May 28,1997
25 Years Ago
Ten B&E’s in one week: From Waltham to Pontiac Station and nearly every place in between was hit with a rash of break and enters and robberies this past week.
The Campbell’s Bay detachment of the Quebec Police Force was called to . . .
investigate 10 break and enters, four robberies and one attempted robbery.
Dion comes to Shawville: Pontiac MP Robert Bertrand brought the Liberal government’s unity spokesman to Shawville last Friday to assist with his campaign.
Since being brought into the Chrétien cabinet in January, 1996 Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion has been given the job of articulating the government’s stand on Quebec separation.
In Shawville, Dion and Bertrand met with Mayor Randy Beattie and held a press conference for Radio Canada and other national media at the Ed and Ellen Place.
“The biggest mistake we have made over the past 10 years is to confine ourselves to a dry constitutional debate,” Dion said.
Afterward the two candidates visited stores on Shawville’s Main Street to meet the voters.
May 31, 1972
50 Years Ago
Environment minister visits Pontiac county: Pontiac County was visited by Dr. Victor Goldbloom, Minister responsible for the quality of the environment of Quebec on Monday.
He landed by helicopter in front of the Catholic Church in Campbell’s Bay at about one o’clock to be greeted by the twenty-five mayors of Pontiac municipalities, the member of parliament and the member of the national assembly as well as the assorted members of the press and David Mackenzie, president of the Pontiac County Liberal Association.
The day’s itinerary included a banquet at Paul Chatillon’s Dew Drop Inn at Otter Lake, a tour of the Hilton Mine and a Chamber of Commerce dinner at Fort Coulonge, followed by a drive back to Quebec City.
Quyon Lions club entertains mayors: On Tuesday evening the Quyon Lions Club entertained mayor and past mayors of Quyon, South Onslow and North Onslow at a dinner in honour of these men who served their municipalities in the past or are still serving.
The event was under the chairmanship of R.E. Campbell, president of the club
The Honourable Raymond Johnston was the main speaker for the occasion and he recounted many interesting and sometimes amusing incidents of his career in the Quebec Legislature.
June 12, 1947
75 Years Ago
Local news: About 50 children of the United Church Mission Band entertained their mothers at an open meeting of the band on Friday afternoon in the Sunday School room.
Clarence Sparling was in the chair and led the children present in repeating the pledge and welcoming the visitors and the leader, Mrs. J. Stickler who has so efficiently led the society spoke on the work that the society has done through the year.
John Watt of Fort Coulonge died at Pontiac Community Hospital from injuries he received when he was thrown off a wagon. His horses, frightened by barking dogs, bolted and threw him heavily to the ground near the Black River. Two companions were able to jump clear and escape injury.
He was removed by boat and truck to hospital where he was treated by local doctors.
On Sunday afternoon, some forty students from grades eight to eleven were taken to Ottawa in the school bus under the direction of Mr. Tolhurst, the principal and Rev. L. R. Mack to hear Dr. Bob Jones speak in the Gospel Tabernacle on the subject of “Juvenile Delinquency” and how to deal with it.
A 29-year-old Fort Coulonge man was drowned at Duval lake 50 miles north of Ottawa. An employee of James Davidson Lumber Company, it was understood he fell into the lake while working on a log boom.
May 25,1922
100 Years Ago
Local news: Everybody is saying that the recent rains should relieve the fodder shortage and start the meadows well on the way to a bountiful hay crop.
People living on the ground and naturally deeply interested in what the future has in store, are looking forward to important developments at Calumet Falls about the month of July.
Audible whispers have been floating around lately that the big scheme of harnessing the falls will take shape in a few weeks from now when Bryson and vicinity will become a hive of activity almost overnight.
June 10,1897
125 Years Ago
Local News: Ten thousand people witnessed the embarkation of the Canadian jubilee military contingent at Quebec on Saturday last. The troops sailed for England on H.M.S. Vancouver. All the wharves, the Princess Louise docks and the terrace were thronged with spectators and the streets were almost impassable as the regiment marched to the breakwater where the Vancouver was lying. At 7:45 the Queen’s Own Canadian Hussars and Eighth Royal Rifles with bands marched down tot he breakwater to receive the troops who followed in about ten minutes headed by the R.C.A. band and accompanied by the Ninth Battalion and Quebec Field Battery. There was much enthusiasm and the men repeatedly cheered as they embarked and when they reappeared on the vessel’s deck.
It seems to be the general impression all over the country that if the cold weather does not terminate pretty soon, the crops, especially hay, will be a failure this year.
A young man named Edmund Pelnaud accidentally came to his death on Saturday by falling into the log chute at McLaren’s Mills, Buckingham. Mr. Valilee, the manager, risked his life attempting to save him but was unsuccessful.
The new tower of St. Paul’s church, Cobden, is a splendid piece of work and when completed, in brick ornamented with white cute stone, it will be one of the finest in an architectural sense in these parts.
Two hundred French Canadians from Michigan were expected to return to Canada last week. They will settle in the Lake St. John district.
Judgment in the case of Abel Bouchard vs. the Matthews Co. of Hull was given Saturday morning in favour of the plaintiff in the Superior Court by Judge Gill. It was an action for $4,000 damages for alleged injuries resulting from an accident sustained by the plaintiff while working in the defendant’s establishment last July. Bouchard, while doing some repairing at the establishment, had his foot caught by a shaft and has been unable to work since 31 of July last. He was awarded judgment for $1332, which includes doctor’s bills and the time which the plaintiff has lost while being unable to work.
Narcisse Noel, M. Robert and A. Parizeau of Aylmer went fishing on the 24th across the lake. While sitting on the shore on Wilson’s Bluff just below Berry’s wharf, they noticed some bullets being washed about in the sand at the water’s edge. They picked them up and upon a closer examination discovered a cache of 260 bullets, together with a porcelain pipe of ancient design. The whole had been stowed originally in a bag made of the pelt of some fur-bearing animal, the decaying remnants of which were found in such a position as to convey this impression. The bullets had been made in the ordinary hand mold and are slightly smaller than those used in a 16 bore gun. A few years ago a similar cache was discovered above this place at Pointe a la Bataille, by Joseph Leclair of Aylmer.
During the thunderstorm of May 30, Mr. Thos. Devine, Goulbourn, had his outbuildings struck by lightning and burned. He lost his farm implements, vehicles grain and provisions. The storm was severe for a time in this neighbourhood but no further damage is reported.
Geo. Gahan, the man who recently forged Hon. R.R. Dobell’s name to a cheque for $150 was sentenced at Quebec on Thursday last by Judge Chauveau to ten years in the penitentiary.
A sharper has been doing the townships about Winchester. He goes to a farmer and makes a bargain for his chickens, saying that his partner will come along shortly with a rig and gather them up. Then he tenders the farmer a confederate $10 bill and the farmer, not knowing that the bill is worthless, gives him his change, in some cases $5 and $8 in good money. The stranger then disappears.
