80 Years Ago
Aug. 9, 1939
Only the hard work of 200 men battling the heat and smoke hour after hour prevented serious loss to the farming district in Bath when a devastating bush fire broke out across 40 acres.
The fire, which started in the cedar swamp north of Clement, was thought to be under control and not likely to spread until the next morning when it erupted.
Heavy rain which fell the next day helped to relieve the situation by putting out the fire.
-Under the direction of deputy reeve Stratton, improvements were being made to Springside Park.
The roads leading into the park had been repaired and cement workers were beginning to put in new cement facing in the breakwater.
-Napanee firefighters were busy in the Vine’s Corners area where a grass fire broke out near the Canadian National Railway track.
The fire had spread rapidly and threatened several residences east of the track.
-The birth of two horse colts, an unusual occurrence, happened twice in the Napanee district over the summer. R.J. Walsh’s colts were born on June 22 and were named King and George in honour of the king’s visit to Canada earlier that year.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 2, 1939
Lennox and Addington County General Hospital was planning an addition of 16 chronic care beds and further services, including the addition of a new wing onto the hospital.
The board of governors for the hospital had developed a design in collaboration with the Kingston architectural firm Inglis and Downey.
-Provincial education minister Chris Ward was hopeful the Lennox and Addington County school board was successful in accommodating a licensed child care centre to replace child care services at Ernestown Secondary School.
He addressed the non-existent child care facility problem in a letter to Doug Dodd, ESS adult education head and Judith Wyatt, a teacher at ESS.
-Correctional workers at Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee began a work-to-rule campaign, backing wage and pension demands.
Workers at the correctional centre had been without a contract since Jan. 1, 1989 and wanted to go to the bargaining table.