Dec. 16, 1992
25 Years Ago
A shiny red fire engine for Shawville: On Dec. 22, the Shawville Clarendon firefighters got a couple of days to look over the new addition to the Shawville Clarendon Fire Department, a 1992 Ford diesel pumper truck with an extended cab.
The truck seats six (three in the front and three in the back) with hook ups to strap into the Scott Air Paks on the fly for the firefighters seated in the back.
Along with a 1,050 gallon-per-minute pump, the truck houses and 800 gallon plastic tank.
MOT depot slated for closure: On Dec. 4, Minister Sam Elkas and Associate Minister Robert Middlemiss announced that the Ministry of Transport would undergo and re-organization which will see the MOT depot east of Shawville on Highway 148 closed down.
The ministry explains that changes are necessary in part, because of the transfer of responsibilities for some roads to municipalities and because the ministry has changed radically since the sixties when the last re-organization took place.
In Pontiac, the Shawville office will be closed. Although the ministry was able to confirm that the Campbell’s Bay office would be upgraded, Ministry Press Liaison Jean Morin could not give a specific description of the operations which would take place there, insisting that it was too early to go into detail.
Dec. 21, 1967
50 Years Ago
Santa Claus parade at Quyon: The community of Quyon and District held a most successful Santa Clause Parade on Saturday. Like all good things this annual event seems to improve with age.
Although there were fewer floats than last year, the overall quality was much improved.
The music was provided by the Renfrew Air Cadet Band. The parade was enlivened by a group of tiny majorettes from Lucerne.
The parade left Onslow Intermediate School at 1:30 p.m. and proceeded to St. Mary’s auditorium where Santa distributed goodies to all the children present.
The winner of the Bank of Montreal trophy for first place was Ken Davis Garage and the trophy for second place went to Gil Fraser. MacKechnie’s IGA float received very honourable mention.
Bay honours Edgar Lance: Mr. Edgar Lance, Mayor of village of Campbell’s Bay since June of this year and who was chosen Citizen of the Year by the Campbell’s Bay Chamber of Commerce held in his honour at the Campbell’s Bay Legion Hall on Dec. 10.
About 150 of his co-citizens from Campbell’s Bay attended the banquet at which Mr. Antoine Gregoire of Hull, manager of the Western Quebec Regional Economic Council Inc., was the guest speaker and gave a most interesting talk on Western Quebec Regional Economic Council. An address by Edgar Allard, Crown Attorney for the County of Pontiac was read to Mr. Lance and a commemorative plaque presented to him.
Dec. 24, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: In peacetime or wartime, Christmas is a day of good wishes – so once more THE EQUITY extends to friends and readers the same old greeting: A Merry Christmas.
On Sunday morning shortly before 12 o’clock, fire broke out in the work room at the Shawville Bakery. Some fire wood near a little box stove ignited and spread to the pastry bench. The alarm was quickly responded to and the blaze was soon subdued. Damage was estimated between two and three hundred dollars but the staff resumed baking bread on Monday.
Ace Night-fighter Car Fumerton welcomed home: Mayor G.G. McDowell and a number of prominent Shawville citizens were at the station on Saturday evening to greet and congratulate Flight Lieut. Robert Carl Fumerton, D.F.C. and Bar, who was en route to his home in Fort Coulonge, fresh from air battles over the Nile delta.
The Ace night-fighter reached Ottawa earlier in the day and was accompanied by his flying partner, Flying Officer Leslie (Pat) Brig. of Regina who have 13 victories to their credit, a record for night fighting.
At the home town, Fort Coulonge, most every citizen was at the station to welcome the young officer and the official welcome was given by Mayor J.W. Corrigan and a civic reception was given that evening in his honour.
Butter rationed: Coupon rationing of butter went into effect across Canada on Monday with the quota for each person set at one-half pound a week.
This district suffered one of the coldest snaps in history during the past week. The lowest reading was Sunday morning when two of THE EQUITY thermometers sank to 30 degrees below the zero mark and it was reported that other instruments in town dropped to 37 degrees below.
Dec. 27, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: Rev. Arthur Wilson preached to a large and appreciative congregation at the Methodist Church on Sunday evening last.
The Russell House in town is again closed to the public and the late occupants, Wm. Turcotte and family have left the village.
Some of our young people attended the Christmas entertainment at the Brick Church, Bristol on Friday night.
McCann’s Hotel at Quyon was destroyed by fire on Thursday with nearly all of the contents.
German airmen carried out another raid over English coast towns and a few of the raiders reached London where ten people were killed and 70 injured but the material damage is reported to have been slight and of no military advantage.
Sir Wilfred Laurier spent the closing week of the campaign in the west and held meetings at most of the principal towns from Winnipeg to Vancouver.
Dec. 22, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: James John Hodgins and his brother Herbert, two young men of this neighbourhood, crossed the Chats Lake with horse and cutter on Saturday. Their venture was extremely risky and many eyes watched their progress from the shore till they landed safely at Sand Point. James says they celebrated the event at Arnprior by burning down a couple of old houses.
Missionary services were held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week, in the Anglican churches of Portage du Fort, Bryson and the school house at Clarke’s station.
The contract for carrying the mail between Fitzroy Harbour and Arnprior has been awarded to Mr. Wm. Shireff of the former place.
Little Nettie, the three-year-old daughter of Mr. Wm. Clarke of Bryson died from Diphtheria on Sunday last. Other cases of the dreaded disease are reported from the county town.
The highest cash price will be paid for all kinds of grain and dressed hogs at Bristol Station by Graham and Smith.
Mr. R.S. McNeill of this village purposes embarking in the hotel business in Bryson.
Mr. C. Caldwell’s many friends will learn with pleasure that he has so far recovered as to enable him to take a sleigh drive now every day.
THE EQUITY, a weekly journal specially devoted to local interests published at Shawville every Thursday by John A. Cowan, embraces this present opportunity to wish its numerous readers and patrons all a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
