Sept. 4,1996
25 Years Ago
Fair bigger than ever: Can you remember the last time you didn’t need to dig out your winter coat to withstand the cold nights during Shawville Fair?
The unusually mild tempertures which reached as high as 31 C on Monday was just one of the factors whichmade this year’s fair an overwhelming success.
Total attendance for the 141st fair is estimated at a record-breaking 34,000, up by about 1,000 from last year.
“It went extremely well because of the volunteers,” says Fair Board President Mavis Hanna.
The board had great support from other community groups and there was great cooperation among the fair board’s directors who helped one another out when their own divisions were completed.
Dolomite mine expands: A major investment into the Portage du Fort dolomite mine could triple its number of employees. The mine’s owner, Dolomex Inc., held a press conference Aug. 28 to publicize the $2.5 million its parent company, Mazarin Mining Corp. has invested into the mine.
Dolomite is a white stone made up of magnesium and calcium-carbonate. It is used in the manufacturing of plate glass windows but can also be pelletized for use as agricultural fertilizer.
Sept. 15,1971
50 Years Ago
Shawville Juniors win first fastball tourney: The tournament started off on a gloomy step as rain fell off and on all day Saturday. The rain wasn’t to stop Bryson and Fort Coulonge from starting their game as it was scheduled for eleven o’clock. Fort Coulonge came out the winner on the top of a 8-1 score.
Portage played Quyon Gavans in the second game and Portage won 9-3. Shawville Pontiac Home Bakery defeated Quyon Ferry 17-2.
The next game saw the Shawville Juniors follow their usual trend starting slow and then coming on strong to beat very good team from Campbell’s Bay, 8-4.
The championship game was between Shawville Juniors and Portage with the Juniors winning 7-0.
All in all it was a very successful tournament and they hope to have one again next year. The proceeds of the tournament go to the recreation association.
Wolves around Pontiac: Dominic Doyle of Vinton has snared and killed five wolves this year and other farmers in that part of Pontiac report having seen wolves crossing the roads in broad daylight. A member of the Quebec Police is reported to have shot one on highway 8 six miles west of Campbell’s Bay.
Simon Corriveau has reported the loss of three calves to wolves within a month. Farmers have been putting their livestock inside overnight because of the wolf situation. Some feel it is a matter of government assitance and have sought county help.
Sept. 12,1946
75 Years Ago
Missing from our files
Sept. 1,1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: The youngsters who attend the approaching Shawville Fair this year will no doubt be delighted to learn that the amusements will include a “Merry-go-round”, an attraction which has been missing from the grounds for years, much to disappointment of the little folk. The machine arrived here last week, has been set up on the grounds and will be in thorough running order for the fair. THE EQUITY learns that Mr. Conn. McCagg, will have charge.
Miss Ethel Letts, music teacher of Campbell’s Bay, intends to resume class in Shawville on Sept. 3.
The big airship “ZR-2” built in England for the United States and which was expected soon to make its long flight across the Atlantic, met with an appalling disaster on Wednesday while making a trial flight over England. The machine was sailing over the city of Bristol, on her return to the airdrome at Pulham after being in the air 34 hours when the disaster occurred. Eye witnesses of the catastrope assert that they first saw a huge volume of smoke issuing from the tail end of the aircraft, then came a loud explosion which was shortly followed by another explosion. The wreckage fell into the Humber River, the broken halves were about a mile apart.
All of the seventeen officers and men of the United States navy on board and twenty-seven officers and men of the British navy met death in the collapse of the great ship. Only five of those on board were know to have escaped with their lives.
After an illness which began early last winter and which became quite serious towards spring, Sir Sam Hughes yielded to the inevitable and passed away at his home at Lindsay, Ont. His death was due to pernicious anaemia. Among the numerous and varied activities which marked the career of this truly energetic man, his greatest achievement and that which stands out as perhaps unrivalled in the history of military accomplishments during the late world-war, was the enlistment, equipment and training out of practically raw material, of the first Canadian contingent of 33,000 men and its embarkation on the Atlantic in a little more than two months’ time.
Notice: Ottawa Fair – Central Canada Exhibition. The great annual event Sept. 9 – 19, 1921. Immense midway and grand stand performances day and evening. Reduced fares on all railways.
Sept. 10,1896
125 Years Ago
Local News: On Saturday night, a team of hay horses were stolen out of the stable of Mr. Thomas Bowes near Bonnechere Point. They were taken to Portage du Fort and there turned loose and were found on the road by some of Mr. Bowes’ neighbours who returned them to him.
Mr. Geo. E. Wainman is busily engaged at present putting the roof, which will be of galvanized iron, on Mr. Arthur Smiley’s new carriage shop.
Coulonge is getting ahead of a good many other villages in the county by providing itself with a respectable town hall. A structure of this kind is now well advanced towards completion.
Duck shooting formally commenced on the 1st inst. but it is said the savoury birds are not so plentiful as in former years.
Work on the new R.C. church at Vinton is progressing favourably and it is expected it will be ready for occupany by the middle of November.
Shantymen’s wages are said to be about $5 per month lower than last year.
The farmers in this vicinity are all through harvesting and the hum of the steam thresher is heard on every side.
Mr. W.J. Stark of this settlement has taken to himself a wife in the personage of our young and popular teacher, Miss Farrell. This is another of the fair and clever sex that has been snatched away from the educational line in this renowned (collegiate) of Stark’s Corners.
The Rev. Jas. L. Flanagan who has been summering in England, arrived here on Monday evening last, looking hale and hearty. The rev. gentleman desires us to state that he will fill his appointments on Sunday next at North Clarendon and Thorne West as usual.
We are very pleased to learn that the esteemed wife of Dr. S.J. McNally who has been in a very critical condition of health for several months past, is now very much improved and it is said that the doctor has been enabled in consequence to resume his practice at Campbell’s Bay.
