compiled by Bonnie Chevrier
July 6, 1994
25 Years Ago
Linemen rescue swimmers: Three local Hydro Quebec workers took part in a daring rescue of two people struggling in water July 4, but don’t call them heroes.
“Don’t blow this out of proportion,” foreman Gillies Soucie warns an EQUITY reporter.
“We just did our job,” declares lineman Glen Romain.
It was nothing special, they say, but perhaps the two people they helped save would disagree.
When the incident occurred, they along with four other crews were tackling a section of line near the fast moving Black River.
About 25 children were playing by the water when cries for help pierced the air. Immediately, the hydro workers ran to the river’s edge carrying an assortment of ropes.
Working quickly as a team, Glen Romain and two co-workers from Hull grabbed a log and using it as a paddle board, swam across the fast current towards the stranded swimmers.
Meanwhile, on shore, Don Smart and others were holding fast to an anchor rope attached to the Hydro rescuers while Gillies Soucie called for an ambulance.
None of the victims required immediate first aid and after seeing the rescued swimmers loaded safely onto an ambulance for a hospital checkup, the local hydro workers took a half-hour break and went straight back to the job.
Local cop jazzes to new beat in Musical Ride: In her old job, the last thing Mary-Lynn Pirie wanted to do was look like a cop. As a narcotics agent who occasionally went undercover in Hamilton, Ont., the six-year RCMP veteran tended to shy away from the police look. However, now sporting reddish brown riding boots, navy jodhpurs with those big stripes, scarlet tunic and the obligatory Stetson hat, the Bristol native looks every inch the Mountie.
In January, Pirie and the rest of the new batch of riders joined the main troop in their Ottawa area stables. From there the rookies learned how to function with the veterans and got better acquainted with their mounts.
In 1997, Ms. Pirie returns to normal police duties but until then, she’ll likely spend less time pondering rules of evidence to reflect more upon the particular dynamics between horse and rider. “I just love what I’m doing,” says Pirie.
July 9, 1969
50 Years Ago
Lions Club President reviews year’s activities: Shawville Lions Club held an installation of officers and ladies night banquet and a dance at the Lions Community Centre on Thursday evening with 125 attending.
The evening began with organ music supplied by Ray Sheppard followed by a smorgasbord supper catered by the Rebekah Lodge.
Activities during the year included sponsoring a blood donor clinic, figure skating and swimming classes, donation of an air conditioner to the therapy room at the Pontiac Community Hospital, donation of radio, tables and repairs to tv and installation of emergency lighting at Ade Memorial Hospital, Bristol.
A gift from the young: The young ladies of the Starks Corners CGIT took a long walk to Renfrew on May 31 and many of their good friends offered them money per mile of the trek.
Barbara Elliott and Janet Elliott walked all the way there and back fro a total of 40 miles each and all the others walked the 20 miles to Renfrew, including the leaders.
They made $402 for their efforts and on July 3 they handed over a cheque for that amount to Dale Thomson, Chairman of the Pontiac Protestant Home for the Aged in Shawville.
July 13, 1944
75 Years Ago
Local news: Mr. and Mrs. Manson McDowell received word on Monday that their son, W.O. Donald McDowell was reported missing after air operations over enemy territory.
Donald enlisted in the army in July 1940 and remustered to the R.C.A.F. a year later. He has been overseas three years.
G.A. Howard of Shawville, prominent in provincial and federal political circles of Pontiac for many years, was chosen official Union Nationale candidate for the Quebec Provincial election at the Shawville Theatre on Monday afternoon.
The convention was sharply contested with Mr. Howard being chosen by a margin of a single vote over Hector Belec, son of Charles Belec, former M.P. for Pontiac.
How long will final phase of war against Germany last? We may be sure that Allied plans for the invasion included ample preparations for repairs to Cherbourg’s harbour facilities, then the liberation of Europe will proceed at accelerated pace. That the British, American and Russian generals have planned a blitz seems evidenced by the lateness in the season of their attack.
Some day the utter hopelessness and futility of the German position will dawn upon the thoughts of the German populace.
July 3, 1919
100 Years Ago
Local news: The children of the several Sunday schools with teachers and parents celebrated Dominion Day by holding a union picnic at Green Lake.
The weather was ideal and there was a large attendance. Citizen car owners facilitated the transportation problem and everything passed off pleasantly and satisfactorily.
Hon. Arthur Meighen, acting Minister of Justice, has introduced two bills in he House to deal with the cost of living problem, which just now is giving more concern tot he people of Canada than any other question.
The Peace Treaty with Germany was signed at Versailles on Saturday afternoon first by the German delegates headed by President Wilson, then by the plempotentiaries of Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
Borden remains leader: At the Unionist caucus today it was decided to consolidate the Unionist party into a permanent political organization. Sir Robert, who spoke at some length, said that he was not concerned with political power or personal ambition, and offered to make way for a successor, but the caucus was unanimous in full possession of the leadership.
Poor man’s court: Judge McDonald of Brockville represented Leeds and Grenville in the Ontario Legislature and one of his members was George McManus of Cardwell. Judge McDonal was recently telling a friend of an occasion when one of the members in a speech spoke of the Court of Chancery as “the poor man’s court.” “Yes,” said Mr. McManus, when he spoke in reply, “the honourable member may well call it the poor man’s court, for it leaves any man poor who gets into it.”
This notice appeared in a daily newspaper: “Dear Joe- come home. Forgive and forget. I have destroyed the book of war recipes – Milly.”
July 5, 1894
125 Years Ago
Local News: The school teachers examinations were concluded here on Friday last.
Mr. J.R. Booth, it is stated, will not rebuild his large mill recently destroyed by fire. The burning of the mill has thrown out of employment five or six hundred people, among whom much distress will prevail unless they can speedily procure work elsewhere.
The recent heavy rains have damaged the crops to a certain extent where the lands are low but in the high sand sections, the prospects never appeared better.
On Friday last while Mr. Richard Hodgins of North Clarendon was working at a shingle machine, his right foot got entangled in some way in the belting and had it almost wrenched off. Drs. Lyon and Knox who were summoned to attend the injured man, found the accident to be of a very severe and painful nature, the foot being completely turned around and the bones protruding through the skin. Besides this, the sinews of the leg were very much strained and the knee cap displaced.
After putting the patient under the influence of anesthetics, the physicians succeeded with some difficulty in getting the foot back to its proper position and maintaining it there with the aid of splints. since the accident, Mr. Hodgins is suffering very much and his condition is reported to be critical.
An interesting concert was held at Thorne Centre on the evening of the 27th. Many readings and songs were presented. Mr. Toohie’s representations of an Irishman in this were well acted and brought down the house. Singing by the choir of Clementine and It’s a Way We Have By The Corner, as well as other dialogues were in the programme. Fifteen minutes of intermission was then given.
Mr. McNally who occupied the chair in an able manner made a speech on the patron’s organization which was followed by a short address by Rev. Coffin. God Save the Queen was then sung and the audience went home well please with their evening’s entertainment.
