Sept. 23, 1992
25 Years Ago
Bob Bertrand wins Liberal nomination: Liberals of Pontiac-Gatineau-Labelle voted two-to-one last Sunday to name Robert Bertrand as their candidate in the next federal election.
Bertrand, a 39-year-old life insurance salesman from Fort Coulonge, served as the president of the local Liberal riding association from 1990 until Sept. 4. of this year when he resigned his post to stand for the nomination.
About five hundred people, including Liberals from all parts of the riding, crowded into the auditorium of Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary School in Shawville for the Sept. 20 nominating convention.
Scuba courses surface in Pontiac: For the past five weeks, scuba teacher Lloyd Crawford has been giving a scuba course to nine students at a pool in Fort Coulonge.
At the end of this month, scuba diving instruction will be offered by the Adult Education program at Pontiac Protestant High School in Shawville. The 28-hour course will include theoretical instruction and a weekend of diving in the indoor pool at Granview Retreat near Ladysmith.
Lloyd got involved in his current project to offer diving instruction in Pontiac through the Pontiac Enterprise Development Program.
Sept. 28, 1967
50 Years Ago
Two offers to buy Pontiac Rural Telephone: The Pontiac Rural Telephone Company shareholders have been called to a closed meeting at the Anglican Parish Hall in Shawville. At this meeting they will be asked to consider the offers of purchase by two interested companies. Bell and Continental. Bell is the company which has recently bought Wright and Pontiac company in the Quyon area and Continental has recently bought the Campbell’s Bay company.
Walter Yach wins West Quebec farm beautification contest: Agronomist Doug McMillan has announced the placing in the farm beautification competition for this area. The judging was done on the basis of attractiveness and operation of the farm and the money prizes were awarded as follows:
First prize for all Western Quebec went to Walter Yach of Ladysmith. Placing tenth was Jim Barber and son and eleventh was Freeman Grant. Mrs. Alfred Russell was 17th, Wallace Barber 19th, James Scott of Beechgrove 23rd, Gordon McMillan and Eason Russell of Bristol 29th and 32nd, Clarence Knox of Shawville 39th, Rolland Graham, Bristol 40th and Denzil Yach 50th.
Oct. 1, 1942
75 Years Ago
Local News: The ministers of the United Churches in Quyon, Yarm, Bristol, Shawville, Campbell’s Bay and Fort Coulonge, met on Monday afternoon to organize a United Ministerial Association for Pontiac County.
Leading Aircraftsman D.H. Horner of Shawville, Que. was double-prize winner in Friday’s graduating group of wireless operators, representing five countries who received their sparks, insignia of the qualified wireless operator at an outstanding graduation ceremony at the R.C.A.F. No. 4 Wireless School.
Horner was high man in the class and received the school prize for general efficiency as well as the squadron commander’s award for academics.
Friends of the Shawville High School will be interested to learn that Creighton Douglas who attended school here during the past year, has been awarded one of the Narcissa Farrand Scholarships to McGill University on the results of the June examinations.
Ad: Alladin Mantle Lamps and supplies. The white light from coal oil $6.25 and up.
Nose plugs in 500 pound aerial bombs are being tightened by girl employees in a Canadian plant and being shipped abroad as “bundles for Berlin.”
As a result of government control in the prices and wages fields, the Canadian worker in the present war is much better off than in the struggle of 1914-18.
German and Italian airmen were captured as prisoners of war in Malta after being shot down over heavily bombed Mediterranean island.
Since Germany has already cut the Russian rail line north from Stalingrad and has reached the Volga, the current battle for the city itself is regarded by some military authorities as somewhat of an anti-climax. However, continued Russian resistance there significantly retards the timing of Nazi operations on other fronts.
Ad: But George was at Dieppe! Nice fellow, George, one of the lads from the office, remember? You had him for dinner one night. He made a great fuss over your kids and then all of a sudden, he joined up. And he was at Dieppe, slogging up the beach into a murderous rain of steel, fighting for you and your wife and those kids of yours. Think of what George gave up and then sit down with your wife and ask yourselves, “what else can we do?” Sure you’ve given up a few little luxuries but there are lots of things yet that you can cut down on. Invest in Victory Bonds, knowing you’re not letting George do it all. Remember that you’re lending your country money to help protect you.
Oct. 4, 1917
100 Years Ago
Local News: The season for hunting deer with dogs this year is from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10 inclusive. We thought this information was pretty generally known but reports coming from Clarendon Front would indicate that some people have not been so advised or they are deliberately violating the law for which there are heavy penalties.
The Germans made five air raids on England in seven days and did very little damage while no advantage from a military standpoint was accomplished. The feeling is growing strong in Britain that reprisals should be taken against Germany. France has take the initiative in this respect and have retaliated against the German air bombardment of Bar le Duc by dropping half a ton of stuff on the German fortified city of Stuttgart, one hundred miles inland from the border.
Douglas Hamilton is perfecting a device designed to make it impossible for Germany to sink ships at sea. The details of the invention are in the hands of the British government, also of the allied governments.
A ship equipped with the device will be tested by torpedo fire in the near future and Major Hamilton says he is so confident of the success of his invention that he is willing to take a chance on the ship experimented upon.
Ad: Cold weather goods: our range of men’s sweaters is real good and prices moderate considering the very high price of wool. Men’s long underwear, pure wool, unshrinkable – $3.00; Iron Duke overalls – $1.50
In connection with the fair, R. McJanet of Yarm, possess a record which for antiquity, at least, knocks everything else off the perch. He has been a vender of refreshments every year during a period of 49 years and Robert is as frisky as a colt yet.
Oct. 6, 1892,
125 Years Ago
Local news: Mr. John Burroughs of North Bristol had his left arm wrenched off at the elbow while attempting to throw off a belt when the mill was running at Mr. R. Edey’s. The arm was broken at the wrist and then literally twisted off and thrown into the yard. Dr. Astley, who was sent for at once, came and dressed the wound having first to amputate several inches of the lacerated limb. At latest accounts, Mr. Burroughs was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances and considering that he is a man of good constitution and powerful physique, we have no doubt that he will pull through.
The thirty-seventh annual exhibition of the County of Pontiac Agricultural Society No. 1 is an event of the past and we may say the directorate are satisfied with the result.
The exhibits as a whole were fairly comparable with the display of former years, while in some cases there was an improvement. In stock, the show of horses was without doubt the most important, the competition in the general use, carriage and roadster classes, especially being keen. Some very fine draft animals were also exhibited. In cattle, the exhibit was very good and perhaps a little larger than on former occasions.
There was a good exhibit in implements and vehicles of all kinds. A special feature in the latter class was a wagon and express with patent reach attachment exhibited by Mr. George Caldwell of Ottawa.
The Singer Sewing Machine Co. had a tent on the grounds with several machines and a beautiful display of fancy work.
There were two phonographs and several other catch-penny attractions on the grounds, but no genuine swindles were operated.
A terrific thunderstorm passed over here on Monday last, accompanied by very heavy rain. Mr. Adam Paul’s barn in Litchfield was destroyed by lightning. He had threshed a few days previously.
