Aug. 18, 1993

25 Years Ago

Pontiac Steam and Gas Association annual show is a success: Organizers are calling this year’s annual steam show, held at Riverview North farm, a success.
Allison Corrigan, secretary of the Pontiac Steam and Gas Association said they will likely turn over a small profit.
Mr. Corrigan said the antique tractor pull was one of the more popular events of this year’s show.
Willard Clarke featured his threshing mill at the Pontiac Steam and Gas Association Show with his 1907 Sawyer and Massey steam traction engine. Mr. Willard has owned the engine for about 20 years and said it can do anything that involves belt work.
The farm toy show also drew big crowds.
“The toys seemed to go over pretty good,” he said. “Every time I looked over, there was a crowd around (the display).”

Mr. Corrigan said the toy collectors will be invited back for next year’s steam show.
The steam show was not without its share of competition for attendance.
There were two fairs held the same weekend as well as a display at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa.
Riders demonstrate skills at local schooling show: Local riders tested their skill at the Pontiac Equestrian Centre’s schooling show last weekend.
Sixteen riders and seven vaulters participated in the third annual show held Aug. 15.
Catherine Lapointe, owner of the centre and one of the instructors, said the show serves a number of purposes.
“It gives (the students) exposure to competition and the pressures of competing, but it also encourages sportsmanship.”
The riders who range in age from nine to 15 are very proud of their accomplishments for the day.
They range in calibre from beginner to the more advanced intermediate class.
Other events included western games, jumping classes and equitation classes where riders were judged on form and style.

Aug. 29, 1968

50 Years Ago

Break-in epidemic in Shawville: Break-ins, petty thefts and general mischief seems to be the order of the day in Shawville this week. Everything from cookies to cash is being pilfered.
Over a hundred dollars was stolen from the Lions Community Centre. Money was taken from a coin box in the launderette and from the till in the meat market and even from children’s banks in a private home.
Cookies have been stolen along with money from the bakeshop and some small trespassers slipped through the coal chute at the CPR freight office and opened up parcels destined to local people.
Claude Young loses four head of cattle in storm on Saturday: Claude Young of Bristol found four of his cattle dead Monday, apparently electrocuted by some hydro lines which had been knocked down on his field by the electrical storm which took place here on Saturday afternoon.
A hydro pole was blown down and the cattle, worth about $2,000, must have walked into the live wires before the hydro crews got to them.

Aug. 26, 1943

75 Years Ago

Local News: Clayton Campbell, son of Mrs. Campbell and the late Wm. D. Campbell of Wyman is now officially reported missing after air operations over enemy territory.
A one third increase in tea and coffee rations has been announced by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.
On Monday evening, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Chisnell of Shawville received word that their grandson, Robert Chisnell, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard Chisnell of Winnipeg had been killed on active service on Aug. 17.
He was a member of the Canadian Tank Corp.
The startling appearance of Mr. Churchill at Quebec and the conference of the British and Canadian War Cabinets in the historic Chateau Frontenac will be followed later by a meeting with Mr. Roosevelt. The hotel has been taken over by the government for several weeks.
As a permanent memorial to Scottish soldiers who have fallen in action in the Middle East, wounded Scots in a rest camp near Geneifa are building a reduced-scale reproduction of famed St. Andrew’s Church of Scotland. Every stone is being quarried and laid by volunteer workers. As the church nears completion, the soldiers estimate that the total cost in cash will be only about $80. Only tile and hardware have been purchased. Nearly all the lumber has been salvaged from large war material crates and packing cases.
Ad: Strayed from the premises of the undersigned, four calves, black and white steer, two red and white heifers and one red heifer. Information regarding their whereabouts will be thankfully received by Mrs. Wilfred Laughren, Shawville.

Aug. 22, 1918

100 Years Ago

Local news: Intelligence of the death of Mr. Wm. J. Poupore, former member of parliament for this county was received at Portage du Fort on Sunday. The late Mr. Poupore had many friends throughout the county who will learn with much regret of his departure. He was about 73 years of age.
Last Tuesday was reckoned the hottest day of the year at the Ottawa Observatory. Few people, we fancy, will feel disposed to dispute that authority. It was truly a deadener.
Mr. F. Bretzlaff, the pioneer resident of the village of Ladysmith, with commendable enterprise, has reared a new hotel building upon the foundations of the structure destroyed by fire some time ago.
The following was shipped to the Red Cross, Montreal: 21 suits pajamas, 2 day shirts, 28 pr. socks, 68 P.P. bags, 1 amp. sock, 35 bundles trench-wood, 48 facecloths, 3 neckties. Now that the cold weather will soon be on our boys, ‘over there’ will require more socks.
An Exchange says: No gypsies are to be permitted to pursue their wanderings about Ontario this summer, the order that everyone must work being due for strict enforcement and horse-trading and fortune telling are not rated as work.

Aug. 24, 1893

125 Years Ago

Local news: The picnic at Wallace’s Grove near Clarke’s Station on Wednesday last was very fairly attended, considering that it came off at a time when farmers were begun with their harvesting operations and were therefore not well enabled to devote a day to recreation. Notwithstanding this, however, there was a fair proportion of the ‘backbone of the country’ on hand. The picnic was held in a nice hardwood grove on the hill slope. There the dinner tables, refreshment booths, dancing platform, swings, etc. were located.
Through being stung by a bee, a six-year-old daughter of Mr. John Steele of Brockville nearly lost her life last week.
There are only 472 prisoners in the Kingston penitentiary just now, the smallest number that has been for years.
The five-month-old infant daughter of Mr. Robert Black passed away on Saturday night after a lingering illness from which she suffered much.
Mr. Geo. Hodgins, Sr, raised a fine new barn on Saturday to take the place of the barn blown down by the storm some weeks ago.
Several of the Arnprior boys for the past two weeks have been enjoying a spell of camping at Sand Bay, a few miles from here.
The harvest weather seems very pleasing to the farmers in Elmside and the binders are hard at work. One man has his harvest all in the loft and another near neighbour will soon have the same story to tell.
On Thursday night 10th inst., Edward Daniel Donlevy, the 18-year-old son of Mrs. C. Donlevy of Arnprior, died from the effects of sunstroke. He had been working on the construction of the new railway not far from town and it was nearly six o’clock before he was seized with illness. He was promptly conveyed to his mother’s residence where he died without having regained consciousness.
The lad was of exemplary character and well liked by all who knew him and his sudden death comes as a great shock to his relatives and friends.