150 years ago
April 1, 1875
It is a fact at present, beyond dispute, that the health of our women suffer more from dairying than any other cause. The bulk of the labor being left to them, their strength is overtasked and weakness and disease naturally ensue. It is for their relief from this drudgery and constant care that I would urge you to unite in associate dairying. If my brother in pursuit of private dairying requires his family to exert every nerve to obtain the last cent from his milk, flattering himself that he is saving the cost of manufacture, thereby adding to his wealth, he may learn, when it will be too late, that disease ad premature death shall be the patrimony of his wife and daughters.
125 years ago
March 29, 1900
ORMSTOWN: The masquerade at the skating rink last week was successful, there being a large attendance.
BEAUHARNOIS: We are having regular sugar weather now, and several farmers have already tapped their trees.
100 years ago
April 2, 1925
ELGIN TOWNSHIP SUFFERS FROM THIEVING: Elgin Township Suffers From Thieving: Whilst 5 Farmers Lose Syrup … Petty thieving has again made its appearance in the township. The thief or thieves apparently have an eye on sweet things for they have broken into no less than five sugar houses and stolen syrup or sugar making utensils.
OLEOMARGARINE in the U. States … A new apple of discord has fallen [sic] among the farmers of the United States. Strangely enough they are at daggers drawn over a subject upon which they were not long ago in complete agreement. The controversy is embittered by a cleaving along sectional lines, a widening of the wound which never seems to heal between the northern and southern states. In short, the cotton growers of the south are up in arms against the war declared by the northern dairymen on oleomargarine, and other cotton seed oil products.
75 years ago
March 29, 1950
Huntingdon Curling Club May Have Artificial Ice: Matter of Equipment and Advice Is to Be Sought in Near Future … Mr. R.L. Tinker then gave a detailed report regarding the cost of equipment for artificial ice and the cost of installing it. He told of the progress made in obtaining financial support from the members and it was decided to proceed with the installation if sufficient support could be obtained within the next two weeks.
IRISH COMEDY Draws Large Attendance St. Joseph’s Hall: “The Heart of the Paddy Whack” Proved Colorful And Humerous to All.
50 years ago
April 2, 1975
Celsius confusion at hand: ANDERS CELSIUS … was the Professor of Astronomy at Uppsala, Sweden in the early 18th century and created the Celsius scale based on 100 degrees difference between the freezing and boiling points of water. People of the Chateauguay Valley have seen the last of those sunny summer days with temperatures of 90 degrees in the shade. As of this week, a hot day henceforth will be somewhere between 25 and 35 degrees.
Syrup makers pin hopes on Weatherman: After a good and early start more than two weeks ago, recent cold weather brought the Chateauguay Valley’s 1975 maple syrup season to a halt and this week sugar bush operators looked to the April 3 moon change in the hope of better sap weather.
32 years ago
Wednesday, March 17, 1993
The Irish
In eighteen twenty the Irish came From across a far distant sea. They didn’t come here looking for fame, Just a place where they could be free. They settled mostly up on the Ridge, Far away from the swamps and the bogs. And many a hardship did they bridge, Clearing stone…and cutting the logs. After a hundred and seventy years, We find their names are still well known; On St. Patrick’s Day we hear the cheers, From all the Irish Seed that was sown. There’s the Bannons, the Forans and Dineens, McDonaghs, O’Connors and Ryan, Higgin’s Murphys, still wear the green, Their faith in St. Patrick undying, The Currans and Cosgroves still exist, Of Smythes we call Smith, quite a few, There are others I might have missed; Yes… the Deegans and Hacketts are new. There’s also Walsh, O’Neil and O’Hare, We know McCallum, McGinn and Flynn. McCaffery, Darragh, are both still there, McConville, McDowell, have always bin. Donnelly. Leahy, Kelly and Sparrow, Along with McGee, Sherry and Todd, Like Rolfe and Steele, green to the marrow, Holmes and Kirby, right from the sod. Fiddes, McGowan, Moriarty, Finnegan, Coffey, Feeny and Ferns, Kennedy, Herdman… it’s plain to see, Their blood for Old Ireland still yearns. Harrigan, Carrigan, an Irish thyme, There is also McConomy, Finn, O’Kane and Shaw, they live on in time, In this new world that they are in. Here we could add McSween and McFaul, O’Farrell, McKenna, McMahon; Mullins, another name we recall, As a part of God’s great Irish plan. With pride each looks to their family tree, And the folks who from Ireland came. Without their great Irish ancestry, Our valley would not be the same.
Jon Proudfoot