Compiled by Bonnie Chevrier
Sept. 14, 1994
25 Years Ago
Bob Middlemiss re-elected by a landslide: Pontiac MNA Robert Middlemiss was re-elected to his fourth mandate with a landslide on Sept. 12, getting well over four times as many votes as all five of his opponents combined.
“What a difference five years makes!” Mr. Middlemiss said at his Aylmer campaign headquarters Monday night, as he pointed to the figures for the Shawville polls.
The news that he would once again be sitting in opposition after nine years as a government member did not dampen Mr. Middlemiss’ spirits but he admitted he had been hoping until the end that his party would stage an upset victory.
Portage du Fort dolomite mine expanding: A fast-growing industry of dolomite exportation is expanding behind the trees near Portage du Fort.
The dolomite mine, just outside of town, was purchased by Dolobec Inc. in Dec. of 1992 and is now expanding by about four times its present size.
And with expansion, comes jobs. At least five new jobs will be created once the expansion is completed, says Dolobec President Guy Bourassa.
By next year, the mine will be exporting 125,000 tonnes of dolomite, compared to its current 30,000 and it will be the sole supplier for the entire plate glass industry in Canada.
Sept. 17, 1969
50 Years Ago
Step dance night at Shawville Fair: There are people who can stand and watch cattle all day and still want more and there are people who enjoy looking at horses endlessly and then there are people who like nothing more than step dancing and can take hours of it on end. These latter were sated at the Shawville Fair last Saturday night by Donnie Gilchrist and his many, many pupils and their pupils and others who provided entertainment for an enormous crowd of spectators inside the arena.
Donnie, himself of course, was the star of the show and he had an orchestra from Ottawa to play for him but among the locals musicians were Eric and Evelyn Campbell and Denzil Mayhew.
Campbell’s Bay welcomes canoeists: On Aug. 12, eight teenaged boys arrived at Campbell’s Bay by canoe. They came from Camp Winnebagoe in Parry Sound. From Mattawa to Ottawa down the Ottawa River, they were guided by Laurie Kwitko and Steve Lurie who piloted them into the beach at Campbell’s Bay for a rest.
Sept. 21, 1944
75 Years Ago
Local news: The National Film Board is presenting its first showing of free pictures for the 1944-45 season in the theatre on Thursday of this week. The films include “The Battle of Russia”, a picture everyone will want to see.
A flower contest was a pleasing feature of the September meeting of the Shawville Women’s Institute which was held at the home of Mrs. A.G. Brough with the president, Mrs. Shore presiding.
Prizes were won by the following: Gladiola – Mrs. H. Judd; Asters – Mrs. Lawson Corrigan; Zinnia – Mrs. C.H. MacLean.
Word has just been received by his mother, Mrs. Norval Kilgour, that her son, Gilbert Kilgour, has received his second promotion in the field since he left for overseas.
When he went overseas in July, 1943 he was a Pilot Officer and during the winter he was promoted to Flying Officer and now has been further advanced to Flight Lieutenant.
Western Canada is sharpening up its sickles to cut one of the largest grain crops on record, says the Lethbridge Herald. Variously estimated from 450,000,000 bushels to over 300,000,000. It will be a most satisfactory crop.
The German fleet in southwest France, both naval and mercantile, has been scuttled in the Bay of Biscay and in the Gironde River channel near Bordeaux, it was learned recently.
The fleet consisted of a number of torpedo boats, submarine auxiliary ships, light submarines, armed trawlers and many coastal freighters.
Sept. 11, 1919
100 Years Ago
Local news: Complaints are numerous that the speed limit is being flagrantly ignored. If this sort of thing continues, a catastrophe may be looked for any night. For goodness sake, stop the craze for reckless driving before someone gets killed.
A heavy rain, general in character visited this district last Saturday. It was an almost continuous downpour from 3 a.m. till 2 p.m. And then to wind up matters, all the belated thunderstorms of the past summer became, as it were, concentrated in one grand effort on Monday to prove that we are not after all, living in the dry belt.
Quite a number of the young townsfolk went out to Green Lake Friday evening and enjoyed the delights of a corn-roast with the other accessories which go to make up a good time.
The “Pentecostal” movement seems to be attracting quite a number of adherents in the rear portion of Bristol and Onslow where workers of that sect have been engaged for some time past.
On Sunday last, 18 persons were immersed in the Quyon River in presence of a large gathering of people.
Great flying machine attraction at Renfrew Fair this year will be by the company in which Major Bishop and Captain Barker are leading members. Machine will be on view in Renfrew Fair grounds before it starts on its tour into the air when its aviator will do all the wonderful stunts of the war zone flying.
Sept. 13, 1894
125 Years Ago
Local News: Threshing has commenced in this section and the yield of grain is better than expected.
Johann Reuter, a Spanish lumber merchant of Venezuela, is at the Russell House. He is in Ottawa for the purpose of establishing a trade in Canadian pine logs between here and Venezuela.
Chief Engineer W.D. Harris of the P.P.J.R. was here last week inspecting some repairs that are being made to culverts along the line.
Mr. Thomas Lunam, agent for Gillies Bros., was here on Friday last looking after the purchase of horses for the coming winter’s operations in the woods.
A young woman named Beaudry in the employ of Messrs. Knight and Son, of the 4th Chute near Eganville was fatally burnt by the explosion of a lamp on Thursday last.
Schedule for the Steamer Columbia: On and after Monday 27 Aug., the Steamer Columbia will make but one trip each day, leaving Bristol at 8 a.m. for Sand Point and Arnprior; returning will leave Arnprior at 3 p.m. for Sand Point and Bristol. Capt. J.H. Halcro.
Dominion voters list: what you require in order to put your name thereon: that you are a male of the age of 21 years; that you are a British subject and that if you live in a city you are owner of real property amounting to at least $300 or in towns amounting to $200 or in villages, townships, amounting to $150; that you are the tenant of any real property within the electoral district; that you are the son of an owner of real property; that you are a fisherman and own real property, boats, nets, fishing gear and tackle amounting to at least $150; that you are in receipt of a life annuity amounting to at least $100 in money or money’s worth.
Pontiac woolen mills have commenced operations for the season after having been thoroughly overhauled and re-fitted.
Ad: Always satisfactory. The universal verdict of those who trade at W. Wilson’s, Shawville. Good goods, well selected, in great variety, prices reasonable. Now is the time to buy your spring supplies. Bargains in winter goods. Pianos, organs and farm implements in stock.
Ad: The double action oscillating washing machine eclipses all others in the market today. It does its work perfectly and completely, doing away with the washboard and hand rubbing altogether besides being so easily operated that a child can use it without fatigue.
