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

1911

• Victoria Day, May 24 will be a gala day in Picton. The Prince Edward Agricultural Society has a reputation for putting in a good day, on this annual holiday. But this year the best program ever is promised. Seven hundred dollars will be hung up in purses for the horse races.
• The going of the Oddfellows to Trenton by special train over the C.O.R. Sunday stirred the wrath of officers, here of the Lords Day Alliance. Members of Picton Canton, and subordinate lodge I.O.O.F. had chartered a special train to make the trip to Trenton, joining with the Trenton brethren in celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the order.
• “Well kept lawns,” is the slogan of the Horticultural Society. At a meeting Friday evening four prizes were hung up as a stimulus to maintaining well kept lawns in the town.

1951

• Amazing Bart Reid, comedian extraordinary, will perform the hula hula amid a colorful Honolulu setting at Picton Armories, May 16-18 and May 21-23, when he appears in the fourth annual “Variety Minstrel” show.
• The April meeting of the Wellington Unit of the Ontario Federation of Women Teachers’ Association was held in the Wellington Consolidated School, the guests of Misses Hewitt, Valleau, Sanders and Payne and Mrs. Freeman, there being 18 members and several visitors present.
• The program at the Holstein Breeders’ Club banquet in the Parish Hall was an exceptionally enjoyable one. President D. O. Reynolds was chairman and announced twilight barn meetings are planned. Community singing was led by Phil Dodds with Mrs. James Inrig at the piano.

1971

• Wednesday was the 23rd year for the Ken Colling four and one-half mile road race. The race was run along the streets of Belleville. Altogether, there were 62 competitors, with seven entries from Picton. All our runners did very well.
• Tree planting will be a major goal for this year’s town council, according to Mayor Margaret Ackerman. In a written report, presented to council last week, her worship outlined various measures already under way to beautify Picton with an active tree planting program.
• George Hees, member of Parliament for Prince Edward Hastings was expected to return to the House of Commons on Monday. Mr. Hees recently underwent an operation in Montreal of a cataract in one eyed had been convalescing at his farm, R.R. 5 Cobourg for the past three weeks. 

1981

• The Beaver Meadow Wildlife management area of the Prince Edward County Region Conservation Authority will undergo a number of improvements this year following a grant of $3,500 by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The 220 acre area on East Lake in Athol Township was purchased by the authority in 1970 as a wildlife management project.
• A petition signed by 98 members of the South Bay United Church asking that school bus flashing lights be permitted when Sunday School children are embarking and disembarking has been rejected by Ontario Transportation Minister James Snow.
• Twenty-five years have passed but the Bay of Quinte brand of the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada is still going strong. The branch held its 25th annual general meeting Saturday. The site was the same as the group’s first meeting in 1956 — the Adolphustown Town Hall.