Aug. 4, 1993 – 25 Years Ago

Fastest across the line in Ladysmith: Close to 1,500 people headed up to Ladysmith on Aug. 1 to take in some 4 x 4 mud dragging action. Put on by the Silver Maple Inn, its the first time this year that the Mud Drag Association people ventured into the Pontiac.
This time out, spectators got to see some of the wildest looking vehicles and watch Réjean Simard blast his old record set last year of 4.01 seconds in his 4 x 4 machine he calls ‘Wild Thing’.
Claude Roy won it with a time of 8.72 seconds in his second try and Claude Berthelet bagged second with a 10.69 time across the 200 foot track. Third place went to Shawville’s Michael Hodgins with a time of 12.72 seconds.
Sutton honoured by CF Foundation: At a special ceremony of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation held in June in Ottawa, Eric Sutton of Quyon received the 1993 Summerhayes Award. The award is given each year to an adult with CF who has made an ongoing contribution to fundraising and to heightening public awareness about the disease.
Diagnosed with CF in the early 80’s, Eric joined the Foundation and immediately became an active fundraiser and public speaker. He helped organize a hockey tournament that raised $11,000 for the cause.

Aug. 8, 1968 – 50 Years Ago

Thirty-five Brittania yachts sail to Quyon beach: At ten o’clock Saturday morning, a fleet of 35 yachts left Brittania Yacht Club, Ottawa for their annual Quyon race. Quyon was prepared as never before to greet the 150 sailors with entertainment at the Legion Hall, and a teenage dance in the recreation centre.
As the boats neared the narrows at the power line, the wind died down to a point where the only craft moving was a little catamaran skipped by Jim Waddell with Jim Commins as his crew. This was lucky because the little cat was also the only boat in the fleet not equipped with auxiliary power. While the others waited and wondered, enjoying a beautiful day on the river, they finally turned to motor power.
Pro-Mayor Terrence Mulligan of Quyon presented the gold Ken-Gil trophy to Jim Waddell on the beach which was bright with vacationers, including campers, all of whom were fascinated at the variety of boats from Brittania which had made the trip.
Fire near Sand Bay: On Wednesday night, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Lang of South Porcupine who were camped on the property of Norval Wilson at Sand Bay, discovered a fire in the bush near their tent.
Through the efforts of men and boys from Sand Bay and district, the fire of unknown origin was extinguished. The blaze burned only a half acre but could have been much worse if it had reached the cottages.

Aug. 12, 1943 – 75 Years Ago

Local News: Already some former Pontiac residents working in the mines in the northern district in military or other duties elsewhere, are inquiring dates of Shawville Fair.
It is a natural desire to plan to visit their home district at the time of its greatest annual event when people from all over the Ottawa Valley are drawn together to visit to benefit by and assist in making the event, “Western Quebec’s best county exhibition.” The dates for 1943 are Sept. 16,17 and 18.
The Shawville detachment of the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment returned on Sunday from two weeks at Connaught Camp.
While there, they had intensive training in infantry weapons and manoeuvres. Apart from the routine of drill there were interesting schemes of attack and defense including a night attack. Displays of anti-aircraft defense and battle tactics were given.
The United Nations radio propaganda to Italy was supplemented by the dropping of pamphlets by aircraft telling the people when to listen and on what wavelength and also emphasizing the appeals of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the president of the United States to Italian citizens to oust Il Duce. It was not until our fighting forces landed on Italian soil that they realized the power of the propaganda which had preceded the military, naval and air assault. In many parts of Sicily, the populace was out to welcome the United Nations soldiers.

Aug. 8, 1918 – 100 Years Ago

Local news: A new switch board has been installed in the Central which necessitates a great deal of changes in the phone lines in town.
A great many farmers throughout this section have completed haying operations. Although the crop was light, the quality is reported to be very good.
Mr. Norval Kilgour received a bad shaking up last week while raking hay on his farm a short distance from here. The horse became frightened suddenly, supposed to have been startled by bees stinging him, running over some rough ground, Norval fell off and the rake passed over him. Although no limbs were broken, he received some sore bruises.
Last Sunday, “Remembrance Day”, the fourth anniversary of Great Britain’s entry into the war, was observed in the churches here by special services at which sermons befitting the occasion were preached.
The parish of Greermount was favoured with a visit from His Lordship the Bishop of Montreal. The weather was ideal, the people turned out to meet the Bishop who was in splendid form and gave an elegant and forceful address on “self-sacrifice.”
A war-vote of seven hundred million pounds sterling was carried through the British House of Commons last week without opposition. This would indicate that the nation still has confidence in itself to sustain the colossal burden which the war is imposing.
In their campaign against the gross misrule which has characterized the Bolsheviki regime in Russia, the Czechoslovaks are shortly to have substantial aid from the Allies, which means that an understanding has been reached whereby Japanese and U.S. forces will land on Siberian soil and exercise a free hand in dealing with the situation there.
Last week’s war news was of an encouraging character from the allies’ view-point. The great counter stroke initiated by General Foch has met with marked success, resulting in the rolling back of the enemy over many miles of recently invaded territory and the taking of numerous points of strategic importance.

Aug. 10, 1893 – 125 Years Ago

Local news: Harvesting conditions commenced in several parts of the county last week. Fall grain is nearly all ready for cutting and some parties have already peas in the barn. The hot weather is bringing in the grain very fast.
Mr. E.E. Holt of Thorne had his barn with all his hay, burnt a few days ago.
On Saturday afternoon last, a very disastrous hail storm passed over the neighbourhood adjacent to Clarke’s station, destroying nearly all the growing crops in that locality. A fierce gale and a deluge of rain accompanied the hail. The storm struck first at Mr. Blackwell’s (formerly Scott’s) and passing north eastward, swept over Moorhead’s farms, almost totally destroying all the fields of grain which gave such good prospects of an abundant yield. Continuing eastward, the tempest of hail levelled everything in its track across the property of W. Connelly, W. Wallace, W. Clarke, Mrs. Robert Wallace, Armstrong Bros., and a part of the Findlay farm. Barns were unroofed, some being carried over 50 yards. Window glass was shattered in several houses by the immense hail stones. The present season has been marked by a succession of the severest storms that have ever been experienced in these parts and that above noted, was without exception the worst that has ever visited the locality in question.
Mr. D. Gillies, M.P. spent Monday in town. He is also an hon. member of the B.B. Club here and before leaving presented the club with a V. Some weeks ago, Mr. Bryson, M.P., acknowledged the compliment paid him by the club in a similar substantial manner.
It is stated that Mr. John T. Wait has decided to establish a public park at Bristol wharf to be known as Columbia Park. This is a delightful resort for campers and picnic parties. He intends to erect a number of cottages. The site is only 10 miles from Arnprior and is easily reached as the Columbia makes two trips there every day.
Mr. W. Nesbitt completed the plastering of Caldwell’s new hotel last week. It took 100 loads of sand and 300 bushels of lime to do the work. Elliott and Dumas are now engaged at the inside finishing.