Nov. 11, 1992
25 Years Ago
Fiddler Jamboree keeps the old traditions alive: If it hadn’t been for the modern-day audio equipment you would have thought you had gone back in time.
In this day of high-tech electrified computerized productions and rock n’ roll, Saturday night’s third annual Pontiac Fiddle Jamboree was a refreshing return to a simpler style of music.
Well over 200 people jammed into one of the more rustic rooms at Pine Lodge in Bristol where everything, including the benches along the walls and the wood stove in the back was reminiscent of the old community halls throughout Pontiac.
There were many instruments played but the focus was on the fiddlers, nearly 20 of them, who came in all sizes and ages from all over the Ottawa Valley.
Remembrance Day service at Fort Coulonge Presbyterian: World War I veteran Lloyd Nevile was an honoured guest at the Remembrance Day ceremonies held at Fort Coulonge Presbyterian Church Sunday afternoon. The 93-year-old veteran was greeted by Pontiac MP Barry Moore.
Moore laid a wreath in remembrance of those who died defending their country. Wreaths were also laid by provincial MNA Robert Middlemiss, by the municipalities of Fort Coulonge and Mansfield and the Pontiac School board as well as other local businesses and organizations.
The colour party and band from Pembroke Legion branch 72 marched to the church for a solemn ceremony.
Nov. 16, 1967
50 Years Ago
Need for social work proclaimed at Bryson Lions Charter night: “Whose responsibility are the social problems of Pontiac County?” asked Ray Tardiff at the Bryson Lions Club 16th Charter night Tuesday at the Forest Inn.
Taking his cue from one of the Lions Club objectives to take an active interest in the civic, social and moral welfare of the community and an item on the Lion Clubs code of ethics, “to aid my fellow man by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak and my substance to the needy.”
The Bryson Lions had invited Rev. Tardiff who is a master of social work and Diocesan Director for the Diocese of Pembroke.
He challenged those responsible for progress and change to use these things to improve the condition of the people in the community.
Pontiacs drop opener: Shawville outshot the Morrisburg-Brockville Combines 26 to 24 on Sunday at Brockville but lost the game by a narrow margin.
The first period went scoreless but the Combines netted two to Shawville’s one in the second period and each team scored twice more in the third for an overall score of 4-3 for the Combines.
This was the first game for Pontiacs in the new UOVHL. Brian Pappin was in nets and the team seemed to be in fair to good condition and will improve with practices this week.
Nov. 19, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: Pte. Gordon Ballantyne of the R.C.O.C. eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Ballantyne, Maryland, Que. cabled his wife of his safe arrival overseas.
Last Sunday evening, the Shawville United Church was more than filled to capacity for the Education Week church service sponsored by Shawville High School.
Both St. Paul’s Anglican Church and Shawville United Church has cancelled their regular Sunday evening service to make a joint service possible. The service was conducted by the principal, Mr. John A. Tolhurst and very appropriate and inspiring addresses were given by Rev. A.F. Fokes and Rev. K.C. Bolton. Miss Helen Fletcher, president of the Student Council, led is prayer and the vice principal, Mr. James Gordon, read the scripture. A school choir of about forty voices led in the singing.
Princess Elizabeth went deer hunting for an entire day with her father recently in Scotland and bagged three deer in one day.
With its brilliant daylight and nighttime raids over enemy territory, the new De Havilland “Mosquito” is in the news right now. Built by the De Havilland plant in both England and Canada, it is powered with two Rolls Royce engines and is of simple wooden construction.
After the swift conquest of Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, many people, says the New York Times, began to assume that Germany had somehow changed the fundamental laws of warfare.
They believed that because of the application of the gas engine to miliary uses in the air and on the ground, the great conflict would be won or lost solely in terms of German “Blitz”.
Today we can recognize that this is a misconception. Both sides have newer and deadlier weapons than they had in 1939 and 1940. But there are no new and easy roads to victory.
Nazi armies have been stalled for more than two months before the single stronghold of Stalingrad. The battle there moves only from house to house. Berlin communiques give a conquered street almost that same importance that they used to give a conquered province. The fighting has increased in intensity; planes and ships have been flung in prodigally. But Secretary Knox now calls it a war of attrition. That is what the First World War was.
The reason, of course, is because both sides are approaching an equality of power. That balance will not be quickly upset but the rate of increase now definitely favours the United Nations.
Nov. 22, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: Raise in milk prices: on and after Dec. 1, the price of milk will be 10 cents per quart and cream 25 cents per pint, till further notice.
Nomination day: J.D. Bastien, straight independent; Frank S. Cahill, Laurierite, were officially placed in the field as candidates for the honour of representing Pontiac in the next Parliament of Canada at the nomination held at Campbell’s Bay on Monday.
Dr. Gaboury, an old war-horse of numerous political battles, was ready to jump into the ring if nobody appeared in the lists against Cahill, but with Bastien in the field, the doctor moved over to the Cahill side of the hedge.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sinclair of this village, received intelligence last week that their fourth son, Pte. Orval S., had been wounded and gassed on Nov. 6. Pte Sinclair enlisted in a western battalion.
Ad: Fancy work: economize in war time. Make your own Christmas gifts. We have just what you need. Mrs. D.S. Kelley.
Nov. 17, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: The steamer J.L. Murphy will make her last trip for the season on the 25th inst.
Mr. J.T. Hodgins has opened up a shoemaking shop here in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Wm. Belsher.
The boys at Yarm meet around the post office now to talk of the fun they had on the Mattawa and other place last winter and the prospects of work for the coming winter.
Morrison’s carriage factory has received the order from Mr. Robt. Farrell of Otter Lake representing Messrs. Gilmour and Hughston, of twelve pairs of saw log sleighs to be delivered by the new year.
About two o’clock on Monday last, Mr. Chris Caldwell fell from the roof of his new hotel which is a three storey building, his body falling to the yard below at a distance of thirty feet. Mr. Caldwell fell in the carriage way, between the new and old buildings, falling on a spot where a coating of ice had formed, rendering the spot as hard and unyielding as it could possibly be. He was engaged at the time, painting the facings of the dormer windows on the west side of the building and lost his footing while walking from one window to the other. The roof was coated with soft snow at the time. While descending, he endeavoured to grasp a pole which held the scaffold but which he unfortunately did not succeed in doing; however, the pole in a measure broke his fall, otherwise the chances are he would have been killed outright. Mr. Caldwell was terribly injured about his face and his tongue was badly severed as well as many broken teeth. Drs. Knox and Lyon were speedily on hand where they succeeded in staunching the flow of blood and stitched the wounds in the chin. Meanwhile, the injured man bore his suffering as only a man with an iron constitution could. His right knee was noticed to be causing a great deal of pain and when examined was found to have been badly fractured. Under skillful treatment and with careful attendance, we have every hope that Mr. Caldwell will recover, although it can scarcely be expected that he will ever regain his old time vigorous health and strength.
Ad: Stoves! stoves! Full lines of Percival’s Prince of Wales, Forest Beauty and other makes of cook and box stoves at James Hodgins and Sons.
