Oct. 16, 1996
25 Years Ago
Producers fight new marketing system: The presence of two security guards at last week’s wood producers information meeting in Shawville was evidence of the tension among woodlot owners.
But compared to other meetings in Lac Cayamant, Fort Coulonge and St. Joseph, the Shawville meeting was orderly, says Pontiac Forest Product Producers Board president Doug Gauthier.
Producers are upset about PFPPB’s new method of wood marketing, under which all permits to deliver pulpwood would be distributed by the board.
Pontiac takes the train: Sixty people, many from the Quyon area, boarded the old Wakefield Steam Train in Hul Monday for a thanksgiving trip up the Gatineau Valley.
The excursion was provided courtesy of Century 21 real estate agent Laurie MacKechnie of Quyon, whose facily acted as hosts along the way.
Along the route, the lively music of Quyon’s Gail Gavan and Cal Cummings Jr., accompanied by Pembroke fiddler Peter Dawson, kep the train rocking as it rolled along.
At this time of year, the Gatineau hills are at their most colourful and the show-moving train gave passengers a full view of the breathtaking panoramas to be found along the river.
Oct. 27, 1971
50 Years Ago
Lefebvre heartily approves government plants to relieve unemployment: The statement made in the House of Commons last night by the Minister of Finance, the honourable E. J. Benson, concerning the five major measures to be undertaken by the federal government to relieve the unemployment situation has met with the wholehearted approval of the member for Pontiac Tom Lefebvre. Some of the steps include grants to municipalities, on-the-job training program; special program of loans to provinces and additional job-creating capital projects; maintenance and improvement projects; loans for home-owner and student housing.
Mr. Lefebvre added that further to this, the cut in corporation and individual income taxes also announced would greatly help our economy.
Tom Dagg honoured after 39 years driving the mail: Thomas G. Dagg was honoured by the residents of the village of Portage du Fort, Que. on Monday evening at the St. George’s Parish Hall on th occasion of the completion of 39 years of service with the Dept. of Postal Service on the Portage du Fort – Haley route.
This service has now been discontinued and all mail coming in and out of Portage will be delivered by truck from Highway 8 going east and west with Hull being the distribution center.
During his 39 years of service, Mr. Dagg has covered 432,000 miles and a total of 24,400 trips.
Mr. Dagg was faithful over the years and always on time. He tried to live up to the old slogan: “His or Her Majesty’s mail must go through.”
Oct. 24, 1946
75 Years Ago
Local news: On Friday evening the large hall at Pine Lodge was crowded for the annual Fall Rally of the Farm Forums of Pontiac County with members present from Austin, Clarendon, Seventh Line, Radford, Yarm, Bristol, Wyman, Charteris and Starks Corners.
Lynus Sullivan, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Sullivan of Calumet Island was accidentally killed by a bullet from a .32 calibre rifle which had been fired at a deer by his older brother, 14-year-old Richard. The Sullivan youth, a fourth grade Calumet Island student was standing beside his uncle. The youth had stood up from a kneeling position in the woods to take a shot at a deer with a shotgun after his uncle had said, “here is one coming.” Richard, who was standing in a clearing, approximately 200 yards away, at the same instant fired at another deer approaching him sideways from the woods. He did not see his brother and discharged one shot.
Farmers of Canada were among the shrewdest buyers of Victory Bonds during the war, records show.
Now that Canadians know definitely that they are going to pay more for the milk delivered to their doorstep, many will ask: “Is it necessary?” The man who produces the milk, the dairy farmer, will no longer get his Dominion bonus of 55 cents and the consumer must now pay that amount plus a further increase to compensate for higher production costs, says the Ottawa Journal.
Oct. 13, 1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: It was indeed unfortuanate that weather conditions on Friday evening last were so unfavourable to the insurance of a bumper audience at the Exhibition hall where the four-act play “The Young Country Schoolma’am” was presented by the Rosemount Methodist Choir and Orchestrette of Ottawa under the auspices of Shawville Rebekah Lodge I.O.O.F.
Dr. Fraser having had to give up the Dr. Lyon’s office, has moved his office back into the house where he resides, formerly Dr. Armstrong’s, but owned and occupied by Mr. S.E. Hodgins. This, it is hoped, will be more convenient both for his patients and himself.
Mr. Frank S. Cahill, the late member for the Commons was unanimously cosen (the report says) to contest the county in the coing election.
Ad: The Shawville Woolen Mills (successors to Pontiac Woolen Mills) are turning out the finest quality of all-wool blankets, kerseys and yarns; custom carding and spinning. This is the time to stock up when wool is cheap.
Oct. 15, 1896
125 Years Ago
Local News: The mill site and belongings at Westmeath owned by Tucker and Hodges has been sold to the Messrs. Robinson, who intend to rebuild the mill which was burned some time ago
A shooting match for turkeys will be given by the members of L.O.L. No. 34 on Nov. 5 at John W. Knox’s farm, Clarendon. 10 cents a shot will be charged. Boys under 12 years, 5 cents a shot. Shooting to commence at 12 o’clock sharp.
We have heard that notices are posted up in the back townships stating that the season for hunting deer with dogs is between the 10th and 20th of this month. Whoever posted up the said notices evidently had no authority to do so as the information they are alleged to contain is entirely erroneous. The law distinctly says that deer may be so hunted in the counties of Ottawa and Pontiac “between the 20th day of October and the first day of November.”
The steamer “Janet Craig” will leave Bristol wharf at 8:30 a.m. on and after the first of October and continue until the ice takes. Connection with the C.P.R. east and west. Freight rates are now about half the amount charged in the summer time for laths and shingles, etc. E. Bourman, Captain.
Ad: Like a June sun, your house will be evenly heated from cellar to garret by using a New Idea wood furnace. Its the greatest heater ever built, has the largest radiating surface, burns any sized wood, is the best and cheapest furnace on the market. Gurney-Tilden Co., Montreal.
Mr. W. F. Richardson arrived home this week from the P.S. Railroad, where he has been working during the summer. Willie looks hale and hearty.
The highest chimney in England is supposed to be that at Barlow and Dobson’s mill at Bolton. It is 368 feet high and is built of 800,000 bricks and 125 tons of stone.
Warm feet during wet weather are the best preventive against so-called “colds” and their often dangerous consequences. rubber shoe and cork soles have been pretty generally used to avoid getting cold and wet feet but a new and very curious means to warm the feet has recently been patented by Paul Wonnebeger of Gruna, near Dresden. He calls his invention “heatable shoes.” Within the heel of the shoe, which is hollowed out, there is a receptacle for a glowing substance similar to that used in the Japanese hand-warmers. Between the soles, imebedded in asbestos covers, is a rubber bag which is filled with water. The water is heated about the heel and as it circulates while the wearer of the shoe is walking, it keeps the entire surface of the foot warm.
