Mar. 31, 1993
25 Years Ago
Bryson priest killed tragically at Otter Lake: A snow-covered roof of a carport at an Otter Lake cottage collapsed Friday afternoon taking the lives of two Bryson men. Dead are Father Leo Pelletier, 71, Roman Catholic Parish Priest of Bryson and his best friend, Jean Lanoix, 65.
The two men had left the village of Otter Lake about 12:30 p.m. to prepare the cottage for the arrival of Pelletier’s sister.
When Lanoix did not return home for supper and the two men were not heard from by early that evening, the wife, son and two grandchildren of Lanoix drove to the cottage.
Quebec Provincial Police figure that the carport fell late in the afternoon.
Fr. Pelletier was a well-known and popular priest in Pontiac County where he served for the majority of his life.
Shawville may get corridor property: Shawville has been offered 23 acres of land within its borders for the bargain price of $9,600.
Mayor Albert Armstrong expects his council will vote to buy the property which is part of the right-of-way for the old CPR tracks.
The Pontiac MRC has decided to preserve a 20-foot width of the corridor for snowmobile and other recreational use but offer surplus land to municipalities.
Apr. 4, 1968
50 Years Ago
English speaking Roman Catholics send delegation to Quebec City to request high school at Campbell’s Bay: At St. John’s High School auditorium in Campbell’s Bay on Sunday afternoon, Mar. 31, a meeting of the Pontiac Central Parent-Teachers Association was held under the chairmanship of its president, Cecil Vibert.
The meeting was attended by approximately 159 parents and teachers from all parts of Pontiac county, representative of the English speaking Roman Catholic population.
The purpose of the meeting was to get the opinion of the parents and teachers concerning the construction and location of a high school for the English speaking Roman Catholic students of Pontiac.
Two delegates were chosen to represent the Pontiac Central P.T.A. at a meeting in Quebec City on Tuesday. These delegates, Mr. Cecil Vibert and Mrs. Harold Muise will join with other representatives from all areas of the county at the same meeting which has been set up by the Honourable Raymond Johnston, Provincial Minister of Revenue and MLA for Pontiac.
Two ferries for Quyon crossing: A new ferry is under construction for the Quyon-Fitzroy crossing and is scheduled for delivery not later than May 15. Engine and equipment installation will require a few days and the vessel should be in operation on or about May 20.
The crossing at Quyon will be the only interprovincial crossing on the Ottawa River employing two ferries. It is hoped that service will not be interrupted due to engine failure and service will be speeded up with the operation of both vessels during rush hours.
Apr. 1, 1943
75 Years Ago
Local News: Percy F. Smith, storekeeper of Campbell’s Bay was very severely injured on Wednesday of last week when sawing wood in his yard.
Mr. Smith was operating a circular saw when it flew loose in fragments, one part cutting his eye and ten other pieces injuring the upper part of his body. He lost the sight of his left eye and his right arm was torn from the elbow to the shoulder.
He was taken to Ottawa Civic Hospital where the injured eye was removed by Dr. W.G. Fraser.
Four short courses on special subjects were held in Pontiac County last week in the interests of increased wartime food production.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Horner, Radford, have received a cable from their son, Pilot Officer Douglas Horner who arrived overseas recently. P.O. Horner won his commission in Canada having led all his classes during his training period in the R.C.A.F.
The most recent figures show that Great Britain’s war production per head of population is still greater than that of any other nation on earth. Britain has a population of 33,000,000 between the ages of 14 and 65. Of these, 22,000,000 are working full time in either industry, the armed forces or civilian defense. This is equivalent to the mobilization of about 60,000,000 people in the United States.
Apr. 4, 1918
100 Years Ago
Local News: At the home of Mr. H.S. Barrett, manager of the G.F. Hodgins Co., the employees of that establishment on Monday evening presented Mr. Roy McDowell, their late fellow clerk, with a handsome wrist watch in token of their good feelings towards him and in view of his early departure to join the colours.
Pte. George Smith, who has been serving with a Canadian Forestry battalion England for the past two years, arrived home last week.
Mr. William Flood of Campbell’s Bay lost his only span of horses a short time ago while he and the boys were on a fishing trip to Long Lake. The horses broke through the ice and although the water was only about five feet deep at the spot, Mr. Flood and his sons were unable to rescue them before they perished.
A message was received by Mrs. H.T. McDowell on Saturday morning conveying the sad intelligence of the death of her brother, the Rev. W.J. Conoly at Vancouver on Friday, following an operation for appendicitis.
Mr. Garner Richardson, whose home is near the railway track a few miles west of Shawville, has made a nice little stake this year in furs, due to the high figure to which some skins have advanced, notably fox skins. So far, Garner has bagged 13 foxes, 5 minks, 5 muskrats and 2 weasels.
There is talk now of organizing a “tank” battalion in Canada. The men for such a unit, it is explained, would require to be small in stature with a fair knowledge of mechanics and proficient in machine gunnery.
Latest news from the western seat of war shows that while there has been terrific fighting at different points, the German drive has not progressed to any great extent since last week. In some of the late developments, Canadian soldiers have played a brilliant part.
Apr. 6, 1893
125 Years Ago
Local news: A fine new organ has been purchased by the Methodist congregation of this village.
A little daughter of Mr. H. Lang, of this village, was very low last week from inflammation of the lungs.
William Laughren of North Clarendon, had his barn and shed, containing reaper, horse-rake and other implements destroyed by fire on Sunday the 26th ult. The fire is supposed to have been started by children playing with matches.
Miss McDonald of Arnprior has decided to open a branch millinery store in Quyon in H.S. Dowd’s store. Ladies living in Quyon and surrounding country are fortunate in having Miss McDonald open business there, knowing she is capable of suiting the most fastidious tastes at prices to suit all.
Diphtheria has carried off sixteen victims in its last visitation in the township of Hagarty. The sanitary inspector, Mr. Felhaber, has by his exertions, prevented the disease from spreading to other families.
Mr. Paul McNally has been elected to succeed the late M. Hughes, Esq., as mayor of Litchfield.
Mr. Wm. Blakley’s fine Canadian bred Clydesdale stallion “Northern Prince” has been selected by Mr. McIntosh, the gentleman in charge of the Province of Quebec World’s Fair exhibit as the best animal in the province to represent his class at the big show.
The beautiful snow is fast disappearing here in Thorne and we are not very sorry as we have had an unusually long, cold winter.
Mr. F. Bretzlaff is improving his premises in Upper Thorne Centre by the erection of a large stable.
Quite a number of our townspeople attended the grand concert held at Quyon on the 20th. All returned well pleased with the exception of two young ladies from Bristol who thought it much more pleasant to go walking than driving.
