Mar. 20,1996
25 Years Ago
Bypass wharf complete: It wasn’t exactly the last spike, more like the last shovel but it did complete an important transportation system linking Quebec and Ontario.
Representatives from all levels of government gathered at Desjardinsville last Friday to christen the river bypass facility there.
The site, one of five in Pontiac that will be open this summer, gives pleasure boaters a way around the obstacles that have always divided the river into separate sections.
Most of the people responsible for . . .
Pontiac’s new bypass system gathered for a sod-turning at Desjardinsville wharf March 15: Bernard Conroy (Chapeau mayor), Michael McCrank (Litchfield mayor), Jean-Pierre Ledoux (Pontiac economic development officer), Pat Schoular (ORNWC), Gary Wiseman (ORNWC), Andy Haydon (ORNWC), James Stewart (Bryson mayor), Robert Middlemiss (Pontiac MNA), Jack Graham (Bristol mayor), Robert Bertrand (Pontiac MP), Paul Ryan (Waltham mayor), Jerome Sallafranque (Allumettes Island West mayor), Brady Stewart (Pembroke councillor), Len Hopkins (Renfrew MP), and Terry Lapierre (Pembroke economic developement officer).
Tournaments fill in the time over March break: Shawville Minor Hockey was out and about the valley and further this past week.
The Atom All-Stars were in Perth and Ottawa while the Peewees All-Stars were in Smiths Fall and Spencerville.
Shawville won their first game and lost one to Arnprior on their Fun Day Tournament held March 12.
Mar. 24,1971
50 Years Ago
Lions All-Pontiac speaking contest: Colleen Fleming of Chapeau and Edward McCann of Quyon were the county winners of the Lions Public Speaking competition held last Friday night. Colleen’s topic was the generation gap and Edward’s subject was drugs.
Both winners and runners up were awarded Pontiac Printshop trophies and the two top speakers will proceed to the next stage in the Lions competition in Alexandria, Ont.
Otter Lake wins two Farm League trophies: The Otter Lake hockey team coached by none other than the Honourable Raymond Johnston and managed by Eric Vadneau has won both trophies in the Pontiac Farm League and then they beat out the Shawville Midgets in the finals for the league trophy so now they are proud holders of both the Ebert and Dalton Richardson trophy and the Tom Lefebvre Trophy.
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Mar. 21,1946
75 Years Ago
Local News: During the past week, a business deal of rather large proportions was transacted, when Mr. Norris Horner late owner of the Shawville Bakery purchased the Wilson Garage on Main Street.
Wilson’s Garage has been operated by Mr. J.P. Wilson for the past twenty-four years and was considered one of the best equipped in the Ottawa Valley.
A large crowd filed into Shawville arena last Wednesday night for the exhibition game between Rockliffe R.C.A.F. and Shawville Legionaires, a benefit game for the Pontiac Community Hospital.
The game which was played on a water-covered rink, resulted in a win for the airmen by a score of 5 to 4. Considering the condition of the ice, play was fast, and each time a player was spilled on the water-covered ice, a roar went up from the fans. The R.C.A.F. team included some very fast and clever stick-handlers and only the stellar work of Clarence Roy in the local nets kept the score on a close margin.
Quyon boy swept off bridge: swept away by the swift-flowing Quyon River, Joseph Derouin, 19, was drowned Thursday morning. He was driving a team of horses pulling two sleighs and in crossing Gibson’s Bridge which is at present covered by eight inches of water, was carried away by the current. The team was also swept off the bridge.
The accident was witnessed by Miss Lucy Cadieux who at once gave the alarm. Edward Moses, operator of a sawmill nearby, saw the team struggling in the rapids about 100 yards below the bridge. Many neighbours were at the scene in a short time and began dragging operations. The river is 14 feet deep below the rapids and thick ice hindered the workers in their search.
The regular meeting of the Ladies Auxiliary of Pontiac Community Hospital was held on Tuesday afternoon. At this meeting, there were 22 articles completed, 19 articles mended and 18 dozen surgical dressings made.
Damage to Canadian cattle directly or indirectly attributed to warbleflies continues to run into several millions of dollars a year.
Under a blazing sun and almost summer heat, the second session of the 20th parliament was opened by His Excellency, the Earl of Athlone who with the Princess Alice left Ottawa on Saturday after a wartime tenure of office that has endeared them to the hearts of all Canadians.
Mar. 17,1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: Some of the sugar bush owners in this locality began operations last week. It is not expected the season will be a successful one on account of the rapid departure of the snow. Further north, where the snowfall was greater, prospects are better.
According to program, Allied troops are occupying that portion of German territory which they proposed to do as the alternative of the German government failing to fulfill their obligations as laid down in the Peace treating.
The entertainment given by Eckardts’ Bell Ringers in Moyle’s Hall hast Wednesday evening was a far remove from the performance staged when a company bearing the same name appeared here eighteen years ago. Disappointment was general, especially among old-timers, whose pleasant recollections of the long past event, doubtless acted as a strong incentive to their desire to again hear a similar musical treat.
Thus, they came in large numbers and along with them came a great many more, so many in fact, that before the entertainment began the hall was packed to suffocation and then some. So dense was the mass that only those in the two or three front seats could et more than an occasional glimpse of what was transpiring on the stage without standing up on the benches. Had the company confined their program more to musical numbers, people at least could have heard if they could not see; but when they rang in an overdose of vaudeville stuff, (and most of it anti-quated, too) in lien of what people came to hear, they adopted a sure method of depreciating the stock of the once famed “Bell Ringers.”
Mar. 19,1896
125 Years Ago
Local News: The third regular meeting of the Pontiac Teachers Association was held in Elliotts school Saturday.
Lump jaw among cattle appears to be becoming more prevalent every week in the north and western counties of the province of Ontario.
In consequence of the Liberal convention being held on the 21st inst. the date for submitting the by-law authorizing the raising of funds to erect a town hall in the village has been postponed to Monday the 23rd inst.
A new confectionery store opposite the post office by Ernie McRae.
Last year’s magnificent harvest in Manitoba and the North West is certain to attract a large number of immigrants during the coming spring. The movement has already begun, and will soon increase in magnitude. It is quite possible that many settlers from the United States will take up farm lands in Canadian territory. “The exodus” may then be a matter for alarm instead of pleasure to Uncle Sam.
Space for some three million bushels of grain has been taken on steamers to sail from Montreal the first two or three weeks of navigation. The total grain shipments of last season were only about eight million bushels. It looks as if 1896 would be a good year for the port.
