Dec. 13,1995
25 Years Ago
Paraders survive cold weather: A wind chill making the temperature feel like -20 C did little to cool the spirits of those participating in Saturday’s Santa Claus parade in Shawville.
Twenty-three floats entered the Shawville and district Kinsmen’s annual parade led by parade marshal J.J. Clarke.
People lined Main Street from Erfle Bus Lines to the arena, although many watched from the warmth and comfort of their cars.
Ebert Richardson won hands down for his float of a very miniature Santa Claus in a miniature sleigh pulled by, you guessed it, tiny reindeer.
Bryson, Quyon hold hunt parties: Two local sportmen’s clubs held their annual trophy nights Dec. 2.
A crowd of 120 gathered at the Bryson Lodge for . . .
the awards night put on by the Pontiac Fish and Game Protective Assoc.
Wayne Cameron won the prize for the heaviest buck deer (183 pounds) both in the rifle category and the overall category.
Trevor Tanguay’s 126 pound doe won for heaviest doe shot with rifle and heaviest doe overall.
Dec. 16,1970
50 Years Ago
All Pontiac now in federal grant district: Bill C-205 “An act to amend the Regional Development Incentives Act”, in effect designates for federal grants to industries in that part of Pontiac which was not designated previously.
Tom Lefebvre, MP has sent copies of this bill to the Secretary of Pontiac County Council Mr. Art Labelle so that he in turn may distribute them to the mayors of Pontiac.
The proposed bill will guarantee the government will make it easier to borrow money needed to establish new plants or to expand and modernize existing plants in the slow-growth regions.
Firearm safety training program: The province wide Firearm Safety Training program introduced by the Quebec Wildlife Federation in collaboration with the Quebec Dept. of Tourism Fish and Game got underway in Pontiac at the Immaculate Conception School in Bryson and was sponsored by the Pontiac Fish and Game Protective Assoc. Twenty one members from various parts of the county enrolled for this first course.
The principal aim of this program is to help hunters who follow this course to acquire a better knowledge of firearms, hunting rules and regulations, wildlife identification and the proper relation that must exist between the hunter and the land owner.
Dec. 20,1945
75 Years Ago
Local News: The post office will be closed on Christmas Day. Not even the mail door will be open to allow citizens to open their locked boxes.
Rural deliveries will be suspended to allow the drivers to spend the day with their families at home.
The local post office staff and rural drivers will make every effort to get all parcels and letters out on Monday, Dec. 24 and all those who look for mail on Christmas Day may as well stay at home, there may be mail, but they will not get it, Mr. Woodles, the postmaster informs THE EQUITY.
Christmas Greeting: The star of the east again shines on a world struggling to adjust itself to a well-earned era of peace.
With the daily return of our fighting forces to civilian life we must all face the readjustment problem with patient understanding and a determination to give our fellow man a helping hand and to share fully our responsibilities.
This is the first peacetime Christmas in six long years so there is a spirit of real rejoicing in the air.
We have not forgotten the hardships and suffering of wartime, and we know we’re at the threshold of a better world in peacetime.
With this thought in mind, we extend to one and all a Merry Christmas: Frasers.
Christmas Greeting: A Christmas to remember: This year, the beautiful Yuletide sentiment “Peace on Earth” means something more real to most of us than it did any previous Christmas. In this ever-memorable year of 1945, peace is dearly won and precious acquisition we know we much treasure vigilantly.
And so, as the lights of this inspiring Christmas twinkle at our hearth sides, as carolers sing their joyous roundelays and community trees gleam with friendliness, our nation hopefully, confidently and resolutely faces the opportunity to shape its destiny.
With this thought in mind, I take great pleasure in wishing my friends and customers near and far a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. R.P. Eades.
Dec. 9,1920
100 Years Ago
Local News: A very bad accident is reported to have occurred at Fort Coulonge on Monday afternoon as the result of a boiler explosion at the stave factory in that town. The report states that one man was killed and several others badly injured.
Further than this, we have received no particulars. Nurse Henry took the Monday evening train for Coulonge in response to a wire from there for her services.
Since the above was put in type, we learn that our local bricklayers W. Armstrong and J. McDowell were engaged bricking in the boiler when the explosion occurred. The former escaped with slight injuries, but McDowell was scalded rather severely.
Mr. Harold G. Chant, who has been filling the position of accountant in the Merchants Bank here for nearly a year past, has been removed to the N. Hatley branch of that bank. Mr. Farrell Thomson of Portage du Fort, formerly on the staff of the Bank of Nova Scotia, has succeeded Mr. Chant as accountant here.
At the big Conservative Convention held in Toronto last week, the Hon. G. Howard Ferguson, Minister of Lands, etc. in the late Hearst government was chosen leader of the conservative party in the provincial house.
In spite of the high revenue, there was again last month an increase in the net national debt of Canada. Heavy payments of interest on war loans were chiefly responsible for the higher amount of expenditure, total interest payment last month amounting to nearly 35 million dollars, as compared with less than 23 million in Nov 1919.
Dec. 19,1895
125 Years Ago
Local News: A social to aid in paying off the debt on the Baptist Church took place at Mrs. Richard Edey’s, Onslow on Wednesday evening last week. About $16 was taken at the door.
Mr. P. McCormack of the Bryson House, Bryson announces that he will give a shooting match for turkeys on Christmas Day at which the many crack shots of the county will have an opportunity of viewing with each other for supremacy in this particular line of sport. Says the Ottawa Citizen of Saturday last, Miss Clara McLean the clever young daughter of Mr. Hector McLean of the Quyon, captured the gold medal in the musical and elocutionary contest held under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. last night in St. George’s Sunday school hall. Miss McLean is a pupil of Miss Mark of the Ontario College of Music.
Mr. John Baird’s new residence at Bristol Mines just completed by Mr. L. Dumas, was made the scene of a delightful social gathering on Tuesday night of last week, gotten up by Miss Baird in aid of the Foreign Mission fund.
Those who were not present at the school Friday evening missed a rare treat. As it was the room was almost filled. The scholars did their teacher credit especially Mary McNally, who seems a born actress. The operatic scene, “Gipsey’s Warning”, was very effective. The tableaux “Bliss” and “Bliss Disturbed”, were not half long enough to be fully enjoyed. The face kept everyone laughing and each did their part equally well, the ladies looking their prettiest. Mr. Newham as chairman was all that could be desired.
Ad: Worth knowing: those in need of a good watch, clock or anything in the line of jewelery will find my prices right and quality as represented. Why not have a good, reliable watch? You can get one for very little money. Repairing neatly done and work guaranteed. G.M. Donaldson, the Jeweler, Shawville.
Ad: Christmas groceries, fruit and confectionery. Tea: I make a special feature of the tea trade. This universal beverage may be obtained from us blended with choicest of young leaf Japan, China, Ceylon or India. Housekeepers who love a good cup of tea should make a mental note of this. Christmas toys, cribs and cradles for dolls marked way down. John G. McGuire, Shawville.
