25 Years Ago – June 17, 1998
Larva warning for area farmers: It’s not the army-worm but the larva of the European Skipper butterfly that has been detected near Quyon.
Farmers are warned by MAPAQ’s crop detection service to examine five different sites in fields of grass hay to determine if the larva is present.
“The larva seems to be more predominant in sandy soil,” says Jean Pierre Pelchat of the Ministry of Agriculture.
As if the larva problem weren’t enough for farmers to deal with, Pelchat reports this could be “the third bad year in a row” for hay crops.
“If we have a drought this summer, it will be a disaster,” he says. “The hay came up about three weeks early, so farmers have to cut early to stimulate second growth. If he waits until normal cutting time (near the end of June) the second cut may be a low yield.
Artists’ Studio Tour continues this weekend: Three years ago, Ariann Bouchard and David Abelson were visitors on the Pontiac Artists’ Studio Tour. The two were impressed with how well the tour was organized, the quality of art and the graciousness of the artists.
This year, Bouchard and Abelson are part of the tour.
“It’s an honour that they accepted us to be part of the tour,” says Bouchard, who paints and creates collage and handmade paper at her Bryson studio, La marchande de la Rivière des Outaouais.
Hundreds of visitors took part in last weekend’s tour which visits the studios of seven local artists. The self-guided tour wraps up this weekend.
50 Years Ago – June 20, 1973
Fire in the G.F. Hodgins building: Tuesday evening just before seven o’clock, smoke was noted to be pouring out of a basement window in the building now owned by Laurie MacKechnie who had a general department store there. All evening and all night the Shawville Voluneer Firemen assisted by the Campbell’s Bay Fire Department, Hydro Quebec, some foam from Consolidated Bathurst Pontiac Mill and lights and other equipment from the Emergency Measures Organization, fought to save the rest of the town and contain the fire in the one store.
The Shawville 5 to $1.00 store, a Stedman’s branch and the residence of the Dick Meisners above that store intend to have their store renovated and reopened sometime during Old Home Week in July but it will be considerably longer before MacKechnie’s M&M will be repaired.
The “G.F. Hodgins’” building was built in 1895 and still stands today, despite two bad fires in Shawville’s early years which destroyed the centre of town and despite last Tuesday’s blaze which burned the interior of the west half of the building.
The spirit of cooperation in this town was exemplified the night of the fire when firemen’s wives and numerous women from the farms around Shawville brought food to town to sustain the many men working to save Shawville from disaster and Bob and Brenda Smith who made their restaurant (Golden Shasta) available as an emergency centre all night.
Harris Air Service: Iverson Harris, with thirty years of flying to his credit, has sold Harris Air Service to a native of this area whose mother the former Pearl Jackson, used to teach Iverson in the Starks Corners one room school house.
Iverson will still be flying for the new owners and in fact is about to enter in the Great Burlington Air Race in September.
John Smiley, son of Kyle Smiley of Aylmer, is president of the Harris Air Service, having bought it from Iverson. The service consists of two Cessna 180 craft with two commercial pilots and Mr. Smiley himself is a licensed pilot as well. Eventually they will change their name to North Star Aviation.
75 Years Ago – July 8, 1948
Local News: As further evidence of the magnificent assistance on the splendid cooperation being manifest by the community as a whole towards our hospital enterprise, we take great pleasure in announcing the following contributions and wish to express our keen feeling of gratitude and thanks for the important financial aid. Stark’s Corners Women’s Institute towards furnishing four super loafer chairs: $150; County Women’s Institute towards furnishing a ward for children: $400.
At a Union Nationale rally at Portage du Fort on Friday night, Hon. Alexandre Taché, MLA for Hull, announced the Duplessis government is starting this year to build the Pontiac highway 80 feet wide from one end of the county to the other.
Occasion for the rally was the opening of his campaign in the Quebec provincial election by Raymond Johnston, 33-year-old resident of Otter Lake who was chosen official UN candidate last month.
100 Years Ago – June 21, 1923
Local News: J.B. Dover bought up a big assortment of furs at Campbell’s Bay last Friday, from local trappers and small dealers in that neighbourhood. The lot represented a value of about $3,000.
The Ottawa and Hull Powers Co., which has undertaken the development of the Calumet water power, have started work on the construction of their transmission line in Murrell section. The wires will be carried on metal cross-arms, attached to twin posts, planted about 80 yards apart. The elevation will not be less than 17 feet.
Wilson’s Hall was comfortably filled last Thursday evening when St. Paul’s Girls’ W.A. gave their first entertainment consisting of two comedies entitled “In Other People’s Shoes,” in one act and “A Day and a Night,” in two acts. These plays had been in course of preparation for several weeks under the direction of Mrs. (Rev.) Ellis and it must be said to the credit of all who participated, that their efforts were in every sense praiseworthy and commendable. Several admirable roles were rendered smoothly and without hesitation or embarrassment. The performance was varied by selections on the Hawaiian guitar by Mr. A.M. Henry, also a piano duet by Misses Marjorie Imison and I.C. Cowan. Rev. Mr. Ellis presided.
In lower league baseball games, Vinton was at Bryson on Saturday. Vinton won by a score of 11-5; On Monday Shawville was at Campbell’s Bay, Shawville the winners with the score of 12-9.
The picnic held at Campbell’s Bay Exhibition grounds on Wednesday last, under the auspices of the Agricultural Society was favoured with splendid weather and a very large crowd, the main essentials to success in an event of that nature.
The principal attractions of the day were a card of trotting races, and baseball tournaments, the competing teams being “all-stars” from the Upper and Lower county leagues, and Renfrew against the winners. The latter won from the upper league stars.
125 Years Ago – June 23, 1898
Local News: We understand the village boys have decided upon organizing a lacrosse club, to which end they requested Mr. J.H. Shaw to order from Hugh Carson one dozen of his “best” sticks.
Messrs. T.B. Draper and J.J. Caldwell who have been engaged on the exhibition hall for some weeks past, left on Thursday for Bristol to begin the carpenter work of a new residence for Mr. George Cuthbertson, the brick-work of which has just been finished by Messrs. Adam and Ralph Hodgins of this village.
The creamery is getting a very fair supply of milk at present. On Monday 15,000 pounds were delivered.
A stage load of villagers visited the Calumet slides on Monday.
