Feb. 10, 1993

25 Years Ago

QPF, firefighters and CLSC team up for Meals on Wheels: On Sunday, Quyon and area residents were treated to breakfast at the Beach Barn. What they got was more than just a hot meal. They also got service with smiles by officers from the Hull detachment of the Quebec Police Force, Quyon firefighters and CLSC employees.
In an effort to bring the services closer together and closer to the community, they went all-out to provide a hot breakfast at no cost to anyone who came through the doors.
Success program continues despite government cutbacks: Students from Pontiac Protestant High School in Shawville gathered at the school to protest cutbacks in government funding for a program aimed at reducing the drop-out rate.
The School Success Project had begun to provide a positive identity for the 20 students enrolled in the program at PPHS. Principal Ellard Perry has vowed to continue the School Success Program even without school board funding. “We’re trying to salvage the program,” says Perry. “Something will be worked out.”
Diane Fyfe, head of students services for the West Quebec School Board says that the program has been underway since November. This has been made possible, Fyfe says, due to the goodness and flexibility of the staff and principal at PPHS.

Feb. 15, 1968

50 Years Ago

Shawville minor hockey stars win over Kinburn and Arnprior: The Shawville Midgets coasted to a 5-1 win over Kinburn Feb. 3 and then on Monday, Feb. 5 edged Arnprior 2-1 in a close checking fast skating game.
In the game with Kinburn, Hugh Hodgins had 3 goals with Dave Rusenstrum and Dave Hall adding singles. Dave Armitage picked up 3 assists with Wayne Wallace and Ben Tubman getting a pair.
In the game with Arnprior, Dave Hall scored the first goal of the game assisted by Don Armitage and Wayne Wallace.
Bob Findlay shoots wolf: Saturday afternoon was lovely bright and sunny and was ideal weather for the unplanned wolf hunt which took place about half a mile south of Shawville.
It all began when Mrs. Lorne Wilson who lives on a farm about one and a half miles south of Highway 8 here and bordering the Heath Road, saw a wolf in the field near her home. She alerted her husband who was in town at Norval Wilson’s home. He and Bill Ade went immediately to the farm and Lorne was successful in wounding the wolf in the hind leg. However, the animal kept on running and took shelter in an area known as Twin Valley and not too far from Dan Dubeau’s house.
They met Lindsay Horner who had sighted bloody tracks and Findlay followed them. However, as Findlay was in the act of crossing an open creek, he looked down to see the wolf also attempting to cross a short distance from him. Bob’s first shot hit the animal in the back and it fell back into the creek. A second shot, this time in the head ensured it was dead. It weighed about 125 lbs. It is believed the wolf accounted for the mass slaughter of sheep and lambs on Neil Drummond’s farm last October.

Feb. 11, 1943

75 Years Ago

Local News: On Monday of this week, nursing sister, Dorothy Hayes returned to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Hayes in town after spending a year in South Africa in professional capacity.
In a return game with Renfrew Bottling Works on Wednesday, Renfrew defeated the Shawville Wildcats in a closely contested game by a score of 5 to 4 at the local arena before a large crowd.
Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt, together with their chiefs of staff and other military and civil officials have concluded a ten-day conference at Casablanca, Morocco, in which a general program of military strategy for 1943 was worked out.
It has been disclosed that the United Nations would be satisfied with nothing short of the enemy’s unconditional surrender, excluding the possibility of a negotiated peace. This was qualified by Mr. Roosevelt’s statement that the destruction of populations was not intended, but rather the destruction of a philosophy based on conquest and terror. For obvious reasons, no details of the decisions reached at this historic Casablanca conference have been given to the public.

Feb. 14, 1918

100 Years Ago

Local News: The large hotel building, owned by Mr. F. Bretzlaff erected only a few years ago, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday afternoon of last week. The fire is said to have started from the furnace. Part of the contents of the building were saved, but a good many things were consumed making Mr. Bretzlaff’s loss heavy as there was no insurance. The fire spread to Mr. Foss’ building across the street and did some damage before it was extinguished.
All that portion of industrial Canada which depends largely if not wholly upon the United States for its coal supply, had a surprise sprung upon it last week by the Fuel Controller which made a good many of those affected sit up and take notice in a manner to say the least, that they were little expecting.
The guest business block on Main St., Renfrew was destroyed by fire on Monday evening of last week, involving a loss of about $10,000. The occupants of the block were Chas. Peever, meat-shop; George Clarke, harness-maker, and James Smith, implement dealer. The two last named had their stocks absolutely destroyed and carried no insurance. The glare of the fire was clearly seen by Shawville citizens and also by many people of the neighbourhood.
Mayor Howard hitched up his team of horses to a large sleigh on Thursday evening and drove to where the members of the Shawville H.M. Club had gathered to hold their meeting and took the ladies for a drive which was much appreciated. Alf never fails to cater to the desire of the fair sex.

Feb. 9, 1893

125 Years Ago

Local news: At a meeting of the Shawville Council held on Monday evening last, Mr. Hugh Hobbs was unanimously elected mayor for the current year.
Mr. Wm. Armitage, shoemaker of this village has secured a contract from Messrs. Gilmour and Houston, lumberers for the manufacture of ten dozen pairs of boots.
Two slight shocks of earthquake were felt here in quick succession between 11 and 12 o’clock on Thursday night last.
The Liberals in the House of Commons seem very anxious to know if the government has given any assurance to Mr. Bryson that they would assume the railway indebtedness of this county.
An explosion attended with fatal results occurred at the Bristol Iron mines on Saturday evening last about seven o’clock.
The victim of the accident was Samuel Williams who it seems had charge of the explosives. It is not known exactly how the accident occurred but from what can be gathered, Williams had gone into a small building where the dangerous material was stored.
The other men engaged at the mine were startled by a most terrific explosion and on rushing out, discovered the building referred to utterly demolished and Williams dead, the back of his head being blown off and his body transfixed by several splinters from the wrecked building. The effect of the explosion can be imagined when it is stated that the building contained 250 pounds of dynamite. The deceased was well thought of by those who knew him. He leaves a widow and several children to mourn his untimely death.