May 7,1997

25 Years Ago

Hydro Pontiac keeps finger on rivers’ pulse: While Pontiac residents are thinking about flood victims in Manitoba, it is some people’s job to keep an eye on the situation here at home.

The Ottawa River continued to rise this past weekend with Lac Coulonge up over a metre from a week before.

On Chats Lake the rise was less. Even so, the water was lapping at the steps of the Quyon Lions Hall on Sunday.

Meanwhile, from the power station at Waltham, Hydro Pontiac Manager Ron Lean is keeping a close watch on the Black and Coulonge Rivers.

“We’ve got a lot of water coming down both (rivers),” he reported Friday.

Wood producers pack hall: One thing wood producers aren’t is . . .

apathetic. More than 200 people jammed into the Shawville Anglican Church Hall April 30 for the Pontiac Forest Product Producers Board annual general meeting.

In March, producers voted by 64 per cent to do away with contractors and brokers in favour of the board issuing all delivery permits for wood. That issue wasn’t brought up at the meeting. Instead the assembly voted to add a director, representing Dorion and Church to the board.

After a proposal was made by Charteris producer Louis-Pierre Scott, the assembly also voted that directors must disclose the number of delivery permits they have used for their own personal use every year.

A group of producers have filed a notice with the Régie des marchés agricoles stating they do not accept the vote taken in Campbell’s Bay last March. A hearing expected next month, the Régie will listen to both parties.

May 10, 1972

50 Years Ago

Vallieres close store after eighteen years: Emile and Beatrice Valliere bought the general store in Davidson from F.W. Burman in the fall of 1953 and have this year decided to close down after 18 years of continuous operation, winter and summer, through blizzard and flood.

For Beatrice, it has actually been thirty-one years behind the counter because as the former Beatrice Pare, she worked in her parent’s general store since 1941.

Today in Davidson, there is only one store left, Oscar Marion’s, but the post office will remain in the capable hands of the Vallieres as it has since Dec. 10, 1953.

There are 129 households using the Davidson post office year round and an additional 80 during the summer.

Flooding concerns in Coulonge: The Ottawa River rose to new heights over the weekend and many homes in Fort Coulonge were cut off by the flood. A delivery truck could not finish his route as he faced a flooded street where children were wading waist-deep enjoying the warm Sunday weather.

The tremendous log jam on the Coulonge River is being held back by chains which is a constant threat to the old covered bridge in Mansfield. This wooden structure has become a landmark in Pontiac and is destined to be one of our major tourist attractions.

May 22, 1947

75 Years Ago

Local news: On Tuesday evening about 60 girls and their mothers enjoyed the annual mother-daughter banquet of the C.G.I.T. of the United Church held in the Sunday School room. An enjoyable sing-song was led by the pastor, solos were sung by Mrs. Asa Smart and Miss Marjorie Smart and a duet by Misses Muriel Riley and Maisie McTiernan.

In accordance with a resolution passed at a regular meeting of Shawville council, May 26 (Monday) was proclaimed a holiday instead of Saturday May 24, Victoria Day.

Subject to the approval of the Home and School Association at its regular meeting, the Recreation Committee has decided to sponsor Counting in Shawville by acting as the group committee behind the first Shawville Boy Scout Troop for boys of twelve and over. When adequate leadership can be obtained, the first Shawville Wolf Club Pack for boys under twelve will be re-organized by the committee.

If you are tired of your present method of making a living and are looking for work in a field not too crowded with competition, take up shepherding, suggests the Windsor Star.

Word from Saskatchewan is that sheepmen have an acute labour problem, a shortage of shepherds. They are finding that young men take no interest and the old-timers are starting to die off.

The world’s fastest fighter plane is the “Thunderjet” manufactured by the Republic Aviation Corporation in Farmingdale, N.Y. Officially designated the P-84, the jet plane makes over 600 mph, climbs higher than 40,000 feet and has more than 1000-mile range.

May 4,1922

100 Years Ago

Local news: Between 10 and 11 o’clock Saturday morning, the ringing of St. Paul’s church bell and the tooting of the factory whistle started citizens in a rush towards the west end of the village in search of a fire that at first could not be located. But it was soon discovered that a spark had set fire to the roof of Miss Jane Dale’s house. With a stiff breeze blowing it was making good headway when one of the town chemical fire extinguishers, which is stored at the roller mill was brought into play and soon accomplished the work needed. A very large crowd gathered within a few minutes but their services were not required.

The little chemical engine was brought to the threatened house just at the right time to be effective, although the distance was considerable.

The biggest sale by auction ever held in the county, if we except the sale of the Fraser-McCoshen limits at Bryson some years ago, was that conducted by J.J. Turner in town last Tuesday when the Pontiac House, with equipment, livery, etc. was disposed of. Mr. Alex Proudfoot of Coulonge purchased the hotel for the sum of $10,000 and has assumed possession.

Daylight saving time went into effect in Ottawa at midnight Saturday and will be observed there til Sept. 30.

A union meeting of the Young Women’s Guilds from the Bristol Memorial Church and the Brick Church was held at the home of Mrs. Howard Walsh on Wednesday afternoon.

A meeting for the purpose of forming a county baseball league will be held at Waltham on Thursday evening.

William Vallee, an inmate of Bryson jail awaiting sentence on a theft charge, escaped during the night and was captured the next day in Ladouceur’s Hotel, Portage du Fort and locked up till he was taken in charge by Turnkey Robert Carswell who conveyed him back to jail.

Word was received last week by relatives in the county of the death of Edgar Cahill. It is reported that Mr. Cahill of North Bay, a brother of Thomas Cahill of Campbell’s Bay and Irvine Cahill of Waltham, lost his life while paddling down the Abitibi River in company with three surveyors who managed to reach shore after their craft upset. The deceased who was 33 years of age, was a returned soldier.

May 6,1897

125 Years Ago

Local News: Owing to rain and cold weather the seeding is proceeding rather slowly in Bristol.

The farmers of Mousseau settlement have done little towards sowing their crops so far, owing to the unfavourable weather. A thunderstorm of a most terrific character occurred on the night of the 24th inst, in fact, one of the worst ever witnessed by our oldest residents.

The Laurier government have appointed Mr. James F. McGuire of Sheen to the position of slidemaster at the high falls on the DuMoine.

Messrs. Shaw and Elliott gathered up their sap pails on Friday, the season’s run having ceased. They estimate their output of syrup at 500 gallons.

Mr. Geo. Findlay began operations on the foundation of MA big lumber sale took place in Ottawa lately between two prominent lumbermen in the persons of Thomas Mackie, M.P. and W.C. Edwards, M.P. of Rockland. It is a sale of board timber in the Ottawa valley district and was sold to Mr. Edwards by Mr. Mackie for, it is said, $40,000.

The debate on the budget came to an end on Friday evening last without a vote being taken, the opposition having decided in caucus that no amendment be offered to the motion to go into supply, at the outset, in order that the House might be enabled to get work upon the resolutions without delay.