The best laid plans can be derailed by… lightning.
An example of that is in this week’s look at Cochrane history. The Northland Post reported on July 29th, 1987 that most of the Round the Lake Swim had to be postponed.
Cochrane Public Library archivist Ardis Proulx-Chedore reads from an article written by organizer Chris Mitchell-Kydd.
“During the combined three-quarter and mile-and-a-half swim , there was thunder and lightning along with the rain and the race to be stopped.”
The half-mile swim competition had already finished, so only the three-quarters and one-and-a-half mile races were postponed to the following weekend.
“I know there were a few people who were upset, but we feel that it was best to stop the race and postpone it until next weekend.”
Along with that article was a photo of a greased watermelon contest in the water. The trick was to hold it for ten seconds. There was also a kids’ treasure hunt. They dove for bags in the water, and prizes were the new one-dollar coins – today, we call the coins loonies.
Cochrane history comes alive in the library’s archives department.