(The original Stittsville News building on Stittsville Main Street.)
Lloyd Maguire, along with his brother Howard, were newspaper and printing legends in our once small community and the area for bringing The Stittsville News to town in 1957. It was not only a historical step for the brothers, but one for all of Stittsville because residents had to rely on the Ottawa newspapers for daily news. The brothers, forming a partnership, were instrumental in bringing all of the local news, births, deaths, social events and anything else happening in Stittsville when the two founded The Stittsville News community newspaper and released the first monthly edition on December 12, 1957.
Sadly, Lloyd Maguire has passed away. He died on August 13th at the age of 87. He spent most of his impressionable years in Bobcaygeon prior to settling in Stittville.
(Lloyd Maguire. Photo: Ottawa Citizen)
For the first year of production, the newspaper was printed in Lanark County. When the brothers purchased their own printing equipment in 1958, the business blossomed by producing everything from flyers, business cards and auction booklets. By this time the paper had increased its publication to bi-monthly. There was so much news to report from the area, in 1961 the paper began to appear on people’s doorsteps weekly. It continued as a weekly newspaper and the sole source for everything local until it was sold in 1972 — the sale was a sad loss for Stittsville at the time.
Lloyd and his brother Howard were partners in running the newspaper until 1972. The brothers brought us the stories from their building tucked in behind the old Bradley’s General Store on Stittsville Main where the building still exists beside the Trans-Canada Trail. The local ice rink was beside the building for years. A portion of the building was rented out by the brothers to Bell Canada — that had recently moved from nearby Hazeldean Road, and served as Stittsville’s local telephone switching station.
Lloyd enjoyed having a good time and a relaxing moment – known to enjoy a cold beer at times. He was an avid golfer – he was one of the first local residents to become a member at the Glen-Mar Golf Club on Fernbank Road (now Stittsville Golf). He loved to hunt with his many friends and was a long-time member of Madawaska’s George Lake Hunt Club.
Lloyd leaves behind his his daughter Robin Maguire, his sons Kevin Maguire (late Jane Leafloor) and Blaine Maguire (Kim), all of Ottawa. His grandchildren – Mark and Matthew (Kevin’s sons), and Connor and Daniel (Blaine’s sons). His surviving brothers Milford (Rose) of Lindsay, Ontario and Phillip (Gloria) of Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Lloyd is predeceased by his sisters Lillian (Len), Florence (Christy) and Joyce (Jim), and his brothers Howard (Molly) and Earl (Lorene). He also will be sorely missed by many nieces, nephews and good friends.
The family invites everyone to share in a Celebration of Life for Lloyd on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the Stittsville Branch 618 of the Royal Canadian Legion on Stittsville Main between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.