25 Years Ago May 27, 1998
Dry season concern for area farmers: Blame it on El Nino or global warming. Whatever the cause the shortage of rain in Pontiac has area farmers worried the drought-like conditions may cause crop shortages and the financial headaches that go with them.
With no significant rainfall since April, fields are becoming dust-dry and farmers who took advantage of the dry spring to get an early start on crop seeding may lose in the end. As well, hay crops that got an early start have stalled in growth and pastures are “yellow like July.”
“Yes its very dry and the way things are going it’s getting late for hay,” says Luskville farmer Bruno Alary.
“Last year we were planting corn and grain at this time. This year some grain has not germinated so the yield will be uneven with some mature and the rest not.”
In his 45 years of farming Alary says he doesn’t remember seeing summer-like weather so early.
Bryson still undefeated: Bryson of the 10-11-12-year-old division are taking on all teams as they are still undefeated. They clipped Otter Lake 1 13-6 and took Shawville 1 16-10 in their last two outings.
Elsewhere in the 10-11-12-year-old Campbell’s Bay II fell to Quyon I 10-3. Quyon II bombed Calumet Island II 16-3; while Otter Lake II lost to the Bay’s number two team 15-14 in action on May 6.
50 Years Ago May 30, 1973
Centennial Track Meet: On Monday May 21st the Centennial Summer Sports Committee held a successful track and field meet for young and old alike which attracted numerous participants from Bristol, Clarendon and Shawville or anyone who was visiting with friends in town for the weekend.
Rain showers held off for the day and luckily there was just one casualty – Edgar Dagg who sustained a knee injury which required medical attention and took him off the score sheet for the balance of the program.
After tabulation at the end of the day’s events the winners will be presented with a medallion at the Sportsman’s dinner in September.
Brownlee bull is gold medal sire: The jersey bull Basil Jester Royal Excellent owned by Lloyd Brownlee and Sons of Shawville and Henry Uihein of Lake Placid, New York, has been designated a Gold Medal Sire by the Canadian Jersey Cattle club on the high butterfat production of three of his daughters.
This bull has 53 tested daughters that average 7,289 pounds of milk 410 lbs butterfat 5.62 per cent on the mature equivalent of all their records. His 46 classified daughters average 84 per cent with four Excellent and twenty-one Very Good.
75 Years Ago June 17, 1948
Local News: Raymond Johnston of the firm of Johnston Bros. General Merchants of Otter Lake was chosen official Union Nationale candidate for Pontiac in the forthcoming Quebec provincial election at the largest political convention in the history of the County at Campbell’s Bay on Monday afternoon. Leading his three opponents on the first ballot, Mr. Johnston was given an overall majority of two on the second. His opponents were Alex Horner of Shawville, Hector Belec of Fort Coulonge and Irvin P. Cahill of Chapeau.
Flying Officer Rooney Hodgins, age 25 of Ottawa, formerly of Campbell’s Bay, was instantly killed at Rockliffe R.C.A.F. Station on Friday evening when practicing aerobatics with a Vampire jet fighter plane. The plane was rocketing low across the airport at an estimated 400 miles per hour when the pilot put it into a high-speed roll. The craft whirled into a tight spin and corkscrewed into the bushes on the eastern boundary of the field. The plane exploded on impact and sent a ball of flame racing through the bush. Flying Officer Hodgins was born at Campbell’s Bay, a son of Mrs. Molotta Hodgins and the late Alexander E. Hodgins.
The members of Stark’s Corners Women’s Institute held a Donation Tea in the church hall. Spring blooms decorated the tea tables and baskets of gaily coloured flowers added to the attractiveness of the room. Tea was served from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Miss Ruth Hodgins entertained at the piano during the afternoon with a number of popular selections. The proceeds are in aid of the Institute Hospital Fund.
Ad: We take great pleasure in announcing that we have been recently appointed agents for Moffat electric stoves for Shawville district. Moffat electric stoves and Crosley radios. Dales Radio Electric.
100 Years Ago May 31, 1923
Local News: An interesting contest was begun some two months ago between Cobden and Shawville Methodist young people’s bible classes. The idea in the mind of the leaders was to promote general interest in bible study that would continue down the years. With this purpose foremost, they set out for members not attending Sunday School at that hour anywhere else. Over the course of seven consecutive Sundays, Cobden was three ahead having 99, while Shawville had 96. The tide then turned and Shawville won out but Cobden young people showed themselves always alert and were serious contenders til the last minute. The trip to Cobden was enjoyed by 130 young people traveling thither in about 25 autos.The baseball game was good; the Cobden ladies gave a banquet in the Memorial hall in keeping with the hospitality for which the town is noted.
Mr. W.R. McDonald M.L.A. and Mr. Dumont, engineer of the Dept. of Roads, Quebec were in town last Saturday conferring with members of the village and township councils on the proposed scheme of road improvement this year. THE EQUITY learns that included in the general program affecting this section will be the improvement of the road leading thereto and bridging of Mill Creek and surfacing the macadam on Main Street with tarvia. The government is planning its road expenditures in this section with a view to making the Calumet Road the main thoroughfare through the county to Chapeau.
Two young men, Paul Turcotte of Black Bay and Victor Gagnon of Chichester, employed by the Pembroke Lumber Company as drivers were drowned at Poplar Chute on the Dumoine River on May 20. They were carried over the rapids in a lumber boat which became unmanageable. Two other men who were also in the boat saved their lives by jumping out and swimming to shore.
The budget debate in the House of Commons closed on Wednesday night with a general reply by the Finance Minister to the various criticisms which had been leveled at his financial proposals.
Mr. and Mrs. P.B. Moyle and daughter Miss Ocelia motored from Ottawa on Saturday evening in a new McLaughlin “45”. Mrs. Moyle and daughter returned to the city by Sunday evening’s train.
“Children who drink a glass of milk or more daily are taller, heavier and more advanced in schoolwork than those who drink none” says an America health expert.
In South Renfrew the U.F.O. party has again brought out the late member John Carty of Brudenel while the Liberals have selected J.S. McCann, an implement dealer of Eganville. The Conservatives are expected to put a candidate in the field at a convention being held on Wednesday.
Ad: Clarendon Centenary Celebration and Old Boys re-union: Aug. 3, 4 and 5. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the settlement of Clarendon 1823-1923 and the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of Shawville 1873-1923. This is an epochal year in the history of this district and we want to meet all those who have ever been residents as well as those whose parents have ever been residents.
125 Years Ago June, 2 1898
Missing from our files
