June 21, 1995
25 Years Ago
Luther’s symbols greet churchgoers: St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ladysmith was full Sunday for its 125th anniversary celebration service. Former pastor, Rev. Peter Mogk and the current pastor Rev. Carl Kappes conducted the service.
Afterward, the congregation adjourned to the front lawn for a dedication of the new addition built by . . .
Laynard Pasch, Bob Riznek and Carmen Bretzlaff, under the direction of Clarence Bretzlaff. Rev. Kappes explained the meaning of the red heart, black cross, white rose, doves with olive branches and shells seen over the doorway. These are all symbols taken from the coat of arms of Martin Luther. After the dedication, the congregation went to the TCRA for lunch.
Pontiac Protestant High School losing long-time principal: On July 1, PPHS Principal Ellard Perry will begin a new job as Director of Secondary Education for the Western Quebec School Board in Aylmer.
This year marks Perry’s 28th year with the WQ board. He began teaching grade 8 at Shawville High School in the present Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary building in 1967, the last year the school existed.
The following year, the inaugural year for PPHS, he began teaching science, geography and history until 1975, when he became vice-principal. He has been principal there ever since except for his one-year stint at the board office.
“There are so many positives about this school,” Perry says. “We’re very proud of the students at Pontiac High.”
June 24, 1970
50 Years Ago
Hydro committee for environment protection: Quebec Hydro has set up an Environment Protection committee which held its first session in June. The main objective of the committee is to see that environmental values are protected in the carrying out of Hydro Quebec energy production program.
To accomplish this objective, members of the committee will try to recruit a group of competent specialists, list possible sources of pollution in the operations of Hydro Quebec, prepare technical and economic studies to solve exisiting pollution problems and to analyze methods of environment protection used by other large enterprises.
New gospel sign: The Shawville Christian Businessmen’s Committee “Sin and Death” sign has been over-painted and replaced by a “Grace of God” sign. This enormous billboard which signals the approach of Shawville on Highway 8 has been a landmark for many years.
The new version which appeared this week declares the biblical message that “by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not works, lest any man should boast.” The lighthouse detail in the left corner is in bright colour, instilling an exciting maritime mood into the Sylvan Lake-studded Pontiac countryside. This beautiful billboard was painted by Bob Crawford, Campbell’s Bay sign painter.
June 28, 1945
75 Years Ago
Local News: Servicemen return from overseas: Transport Controller Lockwood warned today that a record movement of troops from overseas now is reaching Halifax and that as a result, Dominion Day weekend travel would be “a rather hazardous undertaking”.
“Civilians on pleasure bent are low in railway priorities”, Mr. Lockwood said, in urging that those who did not have to travel should stay at home this coming weekend.
Every sleeping car that Canadian railroads have been able to send to the Maritimes would be involved in troop movements and a number of the best day coaches have also been diverted.
Among the servicemen returned from overseas during the past week were: Cpl. Harvey Westbrook of Beech Grove and Pte. Gilbert L. Young of Elmside and Bristol.
The annual camp meetings will be held on the Holiness Movement Camp Grounds and there will be three services each day.
Providing urgently needed hotel and travelling space for servicemen returning to Canada at the rate of 30,000 a month, conventions and similar gatherings across Canada which had been planned to take place between June 20 and July 20 are being cancelled in response to the urgent request of Finance Minister J.L. Ilsley and Munitions Minister C.D. Howe. At the request of the government, the prices board has instructed larger hotels to cancel all convention bookings between the two dates.
The streamlined postwar model, the handmade 1946 Ford car will go into production within 60 to 90 days. Average motorists have to wait a year or more to buy one.
Life has been exceedingly tough for British civilians throughout five years of war, says the Minneapolis Star Journal. It will be tougher as regards both food and clothing before it gets better because of continuing shortages.
June 17, 1920
100 Years Ago
Missing from our files
June 20, 1895
125 Years Ago
Local News: The tower of the eastern block of the parliament buildings, generally known as the Mackenzie tower, was struck by lightning last Thursday morning. The ceiling and furniture of one of the tower rooms was badly damaged.
If you desire to celebrate the coming anniversary of the Confederation of the Dominion, in right royal, patriotic style, visit Shawville on July 1.
Everywhere throughout the county grain crops are looking in fine condition. Hay is not likely to be a heavy crop, considerable damage having been done to the meadows from the ice last winter.
Rev. Mr. Wells of Beachburg will sail for England by the steamship Vancouver of the Dominion Line on the 29th inst. where he intends spending several weeks renewing old acquaintances.
The picnic held at Otter Lake on Friday last in aid of the school at that place, was fairly well attended, considering the unfavourable nature of the weather on that day. The school children gave a short program of music, recitations, with the carrying out of which, however, the rain interfered.
Morrison’s factory had a narrow escape from becoming a prey to fire on Tuesday morning about 8 o’clock. The roof of the building became ignited in two or three places from sparks from either the smokestack or the flue of the blacksmith’s forge and when observed was blazing up pretty briskly. The alarm was at once given and in a very few minutes a big force of men were on the ground and at work combatting the flames with the aid of pails, by which means the fire was quickly extinguished.
We learn that the directors of Co. Pontiac Ag. Society No. 2 have decided to hold their exhibition a week earlier this year than on former occasions, that is, instead of being held on the first Wednesday in October, it will take place this year on Sept. 25th.
A number of young people of the village attended the picnic given by the Bristol Templars at Norway Bay on Thursday last. Although the day was rather unpleasant for outdoor amusements, those present speak of having spent a fairly enjoyable time.
A pedlar who lives in the neighbourhood of Glengyle had a horse struck and killed by lightning on Thursday last, while the man was in the act of putting the animal in the stable.
John Mode, of Vankleek Hill met with a very peculiar accident the other day. He was preparing a dynamite charge at the Lake Temiscamingue Mining Co.’s claim on Lake Temiscamingue and attempted to clean some sawdust out of the cap with a match. The match ignited and exploding the cap, blew away a portion of his hand. The wound was roughly dressed by the foreman and Mode was sent home for surgical treatment.
