Each week, the Gazette looks back on stories from the past. Here is what happened this week, by year…
1928
-The directors of the Prince Edward County Hospital received plans from their architect for a new 14-bed addition northeast of the existing building, toward Hill Street. The directors called for tenders with the hopes that construction would begin as soon as possible and be completed by the end of the calendar year.
– County fruit growers were optimistic that a profusion of blooms on their trees would lead to bumper crops of apples, cherries, plums, and other small fruits.
– Members of the Picton Horticultural Society were involved in beautification efforts downtown. Three flower beds, arranged like a shamrock, in front of the Picton Armouries were a focal point of the work. 1948
1948
– The Gazette was expecting hundreds would gather near its Ross Street office for the results of the provincial election, which were to be received by telephone and posted on public billboards. Returning officers across the riding were co-operating to help get news from the vote out.
– Aimah Johnston was retiring from the Wellington Bell Telephone office after working there as an operator for 31 years. She was described as capable, efficient, and eager to please and she had become popular with both the staff and the public.
– The District Holstein Breeders artificial insemination unit opened two miles west of Belleville. Six bulls were in place to supply the needs of the region’s breeders.
1978
– The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital received $90,000 less from the Ministry of Health than in the previous year. Board president Don Stanton said the money was saved by closing the hospital’s laundry and outsourcing the service to Kingston. All 36 staff members working in the department were reassigned.
– North Marysburgh Township planned to hold its contribution to a 28-per-cent levy increase for the board of education in protest. Sophiasburgh was asked to join in the protest, but declined to participate.
– Hallowell Township was looking for the Prince Edward Region Conservation Authority to support a plan to turn a former quarry, the Workman Pit, into a landfill site.
1998
– The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and the Ministry of Education and Training settled on a $122 million budget. That amount was $4 million below what the board estimated it needed to sustain program levels. MPP Gary Fox said he’d press for additional funding.
– Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington counties believed they would find support for the amalgamation of their social services departments after a provincial mandate that social service agencies serve catchment areas of 50,000 people or more.
– Dr. Franz Fischler, the European commissioner for agriculture and rural development toured local farming operations as a guest of agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief.