Sept. 9, 1992
25 Years Ago
Another record-breaking Fair!: The 137th Shawville Fair was another record-breaker, sustaining a trend of growth that has become a tradition over the past several years.
The 1992 fair had the good fortune of getting some of the best weekend weather found all summer.
Although exact attendance figures were not available at press time, Pontiac Agricultural Society President Edgar Schwartz is confident that the gate receipts will be well up from last year. “By Sunday night,” he said, “we had taken in as much at the gate as we did all last year.”
Some of the exhibits were down a bit from last year but the horse and cattle departments showed continued growth.
Foggy Truck Pull at Shawville Fair: You could barely see the trucks at the starting line, even from halfway down the track, but you could definitely hear them on the first night of the Shawville Fair.
Things got going a little after eight, starting off with the minis and continued into the late hours with the full-blown modifieds in the 5,200 lbs and 6,200 lbs classes.
In the half-ton class, Douglas’ Ron Dick drew to a first place finish going 236.4 ft. In second spot was Shawn McMunn all the way from Fort McMurray, Alberta with a distance of 229.9 ft.
Sept. 14, 1967
50 Years Ago
Quyon Fair: What would a Quyon Fair be without Gervase O’Reilly? The man on the mic sets the tone of the whole show and Gervase does it admirably, filling the gaps between classes with spicy jokes. If you don’t listen carefully you miss the punch line but if you get it you are in on one of the specialties which make Quyon Fair the most friendly and informal fall fair in the Ottawa Valley.
Seated with Gervase at the fair announcing desk is President Llewelyn Hodgins, taking down the judging results.
Bristol schools joined with Shawville group: By order in council no. 2091 in the Legislative Assembly in Quebec, the School Municipality of Bristol, Protestant, has been annexed to the Protestant School Municipality of Central Pontiac.
The change took effect on Aug. 15 and documents will now be exchanged by the secretaries, Jim MacMillan and Jack Russell.
Sept. 17, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: J.G. Taggart, chairman of the Bacon Board appealed Sunday night to consumers throughout Canada to refrain from buying fresh pork, bacon or ham during the next seven weeks.
This effort is to maintain weekly shipments of bacon to Britain so as to assure the continuance of the British bacon ration at the present level.
Mrs. Mell McNeeley received the sad intelligence that her brother, Sergeant Pilot William F. Roy had been killed in an air accident at Dunnsville, Ont.
First of Britain’s mighty four-engined bombers to come to their continent, a giant Avro Lancaster landed at Dorval airport, Montreal last week after a trans-Atlantic flight.
Fresh from the production lines of a British factory, the Lancaster was flown from England for demonstration in Canada where the latest edition of this multi-motored bomber will soon be built in quantity for the Royal Air Force.
As global war enters fourth year, are Allies turning tide of battle?
Three years ago last week the Nazi legions poured across the frontiers of Poland to loose upon the world the second great conflict in a generation, says the New York Times. A European war at first, it became a world war after Japan’s Pearl Harbour attack last December.
Meanwhile American aviation continues to aid. Last week American bombers blasted the Nipponese air base at Lashlo, Burmese terminus of the now useless Burma Road. And in Chungking the arrival of the first group of Chinese flyers trained in America was a further symbol of Chinese-American collaboration.
Sept. 20, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: Mr. L. Hynes gathered in a fairly decent share of the prize money at Ottawa Fair last week with his horses, capturing one first, two seconds and one third prize.
The Holiness Movement camp meeting which is in progress this week as largely attended at the several Sunday services.
Miss Gertie Woolsey, daughter of Mr. Sol. Woolsey of Onslow, who has been living with a sister at Starks Corners, was accidentally shot by a boy on Monday afternoon and now lies in a very critical condition.
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The bullet (.44 cal.) entered the girl’s body just above one of her hips and lodged somewhere in the abdominal cavity. Very little hope of her recovery is entertained.
Pte. John Reid MacFarlane of Bristol was officially reported “missing” in Saturday evening’s casualty lists. The young man had been at the front for many months past and had participated in some of the hottest engagements of the war.
Miss E.H. MacDonald will hold her Fall Millinery opening in Bristol for two days.
Shawville and vicinity contributed a goodly number of the visitors who attended the Ottawa Fair on Wednesday and Thursday last, when about 200 or more entrained for the city and at the intervening stations along the line, considerable numbers also took passage. The representation of Pontiacers at the big show as probably the largest that ever assembled there. Wednesday’s attendance on the grounds eclipsed by several thousands the best record of any previous year.
The Canadian Consolidated Rubber Co. Ltd. offer a pair of long rubber boots worth seven dollars for best single roadster. Speed to count 70 per cent.
Sept. 22, 1892
125 Years Ago
Local news: Mr. William Wilson of this village lost a good horse on Monday. He is of opinion the animal was poisoned.
On all sides now, the white smoke of the steam thresher may be observed.
Considerable grain has been threshed out already.
John Gillies’ barn and stock to the value of $5,000 was destroyed by lightning on Sunday night.
Our reporter had the experience of crossing the noble Ottawa last week by the Ross Point Ferry, which is in charge of Mr. James Greenshields this season.
Although there was a strong wind blowing at the time, the transit was made in a safely and comparatively short time.
So far, James says the wind has not prevented him from crossing at any time since he commenced running the scow, which is driven by horse power.
On Sunday night last, the house of Mr. Martin Beatty who lives near the Quyon river in the rear of Bristol, was destroyed by fire with all its contents.
Everything in the way of provisions and clothing was consumed. Some of the neighbours at once started a list with a view to relieving the family’s immediate distress and assist them in erecting a suitable dwelling before the cold weather sets in.
Mrs. D. McRae has received her fall stock of ladies’ hats and fancy goods. She will be moved into her new shop, next door to old stand for exhibition.
The school commissioners of Clarendon are calling for tenders for the re-erection of school house No. 1 which was demolished by the cyclone in June last.
The Moore Lumber Co. are sending up a large number of men and supplies to their Kippewa limits. They will cut square timber this winter.
We regret to learn that Mr. William Judd of Thorne lost a daughter of twelve years of age.
