Each week, the Gazette looks back on stories from the past. Here is what happened this week, by year…

1937

-Picton’s town council would soon be meeting at a different location. After regularly meeting in the basement of the Picton Library, councillors reached a deal with the County to hold regular meetings in its building. The facilities would be included in a leasing deal alongside jail cells.

– About 35 tomato growers signed a petition calling for a minimum price and consistent standards for produce across Ontario after a meeting in Picton. Provincial tomato growers’ president Frank Hearnden led the meeting.

-Local dairy instructor George Sherriff earned the J.P Griffin Shield as his county’s cheesemakers won the most prize money at the annual regional show in Belleville.

1957

– Cressy farmer Ernest Roth lost 33 sheep after wild dogs chased them. The majority of the animals went over a steep cliff and fell to their death in Lake Ontario. Roth felt the incident hampered the breeding viability of his herd.

– Picton councillor Bernard Hepburn said he’d like to see council user lower assessment levels to entice prospective purchasers to open businesses in vacant canning factories. The negative economic impact of the closure of those factories was estimated at about $250,000 annually.

– Ontario’s Department of Lands and Forests rejected a bid by Picton council to buy the town marsh for $100 as the Crown wished to retain those types of properties.

1977

– Unknown vandals smashed the windows of Queen Elizabeth Public School to gain entry. Once inside, they broke doors, desks, chairs, and Christmas decorations. Students helped to restack library books, while parents volunteered to sweep glass and fix broken furniture the next day.

– Prince Edward County Children’s Aid Society director Garth Smith expressed concern about child abuse becoming more prevalent in Canadian society. Smith said local incidents have caused injuries and between 35-40 children were in the society’s care at any one time due to abuse.

– A coal gas explosion at Lake Ontario Cement caused $500,000 in damages at the plant. No injuries occurred in the blast.

1997

-Prince Edward County would stay with OPP policing services through amalgamation as the Trenton and Belleville city police forces did not bid on the work. The County still had to decide whether to have a police services board and bid on a five-year contract or simply allow the province to provide service and submit a bill.

– Giant Tiger began a renovation that would more than double the footprint of its Elizabeth Street store. The cost of the expansion was expected to be as high as $1.5 million. While the work was being done, the store moved into the IGA plaza.

– The Friends of Birdhouse City restored 19 birdhouses including the large Lakeshore Lodge replica and added two.