruce Firestone unveiled the big number eight banner in honour of Shawville’s Frank Finnigan Sr., at the first home game for the Ottawa Senators in 58 years.
In his last years, Frank Finnigan of Shawville was a big part of the drive to bring back the Ottawa Senators. He was also a big part of the Ottawa Senators when they ruled hockey for a few years in the early days of the NHL.

Bristol dedicates Peace Park: On Oct. 8, the Municipality of Bristol joined with 300 other communities across the country to dedicate a park to peace. From now on, the park beside the wharf at Norway Bay will be known as the Nelson MacLellan Memorial Peace Park.
As a part of the Canada 125 program, the Peace Parks across Canada project was organized by the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism in collaboration with the National Capital Commission.

Oct. 19, 1967
50 Years Ago

Caravan Day was rainy but thoroughly enjoyed: Having enjoyed perfect weather for both the July First Picnic and the Shawville Fair, it would have been expecting too much for a clear sunny day on Oct. 14. The Confederation Caravan opened its doors in a drizzle with a sparse group of visitors at 11 a.m. but occasional clear skies enticed more and more people to the site until by official opening time, there was a respectable audience, with over seven thousand visiting the Confederation Caravan. Shawville Centennial Committee Chairman Brent Horner introduced the members of parliament, the mayor, the caravan chief, the beauty queens and the Shawville band, all of whom took part in the opening ceremonies.
Sheriff Jos. Sloan was an added attraction with his covered wagon parked on the grounds and taking part in the parade.
Bob Crawford remains Pontiac’s best plowman: The best plowman in Pontiac County is still Robert Crawford. In the Senior division he is followed by W.B. Hodgins, Chris Judd, Maurice Dumouchel and John Clarke in that order. Top Junior Plowman is George Black with John Russell, Edgar Tourangeau, Gaston Dumouchel and Cleo Dufault following.
W.B. Hodgins won his annual victory with horses against some good competition this year with Lynden Graham, Bob Moore and John Stafford.
Young Chris Judd made himself an important place in the senior division by winning top honours in the 2 furrow hydraulic advanced class and Best Ridge for the Bank of Montreal trophy.

Oct. 22, 1942
75 Years Ago

Local News: On Wednesday night of last week, the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Band of Petawawa played a delightful concert at the Theatre Hall. The program was presented under the auspices of the local Victory Loan Committee. Following the program, the bandsmen were served refreshments at the Pontiac Hotel.
Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Masson of this village received an official telegram that their youngest son, Seaman J. Ronald Masson, aged 19 was ‘reported missing, believed dead.’
Ronnie was returning to his post in Newfoundland after spending a furlough with his parents here and with his sisters in Ottawa and Montreal and was a passenger on the S.S. Caribou when it was torpedoed in Chabot Strait late Wednesday night.
Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Walsh received word last week that their son, Pte. Lloyd Walsh had arrived overseas with a draft of the Royal Rifles. Another Zion boy who arrived in England with the same convoy was David Davis.
At the end of the 80 day period fixed by Minister of Production Capt. Oliver Lyttleton, Britons appear inclined to agree with him that the war has begun to enter a new phase.
In a speech at Aldershot on July 18, when the Nazi drive in the Caucasus and on the Don was getting underway, Captain Lyttleton declared “at no time since the Battle of Britain have we stood in graver peril.
It would be folly to deny that these 80 days in front of us are some of the gravest that we have ever faced.”
The German attack at Stalingrad is still being held. In his estimation, if Russia can hold on to her present positions for a few more weeks, the balance will begin to swing in our direction.

Oct. 25, 1917
100 Years Ago

Local News: Mr. J.J. Caldwell who has been engaged for some time past erecting a sleep house at the Squaw Lake mining camp was home for a day or two last week. He reports that about 30 men are at present employed at the mine and operations are going on smoothly.
Who is to be the Union government candidate in Pontiac?
An interchange of opinions at the convention before action is taken will doubtless render it possible to make a wise choice.
The question of “to be or not to be” so far as the candidature of the Pontiac Liberals in the approaching election is concerned, seems to have been definitely settled at last Wednesday’s convention which is reported to have been well attended.
Mr. Cahill has demonstrated by the result of the proceedings that he is the man for Galway, although Mr. Roland Miller, District Magistrate who was proposed against him, showed also that he has a strong following.
Ad: Those gifts for the boys at the front: How about that Christmas gift for a soldier relative overseas?
Tobacco, pipes, playing cards, cigarette cases, candy, dates, shaving outfit, razors, mirrors, pocket knives, underwear, sweaters, socks, gloves, handkerchiefs, writing paper, tooth paste, tooth brushes. Bring the address and we will pack and tie the parcel for you. Make it Christmas as usual in the trenches.

Oct. 20, 1892
125 Years Ago

Local news: A discovery of serpentine rock is said to have been made on Shea’s Island in the Ottawa River near Portage du Fort. This particular kind of rock is valuable for ornamental purposes being of all kinds of wonderfully beautiful and variegated tints and taking a better polish than marble. The land on which the ‘find’ has been made is owned by the estate of the late Dr. Purvis.
Two teams of ten men a side, participated in the annual shooting match here on Monday last. The day was exceedingly fine and the boys succeeded in rolling up an immense count.
James Slavin, the man who shot Capt. Davey at Cornwall on Sept. 6, has been sentenced to be hanged on the 16th of Dec.
On Wednesday of last week, a very sad, and which ultimately proved fatal, accident occurred at the residence of Mr. John Prendergast, Clarendon, by which Mr. Charles Letts of Calumet Island, a son-in-law of Mr. Prendergast received injuries which resulted in his death. The circumstances under which the distressing affair occurred rendered it doubly sad when it is considered that the friends of the family had met together in joyous anticipation of witnessing the marriage of a daughter of Mr. Prendergast, Miss Tillie, to Mr. J.H. Lang of Thorne.
The accident was due to the breaking loose of Rev. Mr. Well’s horse which broke its fastenings in the shed a few moments after being tied and started to run away. Mr. Letts endeavoured to stop the animal in its mad flight and in doing so, received a blow from either the animal itself or a board that it had wrenched off with the halter shank which felled him to the earth in an unconscious condition, from which he never rallied till death intervened. Several physicians were in attendance and did all they could to restore the injured man to consciousness but all efforts proved unavailing and he passed quietly away without uttering a word.