70 Years Ago
September 29, 1948
–Upon the advice of engineer C.F. Smith, councillors in Napanee considered delaying the construction of sewers in the area of a 25-home Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) project until the spring. Smith advised that frost could push the project well beyond its $33,510 cost estimate.
With a CMHC guarantee to pay $600 per lot connected to the service, councillors also wanted to know whether the town or the province would assume responsibility for financing any additional costs before approving the project.
– Napanee continued to use more than its daily quota of electricity. Without a reduction in use, Hydro Electric Power Commission manager C.A. Walters suggested daily shutdowns would be imminent. Homeowners were advised to use no more light than was absolutely necessary. Any shutdown would mean lost hours for industry.
The scarcity in power came as a lack of water was available to Quebec hydro generating plants contracted to supply the Ontario market.
– The Canadian Army rolled into Napanee to celebrate Army Week with a convoy of more than a dozen vehicles. Students were dismissed early on a Friday afternoon so they could look at the armoured cars, anti-aircraft guns, field guns and signalling vehicles on display.
40 Years Ago
September 27, 1978
– The Napanee Midgets defeated Elliott Lake twice at Gibbard Field to win the Ontario Amateur Softball Association’s Midget B title. It was the third time in consecutive years that coach Al Whitfield led his team to a provincial championship. Napanee’s junior team also won a provincial title at the C level, while the bantams and squirts were also in contention.
– Deseronto council learned the province’s ombudsman would hear its appeal in a dispute with the Ministry of the Environment over water rates.
While the town had been able to apply special provincial grants to limit increases to its water rates after a system upgrade, councillors were concerned the province could unilaterally exclude water and sewer rates from its granting programs and leave Deseronto ratepayers to pick up the difference. Such a move, they argued, would make Deseronto uncompetitive with area municipalities.
– The Lennox and Addington County Board of Education reached a tentative deal with its 269 elementary school teachers on a new collective agreement. Meanwhile, the board had not made any progress with its 159 secondary school teachers. A provincial fact finder was appointed to aid the negotiations.