Sept. 2, 1992
25 Years Ago
Freshwater jellyfish sighted again in Pontiac: Freshwater jellyfish have once again been sighted in Pontiac, this time in Tootes Lake in the municipality of Thorne.
Concerned cottagers Keith and Roberta Harrison, who had heard that these freshwater jellyfish had been previously observed in Hughes Lake last fall, notified THE EQUITY to report their sighting.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have been cottagers at Tootes Lake for over 34 years and have never before observed these tiny creatures in their lake.
Competitive ball at last RA Fun Tourney: Lousy weather canned three games Friday night at the weekend-long Shawville Recreation Association Fun Ball Tournament but that was the only problem they had for the whole weekend.
This one had bad weather against it at the start but good sponsors seemed to balance out this fundraiser.
“It had to be one of the best tournaments this year,” said one of the tournament organizers, Helen Dumouchel. “No one got blown away. There were lots of close, entertaining games all weekend.”
Organizers were able to rebound quickly to reschedule matches and finished the A and B finals on time Sunday afternoon under clear blue skies.
Sept. 7, 1967
50 Years Ago
Campbell’s Bay Petunias take first prize: The municipality of Campbell’s Bay has won the first prize for villages of less than five thousand population in the Western Quebec Regional Economic Council Petunia planting contest. Buckingham was the winner for the larger population group.
The residential class was divided into four sections. Pontiac County winner is Mrs. Justine O’Connor of Clarendon St., Quyon, followed by Ernie Dagg of Campbell’s Bay, Donald Hearty of Vinton, Mrs. Albertine Duffy of Beechgrove and Athol Smith of Campbell’s Bay.
The judging in Pontiac County was done by Rev. T.G. May of Vinton.
Shawville riders show well at Fitzroy Rodeo: Five members of the Shawville Pony and Saddle Club took part in the Pinto Valley Rodeo on Labour Day and brought back five ribbons.
Doug MacDougall, Charles Dickson, Sally and Valerie Thompson and Earl Bean all road the five miles from the Quyon Ferry to the Smiths Ranch both before and after the rodeo to make it a very heavy day in the saddle for these five Shawville riders.
Hero of the day for our gang was Doug MacDougall who came first in the flag race with Charles Dickson coming second. Doug also won the quarter mile though the announcer didn’t notice him coming up from second position to cross the line first so the prize, a carton of potato chips, went elsewhere.
All who attended from here were rewarded with a great show of Bronc riding by the Smith boys, an exciting chuck wagon race, a demonstration of Roman riding, standing with one foot on each of two horses and a series of rodeo events which were run off at an exciting pace.
Sept. 10, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: John Stavenow who for 26 years has been telegraph operator at the C.P.R. Station in Arnprior, left today for Shawville, Que where he assumes the duty of station agent.
Reported missing since July 28, Flight Sgt. Edgar Smith is now officially reported as “believed killed after air operations.”
Mr. H.C. Rowat has just received word that his nephew, Allan Rowat, aged 20, of Les Fusiliers de Mont Royal, is missing after the Dieppe raid.
Flight Sgt. Smith is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. H.I. Smith of Maryland, Bristol, an elder brother, Leslie is serving in the R.C.A.F. overseas and enlisted at the same time. Edgar Smith was 20 years of age.
Gunner Sergeant G.C. Hollister, manning the “belly gun” in the blister protruding from the bottom of a bomber over New Guinea, was blazing away at Japanese zeroes which had attacked the plane when a cannon shell from the zero blew off the blister door.
Hollister fell out backwards but luckily his feet caught behind the bar connecting his two guns.
There he swung through the air until another gunner, hearing his shouts on the inter-communications system, came to his aid and dragged him in.
Union Jack waves over Dieppe Cliffs: A Union Jack fluttered above the Dieppe cliffs during the United Nations Canadian-led commando assault operations.
It was planted there by two British soldiers who landed with one of the first parties ashore and it served as a marker for those who followed. The soldiers picked it up at the end of the operation and brought it home.
Sept. 13, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: The citizens of Norway Bay had quite a scare last Friday when some boys, playing with matches, it is reported, started fires in several places in the woods behind the cottages. Fortunately the fires were discovered before they made very much headway and were extinguished.
Three of the annual School Fairs held under the direction of Shawville Demonstration Branch of Macdonald College came off last week and were on the whole of a very successful character.
Another crisis has arisen in Russia over the demand of General Korniloff to be given supreme command in both miliary and civic affairs. The premier instead of doing this, ordered the general to hand his functions over to another which he is not likely to do. More serious trouble is almost certain to result.
A young friend of Pte. Clifton Woodley who was wounded and taken prisoner at Ypres in June, 1916, recently received a group photo in which the absent young soldier appears in his shirt sleeves just as if he had come in from work and looking fairly well. The names of his four companions were not given but one is thought to be a member of the Hobin family, formerly of North Clarendon, who was reported missing and for several months past has been given up for dead.
Sept. 15, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: The citizens of Bryson are taking steps to organize a brass band.
Mr. James Russell of Renfrew is about to resume operations at his silver mine on Calumet Island.
It is announced that Premier Abbott will shortly sail for England on public business.
The social on St. Thomas’ Church parsonage grounds, Bristol Corners on Tuesday evening of last week was a grand success.
Hon. John Costigan, Minister of Inland Revenue was in town on Wednesday in company with Mr. John Bryson, M.P.
Mr. John McIntosh of Arnprior, lighthouse keeper, brought up to town on Wednesday last a fine specimen of white fish which he got in Chats Lake. It weighed about two and a half pounds and was exactly similar to the white fish which are imported from Port Arthur and Georgian Bay fishing grounds. This confirms the belief that the white fish spawn which were put into Chats Lake four years ago are thriving well without doubt.
Any persons requiring the services of an old and experienced dentist will do well to call on Dr. Dan McPhee, Arnprior who has spared no expense to have every appliance known to modern dentistry by which every operation can be performed in a thorough manner.
Last session of parliament after full discussion of a proposal to have a Canadian commercial agent appointed at Washington as an attache of the British legation, a motion moved in amendment by Hon. Mr. Tupper was passed.
The North Bay dispatch says a gentleman who recently arrived from Copper Cliff mines says that there are no less than 30 cases of typhoid fever reported in that region.
