80 years ago
June 20, 1939
Napanee was visited by an 86-year-old man cycling from Underhill, Vermont, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a distance of 1,381 miles.
W.C. Bailey left his home in Underhill on June 15 and was when he had reached Napanee six days later, had travelled 262 miles, an average of 44 miles a day. It was his intention to visit relatives in South Dakota.
This was actually the second long distance ride for Bailey, who learned to ride a bike at the age of 79. He attributed his good health to exercise and the fresh air he got when riding.
-The contract for the construction of Napanee’s new telephone building was awarded to M. Sullivan and Sons of Arnprior.
The building was to be situated at the corner of Market Square and Centre Street and was to include a modern, three-position switchboard and a well-lit business office.
30 years ago
June 21, 1989
Napanee merchants successfully prompted council to investigate a by-law which prohibited delivery trucks from loading and unloading on Dundas Street.
No one had yet been charged with breaking the law, though warnings had been issued. The penalty carried a $5 ticket. Both merchants and drivers unloaded goods could be fined.
Council wanted six weeks to study the issue.
-Clean up of the gas saturated soil around the Napanee Mall was one step closer to reality.
An order for the clean-up, prepared by the ministry, had been sent to Toronto for legal polishing. Napanee Mall owners, representatives from Suny’s Gas Bar and CDN Petroleum met with the Ministry of the Environment in Kingston earlier in the month to determine how and when the gas-saturated soil would be cleaned.
-The body of a Hamilton man, missing and presumed drowned after a June 10 boating accident, was found by Napanee and Picton OPP.
Tares Bobiak’s body was pulled from Long Reach on the Bay of Quinte, south of Forester’s Island near Deseronto.
-Napanee business not served by the Business Improvement Association, which catered to downtown businesses only, thought it was time to start a Chamber of Commerce.