Mar. 26,1997
25 Years Ago
Pontiac sap ready to flow: The trails are open, the horses hitched, the boilers prepared, the sugar shack ready. Now the only thing maple syrup producers need is warmer weather.
“It’s been too cold,” says Bristol producer Don McCredie. “The trees haven’t thawed out yet.”
While this year’s season appears to be getting off to a late start, many producers expect to start tapping this week.
For Don McCredie, tapping his maple trees is like hunting.
“Every year you say you’re not going to do it, but then the birds are singing and it’s sunny out,” and again McCredie and his crew get to work, preparing the bush for 1,400 taps.
Draveurs all tied up with Aylmer: The Pontiac Midget Draveurs are the surprise of the “CC” Outaouais league after upsetting first-place Gatineau.
Now after the first four games of the finals, the Draveurs are tied at four points a piece in a six-point series with Aylmer and could knock them out with a victory as of March 25.
If the teams tie once again, it will come down to one final game to be played on Shawville ice.
Caldwell Notes – by Hermonie Sharpe: Hearing all the talk about the cutbacks at the schools, my mind went back to when we attended high school. We had to buy our books, sometimes you were lucky enough to get secondhand ones, but quite often it was a case of buying new ones. The money wasn’t plentiful in those days. The ones from the country who wanted to continue their education had to rent a room in Shawville and either board themselves, or if their parents could afford it, they’d pay their board, as the country schools just taught to grade 7 with one teacher for the whole seven grades. There weren’t any school buses to bus them back and forth. There were even some who came to school with a horse or horses and sleigh or in summer with a buggy with the bale of hay on behind to feed the horses at noon hour. There was a shed near the school which is now Victoria Avenue Apartments which was used for the horses.
There was a lunchroom in the basement of the school and you brought your own home-made lunch, one side was the girls’ lunchroom and the other side, the boys’.
Just another one of my “Remember When.”
Mar. 29, 1972
50 Years Ago
Cowley and Dean win at Pontiac High School festival: It was a packed house every night last week when Pontiac Protestant High School presented its annual Drama Festival.
All grades from 7 to 11 presented plays with grade 9 securing three trophies with their entry “Campbell of Kilmohr.”
The Campbell Trophy went to Rod Dean, grade 11, for his portrayal of Crumthorpe, the dedicated playwright who goes berserk when stung by the callous attitude of the audience in “The Theatre”.
Best supporting actress went to Betsy Farrell, best actress Ruth Cowley, best supporting actor Robert Armitage and best actor Rodney Dean.
14-year-old tops high school speakers in all-Pontiac contest: One representative of each of Pontiac’s four high schools has been awarded a trophy in the annual public speaking contest sponsored by the Lions Clubs of Quyon, Shawville, Bryson and Cambpell’s Bay.
Anne Bertrand, 14-year-old student at the Polyvalente Sieur de Coulonge won highest points. Speaking in French on the subject of drugs, Miss Bertrand was awarded a total of 331 points out of a possible 400. The judges were the Hon. Raymond Johnston, Mr. Don Lavalee and Linden Quaile.
Apr. 10, 1947
75 Years Ago
Local news: Large congregations attended the United Church on Easter Sunday at both services. In the morning the pastor, Rev. A.F. Fokes, preached on he subject, “The Immortal Word, Life,” and the choir, led by Mrs. Edgar Hodgins at the organ, sang two anthems. In the evening, the choir presented the cantata by Lillenas, “The First Easter”, which had a very fine message in song, appropriate to Easter season.
The largest deal in Holstein cattle and the highest price ever paid for a foundation herd in this district took place last week when C. Frederick Coakley of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A., purchased the herd of Clarence T. Brownlee of Clarendon township, consisting of 17 registered cattle.
Ad: The Findlay “Oval” cook stove is giving satisfaction and service in thousands of Canadian homes. A wonderful eater and baker, the extra large firebox will hold enough fuel to retain a good fire overnight so that you have a warm kitchen in the morning. Wood firebox takes 24 inch wood easily. The 18 inch wide by 20 inch deep oven and roomy cooking top meet the needs of the home where a lot of cooking is done. W.H. Hodgins, Bristol.
Ad: It’s smart to own an Olds. Smart is the word for Oldsmobile’s 1947 styling. The long, rakish lines, the attractive new colours, the over-all impression of quality and good taste. And smart is the way you’ll feel once you drive a new Oldsmobile of your own. And above all, you’ll find a new kind of deep-down satisfaction in the Oldsmobile way of driving, without shifting gears, without pushing a clutch, thanks to GM Hydra-Matic Drive. This is the fully proved, fully-automatic drive, the drive that does all the gear-shifting for you, from first through a special economy fourth speed, the drive that takes the clutch pedal right out of the car! GM Motors
Mar. 23,1922
100 Years Ago
Local news: In view of the mild weather of the past week, sugar bush owners in this district began preparations for the season’s run but the cold wave which came from the north on Thursday effectually sealed up the source of supply for a few days longer.
There was a fairly good attendance at the concert given by the young ladies of the Methodist Church on St. Patrick’s night, despite bad roads and cold weather. A very excellent supper was served and the program embraced some original and appropriate features that were well received. The Rev. Mr. Robinson presided.
We want to publicly thank the girls and boys who entered the map contest. You all did well. Think of our big county, think of its possibilities and let us be real proud of old Pontiac. Ten maps were received, the judges have selected the winners. Prizes awarded as follows: Wendell Wilson, first prize; Opal Langford, second prize; Bessie Armstrong, third, Ethel Smith, 4th, Lillian Belanger, 5th.
Mar. 25,1897
125 Years Ago
Local News: The skating carnival which came off on the rink here on Wednesday evening last and which closed the series for this season was in every respect a crowning success. Among the varied costumes worn a number were of a very striking as well as costly nature. Prize winners were as follows: T.W. Allen as Charles II; Miss Bella Morrison as a bride; Miss M.K. Thomson; Charles Smith, P.D. Fort.
The “winding up” carnival at Bristol Corners on the 15th inst. is reported by those who attended as having come off very successfully.
Several heavy peals of thunder were heard here on Saturday towards the end of the heavy rainfall which prevailed. Damage to telegraph and telephone poles is reported in some quarters. Some of the weather-wise predict a late spring as the result of thunder at this season.
Dr. W.H. Klock of Ottawa came up on Saturday evening to see the eldest child of Dr. R.H. Klock who with other complications has lately been prostrated with an attack of pleurisy.
On Sunday morning, assisted by Dr. Lyon, Dr. Klock performed an operation on the child and succeeded in removing a quantity of puss from one of its lungs.
A building to be used for services, prayer meetings, Sunday school etc. is in course of being erected at Knox’s settlement near the Orange Hall.
The roads in Charteris are in a poor condition owing to the prevailing thaw.
A very pleasant apple social was given at Elmside by Miss Chapman on Friday in aid of the W.F.M.S. The chair was filled by Mr. Andrew Grant and a lengthy program was well rendered. Though the weather was unfavourable, Almonte, Arnprior, Onslow and Bristol Mines were well represented.
On Friday evening, a merry sleigh load consisting of Mrs. E. Graham, Mrs. H. McCredie, Mrs. W. Graham, Miss Burwash, Miss Campbell, Miss Munroe, Miss Graham, Miss Johnston, Miss Stewart, Miss Mabel Campbell; Messrs. E. Graham, H. McCredie, W.C. Young, W. Graham, A. McKechnie, J. Robertson, Collins Young and Dr. Stewart drove to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Banning, Arnprior, where they were joined by a number of the latter’s friends. The amusements were of a pleasing nature and a most enjoyable evening was spent by all.
