Dec. 23, 1992

25 Years Ago

Pontiac Jr Bs have triple-win weekend: The Shawville Junior B Pontiacs got three wins in a row this past weekend.
This is the first triple-win weekend they’ve had all season and they haven’t won three in a row since late November.
They had the puck bouncing the right way, winning their way to a much-improved 13-11-2, their best mid-season record in years.
For the first time in a long time, the Wolves are sitting a few points behind the Pontiacs.

1993 taxes to increase in eight municipalities: In spite of the extra expenses handed down from he Quebec government through the Ryan Reform, most local municipalities are holding their own.
Of the 20 municipalities in the MRC of Pontiac, eight will be raising their tax rate in 1993.
Ratepayers in Rapides des Joachims will experience the biggest increase when the municipality raises its mill rate from 1.00 to 1.15 per $100 of property value assessment.

Jan. 4, 1968

50 Years Ago

Todd Bruce Hodgins is our Mr. 1968: Todd Bruce Hodgins weighed in at exactly half an ounce over the seven pound mark on Jan. 1, 1968.
Dr. Potvin delivered the baby for Howard and Faye Belanger, their firstborn and a grandson for Mr. and Mrs. Loren Hodgins of Shawville and Mr. and Mrs. Eric Belanger of Campbell’s Bay.
Todd Bruce was the only baby born at Pontiac Community Hospital on the first day of Canada’s second century and lays easy claim to the title of Mr. 1968 for Shawville.
Need for hospital expansion here made known in Quebec City: Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Marks and Board Chairman Leonard Horner of the Pontiac Community Hospital plan a journey to Quebec City in the time honoured custom of the province on Jan. 9.
The purpose of this particular trip is to make the Director of Hospital Services and the Minister of Health aware of the current need for more hospital beds in Pontiac County.
The written request which is for a hospital addition in order to provide a sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the county in the next few years, taken into consideration the present and expected growth.

Dec. 31, 1942

75 Years Ago

Local News: One of the worst train wrecks in the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway occurred at Almonte Station on Sunday night when a through troop train from Petawawa crashed into the Pembroke-Ottawa passenger train.
The passenger train was loaded with people returning to the city after spending the holiday weekend at their homes along the line. The dead and injured included many from Renfrew Pembroke, Arnprior and other smaller towns along the line.
The passenger train had just been ordered to leave Almonte Station when the crash occurred.
To a gathering that packed the auditorium, the Shawville United Y.P.U. presented their twelfth annual pageant “Follow Thou Me” on Christmas night. The story of the four-act drama was laid in the time of Jesus and was ably presented by a cast of about 20 characters.
In every part the cast gave their lines without prompting and with he reverence due such a drama. The setting, lighting and costumes added materially to the effect. As part of the play, Glenn Hodgins and Kay Woodley sang a duet and Mrs. Edgar Hodgins supplied the music on the electric organ.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Northwest Africa is unlikely to delay his task of clearing the Axis out of Tunisia any longer than is absolutely necessary.
Air raids are reported to be already battering the Axis in the Bizerte-Tunis area, and heavy United Nations ground forces are said to be closing in on their objectives but not until the enemy strength has been felt out and overcome can we be sure that our primary mission in North Africa has been attained.

Jan. 3, 1918

100 Years Ago

Local News: Christmas and the following days were bitterly cold. On Wednesday night the mercury dropped to 16 and registered 12 below zero at 8 o’clock Thursday morning. Then came a change in he wind and rising temperature with snow.
The annual Christmas gathering of the Methodist Church on Christmas night was a great success. The crowd taxed the large auditorium of the church to the utmost. Refreshments were provided by the ladies of the church in abundance.
At noon today, the approximately 250,000 miles of America railway systems silently merged into one great continental chair for the winning of the war. Under President Wilson’s decision the great event, regarded by many as the opening of a new epoch in Government operation of public utilities passed into effect without any formal ceremony.
It has been established that the Bolsheviki revolt in Russia was abetted and financed by the German government. The Hun invaders of Italy are devoting their attention these days to the bombardment of Italian cathedrals.
Messrs. R.J. McCredie, Ivan Thomson, Earl Turner, also Noble and Raleigh Horner of the 74th Battery now located at Ottawa were holiday visitors in town last week.

Dec. 29, 1892

125 Years Ago

Local news: Desperate cold is about the way to size up the weather which we have had for the past week.
There were a number of arrivals by Saturday’s train, principally teachers and other absentees returning home to spend the holidays.
The P.P.J.R. freight shed commenced a couple of weeks ago and will soon be ready for use. The job is in charge of Mr. T. Dale.
The merchants and business men of Shawville have done a pretty extensive business since sleighing set in.
We are pleased to say there are no cases of diphteria in our village of Bryson at present.
Last week over 100 tons of turkeys were shipped from Smith’s Falls for the Boston market.
The concert held at No. 5 on Friday the 23rd was not nearly as largely attended as was expected owing no doubt to the severity of the weather. The programme was excellent and well rendered. It was opened by the choir singing a song. The Mountain Maid’s Invitation, recitation, cedar and holly – Bella Corrigan. Dialogue, “Courtship under Difficulties” – Miss Edith Hodgins. Many thanks to Miss Wilson for her kindness in officiating as organist.
On Friday evening last, one of those little events which occasionally shed as it were, a bright ray in life’s dreary pathway, occurred at St. Paul’s church parsonage in this village. It was the assembling together there of a number of the friends of Mrs. Naylor with the object of giving a tangible evidence of their esteem for that lady, by presenting her with the very appropriate gift which was presented by three little misses tripping in, the first, Miss Florence Lang bearing the coat, then Miss Eva Splane, the muff and lastly Miss Jennie Crawford, the purse. Refreshments and other enjoyments were subsequently had.