July 13, 1994
25 Years Ago
First person to shoot the chute: Aside the majesty of the descending white water of the falls, the concrete log ramp stands ignored and redundent. Its era is over. No longer do countless tons of maple and pine logs shoot down the water slide to awaiting lumberjacks below.
But Esprit Rafting leader Jim Coffey had always appreciated the concrete ramp’s utilitarian charms.
A veteran kayaker who has paddled many of the world’s great rivers, Jim wanted to be the first to take a boat down the log chute and accompanying gorge. That was before New Zealander Peter Gordon signed on as a new guide at Esprit. After freeing a jammed log that was interfering with the run, Gordon, Coffey and a support crew made their way to the chute site. Peter placed his kayak in the water and waited for the green light. A safety man at the top of the bridge checked to make sure everyone was ready and gave the word.
Less than 12 seconds after leaving the top, Peter Gordon became the first kayaker to shoot the Coulonge Chutes.
“That was amazing,” he said grinning hugely, all tension gone, “let’s do it again.”
Homecoming fever fills the Bay: “There was a fever on or something,” says Cletus Ferrigan. “I never saw such enthusiasm in Campbell’s Bay. It was scary.”
Proceeds from the festival were to go toward installing air conditioning in the 15-year-old hall, the event raised more than enough for that.
About 1,000 people turned out for Friday night’s dance in the hall and even more than that on Saturday.
Dr. Wilbert Keon showed heart by taking part in the ball game, playing for the Hometown Heroes Tournament at the R.A. Centre celebrations.
One of the high points of the weekend occurred when Mr. Ferrigan accepted an invitation from his son to take in the airplane rides that were being offered at the riverfront. When he left, the finals of the Hometown Heroes old-timers ball tournament were underway, with Shawville up 2-1 over Campbell’s Bay.
By the time Mr. Ferrigan touched down, the tables had turned and the Bay had forged ahead to take the final 6-5.
July 16, 1969
50 Years Ago
Missing from our files
July 13, 1944
75 Years Ago
Local news: Miss Elaine MacEwen of Shawville and Master Elson Chapman, No. 8 School Clarendon, are winners of a $10.00 scholarship donated by Mr. L.E. O’Connor of Ottawa, manager and operator of the bi-weekly picture shows in Shawville.
The scholarship is divided between Shawville and rural pupils taking the highest marks in the entrance examinations.
Notice: Invasion makes more urgent the saving of civilian gas! A message to Canadian motorists: the invasion of Europe has thrown a vast and critical burden upon the petroleum resources of the United Nations.
In the first eight days of the campaign alone, Allied aircraft flew 56,000 sorties. Many thousands of oil-burning warships and landing barges are shuttling ceaselessly across the channel. Tanks, trucks, jeeps, mobile artillery, ambulances by the thousands are in action.
If existing supplies are to prove adequate, the most stringent economy of gasoline and fuel oil must be practised here at home.
Canada is able to produce only 15 per cent of her own gas and oil needs. The remainder must be imported from the common pool of the United Nations and the bulk of this is shipped here by tankers. The Commonwealth air training plan has consumed as much as 548,000 gallons in a single day.
Less Civilian gas means more fighting gas for the forces. An announcement issued by the Department of Munitions and Supply, Honourable C.D. Howe, Minister.
July 10, 1919
100 Years Ago
Local news: Shawville had no Dominion Day celebration of its own this year and some of the sporting element motored to Pembroke to take in the fun there.
Rumours are afloat that Gillies Bros. are seriously considering the project of changing the location of their saw mill, recently destroyed by fire, from Braeside to Campbell’s Bay and thus avoid considerable boomage and other river tolls that have to be paid in reaching Braeside.
The great heat wave of the past week with the prevailing drought, has injured crop prospects very materially in this section. Even the hay crop, which some time ago was expected to be above the average, will fall short of expectations.
The special Peace Service ordered by the King to be held in all the Anglican churches throughout the empire was observed at St. Paul’s on Sunday evening. A good congregation was present.
Forest fires are reported to be again ravaging the country up around Cochrane and other sections of New Ontario. Fires are also reported on the Gillies Bros. Coulonge limits and also on the Gatineau. A fine new organ is to be installed in the Methodist Church this week.
Shawville was selected as headquarters for the Great War Veterans Association at a lively and well represented meeting held at Campbell’s Bay on July 2 for that purpose and for the election of officers.
The Bristol branch of the Arnprior Creamery at Bristol Corners is now open for business.
Tenders for coal for the Dominion buildings for Ontario and Quebec will be received at the office of the Minister of Public Works.
The “Highways Bill”, the purpose of which is to authorize the government of Canada to devote certain sums of money to the improvement of highways throughout the whole of Canada in conjunction with the local governments of the several provinces, was passed through parliament last week despite considerable opposition which mainly came from the gentlemen to the left of the Speaker who have developed a wonderful zeal for entrenchment of late.
The Dominion parliament prorogued on Monday afternoon, after a session which in many respects was eventful. It was a session that was responsible for placing upon the statute books several measures of great national importance, chief among them being: the bill to aid in the construction of highways; the bill creating a department of public health; bills to create a court of commerce and to restain combines; the consolidation of the railway act; provision for loans to provinces to improve housing conditions; the soldiers’ land settlement bill; substantial decreases in the customs trariff and increases in the income tax.
July 12, 1894
125 Years Ago
Local News: An evangelist and his wife who are travelling throughout the county with a tent for their own accommodation were located last week at Richardsons’ grove, Radford where revival services were held in the evenings.
W. H. Lucas of Caldwell has been appointed agent by the Cossit Bros. of Brockville for their famous Bindlockhine binder and other machinery of which he has just received a large consignment and is prepared to fill orders on shortest notice.
Carpenters are now at work on Mr. E. Hodgins’ new house near the station. Last week Mr. R.G. Elliott erected for Mr. R. Hobbs the frame of a fine large stable which is being pushed to completion.
Last week’s Pembroke Standard reports several drowning fatalities having occurred on Dominion Day. The first victim mentioned is a boy, 12 years old named Charles Windle who went bathing alone in Indian River.
Other victims were that of Mr. John Cardiff, the well-known stage driver and mail carrier between Westmeath, Beachburg and Forester’s Falls was drowned along with Ola Okesson, saddler of Westmeath.
From the meagre particulars of the accident which have reached us, it appears that the deceased went fishing along with Mr. Norman Reid in the steam yacht owned by Messrs. Reid and Tucker of Pembroke. About one o’clock they were at the foot of the Allumette rapids near the boom house, almost opposite of Mr. James Hewison’s farm when the yacht was caught in a squall of a thunderstorm and swamped by the waves.
Cardiff and Okesson not being good swimmers, sank almost immediately but Mr. Reid struck out boldly for the shore about a quarter of a mile distant, which he reached safely but in a very exhausted condition.
