Each week, the Gazette looks back on stories from the past. Here is what happened this week, by year…
1928
– Picton councillors approved a recommendation from the public utilities commission to install a pure water system at a cost of $50,000, borne by water users, pending support from the province. Water would be pumped from Picton Bay, filtered, and chlorinated before use.
– The local Children’s Aid Society passed a resolution to have a swing, teeter-totter, and sand heap placed at the children’s shelter on East Main Street to allow the children staying there a place to play.
– Following the sale of Canadian Department Stores to the T. Eaton Company, longtime Picton merchants H.B. Bristol and Robert Davidson announced they’d retire after 53 and 38 years in business respectively.
1948
– The Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce requested the province provide a year-round, 24-hour ferry service at the Glenora crossing. The Chamber also asked that a new four-lane provincial highway under consideration be routed through the municipality.
– A mobile survey featuring a free X-ray to detect tuberculosis was to visit six communities in the county. Everyone over public school age was urged to be screened. Medical officer of health Dr. P.A. Scott said without the X-ray test, only one in five people suffering was identified early.
– A second group of 52 Dutch immigrants arrived by train in Belleville to start working farms within the Quinte region.
1978
– The Quinte Archers bow hunters planned to ask County council to extend their hunting season to two weeks from one, given a directive from the Ministry of Natural Resources to that effect. A spokesperson also said the number of deer in agricultural communities was too high.
– County council halved its usual contribution to the Prince Edward Chamber of Commerce to $2,000 after learning money it gave in support of the Gold Cup was no longer being spent on the races.
– Macren Industries announced plans to open a manufacturing plant in a 42,000-square-foot hangar at the Loch-Sloy Business Park. Between 20-30 people would make prototype building sections there.
1998
– The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board was facing a $7 million budget shortfall due to a provincial error. The board was initially told it would be given $127.9 million, only to be told later it would only receive $121 million.
– The Animal Alliance of Canada and the Prince Edward Animal Welfare Society both sent deputations to County council asking that Joe Bergeron be named the sole animal control officer for the entire municipality to provide consistency of service. Council had previously decided to hire two firms to provide the service.
– The County and the Picton BIA each approved a bylaw exemption to allow overhanging signs on Picton’s Main Street.