Nov. 6, 1996
25 Years Ago
Experts unsure of odd rock’s origin: Working in the backhoe and construction industry, David Sloan has seen a lot of rocks in his day but none quite like the one he discovered a couple of weeks ago.
His brother requested his services to pull a rock out of a field he was plowing just south of Vinton on Oct. 23.
What Sloan pulled out was a very odd-shaped, bizarre-looking boulder, weighing about 400 pounds.
“Right away I though it was something from outer space,” says Sloan as he observes the rock which now is on display at his home north-west of Vinton.
Sloan thought it might be a meteorite but one geological expert believes it was left here by a passing glacier 4 million years ago.
Richard Herd, geologist of the Geological Survey of Canada and curator of the rock, mineral and meteorite collection, says it is a piece of marble.
Sloan is not sure what he’ll do with the strange-looking rock but hopes someone can positively identify it soon.
Ferrigan elected mayor: Cletus Ferrigan, an active and well-known organizer of community fundraisers, won a decisive victory Sunday to become mayor of Campbell’s Bay.
Eighty-two per cent of Campbell’s Bay 677 electors turned out for this election.
The mayor’s chair became vacant when 15 year mayor Denis Larivière resigned.
Ferrigan has promised to draw upon his established success as a fundraiser to help the town pay for much-needed improvements to the fire hall, sidewalks and water system.
Nov. 17, 1971
50 Years Ago
Barn fire is great loss to Clarke family: The barns on the farm of Jack and Austin Clarke, one mile north of Quyon were destroyed by fire early Sunday morning.
The family was aroused by Clifton Henderson of Wyman who was passing the Clarke farm about 1:30 a.m. and together they released 40 head of dairy cows just before the entire structure was completely enveloped in flames.
Lost in the blaze were about 10,000 bales of hay, dairy equipment including milking machines and bulk cooler and one tractor.
The Quyon Fire Dept. responded to the call but could do nothing to save the building, By daylight Sunday morning with the help of neighbours, the large dairy herd was housed in the barns on the farm of Warren Campbell at Wyman.
Pontiac Holstein annual banquet: The gathering of the Holstein Club at their annual banquet held at St. Andrews United Church marked the end of another successful year for the Pontiac Holstein Club.
Club President, Winston McBane brought the banquet to order, inviting the over 100 people there to join him in a fine dinner provided by the St. Andrews United Church ladies.
The presentation of awards followed with Ken Kilgour officiating in the presentation of the Pontiac Honour list recognizing the top her and top individual cows for their milk producing capabilities.
Nov. 14, 1946
75 Years Ago
Local news: Despite inclement weather, Armistice Day was fittingly observed in Shawville with a Memorial service in the Memorial Park at the east end of the village which was attended by a large number of citizens. All stores and several business places were closed for the day but school classes were in session from nine o’clock until the service, when scholars and their teachers formed part of the parade.
When kicked by a horse in his stable on Thursday, William J. Brown of Starks Corners was severely injured. Taken to Pontiac Community Hospital, Shawville, he was found to have suffered a broken left arm, above the wrist and a shattered hip bone. He had entered the stall in the dark and the horse became frightened and started kicking. Two blows hit Mr. Brown and hurled him into the corner. He lay there for some time until his wife found him. He was reported at the hospital Tuesday to be doing as well.
Pontiac county honours Vice Admiral H.E. Reid, with banquet at Pine Lodge, Bristol: Two hundred citizens of east Pontiac county gathered at Pine Lodge, Bristol to do honour to Vice Admiral Howard Emmerson Reid, C.B., a native of Portage du Fort who had recently been promoted to the high position of Chief of Staff of the Royal Canadian Navy. A banquet was organized and citizens of every walk of life were present.
Clarendon United churches have received word that the Presbytery has appointed Mr. J. Blackstock as minister for the pastoral charge. Mr. Blackstock is an active young man of 23 years of age and a candidate for the ministry of the United Church.He has been overseas for nearly four years in the active service. Coming with him are his wife and one child and they will take up residence in the parsonage at Yarm next week.
Nov. 3, 1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: The plowing match conducted by the Bristol Y.M.B.C. at J.C. Glenn’s on Oct. 25 was a grand success. The weather was ideal for the event and over three hundred people were in attendance.
Competition was keen, seventeen taking part in the different classes. The only entry in the tractor class was Mr. Bert Cuthbertson who did splendid work with his 1020 Titan.
A big feature of the day was the classes for saddle horses and hurdle jumping in which eight horses took part.
Dr. Schachter, dentist, will be at his office, Pontiac House, up to Saturday noon. Parties requiring his services are requested to call before that date as it may be some weeks before he visits again.
The several hunt clubs are off to their respective stamping grounds in the hinterland of Pontiac this week.
Ad: Fall groceries: Items from the largest and best grocery department in the district: Crown syrup, 5 pound pails – 55 cents; 10 pound pails $1.00; Old City Strawberry jam in 4 pound glass 1.25; 4 pounds white beans – 25 cents; 3 pounds choice red onions – 25 cents; corn meal – 25 cents; Robin Hood oats in cartons – 30 cents; Dalton’s “special black tea” at 50 cents a pound. W.A. Hodgins.
Ad: I desire to inform the public that I have re-opened by shoe repairing shop in my residence in rear of the lighting plant and shall appreciate any work in that line that I may be favoured with. Ben Smith.
Nov. 12, 1896,
125 Years Ago
Local News: A gang of men passed through here on Tuesday en route for Gillies Brothers’ Coulonge limits where the firm have decided to run one camp this season.
Peace and harmony is not yet restored to the O’Horor family in Fitzroy which became known far and wide in connection with the shooting fatality which occurred last August. James O’Horo, the young man who was shot by his father, is now able to move about, but as the result of a quarrel with the wife of his brother John, to whose house he was carried after the shooting and where he has been lying, recovering from his injuries, James has left these quarters and gone back to the old homestead where he now lives with his brother, Michael O’Horo. James is now able to go about on crutches.
The Presbyterians of Bristol will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of their church by holding a series of jubilee services on Sunday and Monday.
Mr. James Macfarlane, inspector of weights and measures for this district, examined the scales of the several tradespeople here last week.
Rev. Father Griegnon, O.M.I., of Maniwaki, reports that the work on the new bridge at the desert is rapidly progressing under the supervision of Mr. J. Bourke, contractor.
At the beginning of the season, log cutters were getting $20 a month. Now they are getting as low as $12 per month. This due is to the large number of idle men at present.
The success of Mr. McKinley in the U.S. presidential contest will make even more slim the chance that existed that any kind of a reciprocity treaty calculated to benefit Canada can be arranged with the Washington authorities. Mr. McKinley, it is true, is a favourer of reciprocity and at the suggestion of the late Mr. Blaine, clauses in the Tariff Bill that bore Mr. McKinley’s name that gave to the president extraordinarily large powers to conclude trade arrangements with foreign countries.
