35 years ago: Planned cruise ship visit sinks

Town council announced a five-year paving program in response to a presentation by Guy VanTassel, who lived on an unpaved street in the south end. He complained that new housing areas in town had paved streets, but after 31 years of paying taxes where he lived, the town was still just making promises.

Council decided to research the title of the Iron Duke property to find a roadway for a pumping station for the new sewer project.

More than 250 people were on hand as Mayor Willard Kinney officially opened the new House of Wong Restaurant. Mrs. Kinney cut the ribbon held by Mrs. Winning Wong and Mrs. Joe Wong. Above the front door were the Chinese symbols for ‘double happiness’ and ‘long life’

The Wong family had served the town since Warren Wong had established the Cornwallis Café 35 years earlier.

Bernardin Comeau of Comeau Seafoods of Saulnierville announced a new fish curing and storage establishment for Digby. The new plant, to be known as Canpol Fisheries, was to be located in the former Ferry terminal building on Digby’s waterfront, and would process salt herring for export.

Bear Island at the mouth of Bear River was turned over for use as an adventure training camp by Sea Cadets for five years. Turning over the camp were Mayor Willard Kinney and Digby Board of Trade president Ernest Ryan.

At the Little Cinema was ‘The Legend of Hell House’, starring Paula Franklin and Roddy McDowall. 50 years ago Aug. 6, 1959 – A chicken barbeque at Major’s Point was among features for the eight-day Acadian Festival in Clare. The point was the site of the first cemetery in Clare.

Town council accepted an offer by the Digby Lions Club to prepare a list of Digby houses and numbering, and to provide street signs.

The disappearance of a 15-year-old Roxville boy had police on the lookout, but his anxious mother soon received a letter explaining the youth had joined the Clyde Beatty circus during its visit to Digby.

Playing at the Capitol Theatre was ‘Three Violent People’, with stars Charlton Heston and Anne Baxter. 60 years ago Aug. 4, 1949 – Digby Home Furnishings opened in “splendid new quarters” in the renovated Masonic Building. The furniture business, which was established two years earlier, had moved into two floors of the building, which had become among the most modern in Digby, according to the Courier report.

The Masonic Building had a long career as a commercial building in the town, and was first occupied in 1852 by Robert Fitzrandolph who opened a general merchandise business that was unusual in its day, “selling almost everything from needles to anchors.”

Rufus Connor of Lighthouse Road celebrated the 53rd anniversary of his entry into the Royal Navy, which he had joined in Ireland. He first served on the full-rigged wooden sailing ship ‘Curacao’, and later took part in many famous battles before being invalided out of the navy in 1917.

Continuing hot and dry weather was seriously affecting crops in the county.

A survey of Digby County look at such issues as crime and drinking, and quoted the town police chief who said crime had been on the rise since 1936. “He blamed it on the increased use of cars.” ‘They Drive by Night’ was playing at the Capitol, with stars George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan and Ida Lupino.