Bristol Fire Chief Steve Forbes says it appears a late afternoon lightning bolt which damaged an adjacent above ground pool also caused the hay to combust.

Once it started, he said, it was hard to stop.

It took members of the Bristol Volunteer Fire Dept. almost seven hours of constant work before they felt sure the blaze was out near midnight.

Grant and Dale pride of Lions: Lions Grant Rogers and Dale Thomson were presented plaques after being named Melvin Jones Fellows Saturday night.

This is the highest award Lions International can bestow on its members. Only a small percentage of the world’s 1.5 million Lions have been so recognized. The duo received this accolade for their dedication to community service over the years. They became the first and only Shawville members to be so honoured.

It was a big night for Mr. Rogers. Not only did he win a prestigious award, but he officially kicked off his presidency of the local chapter.

The awards dinner was well attended by Lions from across the Valley.

June 25, 1969

50 Years Ago

Hilton Mine welcomed 750 visitors Saturday at 5th Open House: Seven hundred and fifty visitors enjoyed the hospitality of the Hilton Mine on Saturday during their fifth Open House. The visitors were treated to a complete tour of the premises and were served drinks and donuts, pinned with commemorative buttons, handed samples of pellets and descriptive folders including charts of how the ore is mined and milled, and were given elucidating explanations by staff members of the various special displays put on for their benefit.

One of the precision instruments on display was the sensitive extensometer which detects rock movement in the pit bank.

Buses took the visitors to the crest of the pit where an observation platform provided them a good vintage point to view the workings of the mine.

McDowell School wins trophy at West Quebec track meet: The McDowell Elementary School came home from the Western Quebec Track Meet in Hull on June 16 with the trophy for all-around winner in the girls section and also came first in points over nine other schools. Those participating were South Hull, Hull, Aylmer, Eardley, Gatineau, Kazabazua, Buckingham, Onslow, Campbell’s Bay and the McDowell School in Shawville.

Miss Muriel Keatley, the Physical Education instructor at the school and Principal Wilf Tipping were justifiably proud of the performance of the Shawville contestants who took part by virtue of having won the various events at the local track meet previously. Shawville’s overall win represented a total of 91 points.

Boys and girls from the McDowell School who came first in their events were: Leslie Orr in standing broad jump, Barry Bean, Leslie Atkinson, Alan Main and Jason Hynes in shuttle relay. Debbie Morrison won for running broad jump, Jackie Sayles standing broad jump, Bonnie Ann Gagne, hardball throw, Ricky Young, 500 metre run, Karen Dunlop, 500 metre run girls. Billy Cuthbertson in the running broad jump, Jill MacKay 500 meter run and Jill Hobbs 80 metre run.

June 29, 1944

75 Years Ago

Local news: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Murrell of Wyman, Que. have received word that their youngest son, Acting Lance Bombardier Melvin Gorden Murrell is missing in action. He joined the Royal Canadian Artillery in May 1941 and went overseas in October of the same year.

The Starks Corners Women’s Institute met recently at the home of Mrs. Wm. Crick with ten members and nine visitors present. A spelling match was conducted and created plenty of excitement, Mrs. Orville Smart being the winner. Luncheon was served by the hostess.

A change in the Waltham – Ottawa train service is announced for July 1. On this date, the morning train will arrive in Shawville each day at 7:24. The evening train will arrive at 6:59. The evening train on Saturday will arrive at 5:09.

Arnold Angus suffered a severe eye injury on Saturday afternoon in sawing operations. When sawing a poplar log, the saw cut through a piece of barbed wire which was embedded in the log and as the carriage was returned a piece of the wire, about half an inch long, flew back and punctured his left eye. Mr. Angus was immediately attended by a local doctor and later was taken to the Ottawa Civic Hospital for treatment. A report from the hospital Sunday evening stated that sight would not be impaired.

Not only did the Allies take beachheads in Normandy but they obtained the Nazi defense plans as well.

Lt.-Col. Mike C. Murphy, stunt flyer from Lafayette, Ind. piloted the first glider, the Fighting Falcon to land on French soil in the Allied invasion of western Europe.

The Canadian flag went into battle last week with Canadian forces for the first time in this war. Up to now, the Union Jack has been flown. A few days before D-day, Lt. Gen. H.C. Crerar personally presented Canadian ensigns to the commander of the Canadian assault force with instructions that they be flown at headquarters of divisions and brigades in the battle areas. The ensign has the Union Jack in the top left corner and the Dominion’s coat-of-arms in the lower right-hand corner all on a red background.

June 19, 1919 (Thursday)

100 Years Ago

Local news: Despite the torrid weather a large number of the town young people motored to Norway Bay Friday evening to attend the opening dance at Burnham Hall.

A grub or worm of some species is reported to be ravaging the crops in this district where sown on old meadow or pasture land.

Mr. George Pingle, the well-known tuner and piano expert was in town last week fulfilling some of the engagements which instrument owners had been anxiously awaiting for several weeks.

Mr. Thomas Leahey, a well-known farmer of Allumette Island met with painful injuries one day recently. He was driving a team of horses on a roller and the horses becoming frightened, ran away. Mr. Lehey was thrown from the seat and holding on to the lines, was dragged for some distance, sustaining painful bruises to his face and side.

The exams at the Academy are in progress this week. Rev. Mr. Phillips is deputy examiner.

Two British aviators, Capt. John Alcock and Lieut. A.W. Brown, completed the first non-stop airplane flight of the Atlantic (Newfoundland to Ireland) on Sunday morning, making the trip in 16 hours and 12 min.

The famous 38th (Ottawa) Battalion, which participated in several of the most severe engagements, that fell to the lot of the Canadian troops and which as a consequence has only a few, a very few, of the original members left, reached home last Sunday and was given a great reception.

The Prince of Wales will visit Canada this year. It is announced that he will open the new Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Sixty years ago his grandfather, the late King Edward, (then Prince of Wales) laid the foundation stone of the old structure, destroyed by fire shortly after the war broke out.

June 21, 1894

125 Years Ago

Local News: Masons commenced the foundation work of Mr. J.H. Shaw’s store this week.

Very hot weather prevailed for several days in succession last week. On Friday at 3 o’clock one citizen noted the mercury up to 94 degrees in the shade.

E. Bathiaume, a shantyman from Gatineau Point near Ottawa, was drowned on the 9th inst. by falling off a boom of logs near the mouth of the Mississippi River. He was only 20 years old.

Mr. H. Newham, the enterprising merchant of Upper Thorne Centre has in contemplation the erection of a large building for the purposes of storehouse and driving shed.

A number of men and teams have been engaged on the improvement of our streets this week. A portion of Main street has been treated to a heavy coating of gravel and the sidewalks where needed, are being raised above the level of the spring freshets.

A report reached town on Tuesday of the destruction by fire of McAllister’s flouring mills at Pembroke on Monday night.

A recent publication discloses the fact that whilst Mr. John Charlton, M.P., has been occupying a seat in the parliament of Canada, pledged to support and protect the interests of the Dominion, he has on the contrary been intriguing with the rulers of the United States and assisting in the framing of American legislation, the aim of which is to coerce the Canadian Government into adhering to its present policy of permitting our logs to be exported to the States duty free, a policy which is generally regarded as a grave mistake and which is interfering materially with the industrial prosperity of an important section of the country.

It is evident that Mr. Charlton is much more concerned about the prosperity of the American Union than he is for the welfare of the Dominion, and such being the case, we think it would certainly be to the advantage of this country if he would pick himself up, bag and baggage and quit our borders to take up his residence permanently in the land for which he has such a glowing admiration.

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