This week in…
1863:–“Governor’s speech.—On the first side of this paper will be found the Governor’s Speech delivered at the opening of Parliament. The document is, as usual, devoid of especial interest, and of course as meaningless as words can well make it.”
–“Prof. Sweet is in town. His system of vocalization appears to be in favour, and so it ought, if we are allowed to judge.”
–“Dr. Cameron.—This gentleman, we are informed, gave satisfaction in several cases he took in hand while sojourning in this town. Mr. Thomas Morgan, living near Bloomfield, called in to tell us he is enabled to hear better than he has done in ten years.”
1943: A letter from a young Lieutenant Farley Mowat to his parents is forwarded to the Gazette: “In between being scared to death by shells, and scaring Heine to death with bullets, we have pretty fair rest periods in which we can do a lot of sitting. If I had a Bay of Quinte wharf here I could spit in the water and whittle a stick with great comfort. The food is plentiful and good. The good old Hastings and Prince Edward are better than good and personally I don’t want for a single thing, although I would pay something for one cool long glass of Molson’s.” Click here: www.pictongazette.ca/2023/08/23/farley-mowats-letter-from-sicily-august-1943/
1963: –“Picton police office looked a bit like a brewers’ warehouse last weekend. Stacked in the Chief Constable’s office were 181 pints of beer and 17 pints of rye. These goods were seized at a Picton home during a raid. A charge of keeping for sale has been laid against the resident.”
–Phil Dodds notes, “We are especially interested to learn an old friend, in the Editor of the Napanee Beaver, Earl Morrison, has tossed his hat into the political arena. Earl was with The Gazette prior to going to Napanee where he has made a real success of that newspaper. With three good men in the field, the P.C. nomination should be lively and interesting.”
2013: In a decision that was seen among several councillors as the first test of the new Picton Heritage District, committee of the whole voted against a request from the Regent Theatre Foundation to install larger exterior doors at the front to increase accessibility. “The heritage district has to be more than just words on paper,” said the mayor. A staff report submitted to the committee on Thursday says the Regent Theatre was designated in 1999 for its architectural and historical value. The designation makes specific note of “the central theatre doors.” The 29-inch doors are technically compliant with current accessibility and building codes, but do not match the current standard of 36 inches.