Each week, the Gazette looks back on stories from the past. Here is what happened this week, by year…
1928
– The Ontario Department of Health gave its approval to a proposed waterworks extension for Picton. As the water intake pipe was to be placed in navigable waters, the federal department of marine and fisheries would also need to give approval before work could start. A delegation from the town would go to Ottawa to seek support.
– Several Consecon area farmers had sheep killed before one caught a dog in the act of killing a sheep and shot it. No one claimed ownership of the dog as they would have been liable for the lost sheep.
– Charlie Williams was pinned in his bread truck after its front wheel gave way, causing the vehicle to flip and land on its roof near Woodrous. He was extricated successfully.
1948
– A fire at the Picton fairgrounds destroyed two horse barns and a majority of the cattle barn, which had been turned into a residence. It left a family homeless and caused thousands of dollars in damage. Firefighters from town and the army base worked to extinguish the flames and a bit of luck in the wind’s direction saved the Crystal Palace and the poultry barns.
– County council was considering appointing a committee to establish high school districts across the county. The districts would ensure adequate bus transportation funding for youth to attend school.
-Upon investigation, police believed boys aged 6-7 playing with matches started the fire at the fairgrounds.
1978
– Mayor Donald King and the members of Picton council agreed to take walking tours within town before deciding how to spend $10,000 in funding for sidewalks. Councillor Russell Alexander said the town should do a full study of the state of sidewalks in 1978 and start implementing it in 1979.
– Picton council approved a Business Improvement Area designation for the downtown. Businesses would be subject to a levy to contribute to promote and enhance the area. Deputy-reeve Richard Byers said few business people objected to the move.
– A Ministry of the Environment official, D.G. Kimber, told Picton councillors were told the town’s water filtration plant had the capacity to serve only 320 more people.
1998
– Tony Clement, Ontario’s transportation minister, announced the province would maintain funding for ferry service at Glenora and four other crossings. The fact municipalities could not afford to take on the cost of operating the services was a factor in the final funding decision.
– Toronto-based facilitators Maureen Quigley and Graham Scott were appointed by the provincial Health Services Restructuring Commission to lead the mandated merger of three Quinte-rea hospital corporations by April 2000.
– The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board officially issued layoff notices to 90 unionized support staff to meet a mandated $2.3-million reduction in salaries.