Gail Buckler of Bear River, former queen of Cherry Carnival, was chosen to represent Digby in the Queen Annapolisa competition at Apple Blossom Festival.
Digby Municipal Airport was awarded a federal grant of $175,000 to extend the runway to 3,000 feet and to build a parking lot.
Municipality of Digby councilor Richard Daley said his meeting with Sandy Cove residents resulted in formation of a fire department and fire commission for the village. Sidney Westcott was elected first president of the commission, while Russell McCullough became the new fire chief.
Shell Canada announced a grant of $1,000 to aid the Annapolis Basin Tourist and Recreation Council stage Digby’s first Scallop Day. The oil company’s logo was a scallop shell.
Bridgewater-based Harding Real Estate opened an office in Digby with manager Joe Hagen of Clementsvale.
Clint Eastwood was the star of ‘Thunderbolt and Lightfoot’ playing at the Little Cinema.
50 years ago
May 26, 1960 – Fire completely destroyed the Central Market building in the north end of the town’s business section. The building was in a congested area of wooden buildings, most with just a few feet between them, and firefighters were hard-pressed to keep the fire from spreading. The roof of the adjacent Courier building caught fire several times, but firemen were able to keep the fire from taking hold, although considerable water damage resulted.
It took until the next morning to extinguish the Central Market fire and firemen were just rolling up hoses when the federal fisheries vessel ‘Limanda’ exploded in flames as it was being fueled at the wharf. Fisherman Reg Hazelton, who towed over an auxiliary pumped to help fight the boat fire, aided firemen.
With the provincial election just two weeks away, there were three candidates for the Digby seat—Liberal Victor Cardoza of Digby, CCF candidate Foster Journeay of Weymouth, and Keith Porter of Plympton for the Progressive Conservatives.
The CPR ferry ‘Princess Helene’ received an award for excellence in weather observing. The ferry crew made 608 reports in 1959 to the federal meteorological office, which based much of its forecasting on such marine reports.
The Digby Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation began construction of a new Freedom Hall on Victoria Street.
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were the stars of ‘At War With the Army’, playing in at the Capitol Theatre.
60 years ago
June 1, 1950 – Digby Sea Cadets Corps ‘Cornwallis’ came second in Canada in a rifle competition, repeating the previous year’s finish. Graham McBride of Digby came second in individual scoring.
Maddie York was the pitcher as the Bear River girls’ softball team crushed Round Hill 40-15 in the season opener.
Music and dance students of Frances Peters and Louise Stephen were staging a recital at Digby Rural High School, with admission of 25 cents. The same price would buy a haversack at Connell’s Store, according to its advertisement.
At the Capitol was ‘Little Women’, with June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Elizabeth Taylor and Janet Leigh.
