Looking back - 2005: Town receives an offer to purchase for Hamilton Hotel site

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Archived photo. 40 years ago: Sept. 25, 1975: The road from the Village of McCreary to the hospital was flooded.

By Cecil Pittman

The Neepawa Press

 

80 years ago, Tuesday September 24, 1935:

By last Friday the drillers at the C-I-L salt well had reached a depth of over 625 feet. The work is progressing rapidly now as operation is being carried on 24 hours a day. The well that is being used for production now is 1,800 feet deep.

70 years ago, Thursday September 27, 1945: 

Jack Knight, 21, was accidentally killed while plowing a fire guard on the farm of Frank May, Oberon, on Tuesday, September 18. The coroner, Dr. J. S. Poole, proclaimed accidental death, Knight having been run over by the tractor.

The deceased failed to come in for dinner and Mr. and Mrs. May presumed that he was stuck in the field. Mr. May going to assist Knight, found him lying on the ground and assumed that he had been dead for some time. It is assumed that the plow was stuck and when the accident happened Knight had the tractor in reverse. When the body was found the tractor was pushing up against the plow and the motor still running.

60 years ago, Thursday September 29, 1955:

An extra class of combined grades two and three pupils will open in West Park School next Monday, October 3. Miss Marlyne Whyte of Oak Lake has been engaged as teacher and the music room has been requisitioned as the new classroom. The extra teacher was required due to the heavy enrolment in these grades for the term.

50 years ago, Tuesday September 21, 1965:

ROYALTY - Kristine Jakobson and Alan Johnstone were named freshie queen and king in the annual royalty contest at NACI last week. Friday they rode in a place of honor in the freshie parade which passed through the downtown section in the afternoon. 

40 years ago, Thursday September 25, 1975:

The road from the Village of McCreary to the hospital was flooded Friday making driving on it somewhat tricky. Monsoon-like rains began Wednesday evening and continued all the next day, not letting up until Friday. Over $1 million damage was estimated in the area.

30 years ago, Thursday September 19, 1985:

Friday the 13th has proven to be a very lucky day for the owner of Gladstone Transfer Limited. 

Ken Kinley said he is “elated” over a decision by the Manitoba Transport Board September 13 that will allow him to provide daily service to Neepawa and district.

Prior to the MTB decision, Gladstone Transfer Limited could service Neepawa out of Gladstone, but not from Winnipeg.

Hearings into the manner wound up in Winnipeg April 29 and have taken nearly five months to come to a decision.

20 years ago, Monday September 19, 1995:

A 23-year-old Waldersee man is in serious condition in Brandon hospital following a train-truck accident last Monday.

Gladstone RCMP said Don Post was struck by an oncoming CN train while attempting to cross the Tenby tracks north of Plumas. The accident took place around 8:40 am.

Police said Post apparently didn’t see the train, which was unable to stop before hitting his vehicle. 

10 years ago, Monday September 26, 2005:

The town has received an offer to purchase the site of the former Hamilton Hotel, but no deal has yet been finalized, mayor Bob Durston said last week. 

“It’s still under negotiation,” Durston said, “it’s not a done deal.”

The property, which burned to the ground Feb. 2, 2004 was up for tax sale. Last May in a letter to his creditors Darren Rogowski - who ran the hotel purchased by his parents Sonya and Morley in 1976 - said the hotel wouldn’t be rebuilt. 

Rogowski also said the three-storey hotel wasn’t insured. 

In addition, Rogowski owed $25,000 in back taxes at the time of the fire. 

The town ordered a cleanup of the property in May 2004 - the first under its derelict buildings and property bylaw. 

Durston said when the Rogowskis didn’t clean up the property, the town had no option but to step in. Clean up for the property cost $20,000.