Looking back at Digby County history
From early January 1940
What was described as the “heaviest snowfall of the season” resulted in “great drifts all over the western portion of the province.” Highway plows, however, reportedly had done a good job clearing the roads pretty quickly. “Plows have been on the roads practically every day this week,” said an item in the local newspaper. It added that plowing capabilities had improved greatly in recent years. Not long before, a similar type of storm would have “meant a complete tie-up of traffic for days, and even weeks,” the article said.
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It looked like the coming year would be a good one for the lumber industry, based on comments from Digby-area people directly or indirectly involved in the sector. “Local opinion is that there will be a good demand for Nova Scotia spruce lumber,” a news report said, “and in several sections operations are well in hand.” The pulpwood cut was expected to decrease due to excess supply.
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In an apparent seasonal typo, a newspaper account of a recent high school boys basketball game between Digby and Bridgetown described it as “fast and rough, with many fowl shots.” The game had been played just a week or so before Christmas, with the Digby boys winning 25-15. Digby’s high scorer was identified simply as D. Clarkson (11 points). The Digby and Bridgetown girls had played too, Digby winning it 18-14. Jean Weir ( eight points) was high scorer for Digby.
From late December 1962
As they read their local newspaper’s last edition of 1962, people had a chance to review some of the stories and people that had made the news in the past year. The following are some items from 1962’ s year in review:
--Victor Cardoza, Digby MLA, had spent a few weeks in Europe, along with seven other MLAs – members of a special committee on the Trade Union Act – studying labour-management relations in seven countries.
--Vernon L. Bent had become the Town of Digby’s new mayor.
--Joseph Steadman of Smith’s Cove had been appointed to the teaching staff of Mount Allison University.
--Islands Consolidated School had opened. Premier Robert Stanfield was guest speaker for the official opening of the Freeport facility.
--Bradford Barton, a 17-yearold from Acaciaville, had been elected president of the student council at Digby Regional High School.
-- Ina Dillon had been- reelected president of the Digby General Hospital’s women’s auxiliary, her fifth year as president.
--A new bowling alley – Carleton Lanes Ltd. –had opened in Digby.
-- The Digby East Fish and Game Association had opened a new lodge.
From late December 1970
Those who had hoped for a white Christmas got their wish and then some in 1970, as the Digby area was hit with what was said to be the “worst snowfall in years.” Part of a system that im- pacted most of the Maritimes, the storm “began in earnest” in the early afternoon of Christmas Eve. Among other things, the storm resulted in the cancellation of that day’s Saint John-to-Digby sailing of the Princess of Acadia. By evening, conditions were bad enough that at least some Christmas Eve services were called off. To make matters worse, two days later, the area was hit with more snow. Tractors eventually were used to help clean the snow from Digby streets.
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What did the future hold for Collège Sainte- Anne? A commission looking into the matter had yet to file its report, said Peter Nicholson, Nova Scotia’s education minister at the time, who said he had asked for an interim report. The minister was responding to a question from an opposition member in the legislature.