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

1910

• Already this week Picton has had two very bad fires, which destroyed four family residences and a barn. The houses were situated at the rear of the Homestead Canning factory and were owned by the Dominion Canners Limited.
• The many friends of Mr. Charles Wilmot in Picton and the county, will be glad to learn of the success of his ponies as prize winners at Montreal, Toronto and Ogdensburg. 
• One of the most historic families to settle in Sophiasburgh was the VanDeusen family. Owing to the unremitting and painstaking researches made by Capt. Albert VanDeusen, an official in the Interior Department at Washington D.C. and an old Sophiasburgh boy, a most comprehensive and authentic history of the VanDeusen family on the American continent has been compiled. 

1940

• Another big ‘lunge was taken from Prince Edward County waters when Charles Weeks of Rochester landed a 27 1/2 pounder at West Lake. The big fellow gave Mr. Weeks an exciting time. He has been coming to Prince Edward from many years past and is a former resident. 
• On October 6th a surprise party was held at the home of Mr. W. H. Way, Mountain View, on his 80th birthday. After the passing of a pleasant hour, Mr. Way was presented with gifts and then invited to a large table on which was a birthday cake with lighted candles and laden with all sorts of goodies.
• All is in readiness for the attempt to shatter the world record for 225 cubic inch class boats. Chan Hamlin of Buffalo, with his “Voodoo” is expected in Picton today.

1970

• One of the last of the one room school houses to close in this county was No. 12 Hallowell, better known as Uniondale School. Miss Hazel McLellan, teacher there for the last 30 years of its operation, was honored at Pinecrest School where she taught until her retirement in June.
• A heavy gale which struck Saturday afternoon lasted only about 10 minutes but caused extensive damage and at least one power failure. A power blackout affected the northern part of Picton, starting from Main Street, lasted about one hour.
• An increase rates for nearly 600,000 rural customers was announced today by Ontario Hydro. Effective in bills payable Jan. 1, 1971, the rate change will raise revenue from Hydro’s rural customers by nine per cent.

1980

• For 41 years Art Jarvis, of Burns St., Picton has many times lost sleep, missed his meals, risked pneumonia on cold winter nights and been showered with water with all his clothes on. Mr. Jarvis was until a few weeks ago one of those often unsung heroes, a volunteer firefighter.
• The Wellington Dukes are looking good in pre-season action and should be ready for the start of the regular schedule Oct. 10 in Campbellford. The Junior ‘C’ club is so far undefeated in exhibition play.
• The 1,200 workers at the Bata Footwear plants in Picton, Campbellford and the main factory at Batawa are set to strike Oct. 26 if a new contract is not signed. Under the old contract which ran out Oct. 3 the average wage at the plants was $5.50 an hour.