By Dan McCaffery for the Sarnia Observer

He was the first Sarnia Mayor who had to deal with a genuine terrorism crisis.

Dr. Arthur Poussette, who became the Municipality’s 16th Mayor in 1886, found himself in office at a time when the community was badly torn by the prohibition issue.

There was widespread talk of banning the sale of alcohol in the Town and the debate was ugly. So ugly, in fact, that bombs were placed in the homes of two of the leading proponents of abolition. One of the houses was destroyed in a shattering explosion but no one was hurt.

The crime created a sensation that was reported in newspapers across Canada. One paper referred to it as “Sarnia’s dynamite outrage”. Needless to say, Town Officials were under enormous pressure to solve the case.

Mayor Poussette moved swiftly, convincing Council to put up a $200.00 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprit. He also talked Lambton County Council into offering another $250.00.

It was an enormous sum of money in those days and a suspect was quickly arrested.

However, the alleged bomber was found not guilty after the credibility of the Chief

Investigating Officer was called into question.

There were no further bombings, possibly because the culprit knew if he struck again the Mayor and Council would spend a small fortune in a bid to bring him to justice.

Mayor Poussette also led the Council that banned cows from Town streets. It was a controversial move in a community that had 5,228 people and 144 cows.

But The Observer backed the Mayor, declaring cow owners had no right to turn their animals “loose on the streets and upon their neighbours’ gardens”.

Mayor Poussette, who was born in London, England on December 7, 1835, was one of Sarnia’s pioneer settlers, coming here in 1839 when the community was still a Village called The Rapids.

As a young man he studied medicine at McGill University in Montreal before setting up his own practice in Mooretown. He moved back to Sarnia in 1863.

Dr. Poussette and wife, Atecia, lived at 215 Lochiel Street and had four children.

He ran for re-election in 1887, Iosing by 82 votes to Dr. Charles Vail.

After leaving politics he became local Medical Health Officer in 1905.

He died in March, 1919, at age 88.