July 9,1997
25 Years Ago
Hundreds attend rally to save Canadian Tire: According to Albert Armstrong, there is a “slight chance” of keeping the Canadian Tire store in Shawville. Armstrong, along with Carson Hodgins and Royce Richardson are working with what Armstrong would only describe as “influential people towards developing a solution to keeping Canadian Tire in Shawville.”
Two weeks ago, Canadian Tire Corporation announced it would close its Shawville store after 53 years of business. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition circulated by Tom Tubman.
This announcement prompted Shawville council to call a public meeting last Thursday. Armstrong says he, Carson Hodgins and Royce Richardson are doing what they can to save the store “for the good of the town and for the good of the Pontiac.”
“Courting car” brings back memories: When Ruby Smart’s son, Les, came to pick her up on a recent . . .
Saturday morning, Ruby felt like she had stepped back in time 60 years. That’s because Les was driving the 1930 Chevrolet his grandfather, Fred Smart once owned.
It was the same car Fred’s son, Bob used to court Ruby in 1930.
“It brings back good memories,” Ruby says of the car she hadn’t seen since 1955.
For nearly 30 years, Les had been wanting to buy the car, which had been sold out of the family years ago. Last Easter, the phone rang with news that the owner, Charlie Hobbs of Montreal, originally from Shawville, wanted to sell.
Les says he doesn’t have any particular passion for old cars, but this one has special meaning for him and his family.
July 12, 1972
50 Years Ago
Missing from our files
July 24, 1947
75 Years Ago
Local news: Hospital report for May and June: there were 85 patients treated during May. Remaining in June 1, 10 patients. Total number of hospital days for May being 638, with a daily average of 21.2. During May there were 24 operations, 7 outdoors and 14 maternity cases.
For the month of June there were 93 patients treated. There were 24 operations, 6 outdoor and 18 maternity cases.
THE EQUITY was pleased to have a call from Mr. John F. Taylor, vice-president of the E.B. Eddy Co on Monday. While here, Mr. Taylor spoke very highly of the excellent work of the Shawville and District branch of the Red Cross Society, he being, during the war, president of the Hull headquarters branch to which all articles from this district were shipped. Like most visitors “up the Pontiac” he referred to the deplorable condition of the western section of Highway No. 8.
A meeting of the Pontiac Medical Association was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. S.E. McDowell on Thursday evening.
Shawville Women’s Institute met at the summer home of Mrs. G.G. McDowell, Green Lake on Wednesday afternoon. Seventeen members and one guest were present. Mrs. MacLean prepared an excellent report on the beginning of the institute. Mrs. W.E. Shaw read a paper, “The Ideal Husband”. A contest by Mrs. Edgar Hodgins “Filling the Pantry” was given. Luncheon and supper were served by the members and all enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon.
Taking into account all the competitive sections of the Central Canada Exhibition, more than 2,500 exhibitors the majority from the Ottawa Valley, show their wares annually at the Exhibition at Landsdowne Park. According to the official records of the association, vast numbers of people come from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec to the annual exhibition.
In Difficulty! No paper next week. Due to mechanical trouble with our press, which cannot be repaired for at least two weeks, we are forced to take this time out for our annual vacation, consequently, THE EQUITY will not be published again until August 14. This issue was printed off on the press of The Eganville Leader and we are deeply indebted to the Tracey brothers, owners and publishers for their kind cooperation in helping us get this edition to our readers.
July 6,1922
100 Years Ago
Local news: The celebration of Canada’s National holiday at the Exhibition grounds under the Society’s auspices, marked another very successful event in the history of Pontiac’s premier agricultural organization.
Although weather prospects were not to say reassuring, the day remained fine and cool throughout, and thus was admirably suited for the carrying out of the long list of sports that were featured during the afternoon, which had worn well on towards evening before the final heat in one of the several trotting events was disposed of.
Whilst the program included a variety of other sports such as baseball, foot-racing, leaping, etc., the main features were the trotting contests and saddle competitions in the show ring. The society merry-go-round was in operation all day, in charge of Mr. Conn McCagg but somehow the attendance was not up to expectations till late in the day when the other attractions had completed.
On Thursday last, Mr. Andrew Pirie of Murrells section went to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal with his daughter, Mrs. Clarence Cameron, who was so very severely burned several weeks ago by her clothing catching fire from a smudge. Mrs. Cameron’s case is indeed, a most critical one and so slowly has been her progress towards recovery that not till last week was it thought safe to undertake her removal to the hospital.
July 22,1897
125 Years Ago
Local News: A number of people from the neighbourhood of Bryson and Campbell’s Bay left by train on Monday morning to join the pilgrimage to St. Anne de Beaupré, which started from various points on that date.
A young man named Tubman of Bristol, while at his brother’s in the rear of Clarendon on Monday, received a very severe injury to one of his knees through a kick from a horse. The injured member was dressed by Dr. Knox.
The great iron smoke stack of Gillies Bros. saw mill at Braeside fell down on Thursday last, owing, it is said, to the intense heat. About thirty feet broke off the top and fell onto a platform below. A horse belonging to the firm was killed and the driver narrowly escaped with his life. Had it fallen a few feet further to the right, the late mill would have been crushed and there would have been scores of deaths. The mill will be closed for three weeks until another stack is erected.
On the farm of Mr. J.A. McGuire about six miles from here, is to be seen one of the most luxuriant fields of Timothy hay that has ever grown in these parts. Parties who have seen this phenomenal crop say it reaches up to the armpits of a tall man anywhere through the field which is a large one.
Mrs. James McCredie has gone to Norway Bay to spend a few weeks. Miss Henderson will have charge of the millinery shop in her absence.
Mr. James Kelly of Vinton claims to have invented a road maker which, as regards the requirements of the roads in this section of country, fills the bill to a dot. Mr. Kelly’s invention is easily operated, he says, by one span of horses and does its work as perfectly as the larger machines, which cost several times as much money.
The citizens of Arnprior were greatly shocked on Saturday evening last to hear that Mrs. R.S. Drysdale, wife of the popular Massey-Harris machine agent had been instantly killed in a runaway accident near Sand Point.
It seems Mr. and Mrs. Drysdale took advantage of the beautiful weather and good roads on Saturday evening and went for a drive up the Sand Point Road. When in the vicinity of Sand Point, Mr. Drysdale got out to see a mowing machine working in a field near the road, and Mrs. Drysdale attempted to follow him, when the horse suddenly shied backwards and Mrs. Drysdale was thrown forward between the shafts.
