50 YEARS AGO: Influenza outbreak closes two area schools

35 years ago

Nov. 2, 1972 – Issue unavailable

50 years ago

Oct. 31, 1957 – An influenza crisis in Digby schools was showing some signs of easing, reported school supervisor F.C. Purdy. During the previous week, 300 students and five teachers were absent, and a shortage of substitute teachers forced closure of the high school at noon on Friday.

In Bear River, Oakdene School were even more affected by flu and closed for an entire week.

The IGA was advertising sirloin steak at 75 cents a pound, while T-bone steak was just 73 cents a pound.

Despite the low steak prices—by today’s standards—the movie at the Capitol Theatre suggested, ‘The Best Things in Life Are Free’. Stars were Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey and Sheree North.

60 years ago

Oct. 30, 1947 – Digby Recreation Commission finalized plans to float a $20,000 debenture to finance construction of a new skating rink.

Foundation for the rink had already been laid and a former drill hall at East Camp near Yarmouth had been dismantled and the material transported to Digby. The town had been without a rink since fire destroyed the previous one.

Gale force winds toppled a huge wooden cross from the roof of Trinity Parish Hall. The cross narrowly missed cars parked below, while inside a men’s club was holding a meeting.

The federal government reported that gypsum was the largest single item of foreign-bound freight shipped from Nova Scotia ports in 1946. Windsor was the province’s third busiest port behind Halifax and Sydney, shipping 724,000 tons of gypsum, while Digby shipped 123,000 tons.

The Kiwanis Club was holding a Halloween masquerade dance in Lour Lodge, with music by the ‘Troubadours’. Admission was one dollar.

Alan Ladd and Gail Russell were starring in ‘Calcutta’, playing at the Capitol Theatre.

CORRECTION: Digby police chief Fred Thibault was mistakenly identified two weeks ago as Fred Theriault.