May 12, 1993

25 Years Ago

Pontiac doctors lead the way: Local doctors innovations in the medical profession have put Pontiac on the map – literally.
On April 29 and 30, 100 doctors from all across Canada attended a seminar on rural medicine in Montreal. On the map in front of them, Pontiac was highlighted to draw their attention to the spot where the idea for the program originated.
“It was hatched here in this office,” admits Shawville’s self-effacing Dr. Keith MacLellan, who saw that Canada’s rural doctors could make their jobs easier and more effective through an exchange of information.
Calls to Ottawa could soon be local: If all goes according to plan, long distance charges on calls to Ottawa could soon be a thing of the past.
This extended service, however, will not be free. Before the change can be implemented, a majority of Shawville subscribers must approve. The change would mean that the basic monthly charge for a residential phone would increase from $12.95 to $20.70; a business phone would go from $37 to $65.

May 16, 1968

50 Years Ago
Guides, Brownies and Rangers mother-daughter banquet: The community centre was the place for about 150 people on Tuesday evening when Brownies, Guides, Rangers, leaders and mothers and guests met for the annual mother-daughter banquet. Rev. John Pearce proposed the toast to the Queen and led the singing of the Royal Anthem. Grace was repeated by Rev. Stan Snowden.
Following a very appetizing meal prepared and served by members of the Stark’s Corners United Church women, the head table guests were introduced by Mrs. Neil Hodgins, president of the Guide Mothers Association.
Lowell Green at Otter Lake: On Wednesday evening a successful meeting was held at the Protestant School. The auditorium was filled to capacity to meet Mr. Lowell Green who is running for Liberal candidate in Pontiac.

May 20, 1943

75 Years Ago
Local News: Shawville Red Cross has made arrangements for the mobile blood clinic to visit this village to receive donations of blood for the armed forces.
Heavy rains on Sunday last further retarded cropping in this district. Some farmers in the southern sections of Clarendon township have been unable to work their land at all.
Ad: Drive out aches. Just rub in Minard’s “King of Pain” liniment.
Marooned for 10 months on Jap-held New Britain island, three U.S. airmen and an Australian volunteer rifleman they met in the jungle have been returned to an Allied base after an epic rescue. They built a camp at the edge of the jungle and were making a boat for escape when a U.S. bomber flew over, discovered them. A few nights later an Australian flying boat landed by flares and picked up the four men.
During the Battle of Britain there were five Hurricanes for every Spitfire and the Hurricanes shot down more enemy aircraft than did all our own and the enemy’s put together.
Few of us in Canada appreciate the significant part that radio has played in Europe towards molding the fortunes (or should we more properly call them misfortunes?) of that unhappy continent in the years prior to the outbreak of the war.

May 23, 1918

100 Years Ago
Local News: Save all the old rubber and waste paper and give it to the Lone Scouts. The proceeds from the sale of these will be used to pack boxes for our boys across the Big Pond.
Willie Barnett of the Canadian Tank Battalion spent the weekend in town with his parents.
Although bank staffs throughout have been greatly depleted by the demand for men for military service, the activities in banking extension do not seem to have been affected to any extent so far, at least, as this section is concerned. Thus, for example, we note that during the past week, a branch of the Bank of Ottawa has been opened in this town and one also at Bristol Corners.
The merchants have also opened a branch at Bristol where Mr. C.E. Shaw has been placed in charge of a daily service while another branch has been opened at Campbell’s Bay with Mr. D.L. Wilson in charge daily.
London and environs experienced another aerial attack from the enemy on Saturday night, the first since March 7. It is said to have been the most ambitious yet undertaken but it fell considerably short of its destructive object, thanks to the formidable defensive that was maintained by the British anti-aircraft batteries. Four of the raiders were brought down.
The many young draftees who went to Ottawa last week to register have in most cases been allowed home leave to help with the tail-end of the seeding. To most farmers, however, the puzzle remains unsolved: who is to take off the harvest three months hence?

May 18, 1893

125 Years Ago
Local news: The infant son of Mr. Thomas Prendergast, aged 5 months, died on Friday last from Bronchitis.
The Ottawa Towing Company has just launched an “alligator” boat at Sand Point to be used for cadging logs on the river.
D. Ratte has entered another suit for $20,000 damages against the Ottawa lumbermen on account of the sawdust nuisance.
The carpenters are now at work on an immense building, adjoining the new Pontiac House, for kitchen and woodshed combined.
The water in Black River up in Waltham is very high and the chutes present a magnificent spectacle. Artists wishing to immortalize their names would do well to sketch the falls now.
The spring’s work has begun in earnest and the farmers are pretty busy with their “git up, whoa, haw, gee”.
Mr. Thomas Palmer of Yarm, is the first to finish cropping around here.
Since the warm weather accompanied by frequent showers set in there has been quite an improvement in vegetation.
See the new Massey-Harris wide open binder. Ten kinds of mowers and three kinds of horse rakes for sale by A.S. Smart.
Mr. William Elliott of this village has been appointed Bailiff of Her Majesty’s Superior Court for the District of Ottawa.
The government has appointed Mr. R. McRitchie of Bryson to the position of collector of Inland Revenue for this county in the place of Mr. S.A. McKay, notary.
Last notice: All parties in the municipality of Shawville not having their yards clean and manure heaps removed, also water closets cleaned before June the first, for the prevention of disease, will be fined according to the Health Act.
Some of the boys with we believe, a couple of officials also, spent an hour or two on Thursday evening burning and making away with several old carcasses and other offensive matter which found its way in to Dagg’s grove (between Main Street and the railway track) during the winter past. The boys are satisfied that they accomplished this work in a highly successful manner.