This week in…
1863: “The long talked of military display came off at Picton, on Monday last. Towards evening large crowds of people were seen wending their way towards McFaul’s wharf, with the view of witnessing the arrival of troops, horses, and camp equipage, from Kingston. The City of Hamilton hove in sight, crowded to her utmost capacity with soldiers and cavalry horses. Before ten o’clock those who were to go into camp had taken up a position on a beautiful eminence overlooking the town. The spot is one of the most romantic in the county, and with a grove in the immediate vicinity, afforded all that could have been expected of nature in the way of providing comfortable quarters for the men.”
1943: –“First Prince Edward County man with the local regiment in the Sicilian campaign officially reported as being wounded while in action. The telegram did not state the wounds were serious and there is hope in that. Pte. Mead went overseas with the local unit in December 1939. Last week a cable was received announcing the birth of a daughter in England, to Pte. Mead and Mrs. Mead, an English girl.”
–“There is a keen demand for cottages and other accommodation in the county. Will those having any available please notify The Gazette. It will also be appreciated if resort owners will advise when accommodation is vacated as there are many applications. The county is enjoying an excellent tourist season.”
1963: Tremendous importance of the tourist industry to Canada as a whole, to Ontario specially, and to Prince Edward County in particular, was emphasized at a dinner party at Lakeshore Hotel Saturday evening. “At the end of 1963, we expect that Canada’s gross dollars revenue from the tourist industry will surpass that received from agricultural production. And, by 1972, it is reasonable to believe that between 8 and 10 per cent of Canada’s population will be working directly or indirectly for the tourist industry,” Dr. J. Lawson Mackle stated. Mayor Harvey McFarland said, “it used to burn me up when people used to ask me where Picton is located. Today, most persons know where Picton is.”
1993: –A day-long armed stand-off in Ameliasburgh Township ended peacefully as a man holed up in his father’s home surrendered to police. Police took over a neighboring house to use as a command centre and contacted the suspect by telephone. Negotiations continued throughout the day and the suspect left the house, surrendering to police shortly after 4:00 p.m. No one was injured during the incident.
–A civilian aircraft crashed about two kilometers north of the Mountain View Canadian Forces Base. The pilot was attempting to land an amateur-built amphibian aircraft when the left wing struck a tree branch. The pilot was airlifted to CFB Trenton Hospital for assessment and, after it was apparent he was uninjured, was later released.