25 Years Ago – June 3, 1998
Middlemiss’ future in doubt: Pontiac MNA Robert Middlemiss is contemplating his future in politics. At a Liberal fund-raising breakfast in Fort Coulonge Sunday, Middlemiss told the crowd of about 100 party supporters he was “seriously reflecting” on his future.
“I would be dishonest if I didn’t tell you that today.” It has nothing to do with (Jean) Charest, says Middlemiss. “It will be a personal decision.”
For 17 years, Middlemiss has represented Pontiac in the National Assembly. While he is still in good health, Middlemiss says he wants to spend more time with his wife.
“I’m looking forward to days without an agenda,” he says.
Trade show attracts shoppers: According to merchants, shoppers and organizers, last weekend’s Trade Show in Shawville was a success.
“It was great,” says Barrie Murray, chairman of the show which was initiated by the Shawville and Clarendon Chamber of Commerce.
“All the merchants were very happy.”
While Saturday’s crowd appeared to be smaller than Sunday’s, Murray says more people went through Saturday but Sunday’s shoppers “hung around more.”
Shoppers were also impressed with the quality of displays.
“I’ve ordered crafts and I wanted to order flooring so I took this opportunity to do so,” said Linda Vowles.
“We’ve had a good response,” stated Lisa Coles who worked the 4-H Calf Rally booth with Sara Knox. The girls say the publicity will help with the club’s fundraising efforts.
50 Years Ago – June 6, 1973
Famous visitor: Saturday morning, Shawville was buzzing with anticipation as the word went around that the Hon. John Diefenbaker would be passing through town on his way to a fishing weekend at Thorne Lake with his friend, Sant Singh.
Mr. Diefenbaker stepped into the Canadian Tire store to buy a fishing license. While waiting for the forms to be filled out, a photo was taken with two other customers, Mrs. Elsie Schwartz and her granddaughter, Miss Jill Hobbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Hobbs.
“Olympiades scolaires” at Fort Coulonge: The Pontiac County inter-school track meet was held at Fort Coulonge last week with the host school coming out the victors, with 197 points, Shawville coming in second with 96 and Chapeau third with 94.
The event was run in true Olympic style with the running in of the torch to light an Olympic flame which remained lit during the entire event. There was also a brief opening ceremony which included the playing of “God Save the Queen” as well as “O Canada”.
Not only winning highest points in the entire meet, individual Fort Coulonge students won most of the individual high scores, the one exception being Patsy Cotnam of Chapeau who was top junior girl athlete with wins in 100 meters, 200 meters and discus throwing.
Philippe Béchamp of Fort Coulonge received Mr. Tom Lefebvre’s trophy for the best senior athlete of the day with 15 points.
75 Years Ago – June 24, 1948
Missing from our files
100 Years Ago – June 7, 1923
Local News: A fairly good representation from this town attended the second presentation of the drama “It Pays to Advertise,” by local talent at the town hall, Campbell’s Bay, last Wednesday evening and all speak most appreciatively of the performance.
The concert held Monday evening in the Exhibition hall under the auspices of Shawville Women’s Institute came off successfully, although weather conditions were not altogether favourable. There was a good attendance and the program presented was fully appreciated by those present. Miss Chrissie Aird, piper and dancer and Miss Mulligan, violinist and soloist, both of Ottawa, fully sustained their reputations as high class performers. In the local sphere, Mr. Irvine Schwartz, whose ability as a coronetist is generally acknowledged and Mr. John Grant in the role of Harry Lauder impersonator, were in no sense disappointing.
We notice from the schedule of Lower Pontiac League that the first game for the baseball season will be played on Friday afternoon when the new team, organized at Bryson and embracing the pick of the old Murrell players, is to try conclusions with the home team, which has been reorganized with A.D. McCredie as manager and is getting into shape to give a fair account of itself this summer.
The annual county meeting of Pontiac Womens Institute was held at Fort Coulonge in the town hall on Thursday with delegates present from ten of the twelve branches. Following the meeting, supper was served to all in the Women’s Institute room, a very attractive room and a credit to the women. The evening meeting was presided over by Mrs. James Bryson, Fort Coulonge.
A striking evidence of the backwardness of real spring weather was presented at THE EQUITY office on Thursday, May 31, by Mr. Joseph Gilpin, the Shawville-Otter Lake mail courier. It was in the form of a chunk of ice, 4 inches thick which he broke off from a large cake which was lying beside the road at Spring Creek.
The existence of forest fires ranging over a wide tract of the county to the west and north was indicated by a dense volume of smoke on Friday afternoon and evening, entirely obscuring the sun about 7 o’clock. Reports given out on Saturday stated that large areas were on fire in the Upper Gatineau and Livre River district and also in Northern Ontario.
The first shipment of Canadian store cattle to Birkenhead arrived today, the shipment comprising 500 beeves. They came on the steamer Welshman. The cattle are being taken to Worlingham, Norfolk to the estate of the Canadian Cattle Corporation and will be allotted to farmers. The farmers will make a ten per cent deposit on the purchase price at the outset and will pay the balance when the cattle are fattened and sold.
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125 Years Ago – June 9, 1898
Missing from our files
