80 Years Ago
March 27 1940
Napanee’s Trinity United Church planned to celebrate its 100th anniversary as part of three services held in April when the preachers would be former ministers of their church.
Services were first held in a building on a lot in 1840. In 1841, a brick church was built on a land acquired from John Solomon Cartwright for five schillings. The brick church stood until 1861, when it was torn down and replaced by a stone church which in turn was replaced in 1907 by the present building.
-Lipson’s team, the winners of the Napanee and District Hockey League championship were tendered a complimentary banquet at the Superior Restaurant.
-Roads were re-opening in the district gradually following a big snow storm which swept through the province.
-The statistical report of births, marriages and deaths in the province for the year of 1938 were issued. In Napanee, births for the year totalled 38, of which 17 were male, 21 female. Deaths totalled 37, of which 14 were male and 23 female. There were 51 marriages during the year.
30 Years Ago
March 21 1990
Ontario Hydro and anti-nuclear representatives held a spirited debate on Amherst Island on March 13, 1990, and while both argued from decidedly different camps, each agreed on one thing-the people of Ontario were in control of their future.
It had been said that Hydro would listen to people and then go in whatever direction they wanted, while representatives from Hydro argued that was not the case.
According to a survey on what people expected from Hydro, the protection of the environment, reliable service and a reasonable price without damage to the environment were high on the list. Hydraulic power was the preferred method of power by the public.
-A submission to be prepared by the Napanee town council for presentation to the Ontario/Quebec Rapid Train Task Force would potentially allow for trains to travel up to 400 km per hour as they approached Napanee.
The written submissions were to be presented in Toronto in April of 1990.
-Local business owners were pushing town council to reconsider a decision to allow stores to open on Sunday.
The decision was deferred to April’s council meeting so that a public hearing on the matter could be held, as well as consultation with the police committee.