Aug. 5, 1992
25 Years Ago
Rafters ride to save the Chutes: The observation deck at the Coulonge Chutes was crowded with onlookers last Thursday afternoon to watch volunteers from Esprit Rafting company ride the rapids below the falls.
The ten minute river excursion was not intended to be a display of whitewater daring. It was organized by people who oppose the installation of a hydro-electric generating plant at the Chutes as a way of drawing attention to the dangers of the project.
Jim Coffey of Esprit Rafting in Davidson gave a guided tour of the Chutes park before descending 120 feet into the two kilometer long gorge of rapids below the falls.
Esprit’s short trip down the gorge was intended to demonstrate that the Coulonge River is navigable and to get the federal Ministry of Transport involved in the debate over the proposed hydro plant.
Austin School members hold first-ever reunion: It took organizers a lot of months to locate and contact former pupils and remaining teachers of the Austin School in Clarendon for a first-ever reunion last weekend, Aug. 1 and 2.
The organizers, Keith Dagg, Clara Russell, Eleanor Stevens, Emery Elliott and Opal Carson said the task of finding people was especially difficult because no school records could be located.
On Saturday afternoon, 113 pupils, teachers and family members sat down to a dinner served by the Shawville United Church women.
Aug. 10, 1967
50 Years Ago
Missing from our files
Aug. 13, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: Shawville Women’s Institute held their August meeting in the basement of the United Church on Monday evening with the president, Mrs. Draper presiding. Mrs. R.P. Eades, president of the Ladies’ Hospital Auxiliary thanked the ladies on behalf of the hospital for services done.
Letters of thanks for boxes received were read from Dorothy Hayes and Dalton Devine. The meeting closed with singing of the national anthem.
Mr. and Mrs. Norris Horner and their son, Billy, have moved from town to take up residence in Portage du Fort. Mr. Horner has been employed at the Magnesium Plant near Haley’s Station.
Hitler’s mighty war machine pushes into North Caucasus. Adolf Hitler’s legions stood last week at the gates of the Caucasus.
As the Germans hurled themselves from many ides at Rostov’s lines, worried Soviet diplomats paid hurried visits to American and English leaders in Washington and London.
Aug. 16, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: Although appearance has indicated otherwise, it is now thought that the potato crop in this district will be much below the expectations of some time ago. The great heat and drought of the latter part of July almost completely checked the growth of the young tubers.
A rather serious affair is reported to have occurred at Coulonge on Saturday, the result of which is that a man named Gillis is suffering from a bullet wound in the body, fired by another man who was taken into custody at Renfrew on Monday and has been lodged in Bryson jail. Several versions of the affair are current rendering it hard to get at the actual facts. In addition to the shooting, it is alleged that the attacker wrecked everything around the Gillis habitation and then set fire to the building which was destroyed. The man’s lawless conduct is said to be attributable to liquor.
The office at the works of the Canadian Explosives Company at Sand Point was destroyed by fire about eight o’clock Tuesday night. It is still a mystery as to the origin of the fire, if it was not caused by spontaneous combustion. There was no one hurt as no one, with the exception of the watchman, was around. Some articles which had been lying in the office were blown out of the building without injury, showing that there had been an explosion.
Mr. Ray Wilson of Green Lake had the misfortune to lose eight head of cattle last week through poisoning by eating a species of deadly weed which grows in marshy places. This we understand was the opinion of the veterinary inspector who came from Ottawa to investigate the case.
Mr. Alpine Campbell of Campbell’s Bay lost most of his outbuildings, together with machinery and a large quantity of hay by fire which broke out about eleven o’clock on Monday.
The Jewish population of Warsaw, capital of Poland is reported to be dying of starvation. Strange that it is only at intervals that we hear of the woe and misery in that most unfortunate and unhappy country. The Hun invaders take good care that little leaks out.
Aug. 18, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: The school house at Yarm has been repaired by Messrs. E. & S. Hodgins.
Harvesting operations went very slow last week owing to the wet weather
We very often see the policeman around here in Thorne. We presume he is on a new beat but will likely return about the 22 of this month to resume his arduous duties.
The Dominion Millers Association estimates that there will be 22,000,000 bushels of wheat for export from Canada this year.
Mr. Otto Bretzlaff has purchased a new binder from the Massey Harris Co. and expects to do good work with it if the weather proves favourable.
A concert was held at Mr. George Hodgins’ North Branch on Friday evening in aid of the Methodist Sunday School. There was a large attendance. The proceeds amounted to $10.50.
Lively scenes may be witnessed on the blueberry plains now-a-days on this side of the Pickanock Farm, numberless tin pails, white aprons and straw hats.
A number of young men from this locality in charge of Mr. Joshua Farrell left on Monday to work at construction work on the C.P.R. near Petawawa where we understand the company are straightening a portion of the main line.
A severe rain storm passed over this section on the 10th inst. doing considerable damage to the neighbouring crops.
Messrs. Airth and Lindsay got through with their tour of inspection of farms last week. From an indefinite report we hear that Mr. E. Graham of Bristol receives first prize; Mr. Jas. Cuthbertson of Clarendon has second prize, Wm. Starke, Clarendon, third prize and John Young of Bristol, fourth prize.
All our teachers are leaving us today for their respective schools.
