50 years ago: First woman in town council race

The municipal school board approved a budget of $811,000 for Digby Regional High School, an increase of 23 per cent from the previous year.

In Tiverton, a 2,000-foot roadway was already cleared for a proposed radar tower.

Allison Denton of Bear River, a six-year veteran on Annapolis County council, was chosen as warden. Denton was also owner of Bear River Lodge.

At the Little Cinema was ‘Soldier Blue’, starring Candace Bergen and Peter Strauss.

50 years ago

Nov. 20, 1958 – It was a first for Digby. The five names nominated for a vacancy on town council included Helen J. Anthony, the first woman to receive a nomination in the town’s history.

Victor Cardoza, former MLA and a town councilor for 16 successive years, was elected mayor by acclamation to fill the remaining portion of Mayor Gordon Turnbull’s term following his surprise resignation. Turnbull had served just one year of his second term as mayor.

Admiral Digby Horticultural Society announced it would undertake restoration of the old Loyalist cemetery at Warwick Street and First Avenue. The cemetery dates from the town’s earliest settlement in 1783 and is located on the former homestead property of Phineas Lovett 3rd.

One of the cemetery’s tombstones was still legible, noted the Courier report, and recorded the death of Lovett’s three-month-old daughter Sarah on Oct. 11, 1801.

The Loyalist cemetery had been neglected for many years until a descendent of the Holdsworth family, another Loyalist family buried there, arranged with the town to take over the cemetery and keep the grass cut.

Digby Fire Department was considering formation of a department band if it could acquire instruments of the former Digby Civic Band. Fritz Dakin, who called an organizing meeting, said band instructors at Cornwallis naval base had agreed to help train the musicians.

‘Andy Hardy Comes Home’ was playing at the Capitol Theatre, with stars Mickey Rooney and Patricia Breslin.

60 years ago

Nov. 18, 1948 – Three parties had chosen candidates to contest the federal riding of Digby-Annapolis-Kings following the resignation of J.L. Ilsley. The Liberals chose J.D. McKenzie of Middleton, while the Progressive-Conservatives—who still had a hyphenated name—went with Wolfville lawyer George Nowlan. The dark horse candidate was Lloyd Shaw, an Annapolis Royal native and Halifax resident, who was provincial secretary of the CCF party, forerunner of the NDP.

Fresh Digby scallops were selling for 63 cents a pound at Pyne’s South End Market, while a 75-pound bag of potatoes was $1.59.

With winter on the doorstep, Margolian’s Store was offering men’s ‘all-wool combinations’ for $3.98.

Night policeman E.C. Ineson quit to join the railway police force, so Digby was looking for a replacement to work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and drive the fire truck when needed.

Principal F.C. Purdy said 10 academic classrooms in the new Digby Rural High School were ready for occupancy and the auditorium was also completed.

Classrooms for manual science, domestic science and science would be ready soon after pupils transferred to the new building, Purdy added.

‘Cary and the Bishop’s Wife’ was at the Capitol, and stars were Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven.