Dec. 2, 1992
25 Years Ago
Symposium stresses co-operation: On Nov. 28, PontiAction held a symposium on the future of the old CPR railway corridor owned by the MRC, in the hopes of inspiring the county to take advantage of the corridor’s potential as a tourist draw.
The meeting brought business people, clubs and associations and government together to focus on the corridor and on Pontiac’s future in tourism.
The corridor, it was concluded, is best suited to non-motorized activities in summer, such as horse-back riding, cycling, hiking and the like. In the winter, snowmobiling would be the primary focus.
Prompt response prevents disaster: Cathy MacFarlane of 34 Maple Lane in the Municipality of Pontiac feels fortunate that the Luskville Fire Department is so quick and efficient. On Saturday she discovered that her freshly-cleaned chimney had sprung a leak and allowed a fire to start between the walls. “They were extremely fast getting here,” she said. The fire was quickly brought under control.
Dec. 7, 1967
50 Years Ago
The new Portage bridge: The new span of concrete between Portage du Fort, Quebec and Chenaux, Ontario looked deserted early last week but just a few hours later there was a regular party on board when mill officials, politicians, newsmen and photographers convened for the official inauguration of the new bridge.
Federal Public Works Hon. George Mcilraith sawed through the plant first during the novel official opening ceremonies at the interprovinicial bridge between Portage du Fort and Chenaux. Also present at the official opening was the Hon. Raymond Johnston and Maurice Hamilton, MP Renfrew North, as well as the manager for Pontiac Mill for Consolidated-Bathurst Limited.
Wallace Barber elected Holstein Club president: On Friday, the Western Quebec Holstein Club held their banquet and annual meeting at St. Andrew’s United Church, Bristol with over 100 in attendance.
A toast to the Queen was proposed by the president.
Mr. Wallace Barber, first vice-president thanked the St. Andrew’s ladies for the delicious turkey dinner which they had prepared.
Mr. Hillis Conolly, past president, presided for the presentations of the trophies which had been earned at Shawville Fair and the Ottawa Winter Fair. Mr. Pierre Leonard presided for the election of officers.
Dec. 10, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: Bruce (Bud) Findlay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Findlay, of Fitzroy Harbour, graduated as Sgt. Air Gunner at Mount Joli, Que. on Friday.
Born in Shawville, the young airman attended the Fitzroy Public School and is a graduate of the Kemptville Agricultural School.
Confident that this time it’s there to stay, two British soldiers hoist the Union Jack over Tobruk, famed siege city of the Libyan-Egyptian see-saw campaign. They were confident, because they, with their mates in the Eighth Army, had just recaptured Tobruk with Rommel far away in headlong flight.
Church bells ring again in Britain. Church bells of England, which rang at the accession of Queen Elizabeth at the defeat of the Spanish Armada and at the death of Nelson at Trafalgar, rang out again last week to celebrate the victory of British armies in Egypt. For the first time since the war began, church bells in the British Isles, land famed through centuries for the Sabbath music of bells and chimes, broke the crisp morning air.
Russian forces, attacking south of Stalingrad and in the great loop of the Don River have penetrated the German defensive lines, taken great numbers of prisoners and war material and threatened to cut off the whole of the Nazi forces between Stalingrad and the Don River. German forces in the Caucasus are being held to a standstill as the severe Russian winter sets in.
Three months ago, the Luftwaffe made its first concentrated attack on Stalingrad with orders to smash resistance and open the way to the panzer divisions. Today, dispirited and exhausted, Germans are fighting desperately not to occupy the city, but to prevent a major disaster by red army encirclement.
Dec. 13, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: A foot of snow on Saturday night, followed by an old fashioned blizzard on Sunday with zero temperature, marked the beginning of the week’s weather. Electioneering under such conditions will require all the zeal that can be put into it to make things interesting.
By Royal Proclamation, King George has appointed Jan. 9, the first Sunday of the new year to be set aside as a special day of prayer and thanksgiving in all the churches throughout the British Dominions.
It has been decided to open subscription lists in town at once to raise a fund towards alleviating the great distress which prevails in Halifax by reason of the awful calamity which befell that city last week, when two ships collided and exploded in the harbour, one of which was a munitions ship.
Everyone should do something towards this deserving objective. Twenty thousand people homeless and destitute in a rigorous climate, is a situation which should appeal to humanity’s warmest side.
Shawville stores will be receiving donations, the call is urgent.
Dec. 8, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: The Messrs. Russell were in Bryson last week returning from their lumbering operations on Temiscamingue.
They express themselves delighted with the prospect of their silver mine.
There will also be a large specimen of the Spencer mine owned by Messrs. Dezouche of Bryson and Spencer of Calumet Island and one from the white limestone quarry owned by James Carswell of Bryson.
The silver mine is open to a depth of 32 feet.
We are fairly ushered into the season of entertainments such as house socials, tea meetings, concerts, Christmas trees, every week now witnessing events of some kind.
The P.P.J. Railway Co. are preparing to erect a freight shed at the station here.
Mr. James Laughrin of North Clarendon had a fine horse killed by a tree on Wednesday last. It seems he and his son were felling a large pine, which crossed the cut and fell on the horse’s head.
The younger members of the Methodist congregation have presented the church with a bible and hymn book and the organ loft has been furnished with a pretty hanging lamp.
One of R. Richardson’s children is down with Diphtheria and the house has been placarded; our board of health are very strict.
Mr. Gregoire who had a crib of timber intended for the Calumet Slides unfortunately go over the chute, has men engaged in gathering it up.
Mr. R.D. Finnigan has just completed the rebuilding of No. 1 School House in Clarendon.
The opening ball at Lang’s new hall in Quyon is in December. The finest hall in three counties.
