Surprise find in Temperance hall

35 years ago

May 18, 1972 – Volunteer firemen in Smith’s Cove were chuckling over empty beer bottles found hidden in the wall partitions of the former Temperance hall, which was being renovated for use as a fire hall and community centre. The building’s earlier existence was as the Baptist Meeting House.

Lister Hannah, a member of the Digby Regional High School teaching staff, was promoted to principal after Jack Ritcey resigned to become supervisor of curriculum. The regional school board also announced the appointment of replacement teachers Harold Theriault, David Banford and James Burke.

Seeking the Liberal nomination in the federal riding of South West Nova were Emmanuel Adelaar of Weymouth, Fulton Logan and John Nichols of Digby, and LeRoy Quinlan of Stoney Island, Shelburne County.

The new Digby Kinettes club received its charter at a dinner sponsored by the Kinsmen Club.

At the Co-op Store in Conway, the week’s sale items included a 16-ounce package of Kraft cheese slices for 89 cents, and four tins of Carnation evaporated milk for 88 cents.

Digby’s entertainment picture was undergoing change. An advertisement said the Capitol Theatre was closed until July and the town should watch for the grand opening of the Little Cinema.

50 years ago

May 16, 1957 - Digby Board of Trade called for a special meeting of town council to consider the impact of a possible permanent closure of the Pines Hotel and the navy’s removal of HMCS Buckingham, which had been stationed at the town wharf. The board also wanted the town to ensure that a new landing for the CPR train and car ferry was not built outside the town.

The Salvage Corps of the Digby Fire Department planned a recruiting drive for new members, said president A.W. Mason.

At the Capitol, Judy Garland and James Mason were starring in the classic ‘A Star is Born’.

60 years ago

May 22, 1947 – Canadian National closed its Digby telegraph office, ending a business that began in 1855. The company said there was too little business for two telegraph offices in the town, and CPR was connected to the DAR railway.

Barbara Underwood, 18, became Digby’s princess for the 15th annual Apple Blossom Festival.

Turnips were a growing business. The seed for Ditmars’ Bronze Top Swede turnips was prized across Canada, and growers from Deep Brook down through St. Mary’s Bay were planting turnips in the spring, which then produced the thousands of pounds of seed that were harvested in late summer. R.V. Ditmars and Sons in Deep Brook originated the turnip variety.

James Cagney was the star of’ ‘13 Rue Madeleine’, playing at the Capitol.