Each week, the Gazette looks back on stories from the past. Here is what happened this week, by year…
1938
– Picton residents passed two referenda in the municipal election. By a 697-645 vote, the town adopted Daylight Saving Time. By a margin of 803-485, residents also directed council to grant the May Gold Syndicate a franchise to supply natural gas to residents.
– Jake Dreive and James McKennah were to spend four months in isolation, living on Main Duck Island through the winter to tend to 15 head of livestock. Most of the supplies needed for the two men to make it through the winter had already been delivered by boat from Cape Vincent, N.Y.
– The Ontario Conservatives issued credentials for 1,650 delegates to pick the party’s new leader at a two-day convention.
1948
– Power restrictions in Picton were eliminated as the town received a 10-per-cent bump in its quota due to a recent rainfall. Window lighting at stores was still restricted. Wellington power users were also informed that similar power restrictions were lifted within the village.
– William Henley defeated Nesbitt McKibbon by 124 votes to become Picton’s mayor. Elsewhere, Dwight Reynolds remained reeve in Hallowell, Clinton Green defeated incumbent Elmer Vader to become reeve of Athol, and H.R. MacDonald was re-elected as the reeve in Bloomfield.
– Douglas Carnahan, 16, of Pt. Petre, was being heralded a hero after saving his 4-year-old sister from a house fire.
1978
– The Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation gave the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital a three-year accreditation based on a successful review of all aspects of the hospital’s operations. Administrator E.B. Scott said the award shows the hospital offers adequate care, comparable to larger facilities.
– Prince Edward-Lennox MPP James Taylor questioned the Province increasing financial aid to colleges and universities, stating a degree is not “magical,” nor a “meal ticket” ensuring a graduate success.
– After consulting legal representation, outgoing Hillier reeve Allan Pettingill said he would not call for a recount after Lewis Wright defeated him by 15 votes.
1998
– Ontario Municipal Board member Norm Jackson set aside time in his hearing to hear from the general public about a proposed Loblaw’s Your Independent Grocer store west of Picton. Statements made would be considered as evidence in the hearing.
– Stirling’s Ernie Parsons and Ameliasburgh’s Audrey Carter were uncontested as they retained their positions as chair and vice-chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
– PECI principal Dave MacKay was telling Grade 8-9 parents to take an interest in their children’s academics as they were to be part of a double cohort hitting colleges and universities at the same time in 2003 with the Province’s decision to cancel OAC courses.