Looking Back
Posted Feb 24, 2011 By Compiled By: Ashley Kulp.
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Tweet This100 YEARS AGO - FEBRUARY 23, 1911
A Perth lady has offered to contribute $2,000 to erect buildings in Dr. Buchanan's district in India. Rev. Dr. Buchanan of Kingston who has laboured for some time as a missionary among the Bheets of India is now on furlong in Canada. The above contribution was offered after the lady in question had heard him tell of the needs of the people of that country.
The death of Radcliffe, the hangman will have more than a passing interest for the sheriffs throughout the Dominion for now they will have to carry out the death penalty themselves or else pay out of their own pockets the cost of securing a substitute, the Justice Department having decided not to appoint a successor to the late public executioner. For the past 15 years Radcliffe had been in receipt of an annual salary of $800. During the past seven months he had been unable to officiate owing to illness and a man named Ellis had acted in his stead, the latter's remuneration coming from the sheriff that employed him and not from the government.
50 YEARS AGO - FEBRUARY 23, 1961
Members of the streets committee of Town Council are to meet with the Water Commission to consider the possibility of providing complete water services on a proposed new half-mile street which would serve the Hershey Chocolate Corporation factory. The street, tentatively designated by the company as "Chocolate Avenue," would extend north easterly in a wide arc from Queen Street and join Alice Street at Lorne.
The cost of pre-engineering of street development in Smiths Falls is to be considerably aided by a subsidy from the Ontario government, providing the work is performed by the municipality's own staff. Hon. Fred M. Cass, Minister of Highways, announced this week that the government will pay five per cent of any pre-engineering charges for roads as well as bridge and overpass constructions.
The annual cost of engineering fees in Smiths Falls is in the neighbourhood of $2,500 and the province would thus meet $125 of this amount.
25 YEARS AGO - FEBRUARY 26, 1986
The Rideau Ferry Inn, a landmark in the area, was reduced to rubble last Wednesday morning Feb. 19, as an early morning fire ravaged the two-storey building.
Flames engulfed the inn, owned by Elmer Purdon, about 5:10 a.m. and was first spotted by Paul Fuller, whose family owns the store next door.
About 27 men from the Bathurst, Bastard, Drummond and Elmsley Fire Department (BBDE) responded first to the blaze, followed minutes later by 14 men with an aerial from the Perth Fire Department and 10 men from the Smiths Falls Fire Department who responded with a pumper, tanker and equipment van.
The BBDE remained on the scene for over 12 hours. Purdon, who was in Florida at the time of the fire, said there was insurance on the building and contents but isn't sure if it is enough to cover the loss.
A $485,000 surplus in the Smiths Falls 1985 operating budget couldn't have come at a better time.
"It's really a good year to have this break," said finance committee chairman Paul Howard, adding the town normally has about $300,000 leftover from the previous year's budget.
20 YEARS AGO - FEBRUARY 28, 1991
For an instant, it was 1979 all over again. Guy Lafleur picks up the puck at centre, races across the blueline, makes a quick move around the defence and snaps a shot to the top corner.
Seen it hundreds of times before never get tired of it, though.
Three Smiths Falls oldtimers goalies got to experience what dozens of NHL netminders have faced before them and probably loved every minute of it.
For the record, the final score in Sunday's Face Off For Youth at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre benefit hockey game read 17-5. Lafleur's own tally was five goals and one assist.
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