Apr. 14, 1993
25 Years Ago
Stanhow barn meeting draws good dairy turnout: About a hundred farmers and young 4-Hers gathered at Stanhow Farms in Bristol on April 12 for a barn meeting put on by the Holstein Breeders Association. The barn meetings are an annual affair that rotates among the Holstein farms in Pontiac.
Bertrand Couture, fieldsman for the Quebec Holstein Breeders Assoc. was on hand to demonstrate the latest technology in electronic registration of cattle.
Founded in 1961, Stanhow Farms is a 285-acre combined dairy and beef operation run by Archie and Irma Stanley and their children Lee, Howie, Connie, Colleen, Cathy and Cheryl.
They are active exhibitors and have won Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor awards at many fairs and shows.
Quebec wants to assess Pontiac’s mining potential: “There’s gold in them thar hills,” says Marc Corbeil of the Conseil Régional de Développement de l’Outaouais. The CRDO is trying to set up a regional mining fund to encourage prospecting in Pontiac.
The Ministry of Energy and resources has promised to double any funds collected locally, up to $50,000 and to triple any amount raised after that.
In the southern part of Pontiac, deposits of dolomite, zinc, nickel and uranium will be sought. As far as the TNOs are concerned, nobody really knows what’s there but potential is presumed.
Apr. 18, 1968
50 Years Ago
Who will live in the new old folks’ home?: Dale Thomson, chairman of Lions Committee for the Pontiac Protestant Home for the Aged would like everyone who is interested in taking up residence in such a home to fill out a questionnaire.
The Lions Club of Shawville in cooperation with the Clarendon and District Ministerial Association, is conducting this survey to determine if there is a real need for a home for senior citizens in the county of Pontiac.
Professionals in the field of social service who have studied the situation feel that a Protestant Home for elderly people is indicated in the Shawville area.
Bryson Brownies now, Girl Guides on the way: A meeting to form a local association for Guides and Brownies was held at the home of Mrs. John Grund on April 10. There were ten present. Mrs. Bourget, district commissioner for Hilco was present and gave a very interesting talk on Guides and Brownies, stressing the importance of the local association in supporting these groups.
Election of officers was held. A lovely lunch was then served by the hostess.
Ad: Spring means convertible weather. We have two Ford convertibles priced to go! Test drive them now. Anderson and Taylor, Main Street, Shawville.
Apr. 22, 1943
75 Years Ago
Local News: Spr. Lennis Dale arrived home last week from England where he had been in hospital for over a year. Lennis enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers in northern Ontario in 1939 and after his arrival in England contracted pneumonia which was followed by other complications which left him unfit for army service. While in England, Lennis chose a wife who he expects will arrive in Canada next month.
Shawville was considerably stirred on Saturday night when there rolled unexpectedly into town 27 trucks, jeeps and tanks from the Petawawa camp with about 60 men. They were in charge of Capt. J. T. Duncum and Ltes. Pomerline and MacDonald and were accompanied to Shawville by Major J.G. Rogan.
They were an instruction unit of the Canadian Field Artillery out on special training. They spent the night in Hodgins bush, rose about 6: 00 a.m. prepared their breakfast and then returned to Petawawa expecting to arrive there about noon.
Flight Sgt. Kenneth Caldwell Smyth of Shawville was one of more than 75 members of R.C.A.F. aircrew, overseas to be commissioned for efficiency, meritorious service and the display of qualities of leadership.
Many friends in Shawville rejoiced Saturday evening when it was reported that Pilot Officer Gilbert Kilgour had been rescued with three companions from an ice flow in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The young pilot had been reported missing since early Saturday morning. The aircraft which went missing Friday while on a routine flight was first sighted just before dusk that evening but the rescue vessel was unable to reach it before morning.
Forced down by engine trouble, the plane pancaked on the sea just in sight of land and sank in 40 minutes. The flyers loaded their rubber dinghy with rations and supplies and launched it before the plane disappeared. They paddled to a nearby ice flow and hauled the dinghy up on the ice.
Fort Coulonge, home of Squadron Leader Carl Fumerton, D.F.C. and Bar, Canada’s leading night fighter, achieved new distinction Friday afternoon when the 10,000 ton freighter ‘Fort Coulonge’ was launched at United Shipyards, Montreal.
The ship, the sixth of its kind to be completed at that shipyard was christened by Mrs. Hilaire Lalonde, wife of one of the yard workers. Probably one of the proudest spectators was Supply Assistant, Clifford B. Kenney, R.C.N.V.R., whose home is in Fort Coulonge.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel retreated north last week through Tunisia, says the New York Times. Between Gabes and Bizerte the gnarled trunks and dome-shaped foliage of 16,000,000 olive trees dominate the land over which its forces moved. From the south, the British Eighth army with its deadly train of 3,000 guns, pressed closer. In the hills to the west, American and French troops worked their way through his mine fields to threaten his flank.
Apr. 18, 1918
100 Years Ago
Local News: Plowing commenced in some parts of this district last week. Since the disappearance of the snow from the open country the ground has dried up fast for so early in the season, indicating that the frost did not penetrate as deeply as would naturally be expected in view of the severity of the past winter.
THE EQUITY last week learned with much regret that an old friend of many years’ acquaintance has passed away. The allusion is to Mr. Francis Pelletier, one of the pioneer residents of Leslie township, of whom there are very few now remaining. His long career was marked by continuous effort in the direction of improving the moral and social condition of the community which recognized him as a leader and adviser in matters both spiritual and temporal.
In municipal and school affairs Mr. Pelletier was a zealous participant for many years, his services in that connection including a long term as secretary-treasurer of the municipality in which he lived.A trio of military police from Ottawa, acting under the authority of the Military Council, have been up through this section on the trail of certain delinquents who have taken liberty of exceeding their leave of absence considerably beyond the limit. Men who trifle with the military law in that fashion run a great risk of being severely dealt with when they are rounded up. If they were in Germany and did likewise, the chances are they would have to face a firing squad some morning at sunrise.
Apr. 20, 1893
125 Years Ago
Local news: Ploughing in the neighbourhood of Yarm commenced last week.
It is several years since we had occasion to note the destruction of property in this village by the visitation of the fire fiend. On Saturday night last, it became the lot of our citizens to experience a break in the spell.
About half past 11 o’clock the alarm was sounded that Armitage’s shoe shop on Main Street was on fire and in a few moments the burning building was surrounded by a host of half dressed citizens who immediately set to work to combat the flames and remove the contents of the shop. Mr. Armitage occupied the ground floor, while the second flat was in use as a furniture shop by Mr. L. Beaven, who had a sleeping compartment therein and was in bed when the fire started. The flames made rapid headway and in a short time communicated with the house of the late Mrs. Clyne, an old log building which almost adjoined the shop on the west side. As the fire proceeded and the heat became more intense, attention had to be directed to the residence of Dr. Knox on the east, which standing only a few feet distant became very hot and had to be kept drenched with water to prevent it from bursting out in flame.
Meanwhile some of the crowd undertook the demolition of the Clyne building which was done by pulling down the logs and hauling them into the street and this accomplished, the danger was past.
Dr. W.C. McGuire, vet surgeon, has decided to establish himself in this village and has opened an office on the corner of Pickanock and James Streets where he may be found in attendance at all hours by those requiring his services.
The Clarendon Roller Mills are running full time now and have a large stock ground on hand.
Mr. Robert Clarke of Ottawa has purchased the grist mill in this village, the transfer taking place on Thursday last. The new proprietor intends thoroughly overhauling the mill so that it will compete with any in the country.
