The Way We Were

Dec. 31, 1997 - 25 Years Ago
SQ looking for home, mayor’s remuneration capped: Pontiac MRC mayors met Monday evening, Dec. 22 to deal with a 42-item agenda. Topics of importance were the following:
Denis Lamothe, commander of the Campbell’s Bay detachment discussed with mayors an agreement for police services. The Surete du Quebec (SQ) are also searching for new accommodations.
Council, following last month’s budget meeting where mayors hurled insults with regards to extra remuneration for meetings, passed a resolution that mayors can claim only 50 extra meetings. Discussions ensued in that some mayors were unfairly penalized for working harder as they were unable to claim their extra meetings.
Lucky winner: Laurette Dubeau of Campbell’s Bay was the lucky winner of a Citizen AM/FM cassette/CD player in the “Save the Tax” day last Thursday at Giant Tiger in Shawville.
Shoppers were given personal invitations prior to and on the day of the sale to save the tax with an entry form attached to the invitation. Dubeau posed for a photo with co-owners Carole Lavigne and Ken Pack.

Jan. 3, 1972 - 50 Years Ago
Collapse of a time-honoured arena: The Shawville arena came down under heavy snow on Sunday afternoon with a great resounding boom to the amazement and shock of those who heard it, the few who saw it happen, and everyone who has been past the site since the collapse to view the remains.
Originally built in 1913 by the late Big Jack Caldwell, (Ken Hodgins was one of the carpenters on the job). It was first owned by the Shawville Rink Company with 425 share holders.
In 1947 Ebert and Dalton Richardson bought up all the shares and have run the rink ever since. Known as the Richardson rink, or sometimes more grandly as Richardson’s Stadium, the large building was the scene of some of the most dramatic events in the history of Pontiac County.
Some famous groups of brothers were outstanding in team play and there was even a play-by-play announcing system in operation for one period of its history. The late Ken Morrison was particularly successful at this post, keeping everyone informed of what was going on, on the ice and in the penalty boxes.
New territory and election regulations for Shawville fair: The territory of the county of Pontiac Agricultural Society Division A have, according to the secretary, been established by the government of Quebec as follows: in Pontiac County, all the area east of the Coulonge River and west of the municipal boundary between Bristol and Clarendon. This means that Bristol, north and south Onslow, Quyon and Aldfield are not in the territory of the CPAS Division A.
Everything east of this area is part of Division C which organizes the Quyon Fair and everything west of this area is Division B which organizes Chapeau Fair.

Jan. 7, 1948 - 75 Years Ago
Local news: An exciting hockey match between Shawville Juveniles and a squad of Wyman players was staged at Shawville arena on Wednesday night of last week, which ended in a tie at 2 all.
Shawville held a lead of 2 to 1 until the third period when Syman scored to even the count. Cliff Campbell played a brilliant game in the Shawville nets and other players showed up well despite the lack of practice. The game was cleanly contested, no penalties being handed out.
Mr. Hubert Brownlee who is engaged in bush operations at Machey Station, Ont. spent the holiday season with relatives in town.
There were 689 hospital days during the month, thus a daily general average of 22.2 patients. Eighty-seven patients were treated during the month. Number admitted being 70 patients. During the month were 16 maternity cases, 4 outdoor, and 28 surgical cases.
In presenting a review at the recent Dominion-Provincial Agricultural Conference in Ottawa of probable production of fruit and vegetables in 1948, it was pointed out that the weather has a great influence on the production of these crops and for that reason no accurate forecast can be made.
At a Clarendon council meeting, Messrs. Chas. Russell, Morley Hodgins and William Armstrong of the Shawville Snow Plowing Commitee, visited the board asking council to pay for snow fence erected on No. 8 Highway for the Bristol Town line to the Municipality of Shawville on a 50-50 basis.
All ladies of Shawville who wish to join the Ladies’ Curling Club are advised to get in touch with president, Mrs. Jas. Gordon so that schedules for the season’s play may be arranged.
Fire-fighting scientists offered a “wet water” as man’s newest weapon in fighting forest fires and other blazes. The new agent described as a chemical “entrant” increases the extinguishing action of water 200 to 400 percent.

Dec. 28, 1922 - 100 Years Ago
Local news: Everything passed off very pleasantly and harmoniously in connection with the “Old Students Reunion” on Friday last and it is to be regretted that a great number of old students were unable to be present to enjoy the function, which was really interesting in its various details, according to those who were able to attend.
The annual Christmas Tea meeting at the Methodist Church seldom, if ever fails to draw a big attendance and that of Christmas 1922 was no exception to the rule. The supper served by the ladies of the congregation left nothing to be desired, both in quality an quantity.
Equipping motor buses with radio apparatus is a departure inaugurated by a transit company operating some eighty-five of these vehicles on the Pacific coast.
The skating rink is now in full swing and quite a number availed themselves of the pleasure of participating in the exhilarating exercise on Christmas afternoon.
According to a report just issued by Dr. Jarry, chief of the Bruchesi Institute, 30,000 persons died from tuberculosis in the province of Quebec during the last ten years.
Ad: Notice: We have just unloaded a car of flour and feed and can offer you at attractive prices the following: Feeds for horses, cattle and hogs. We also carry a full assortment of poultry feeds and as the price of eggs is very attractive, it will pay you to feed then a properly balanced ration. The Pontiac Wool Grocers Agr. Assoc.
Ad: Jamieson’s Stores: Elmside and Maryland: we wish to thank our customers for their patronage during past year and to wish all a happy and prosperous new year.

Jan. 6, 1898 - 125 Years Ago
Local news: Mr. James Lathem of the 6th line of Bristol, has discovered what experts term a valuable galena mine. The ore vein is said to be extensive.
New Year’s day was an exceptionally quiet one in Shawville. The only amusement that represented itself was that to be found at the skating rink where many of the young folk spent the afternoon. The day, although bright, was bitterly cold.
A fairly good-sized audience attended the entertainment held under the auspices of the Presbyterian congregation of the village in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday night. Not for a long time has an audience here been favoured with such singing as was supplied by the choir of the Bristol Presbyterian church who had charge of the musical part of the program.
We were pleased to notice in the Ottawa Journal that Miss Mildred Rimer of Bryson successfully passed her pianoforte examinations at the Dominion College of Music at Ottawa. Miss R., whom we must congratulate on the success thus far achieved, intends returning to the capital in the course of a few weeks to resume her studies at the above named institution.
The skating carnival at Bryson rink on New Year’s is reported to have been very successful.
Mr. Francis Toyen of Chichester had a horse drowned in the Allumette Lake while crossing with a friend to Pembroke on Monday last.
The village merchants of Quyon speak of having done a very satisfactory holiday trade.
Mr. Dowd’s roller mill, Quyon, having an abundant water supply at present is running full time and turning out a large quantity of excellent flour, provender, etc.
John Lusk of Eardley is in trouble. He has lost a good team of horses and has in place of them a team of old nags. Mr. Lusk went to sleep while returning from Hull a few night’s ago and his horses were removed and the old team substituted. The matter has been reported to the Hull police.