150 years ago
March 2, 1876
HOWICK AGRICULTURAL WORKS. This well known establishment has gained another acquisition to its list of improvements by the addition of A FOUNDRY and will now be in a position to supply the public with all kinds of castings. The manufacture of Agricultural Implements such as Threshing machines, Rakes, Rollers, Grubbers, Fanning Mills, Circular and Drag Saws, Metal Ploughs for high lands, &c., will be carried on with the same dispatch and warranted to give the same satisfaction as they formerly have done. I would particularly call the attention of farmers having stony or gravelly land to our metal ploughs, as they are an article of the greatest utility. A supply of plough points constantly on hand. Repairs of all kinds done with neatness and dispatch. ROBERT MAW.
125 years ago
February 28, 1901
STE MARTINE – The exodus from this village has commenced earlier than usual this winter. Since the first of this month, three families have left this village for Montreal, and two have left the parish for the neighboring counties.
Valleyfield was treated to horseracing Friday and Saturday. There was the usual brawling, but only one serious accident took place – a young lad run over, who sustained a broken leg.
100 years ago
March 4, 1926
H’DON ELEC. CO. TO ERECT POLES AT REAR OF LOTS – The Maple Trees Which Are The Natural Beauties of Huntingdon Will Be Unmolested by Power Lines. … All townspeople feel pride in these trees and devote much care to their upkeep. Mr. Bowker is disposed to do the same, and in planning for the extension of his line, in response to popular demand, and in accordance with permission extended by town authorities with the approval of The Quebec Public Service Commision, he is guided entirely by the spirit of the favorite old poem, “Woodsman, Spare that Ree.” He sees no need to disturb these trees in carrying out his future distribution system. He has already shown what can be done by putting his poles in the rear of the buildings in Lake street, where the line has been carried on for nearly a half-mile.
75 years ago
February 28, 1951
Chateauguay Valley to Observe Education Week… [excerpt] … In 1926, an American educator on a visit to Russia had occasion to talk with the Russian Minister of Education. “Have you any plans for Russian Education over the next twenty years?” he asked. “Yes,” replied the Russian. “In the next twenty years we plan to transform the Russian mind.”
“I smiled at the time,” said the American, “but I no longer smile, for history has borne out his statement.”
“If the old German Republic had poured as much money into education as Hitler is doing now,” said the one-time head of the German Republican Youth Movement, “we should have saved the republic.”
“Education,” said Josef Stalin, “is a powerful weapon. Its effectiveness depends upon who holds it in his hand and at whom it is aimed.”
Education Week reminds us that there is but one logical answer for Mr. Stalin. In Canada, education is everybody’s business. We must fortify out educational armour against threatening ideologies which would destroy our way of life.
50 years ago
February 25, 1976
Early Valley railroads to be subject of meeting: … The guest speaker [will speak on] early railroads of the Chateauguay Valley … and will deal in considerable detail with the railway line which ran from Hemmingford to Caughnawaga and was probably the first of Valley railroads. … this line had a great deal to do with the progress of Hemmingford in the early days … Last fall he electrified an Ormstown audience with a colorful talk on the early days in the Valley, particularly as they were connected with the pioneer potash industry.