Oct. 8,1997 – 25 Years Ago
12th Oktoberfest draws thousands: Thanks to unseasonably mild temperatures, non-stop entertainment and an abundance of homemade sauerkraut, the 12th annual Oktoberfest Ladysmith will go down in the history books as a tremendous success. An estimated crowd of between 7,000 and 8,000 crowded onto Ladysmith’s TCRA grounds during the three-day festival last weekend.
“The weather really cooperated,” said director Clara Steinke.
New attractions such as the Ottawa Valley Antique Association’s show seemed to be big drawing cards, she said.
The crowds also couldn’t get enough of the local entertainers, such as the Burgess Family, Richard Dubois and the Loners and the Paulette Gauthier dancers.
Hundreds attend memorial dedication: Stories and emotional memories flooded back for many veterans during Sunday’s dedication service for the new Shawville and Clarendon War Memorial monument. The monument is dedicated to the memory of the men and women of Clarendon and Shawville who served overseas in World War II, the Korean War and the Gulf War. No recent Shawville Remembrance Day service has come close to drawing the crowd that showed up for Sunday’s ceremony. An estimated 300 people filled Veterans’ Memorial Park and lined the streets to attend the service which included a colour parade of the Royal Canadian Legions of Renfrew and Campbell’s Bay, a contingent of the first battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment and of course, the local veterans.
“About 10 lads from Shawville came to my unit for a party,” Keith Bean remembers. “It was really nice to see them all. It was a great evening.”
Those Shawville lads included Bean’s brother, Ken, as well as Ben Judd and Louis Welch.
Today, Bean is the only one still living from that small group of Shawville soldiers who celebrated the end of the war together.
Oct. 18, 1972 – 50 Years Ago
Pontiac plowmen defy weather and Bob Crawford wins again: Bob Crawford was the big winner at the Pontiac County Plowing Match, taking home the Esso Trophy, the Royal Bank Trophy and the Bank of Nova Scotia trophy, along with L & M Radio and coming first in two furrow trailing class. He was featured on the CBOT program “Four for the Road.”
It rained for this year’s match which was held on the Crawford Brothers Farm above Campbell’s Bay. This was most unusual because organizers have always counted on clear and sunny skies for the event year in and year out.
Phillipe LaSalle, John Stafford and Raymone Dagenais won the Albert Hotel, Bryson Lodge and Viberts Excel prizes.
Theo Tourangeau had the horse drawn class all to himself. His marvelously matched team didn’t get featured on the TV show but in half an hour you can’t do everything. For many, a match wouldn’t be worth going to without any horses at all.
Counseling service available in Shawville: Rev. Ronald Ellis, pastor of the local Pentecostal Church is opening a free counseling service to people of all faiths and walks of life, in his church office every Tuesday.
Mr. Ellis for some time now, has sensed the need for such a service in this community and has been encouraged by the growing response to the recorded “Help for Today” telephone ministry which his church sponsors. He feels that the ministry of Christ and His church must be extended beyond the walls of the church and its preaching ministry to include the everyday problems which face man in this frustrating world.
Oct. 23, 1947 – 75 Years Ago
Local news: The members of the Shawville Rotary Club enjoyed a lighter program than usual at their luncheon last Friday. There was no guest speaker but Mr. Fred Schwartz of Ladysmith entertained the Rotarians with three recitations rendered in his inimitable style. Mr. Tolhurst led the members in a not-too-serious quiz and Mr. Rowat in a hearty sing-song.
On Monday evening, five Rotarians from Shawville attended the Renfrew Club’s 25th anniversary banquet in Hotel Renfrew and had a splendid evening of fellowship.
Bristol Busy Bees Institute held their monthly meeting at the home of Mrs. Arthur Pitt on Thursday evening with 17 members and 5 visitors present.
A pioneer resident of Bristol township, Mrs. Peter Bell of Maryland and Wyman celebrated the 100th anniversary of her birth last Monday with a party at her home attended by Bishop Smith of Pembroke and many friends and relatives.
A milestone in Canada’s financial history was passed on Oct. 14 when the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Douglas Abbott put into motion the repayment of the country’s first wartime bond issue.
Oct. 5,1922 – 100 Years Ago
Local news: The Campbell’s Bay Milling Co. have decided to reopen their flour mill as soon as possible and continue running all winter if conditions warrant.
Dr. and Mrs. Powles successfully figured in the saddle events at Beachburg Fair last week.
An advanced guard of the Lake Dumont Hunt Club left here last Tuesday to build a new club house at the lake.
The championship of the Lower County League now rests between Vinton and Shawville as the result of the tie play off between Campbell’s Bay and Vinton which was won by the former, score 3-2.
W.J. Butler, the eyesight specialist of Ottawa will be in Shawville for one day only and while here he will stay at Mrs. John A. Rennick’s. Eyes tested, glasses fitted.
Now that the harvest is safe, the silos filled, the spuds dug, and the fall fairs over, farmers in this section, at least, would welcome a good steady rain to help the grass and soften the ground for plowing. The past month has been exceptionally dry.
An interesting and pleasant social event connected with the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Presbyterian congregation in the village took place at the home of Mrs. Horsfield recently. A short but enjoyable program was given and dainty refreshments were served.
The radio phone is now being used in the forestry protection service in connection with hydro-planes.
Oct. 14,1897 – 125 Years Ago
Local News: Local News: We understand that Mr. S. Young has come to an arrangement with the heirs of the late W.H. Smiley whereby he resumes ownership of the property sold to that gentleman. Mr. Young entered into possession last week.
A strange state of affairs exists in Aylmer. Since the waterworks were put in, many people put sewer pipes into their unused wells and all their slops go into these wells. It is now pointed out that this dreadful stat of affairs will ruin the health of the town.
Last week’s Pembroke Observer tells of the arrival home of the remains of a young man named Lafrance of Allumette Island who was killed by a tree while working in the woods in Michigan.
George Prendergast, son of Mr. Thomas Prendergast of Radford, met with a bad fall while shingling on an outbuilding last Tuesday. He fell a distance of 25 feet and was rendered unconscious for some minutes. Dr. Klock was speedily summoned to attend the injured boy, whose condition was not found to be as serious as at first feared.
Mrs. Peter Brownlee of Radford had a sewing bee on Wednesday last at which a very enjoyable afternoon was spent.
The long distance telephone between Ottawa and Boston is now an accomplished fact.
