Renfrew Mercury - Renfrew 150th Anniversary

THANKS FOR 150 YEARS

SHERRY HAAIMA sherry.haaima@metroland.com

For 150 years, the Renfrew Mercury newspaper has been telling the stories of our town and the people who live here. From news articles on government, development, tragedies, crime and feature stories that break the heart or warm the heart, to the weekly listing of deaths and births, the history of our town can be discovered and is preserved on those pages.

The Renfrew Mercury was founded in1871by Albert Smallfield,anEnglishmanwithafamily background in journalism. In1919Smallfield'ssonW.E.sold the business to Rupert Davies, father of famous Canadian author Robertson Davies.

Inmorerecenttimes,thepaperwasownedbytheWilsonfamily, D.W. McCuaig and Fred Runge. Today the paper is owned by Metroland, a division of Torstar. One hundred and fifty years after its inception, The Mercury continues to serve

Renfrew and area, now as a free distribution paper delivered to more than 7,000 homes each week.

And while the paper has seen its share of transformation and change over the years as across the globe the newspaper industry has changed and suffered, a smaller but no less dedicated staff,wholiveandworkintown, continues to work hard to tell the stories and mark the milestonesinRenfrewandarea.And our reach has extended way beyond our borders with our website insideottawavalley.com. While reporters and editors once had the luxury of seven days to prepare and fine-tune their stories, we're now posting fresh content daily.

From a location downtown next to the post office, to a longtime home on Opeongo Road, to a pandemic-prompted but now permanent move to working from home, we — from carriers to management to everyone in between—remaincommittedto putting out the newspaper each

week.

It may be our anniversary, but we would like to thank and congratulate all of you — advertisers for your business, story subjects and officials for your co-operation, and of course, our readers, without whom we would not be here — for your continued support.

A special thanks to Heritage Renfrew, whose diligent volunteers work to archive our publication and photos so that the Renfrew Mercury and all it contains will be preserved for years to come. Most of the photos and much of the information in our anniversary section were graciously provided by Heritage

Renfrew and we are most grateful.

"Community newspapers are so important in creating the historical documents," said Heritage Renfrew's Doug Fraser. "Particularly the Renfrew Mercury has been integral in preserving the heritage of the community."

Left, the front page of the Feb. 2, 1900 Renfrew Mercury. Right, Renfrew Mercury memorabilia, including a Renfrew Mercury promotional card and print press letter guide.

Heritage Renfrew photo

Sherry Haaima/Metroland

A LOOK BACK AT THE LAST 150 YEARS

It's been 150 years since theveryfirstRenfrewMercury hit the streets. Here's a look back.

• June 30, 1871, Albert Smallfield,anEnglishman with a family background in journalism, put out issue number 1 of the Renfrew Mercury. It was a sheet of four pages.

• Early in 1876, the Smallfields moved the Mercury and job printing business to a new office in the rear of Halpenny's Block, a two-minute walk from the post office, and installed a better press.

• Jan. 25, 1888, saw a disastrousfire.Thefirecompany rushed to the scene

with their little hand-held pumper but there wasn't enough water in those times before municipal waterworks.

Town historian Harry HinchleyrecountedinThe Story of Renfrew: "So instead of using water the willing volunteers had to resort to throwing snow at thefoundationsofthepower printing press. They did such a good job because the press, along with the steam engine that drove it, were later able to be repaired."

BeforetheendofFebruary 1888, the Smallfields had their presses running in temporary space over

Gemmill Bros. store on mainstreetandwereagain printing in Renfrew. By falltheyputupanewbrick building, just north of the post office, where Ottawa ValleyCoffeestandstoday.

• On Jan. 2, 1891, the Mercury published issue number 1,000. The editor mentioned that when the paper was founded 20 years earlier, people predicted it would last no longer than a few months.

The special edition was printed using the technological advances of the time. Part of the paper was composed on the Thorne typesetting machine, which placed individual

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letters in proper order by mechanism. Other pages wereprintedfromlinotype slugs where the letters were cast in a line from a mould, a modern invention that revolutionized the newspaper industry as one man operating the machine could do what five men were accustomed to doing in the days of hand composition.

Historian Hinchley noted that "one of the four or five men interested in the development and marketing of the linotype was Andrew Devine, scion of the pioneer Renfrew families, and who became known in the capital of the U.S. as one of the most proficient reportersforTheCongressional Record.

• Author Robertson Davies' father Rupert Davies was owner/editor of The Renfrew Mercury. He spentsixyearsofhislifein Renfrew and his novel 'What's Bred in the Bone' was based on the town.

• In 1970, the Mercury amalgamatedwiththeThe Renfrew Advance and consolidated operations on Opeongo Road, the paper's home until 2020.

• In 1975, fire again struck the paper, as the office was gutted by two fire bombs, resulting in $200,000 damage. As Hinchley observed: "This was

ablowtoagreatmanypeople, for at the time more than 20 weekly papers in Ontario and Quebec were printed at the Mercury. The arsonist was never caught."

• Owners/publishers of the Mercury included E. Roy Sayles, Hilda Frood and later her nieces and nephews Norm, Boyd, Kent and Elaine (Dick) Wilson. In1978, D.F. Runge of Pembroke bought the company and his son Fred Runge owned and ran the chain until 2007.

• Metroland Media, a division of Torstar, purchased the newspaper chain, which then consisted of 17 publications, from

Fred Runge in 2007. Shortly afterwards the printing press was replaced by a Global press. In 2013, that press was disassembled andmovedtoSmithsFalls, where the Mercury was printed until 2020, when press operations were centralized in Toronto.

• At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, editorial andsalesemployeesbegan working from home, a change that's become permanent. Only circulation operationsarenowdoneat the Opeongo Road office, a space shared with Kanata Carriers,aparceldistribution service that is affiliated with Metroland Parcel Service division.

Above, the Renfrew Mercury was located on Raglan Street, before it merged with the Advance and relocated to Opeongo Road in 1970. Below, in 1975, the Renfrew Mercury office was gutted by two fire bombs, resulting in $200,000 damage. The arsonist was never caught.

Heritage Renfrew photos

LOVE AND LINOTYPE AT MERCURY FOR MELBA WILSON

SHERRY HAAIMA sherry.haaima@ metroland.com

Thelong,successfulrun of the Renfrew Mercury would not have been possible without the many individuals who worked at the newspaper over the years. On the occasion of our 150th anniversary, we checked back with several key players to talk about theirtimeatthenewspaper andwhatthey'reuptonow. And while it was impossibletobooktimewitheveryone,aheartfeltthanksgoes out to all of you who put time and effort into the newspaper's success.

Melba Wilson's connec-

tion to the Renfrew Mercury runs long. She was 16 when she started working at the paper, which was located on Raglan Street beside the post office.

"Hilda Frood hired me. I wasinhelping,foldingpapers and stuff," she said. "Then I learned the linotype and started doing typesetting."

Her time at the Mercury,particularlyattheearly location, was among the best of her life.

"It was hard work there, but it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed my job there," she said.

In the early days, metal

See – page 11

Continued from page 10

and hot lead were involved in the process.

"That was different — if you happened to have a splash, you jumped," she said.

Sherecallsmeetingonetime Ottawa Mayor Charlotte Whitton, who was a friend of Frood's.

"She'd come in the back door and they'd be listening to what was being said on the radio — everyone tryingtoguesswhereshe'd disappearedto—andthere she was at the Mercury," said Wilson.

Alsoatthedowntownlocation, the message board out front of the office was a hubofactivityattimes,particularly during elections.

"They'd put the results of the voting out there and people would be on the street, all piled around," said Wilson.

And not only did the Mercury give Wilson the opportunity for her long and successful career (she retired in 2007), it is also

where she met the great love of her life — the late Boyd Wilson. He, along with brothers Norman and Kent, became owners of

the newspaper after the death of their aunt Hilda Frood. Their ownership extended from1964-1970. "He loved every bit of

that business, he knew it inside out," said Wilson, who was married to Boyd for 42 years. "He lived and breathed the newspaper."

Wilson had rolled with thetransitiontodigitaland was working on desktop publishinguponherretirement.

She now enjoys spending her time with family and friends, gardening and fostering small dogs in need of TLC.

Left, Melba Wilson has a collection of Renfrew Mercury memorabilia, including the old punch clock (and her timecard) from the paper's downtown location.

Right, former Renfrew Mercury owner Boyd Wilson passed away in December. In this photo from the early 1960s, Boyd shows children the linotype, a composing machine once used to produce the newspaper.

Melba Wilson photo

FORMER MERCURY OWNER REFLECTS ON 'EXCITING 29 YEARS'

SHERRY HAAIMA sherry.haaima@metroland.com

In 1978, D.F. Runge of Pembroke bought the company and his son Fred Runge owned and ran the chain until its purchase in 2007 by Metroland Media.

"It was the beginning of a heyday for community newspapers," said Runge. "I was overwhelmed, personally, to find out just how strong community newspapers were."

Runge moved to town from Pembroke,wherehisfatherrana print shop and did put out the Pembroke Advertiser, which was more of a flyer than a paper, he said.

"WhenImovedtoRenfrewIrealized'Mygoodness,thesepapers are an extremely important part of a lot of people's lives in this community,' " he said.

In terms of favourite memories, it's hard to pick one, said Runge.

"It was the highlight of every week, the paper came off the press and first thing you wanted

to do was get a copy," he said.

Hewasexcitedtoseethepaper through the many transitions over the years.

"Every day there was something new — it was like, what's next? It happened so quickly.

That was a fun era," he said. Andwhiletheongoingchanges certainly improved the paper, he noted the move to automation affected people in the "old-school"type jobs, which was unfortunate. For him, retirement means

time at the cottage, on the golf course and on the ski hill.

timeatthepaperandyoudon'trealize how completely you're involved in it until you're not," he said."Iwasinitfor29yearsandit

Fred Runge's newspaper career began in 1978 when his father purchased The Renfrew Mercury. When he retired in 2007 and sold the company, it consisted of 17 newspapers. For Fred, retirement has meant more time with family and friends, at the cottage, on the golf course and on the ski hill.

TheRenfrewCountyCatholicDistrictSchoolBoardandthestaffandstudentsat St.Joseph’sHighSchool,St.ThomastheApostleand OurLadyofFatimaCatholicSchoolsoffersincereandheartfelt Congratulations 150th Anniversary

totheRenfrewMercuryonyour

15 provider of information and a reliable source to distribute timely and

Over the years, the board has relied on the Mercury as a distinguished

Overtheyears,theboardhasreliedontheMercuryasadistinguished providerofinformationandareliablesourcetodistributetimelyand up-to-dateinformationtoourschoolcommunities.

TheRCCDSBfamilysendsprayerfulbestwishestotheMercuryfor manymoreyearsofcreativityandsuccess.

OneofthestrongestbrandsinRealEstate,RoyalLePageTeamRealtyhasbeen partofanetworkthathasbeenservingtheircommunitiesinCanadaforover 100years!Weareprivilegedtohelpourclientsmaketheirrealestatedreams arealityintheOttawaValley.Wearecommittedtosettingthepaceinservice excellencethatcontributestotheoverallwell-beingofthecommunitieswhere weliveandwork.Helpingyouiswhatwedo.Reachouttoustoday!

Anewspaperisthelife-bloodofanysmallcommunity,whetherit carriesstoriesaboutcouncil,localweddingsorthehometownteam’s latestvictoryontheice.Italsoincludesunhappyeventslikedeaths,car accidentsandfires,showingtheupsanddownsoflifeinasmalltown.

For150years,theRenfrewMercuryhascoveredthe“CreameryTown” likeablanketandwithyoursupport,willcontinuethisendeavour wellintothefuture.AsyourMemberofProvincialParliamentforthe pasttwodecades,ithasbeenmypleasureandprivilegetofollowthe happeningsinSouthRenfrewthroughthepagesoftheMercury.May theyprintmanymore!

HISTORIAN HINCHLEY AMONG NOTED MERCURY COLUMNISTS

SHERRY HAAIMA sherry.haaima@ metroland.com

Along with regular columns from staffers — Elaine Dick's 'Chit Chat', Peter Clark's 'Peter's Putterings', Lucy Hass' 'View fromthe'Frew'—avariety of columnists have filled the pages of the Renfrew Mercury over the years.

From Jim Ferguson to Michael Runtz to Mary Cook, these columns provideamixfromtheregular news and feature stories each week.

A favourite over the years has been historical columns. More recently, our'FromtheOldFiles'articles were provided by the late Olga Lewis.

Before that, longtime town historian and newspaper man, Harry Hinchley researched and wrote almost 750 weekly 'From the old files' columns, researched and wrote countless stories on Renfrew's history from noteworthy people to landmark buildings.

Overall, Hinchley had a valued association with the Renfrew Mercury and its editors for approximately 25 years. At the age of 91years, he retired.

"Harrywasnotanativeborn Renfrewite. He was born in Huron County in

western Ontario and came heretowork,andwaslater appointed manager, at the United Farmers Co- operative Creamery, the building later became Renfrew Wholesale," reads a Heritage Renfrew press release,whichdrewinformation from a 1991 Mercury article by Wanda Blimkie. "Eighteen years later he became his own boss in a propane business."

Hinchley played the snare drum in the Renfrew Citizens Band in 1932. He was elected first president of Heritage Renfrew. For manyyearshewasactively involved in researching historical buildings desig-

nated for Heritage Renfrew plaques and authored 26 stories in 'The Story of Renfrew', a major project of Heritage Renfrew in 1984.

"However, of all his accomplishments, writing for this newspaper brought him the most satisfaction," reads the Heritage Renfrew article. "In doing research for his column, Harry built up a tremendous library of thousands of cards, all systematically filed, recording interesting information on prominent citizens and events in the town's history. His cards now reside in the Renfrew Archives."

Long-time town historian and newspaper man Harry Hinchley researched and wrote almost 750 weekly 'From the old files' columns.

Heritage Renfrew photo

FOUR THINGS (ALMOST) AS OLD AS THE MERCURY

JONATHAN MULVIHILL

jmulvihill@metroland.com

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Renfrew Mercury publication, here are four things almostas,ifnotolderthan, the local paper:

McDougall Mill — The millwasoriginallybuiltby John Lorn McDougall in 1855 by the Bonnechere River near the Swinging Bridge and the Renfrew Power Generation station. In 1969 the mill was converted into a museum, which houses pioneer tools and machinery, a military section and a doll exhibit, among other relics of the past.

Renfrew Fair — The Renfrew fair is one of the oldest of its kind, with the first agricultural exhibition being held in 1855. Today the fair features rides and games for all ages, but

still keeps its early roots through various beef and cattle shows and 4-H exhibits.

Swinging Bridge — The original wire bridge

across the Bonnechere River was built in 1895 by the W.H. Kearney family. The landmark was reconstructed in 1983 with wood and cable and updated in

2015, making it far safer and more secure than the originalstructure.Itisone of the last of its kind in Canada.

St. Francis Xavier Par-

From left: The original wire bridge across the Bonnechere River was built in 1895 by the W.H. Kearney family. Originally built as a grist mill in 1855 by John Lorn McDougall, the museum is one of the oldest standing buildings in Renfrew.

wasrebuiltfollowingafire in 1964. In the years since its founding, the parish has become one of the major contributors to the history of Renfrew.

Jonathan Mulvihill/Torstar

MERCURY'S HISTORY FINDS NEW HOME IN LOCAL MUSEUM

since become permanent.

A part of the Renfrew Mercury's history is now being preserved at a treasured local facility.

At the start of the pandemic, Renfrew Mercury employees, except for circulation, began workingfromhome,achangethathas

In looking for a home for several special items from the longstanding office, officials decided to donate them to the McDougall Mill Museum, to be preserved and enjoyed by the public for years to come.

The donation coincides with the newspaper's150th anniversary this year. The exhibit is on the

main floor of the museum.

"We've had donations from them in the past, but we are happytohavetheseondisplayforthe anniversary," said Margaret Du-

beau, president of the Renfrew and District Historical and Museum Society Inc. "It really shows a rough history of the newspaper from its early begin-

Happy 150RenfrewMercury!

nings to more or less the present day."

She adds the Mercury has

Summer students Brandon Roberts and Cassandra Monk stand next to the IBM 5110, used by the Renfrew Mercury in the 80's and donated to the McDougall Mill Museum in 1991.

Jonathan Mulvihill/Metroland

JONATHAN MULVIHILL jmulvihill@metroland.com

Clockwise from far left: Renfrew Advance publisher D.W. McCuaig purchased the Renfrew Mercury in 1970 and merged the two publications. He added a number of newspapers to the chain before selling the lot to D.F. Runge in 1978. Norm Wilson in the newsroom, circa 1970. Owners/publishers of the Mercury included Hilda Frood and later her nieces and nephews Norm, Boyd, Kent and Elaine (Dick) Wilson. The 1952-53 Renfrew Mercury staff included, from left, Eddie Kovalsky, Anne Kluke, Elaine Dick, publisher Hilda Frood, John Meen, news editor Mary Flynn Kelly and Max Kovalsky.

Heritage Renfrew photos

TODAY'S STAFF LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN RENFREW

DEREK DUNN derek.dunn@ metroland.com

They are your friends andneighbours,community volunteers and business facilitators. They live here — some with ancestries spanning three centuries — and they care passionately about contributing in ways that make Renfrew a vibrant place to live, work and play.

They are today's staff of The Renfrew Mercury.

Paula Inglis is director of advertising. She began as a student at the newspaper, then, after studying business and law, found her way back in 2013.

"I'm proud to be part of where we are going as a company.Withnewownership who are committed to

Congratulationson150years!

Partnersin Community

TheCountyofRenfrewParamedic Servicewouldliketocongratulatethe RenfrewMercuryon150yearsof dedicatedstorytellingandreporting onlocalnews.OttawaValleyresidents dependonlocalreporterstoprovide accurateandtimelyinformationto staysafeandengagedwithinour communities,andweareproudto workalongsidetheMercuryaswe serveresidentsofRenfrewCounty!

TheRenfrewCountyDistrictSchoolBoardthanks theRenfrewMercuryfortheirdedicationtotelling thestoriesandsharingthevoicesofourcommunity. Happyanniversary!

Jamieson, Steve White, and Sherry Haaima. Missing from photo is Jeannette Bowes. See – page 25

RENFREW CARRIERS VITAL TO DELIVERING COMMUNITY NEWS

JONATHAN MULVIHILL jmulvihill@metroland.com

If you're reading this story in thelatestprinteditionoftheRenfrew Mercury, you have a carrier to thank for delivering the paper.

The Mercury is printed in Torontowithmorethan7,000copies sent to the Opeongo Road office for delivery every Thursday morning. From there, carriers deliver them to driveways, mailboxes, front steps, apartments and drop boxes across Renfrew County.

While the job is not necessarilydemandingperse,itrequires responsible, reliable individuals to get it done right. One of those individuals is Shawville resident Jason Smith, who comes to the Mercury office one morning a week to deliver the papers.

"I get 365 papers delivered each week, and I only deliver in the Renfrew area," he said. "I've been doing this for about11years now."

Smith says his day starts at around6a.m.,whenhemakesthe early drive to Renfrew to pick up his papers. He's on the road making deliveries by 7 a.m. and usually finishes within a couple hours.

"One of the things people may not know is that carriers need to be up early," he said.

Smithaddsheenjoysthework for the most part.

"Other than having messy paperseveryonceinawhile,it'sa pretty rewarding experience," he said. "The tenants at apartments really appreciate having their news delivered. The whole Renfrew community is very hospitable."

Smith says any carriers working in the wintertime should be cautious of conditions.

"It'snotuncommonforacarrier to slip and fall on the ice, so they should be careful," he said.

Smith is a part, however small, of an important system dedicated to providing the Renfrew and area community with

its news, with his work helping residents stay up-to-date on what is happening in town.

Circulation representative Sylvia Giroux appreciates the

work carriers do.

"They're absolutely hardworking - in the rain, the wind, the heat, the cold - I have true respectforthem,"shesaid."Forme,

theirsafetyandcomfortarenumber one."

Almost 50 carriers make up the local contingent.

"They range in age from the minimum of 10 years old to retired folks," she said.

Youngcarrierslearnthevalue of earning money, adults enjoy the exercise and socializing, she said.

Is there anything newspaper carriers would like their clients to know? Here are four tips from the circulation department.

• It is helpful and appreciated ifyoukeepyourdriveways,walkways and steps clear of snow and ice.

• Dogs loose or tied in the area where newspapers are delivered can be a hindrance for carriers.

• On rural routes, please keep mailboxes clear of snow.

• Carriers have until 8 p.m. on Thursdays to deliver your newspaper. If you have not received your paper by then you can call 613-432-3655 ext. 8431or email sylvia.giroux@metroland.com.

Renfrew Mercury carrier Jason Smith enjoys serving the local community, who he describes as very hospitable.

Jonathan Mulvihill/Metroland