Published: Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009 4:55pm

Pages from the Past

1859 - 150 Years Ago

Woman before court for stealing from Burgess

It's coincidental that as Burgess celebrated the opening of its newly refurbished department store only two weeks ago, in the edition of the Westmeath Independent dated December 10, 1859, a draper called Mr Burgess was named during the Athlone Petty Sessions after a woman was accused of stealing goods from him.

Mary Joyce, was brought up in custody of Constable Quinn, who charged her with having in her possession a cloth cape, and a piece of silk binding, the property of Mr Burgess, draper.

Elenor Pell, an assistant in the establishment, identified the property, saw the cape last on the 29th inst, in Mr Burgess's wareroom, and next in the hands of the police.

The Constable said from information he received that the prisoner was offering the cape for sale, he arrested her when she dropped it from under her cloak.

The prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two months imprisonment, and hard labour.

1909 - 100 Years Ago

Athlone Courthouse: The new

building

One hundred years ago this week the Westmeath Independent gave an update on the proposed new courthouse for Athlone.

The previous Tuesday, Mr Arthur E Joyce, County Surveyor with Westmeath County Council had visited Athlone in conncection with the suggested new courthouse for the town. He made a further inspection of the building, which confirmed the impression of its unsuitableness and submitted rough plans which he prepared to lay before the county council.

To meet Mr Joyce, a number of gentlemen attended the courthouse, including Mr J Coen, JP, one of the representatives of the town on the county council, Mr P Robert Kelly, Crown Solicitor, Mr J Lyster, JP, Mr JJ Elder, solicitor, Mr Thomas Chapman, Mr PB Treacy and others. Mr Joyce explained the plans which he had prepared, showing the existing accommodation proposed to be given. The courthouse would be built on the site of the existing building, take in necessary space at the back and the building as outlined seemed to give entire satisfaction, being in every way suitable for the needs of the town, well lighted, ventilated and possessing ample interior space and up-to-date sanitary arrangements were made by the deputation which met Mr Joyce, of which he took note and promised to consider them.

1959 - 50 Years Ago

Waterways Ireland to plant

riverside trees

Fifty years ago this week the Athlone branch of Waterways Ireland decided to plant trees along the banks of the Shannon.

Mr T Curley proposed the resolution at a meeting in the Royal Hoey Hotel as he said the Shannon at Athlone looked bleak because of the absence of trees.

He suggested that they approach the Athlone Development Company and he felt sure the Forestry Department would also help them.

Mrs Baird seconded.

Mr FJ Waters said they should go ahead with it without approaching anybody because unless they did it themselves they would get nothing done.

He had seen the trees around the chairman's residence at Coosan Point and these were all grown from slips. He said he thought the were beautiful and they could do the same along the Shannon with slips.

Mr E Egan said that a couple of years ago they decided to plant trees on the canal banks and they fixed a day for the planting but unfortunately when the day arrived there was about four feet of water on the site. They got permission from the Board of Works to plant the Canal Banks.

They discussed other areas suitable for planting and said trees would only be planted on the very edge of the rivers and would become the property of the landowners along the river.

They appealed to the landowners through the Westmeath Independent for permission to do this and also appealed for donations of suitable trees.

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