June 7, 1995

25 Years Ago

Small feet put on a big show at dance recital in Shawville:  Tina Sparling, Jessica Forgues and Jessica Dubeau were checking each other to make sure they were in sync during the “Circle of Life” number in Sunday’s recital of A Step Above dance school. 

About 275 people filled the auditorium of . . .

McDowell School in Shawville for the second annual recital put on by the students of Nancy Dufault. Forty-eight students ranging in age from four to 16, plus three guest dancers put on an entertaining two-hour show that included all types of dancing from ballet to tap to jazz. The show also included a special appearance by singer Joanne Dubeau.

$20,000 for recreation:  Play Ball! Sunday marked the official opening of the Eardley Recreation Park off Highway 148 near Luskville. 

Pontiac Mayor Marcel Lavigne and councillor in charge of recreation Hélène Belisle presented Eardley Recreation Association President Gilbert Dagenais with a grant of $20,000 from the municipality for ongoing improvements to the park.

The money will be used to build a storage shed, run the canteen and organize events at the park which serves the entire population of the municipality and the needs of over 10 local recreational groups. In addition to ball, the park has facilities for soccer, basketball and other sports. Also present at the opening were Eardley Recreation Association treasurer Kathy Martelock, directors Lynne Perrier, Wayne Martelock and Bill Young, secretary Debbie Dagenais and Vice-president Mike GravelineP

June 10, 1970

50 Years Ago

Quyon ferry takes unscheduled trip: When Ed McColgan and his sons arrived at the ferry dock Sunday morning to commence the day’s operations, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief. The ferry was gone!

It had been securely moored about 3 a.m. after a late Saturday night operation. A hurried cruise of the river followed, using the alternate ferry boats and it was located several miles down stream near the Quebec shore.

An Ontario youth having missed the last crossing, had taken matters into his own hands. After releasing the moorings and unable to get into the engine room to start the motors, he drifted helplessly down stream.  As he finally neared the Quebec shore several miles down the river, he jumped overboard and called for help. 

He was pulled ashore by some nearby cottagers and in a few hours was drying out in the Campbell’s Bay jail.

The ferry, undamaged, was driven on its own power back to its usual scene of operations.

 Shawville Walkathon buys equipment: The new portable x-ray unit which was bought by the Pontiac Community Hospital with funds made available by the Walkathon in Shawville last year was officially presented Friday to Hospital Board Chairman Ray Sheppard, Nursing Superintendent Mrs. Marion Marks, and Administrator Al Cunningham by Joan Lang, Joan Coles and Rev. John Pearce of the Walkathon committee, which was a project of the Anglican Young People and which was supported by the public at large. The cost of the machine was over six thousand dollars, five thousand of which was raised by the walkathon.

June 14, 1945

75 Years Ago

Local News: W. Officers Beverley Howard and Donald McDowell, released prisoners of war, have arrived in Canada and are expected to reach Shawville this week.

Mr. W.R. McDonald, Liberal member for Pontiac was returned to the House of Commons in Monday’s elections with a majority of nearly four thousand over Mr. T.E. McCool, Progressive Conservative.

The Liberal government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King was returned to office in Monday’s federal elections for the third straight victory in 10 years but the overwhelming Liberal preponderance was slashed to a bare majority on the civilian vote count and the key to the entire election appeared to be the servicemen’s vote.

Hospital Auxiliary hold work meeting: The regular meeting of the Pontiac Community Hospital Auxiliary was held at the hospital on June 12. Seventeen ladies spent the afternoon making sheets, towels, babies’ vests, surgical supplies, etc. Mrs. Eades presided over the meeting and was assisted by Mrs. S.E. McDowell. Mrs. Powles poured tea, the hostesses being Mesdames Brownlee and Armstrong.

Ad: Have you registered your children for family allowances? If you have children under 16 and if your income is under $3,000 a year, you will benefit from Family Allowances. 100,000 families who are entitled to register and who will benefit, have not yet registered.

On the western front, two Tibetans who had walked into Russia, been promptly drafted into the Red Army, then captured by the Germans, drafted into the German Army and finally captured by Canadians, learned from a linguist for the first time what all the fighting was about.

June 3, 1920

100 Years Ago

Local News: The epidemic of mumps which set in here several weeks ago and somewhat demoralized school work, has not yet abated.

The Advance reports that the Vinton Tea and Drawing held on May 24th was a great success.

THE EQUITY is please to congratulate its young friend S.R.N. Hodgins (Norris) on having passed his final exams at Macdonald College last week with marked distinction, his standing being the highest attained by any student since the college opened, an achievement which speaks volumes for his ability and aptitude for study.

Statistics recently made public show that the American people have been consuming candy at the rate of a billion dollars’ worth annually. In this is furnished one of the causes for the  high price of sugar. Another is the estimated waste of nearly one million and a half pounds of sugar daily through what is thrown out in the bottom of tea and coffee cups by the sweet-toothed Yanks. But as to the latter, Canucks cannot afford to cast any stones. We are culprits all.

Mr. William Hodgins returned from the west last Tuesday. He reports that conditions had much improved out there before he left but there was a long backward spring season and much hardship and loss from lack of fodder. Hay in abundance was brought into the country after the crisis was past, and there was no further pressing need for it. Lack of cars for transport seems to have been the chief difficulty.

June 6, 1895

125 Years Ago

Local News: The sum of $1,500 has been granted by the Ontario government to be expended on building a wagon road from North Bay to Temiscamingue which is much needed.

A thunderstorm accompanied by large hail stones and a terrific wind, the latter in some localities almost working up to the fury of a cyclone swept over a portion of Clarendon and Bristol on Thursday afternoon last. During the forepart of the day, a most oppressive heat prevailed, the mercury climbing up to nearly 100 degrees in the shade.

The storm only covered a comparatively narrow strip of country, passing nearly althogether south of the village and spending its greatest fury along the 5th range. Mr. Henderson Harrison, whose farm is located on the road between here and Portage du Fort however, had his buildings badly shaken up.

A large, substantial log barn, it is said was moved bodily from its foundation about 2 feet and the granary was turned completely upside down. Mr. Brown, living not far distant had his buildings somewhat damaged. Mr. Corrigan who had his sheds, stable and barn blown down had only his dwelling and milk house remaining after the hurricane passed.

Mr. R. Hodgins also on the 5th range had a number of lights of glass broken by the hailstones which were uncommonly large, although not very numerous.

Helium, taken from stones shows remarkable qualities. It seems the complement of argon, terrific explosive force of this new gas which may revolutionize naval warfare, has suddenly dawned in science. Startling discoveries may be looked for. Following close in the track of argon, another new gas, hitherto unknown and unsuspected has been found and scientists are anxiously waiting for reports from the laboratories where it is now b eing experimented with. There is no knowing as yet what the new gas is capable of.

Argon, which from the earliest times men had been breathing into their lungs without knowing it, has been shown to be the cause of the Aurora Borealis. Helium, the newest of the gases, it is now suspected, may be the cause of other mysteries which for ages have puzzled the scientific world.  It is entirely different from argon though both were discovered almost simultaneously.

Attention is being called in many quarters to the quality of defaced and mutilated coin in circulation.

Silver money with letters stamped thereon, holes punched in it, or pieces cut out of the edge is so common that it is hardly noticed.

The penalty for doing any of these things is a year’s imprisonment. If done for the purpose of lightening the coin, the punishment may be fourteen years.