Jan. 13, 1993

25 Years Ago

Smokers get support in kicking the habit: On Jan. 5, the first meeting of the Smokers Anonymous Support Group took place at the Pontiac Community Hospital. Ten people gathered there for support in their efforts to quit smoking.
The group, led by psychologist Marie-Paule Vachon and MD Sylvan Simard is for many, a last resort in getting off nicotine and leading a healthier life.
Participants were asked to first consider why they smoke and why they want to quit. They were also asked to carefully assess what their personal weaknesses are where smoking is concerned.

Fatima School awarded $152,000 for renovations: The Pontiac Catholic School Board has been given a provincial government grant of $152,000 to replace windows in the Fatima School in Fort Coulonge.
The grant, announced on Jan. 7 by Education Minister Lucienne Robillard is part of a $45 million renovation fund designed to upgrade Quebec schools and stimulate economic recovery.
Jean-Louis Brizard, director general of the Pontiac board, said he is delighted the 32-year-old school and the adjacent board offices on Main St. will finally be upgraded.
“We’ve been asking for this for a few years,” he said.

Jan. 18, 1968

50 Years Ago

Black, Thomson, Horner in Shawville; Emmerson in South Onslow; Bronson in Bristol; Murphy in Quyon; Stevenson in Litchfield: Elections took place in Shawville, Bristol, Quyon, South Onslow and Litchfield on Monday. The election in Litchfield was the most startling and drew headlines in both the Ottawa daily newspapers. It was the first municipal election held in Litchfield for almost half a century. For the past 46 years, all councillors and mayors have been acclaimed.
In Shawville, 240 electors went to the municipal hall and re-elected the three members who had sat on the previous council. Veteran Councillor and pro-Mayor Allan Black led the poll with 171 votes. Dale Thomson and Brent Horner almost tied for second with 163 and 162 respectively and Allan McKay polled 118 which leaves Shawville Council exactly as it had been before the election.
Judge and lawyer congratulate Allard on Crown appointment: Effective Jan. 1, 1968 Edgar Allard, Campbell’s Bay lawyer has been by appointment of the Minister of Justice of the Province of Quebec, a full time Crown Attorney for the County of Pontiac.
Judge Orville Frenette presiding at the first 1968 sitting of the Magistrate’s Court in Campbell’s Bay warmly congratulated Edgar on his nomination.
Mr. Allard was first admitted to the Quebec bar in 1955 and has also practiced law at Val D’Or, Que. and Pembroke, Ont. and at Campbell’s Bay since 1956.

Jan. 14, 1943

75 Years Ago

Local News: As a conservative measure to assure supplies for direct war purposes, drastic restrictions on the use of lumber or mill work for building projects have now become effective, it was announced recently by the Munitions and Supply Dept.
The new order issued by timber controller Alan H. Williamson, provides that no person shall buy more than $1,000 worth of lumber and mill work for construction or repairs at any plant or more than $200 worth for construction to or repairs of a building other than a plant unless a permit has been obtained from the timber controller.
Swift thrusts by allied bombers knocked Africa Korps planes out of the fight before they had a chance to take to the air and counter attack. Then the British 8th Army advanced so swiftly it had no time to clear littered wreckage from Benina Airfield near Benghazi.
In Jan. 1942 the days were dark for the United Nations in the east, nor was there much cheer in the west, says a writer in the New York Times. The wave of conquest unleashed at Pearl Harbour was flowing toward its high-water mark. Everywhere the allies fought desperately for time, time to mobilize latent power to coordinate separate efforts, to catch up in preparation with their enemies.
Everywhere the United Nations were on the move or dealing effective blows in North Africa, in Russia, in the air over Germany, in Oceania and in Burma.

Jan. 17, 1918

100 Years Ago

Local News: L. Corporal Harold Armstrong, who enlisted with and went overseas with the 73rd Highlanders of Montreal nearly two years ago, arrived at his old home town on Thursday evening and needless to say he met with a warm welcome from numerous old friends.
Mr. Wm. Labelle of Waltham and R.J. Hamilton of Shawville have the contracts this winter for hauling Gillies Bros. supplies to their Coulonge depots from Campbell’s Bay.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Seveney mourn the loss of their eldest boy, William Lorne who passed away shortly after midnight on Saturday in his 6th year of age.
The child had long been afflicted with a collection of tumorous growths in his neck which an operation with all that could be done in the way of medical treatment failed to eradicate and his condition gradually became weaker until the end, although happily, his sufferings were never great.
The municipal elections in town passed off very quietly on Wednesday and Thursday although three new men replace the retiring functionaries, none of whom were up for re-election. A vote was taken on the choice of six candidates but it was small as very little interest was manifested.
The retiring councillors were: J.G. Elliott, R.C. Woodley and Mervyn Dale. Those elected are: Geo. W. Dale, Wm. F. Smith and J.A. Cowan.
A novel cure for deafness in soldiers has been found by British doctors who believe in the power of suggestion to accomplish much that their medical skill cannot.
Much of the deafness at the front is hysterical, born of the soldiers fear of going deaf from the incessant pounding of the explosives about him. Many times these men cannot be cured by direct treatment and it is then that the unique system is brought into play. They are given very slight anesthesia and a tiny incision is made in the skin behind an ear. Then an iron plate is hammered violently close to the ear.

Jan. 12, 1893

125 Years Ago

Local news: The thermometer registered forty below zero in some places in the Ottawa Valley on Jan. 2. Shawville was very nearly being one of them, the showing here being 38 below. The cold spell which we are passing through is regarded as the most severe and protracted that has been experienced for a great many years.
Quite a number of teams left here this week for Mattawa and intermediate points. It is stated that as yet there is poor ice up on the big lakes north of Mattawa owing to heavy snow having fallen before the frost set in. The drawing of supplies will therefore be difficult til the water raises to the surface and freezes over.
On Friday evening last a number of the young people of St. John’s church assisted by a few others, drove out to North Onslow Corners and gave an entertainment in the hall there. The program was much the same as the one rendered here on the 30th inst. with a few variations and exceptions. The roads were in excellent condition and the weather all that could be desired, consequently the hall was literally packed to its utmost capacity. In one corner of the hall, a tree was heavily laden with good things for the children connected with the Sunday school of St. Luke’s church of that place of which the Rev. W.A. Fyles is the pastor.
What would you think of two young men who drove twenty-four miles to a surprise party and on their arrival were informed to their dismay that the party had been postponed until spring.