On Wednesdays, we present in this newsletter a week's worth of randomly selected stories ripped from the digital archives of The Kingston Whig-Standard, The Whig-Standard or The Daily British Whig, which reach back as far as 1834.
This instalment of the History: As We Saw It newsletter covers the period of Nov. 20-26.
We have so many stories in our archives ... you're definitely going to want to see what we have in store for you next week, too! |
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“Napanee Arenas play for fun, but also for keeps”
Nov. 20, 1957, Pg. 11
How the story read: When arena commissions in many parts of the country are actively campaigning to increase sagging attendances at hockey games, this rural community (Napanee) of 4,000 people 25 miles west of Kingston two weeks ago found itself with every seat sold in its $150,000 arena before a team had even been picked.
And the 800 fans in this hockey hotbed who assured themselves of seats this winter by picking up their subscriber tickets during the softball and football seasons are counting themselves as the lucky ones following the team’s opening 19-2 shellacking of the Smiths Falls Rideaus Monday night in the first game of the Ontario Hockey Association’s eastern Ontario intermediate league.
The demand for entry in the 800-seat arena has been so great since it opened its doors two years ago … that the arena commission hit upon the idea of selling subscriber’s reserved standing room as a means of appeasing the townspeople whose enthusiastic response oversubscribed the building drive to the extent that not a debenture was issued or a dollar owing when the arena was constructed. … |
“For bald heads”
Nov. 21, 1912, Pg. 4
Of interest: A treatment for baldness always seems to catch the eye of those follicly challenged, including yours truly. However, Rexall "Ninety-Three" Hair Tonic was obviously not the magic solution to hair loss for which people were waiting as, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, it arrived on the scene in the first decade of the 1900s and was only sold into the 1930s.
How the word ad read: We want you to try three large bottles of Rexall “93” Hair Tonic on our personal guarantee that the trial will not cost you a penny if it does not give you absolute satisfaction. That’s proof of our faith in this remedy, and it should indisputably demonstrate that we know what we are talking about when we say that Rexall “93” Hair Tonic will retard baldness, overcome scalp and hair ailments, and if any human agency can accomplish this result, it may also be relied upon to promote a new growth of hair.
Remember we are basing our statements upon what has already been accomplished by the use of Rexall “93” Hair Tonic, and we have the right to assume that what it has done for thousands of others it will do for you. In any event, you cannot lose anything by giving it a trial on our liberal guarantee. Two sizes, 50c and $1. Remember, you can obtain Rexall Remedies in this community only at our store — The Rexall Store. G.W. Mahood.
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“Wild fist fight as Kingston beats Toronto”
Nov. 22, 1941, Pg. 8
How the story read: A crowd jammed Jock Harty Arena thrilled to the speed and passing class of the Kingston Combines as they squeezed out a 3 to 2 win over Toronto Marlboros in an OHA senior fixture Friday night and were held in tingling excitement while players of both teams, police and fans mixed in a wild fist fight in the closing minutes of play. ...
With the win apparently tucked away by a two-goal lead and only six minutes to play, the crowd was electrified by an accident to Harry McQueston, the Kingston goaler, when he was cut by a skate of a teammate. He left the ice to have a gash over his eye stitched, but on returning to play, Marlboros broke away for a goal leaving the teams only a point apart. Toronto continued the pressure, and in a ganging play, Ed Shamlock, Marlboro right winger, crashed into the injured Combine goaler.
Kingston players retaliated and a melee started while McQueston was helped off the ice. Shamlock and Ed Fleet of Marlboros, and Len Lane of Kingston, were given two-minute terms, but when they went to the penalty bench, a scramble started. Lane was hit twice and then the Kingston centre-ice star started swinging, plowing into the two Toronto players. Fans joined the mad mix-up and police rushed in. With a riot raging in the penalty bench and on the ice, a police officer was struck and more scrapping resulted, but peace was eventually restored when McQueston skated back on the ice for the remaining minute and a half of play. ...
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“Days of cheap energy over: PM”
Nov. 23, 1973, Pg. 1
How the story read: Winter arrived with a crunch Thursday night when Prime Minister Trudeau admitted publicly for the first time that Canada faces an energy crisis requiring voluntary public restraint.
He left the details for Energy Minister Donald Macdonald to announce in the Commons Monday but said voluntary conservation measures lie ahead, as does allocation of petroleum products at the wholesale level.
“The days of cheap and abundant energy are over,” Mr. Trudeau said near the end of a 22-minute nationally televised speech.
“There may be inconvenience in the months ahead, but I think each of us will better understand that squandering energy is not a privilege of our way of life, but a threat to it.” ... |
“Long-time PC worker receives national award”
Nov. 24, 1989, Pg. 19
How the story read: For more than 55 years, Audrey McFarlane has toiled in the trenches for the Progressive Conservative party.
Last night about 90 members of the Kingston and the Islands PC Association turned out to see Paul Dick, Minister of Supply and Services and MP for Lanark-Carleton, present Mrs. McFarlane with the Macdonald-Cartier Achievement Award — the party’s highest honor.
Local association president Colin Cherry said Mrs. McFarlane was nominated for the award this year by an overwhelming majority of her fellow party workers. It is awarded to one person from each riding across the country if the riding associations elect someone. She is the first to receive it in Kingston. ... |
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“Lee Oswald dies not telling story”
Nov. 25, 1963, Pg. 1, 2
How the story read: Lee Harvey Oswald may have left behind in death a blueprint for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy — a map with the line of fire of the fatal presidential bullet.
Oswald was slain Sunday by Jack Rubenstein, 52, a night club owner and self-appointed executioner, who undertook swift, savage reprisal for the murder of the president. Rubenstein, known locally as Jack Ruby, was booked for murder.
Oswald died without disclosing any motive he may have nurtured for the president’s assassination — and indeed without admitting that he had anything to do with it. Without him, the full truth behind Kennedy’s martyrdom may never become known.
Grief over the president’s untimely death and a thirst for vengeance apparently goaded Ruby to appoint himself Oswald’s executioner.
He was quickly arrested and held for a murder hearing in the same detention area vacated moments before by his victim.
Hours later, the Dallas Morning News, in a copyrighted story, said police officers who searched Oswald’s room found a map with a line on it marking the path of the bullet that killed the president during a motorcade last Friday. Neither the FBI nor the Secret Service would comment on the report. ... |
“Bennett’s opens Pittsburgh arm of ‘empire’”
Nov. 26, 1987, Pg. 45
How the caption read: Bennett Foods officially opens the Pittsburgh Township arm of its supermarket "empire" today in the municipality’s spanking new Rideau Town Centre.
The new food store, in turn, may have positive effects on the Bennett family’s old north-end Kingston grocery story, speculates Gary Bennett, vice-president of the Bennett operation.
Bennett, one of president Hugh Bennett’s three sons (the others are David, vice-president of operations, and Robert, who manages another Bennett business), says that the family wanted to try out new ideas and methods that are not currently in practice at the 600 Bagot St. store where the family has been in business for 70 years.
As the 16,000-square-foot anchor store in Richard Dudar’s new plaza off Highway 15 and Gore Road, Bennett Foods is trying to establish a “state-of-the-art” store with “all the features of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Gary Bennett says.
There is not enough room left for expansion in the old locally owned and operated store to test things out and compete with area chain stores by offering the same services but adding a little bit extra from local experience.
“When you’re competing with the multinationals,” he says, “you’ve got to give something special.” |
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If you have a connection to, or a comment about, any of the historical stories found here, we would like to hear from you via email at tim.gordanier@gmail.com. |
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