Stevenston - On This Day In History

[down south]

25TH FEBRUARY 1972

A Stevenston coal merchant changes hands...at a less than propitious moment:

( Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald advertisement, 25th February 1972 )

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
28 FEBRUARY 1916

FOOTBALL CLUB MOTOR IN COLLISION

On Saturday night a motor accident occurred on the highway between Saltcoats and Stevenston.

A motor car conveying players and supporters of the Vale of Leven Football Club was returning from Stevenston to Alexandria. A short distance out of Stevenston another motor which carries passengers between Saltcoats and Stevenston was coming into Stevenston. The motors collided. Fortunately they were travelling very slowly.

The Vale of Leven car had a full complement of passengers and there were about a dozen passengers in the local car.

Considerable excitement ensued for a time.

One man had his face cut and had to get it stitched. The others were shaken but were able to proceed to their destinations.

The cars were damaged.

[Earlier in the day Stevenston United had played the Vale of Leven team.]

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
3 MARCH 1953

NO SUNDAY CINEMA

Stevenston Town Council have refused an application by George Kemp Theatres Limited for permission to open the Grange Cinema on Sundays.

Sunday opening of the cinema was permitted previously under a licence granted by Ayr County Council, but since Stevenston became a burgh the town council are now the licensing authority.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
5 MARCH 1855

FREESTONE QUARRY TO LET

Ardeer Quarry, in the Parish of Stevenston, will be let for such number of years as may be agreed upon, from and after Whitsunday next.

The rock is about 30 feet thick, and is well known to be of a very superior quality.

The demand is large, is steadily increasing, and by an enterprising tenant the sale could be largely extended.

The quarry is in the centre of an extensive building district, and is connected by a branch about 400 yards long with the Glasgow and South Western Railway, by which a connection is maintained with the harbours of the Ayrshire Coast; and with Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, etc.

The quarry will be shown to intending offerers, by John Wilson, Foreman; and offers will be received un 1 April next, by Messrs. Patrick McEwan & Carmont, W.S., Albany Street, Edinburgh; or by Francis Russell, Arran Place, Ardrossan.

ARDEER BRICK WORK will also be LET for such number of years as may be agreed upon, from and after Whitsunday next.

The clay is very superior. The kilns and drying sheds are in good order, having been lately repaired.

The trustees do not bind themselves to accept of the highest or any other offers.

Offers to be directed as above stated.

[down south]

6TH MARCH 1971

The focus was on Stevenston at the North Ayrshire Museum this month, with two exhibitions beginning on the 6th of March, and a lecture on the 9th:

Stevenston will be in the limelight at the North Ayrshire Museum, Saltcoats, during the next month when two allied exhibitions, running concurrently, will be held. One, titled " Old Stevenston ", consists of paintings by Sam Arnold and the late James Wylie and shows a Stevenston that is now largely a memory.

The other, " Stevenston in History and Prehistory ", comprises a collection of medieval and 18th century manuscripts taken from the Cuninghame archives, canal and mining records and maps, statistical accounts and histories relating to the town, archaeological material, transparencies and photographs.

Coal mining in the Stevenston area will be the subject of a discussion in the museum on Tuesday, led by Harry H Maxwell.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald,5th March 1971

Susan

[down south]

8TH MARCH 1946

A wartime relic cleared away:

Workmen have been busy this week demolishing the air raid shelters at Stevenston Cross.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 8th March 1946

Susan

[down south]

2ND APRIL 1948

A reminder that the primitive days of oil-lamps and candles weren't entirely dead even as recently as just after the second world war:

Several applications have been received by the County Council from their tenants at Ardeer housing to have electricity installed: at present, no form of lighting is laid on at these houses.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 2nd April 1948

Susan

[down south]

3RD APRIL 1875

A helping hand for threetowners in the big city:

The Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Benevolent Association of Glasgow intimate that one of their objects is to give assistance in obtaining situations for persons of good character who have come to the city from any of those three towns.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3rd April 1875


3RD APRIL 1925

The first local ambulance:

The new ambulance wagon provided by Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston committee of St Andrew's Ambulance Association is now in service. The accident service is free, and all applications for use of the car should be made to the police office.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 3rd April 1925


3RD APRIL 1972

A busy Monday session for Stevenston Town Council, generating three newsworthy articles in that week's Herald. The councillors were united in condemning plans to downgrade Stevenston's main Post Office ( and Ardrossan's ) in the wake of the recent upgrade of Saltcoats:

STEVENSTON DOESN'T WANT " WEE SHOP " POST OFFICE

Stevenston town councillors are angry at the proposed downgrading of the town's Post Office and they will ask Ayrshire Postal Authorities to meet them.

This was decided at the meeting of Stevenston Town Council on Monday ( 3rd April ) when it was revealed that the post office would be reduced to the status of a postman's delivery office and scale-payment sub-office. Dean of Guild Samuel Gooding said that at present the Stevenston office was a Crown Office with a postmaster and three clerks and if the threatened changes took effect it would be just another office similar to those at Hayocks Road and Shore Road.

" I don't think we should allow this to pass, " he added. " In Stevenston we have industry like ICI and the number of people are increasing rather than decreasing. The post office should not be withdrawing services. "

Councillor Thomas Murphy commented that authorities were getting the idea that Saltcoats was where they should be. " We should be totally against this, " he claimed, " and we should go to it very forcibly indeed. "

Provost Archie Lambie also argued that Stevenston's voice be made known and that they should be emphatic in stating that a community of their size should not accept a " watered down " service. " It seems to be centralisation madness, " he stated, " with money-saving efforts cutting through to everything, reducing staff to such an extent that people are having to do half the work themselves. It is not in the best interests of society and the downgrading is not in the best interests of Stevenston. We will be very vocal in our protest. "

Police Judge Leonard Goss suggested that in addition to protesting to the post office authorities they should also get in touch with Mr Christopher Chataway, Minister of Post and Telecommunications.

Treasurer James Clements reminded the council that Ardrossan was also under threat and had recently given the matter an airing. The only other places in this area to be downgraded were Mauchline and the Isle of Arran. The Crown Office, he continued, was built in 1938 when there was a population of 8000. Now there was over 12,000 and the situation of having the post office reverting to a " wee shop " was ludicrous.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7th April 1972

And they were suitably indignant on behalf of residents who were being affected by noxious emissions from the Nylon Plant:

MORE COMPLAINTS OF SOOT FROM FACTORY

The emission of soot from Ardeer Nylon Factory which soils Stevenston housewives' washing lines and adjacent roads and houses, may result in the factory facing lawsuits.

At Stevenston Town Council meeting on Monday, councillors urged residents who are complaining about damage from the " oily lumps of soot " to sue ICI.

Following complaints to the council last month the Nylon Factory was asked to remedy the situation. In a letter to the council the works manager replied that they appreciated that the factory's assurances of continued efforts to find a solution were not much comfort to the people affected, but that the complex technical problems which were involved were showing real progress to a permanent solution.

Councillor James Graham said that the council could not do much more unless the residents came forward with a detailed account of the times of pollution. " When the soot comes over, " he suggested, " they should put in for damages for re-washing. What is happening is awful. If it is not soot it is sulphur or it is fumes. We should tell the people to send letters to the Nylon factory, because they are being done left, right and centre. "

Provost Archie Lambie added that the council certainly could not sue on behalf of the residents, but where they suffered loss or damages they had the right to sue.

Bailie Robert Haggarty commented that, reading between the lines of the Nylon Factory letter, he perceived that there was a threat that the factory might close down. Provost Lambie replied that it would not be such a financial burden to ICI and that that the coucil was aware of the advantages the company had of being in Stevenston. " There is no worry of anyone crying wolf . "

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7th April 1972

But they didn't agree at all about even the desirability of adopting the new scheme to give OAPs concessionary bus fares:

NO CONCESSIONARY FARES YET AT STEVENSTON

A move by two Stevenston town councillors for immediate consideration to be given to whether Stevenston's old age pensioners and infirm ratepayers should get concessionary bus fares, was defeated by one vote after a stormy discussion at the council meeting on Monday.

Some councillors slammed the concessionary fares scheme as " a mere pittance " and " charity to be rated for ", claiming that the town's old people did not want to come " cap in hand ", while others declared that Stevenston was dragging its feet because the old age pensioners needed concessions.

Consideration of the scheme had been postponed while the Burgh Chamberlain prepared a report on the financial implications, and Councillor Thomas Murphy asked that now they had the report they should delegate the matter to the Finance Sub Committee immediately.

He said, " There is a feeling among the old age pensioners that the councillors are dragging their feet, as Ayr County Council have their scheme working in the landward areas and Ardrossan and Saltcoats have got it working. "

Police Judge Leonard Goss agreed, and thought the council should resolve the matter immediately after the council meeting. " Like Councillor Murphy,many people have come to me and other councillors with accusations that the council is dragging its feet. What we really want to see is the raising of pensions, but in point of fact it would be ludicrous for nine people to bang their heads against a wall. Concessionary fares are operated throughout the county and it is about time we did it. "

Councillor James Graham disagreed. He pointed out that because one made a fast decision, it did not mean it was the right one, and although it was suggested Stevenston go along with other burghs they might improve on the scheme. " There is no need to panic. My own opinion is that a 3 pence ticket to get people from the north of the town to the south does not meet the need. It is a 4p fare. "

Treasurer James Clements said that the proposed scheme was merely the basis for discussion and to go into it immediately would require a long hard look. He added that it seemed the prevalent issue was that everyone was operating it in the county but this was not true, as Largs, Kilwinning, Kilmarnock and Irvine were some burghs not operating it. " For a person to suggest we are dragging our feet is a wee bit unfair and a white lie. I sugeest you take the commendable report by the chamberlain home, and then come back as a sub-committee and decide what is to happen. I am not frightened by it but the cost would be substantial. "

Provost Archie Lambie stated that the situation perturbed him and he felt well and truly bludgeoned. " What other local authorities do is their businesss, " he commented, " I never want to be in the position to criticise other authorities but at the same time if they do something , I don't agree that I should immediately follow it. I have felt quite strongly about this. Dignity is worth preserving and it horrifies me for people to come along and asked for concessions. "

He explained that what the council could give the OAPs would be a " mere pittance " because they were not in the financial position to give rational support to people on concessionary fares. " The great difficulty is, " he said, " it is very much tied up with the rate position. The real difficulty I have is not in refusing people but in not being in a position to give them proper support, as we can't afford it. People can go into Saltcoats and back and will have spent their weekly allowance of concessionary tickets. That is ridiculous. The burden should be placed on the government. "

Bailie James Forde agreed. " We would be condoning the government decision to say you will have to wait to get increases in pensions till October and meanwhile the town council will give you 3p tickets. I am not prepared to give anyone concessionary fares to go to Saltcoats to shop. These folk are not looking for bus fares. They should be fighting for justice, not charity, and as far as I am concerned the OAPs of this town have pride. "

On a vote, Police Judge Goss' motion for immediate resolution was defeated by five votes to four.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 7th April 1972 ( extracted from a longer article )

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
6 APRIL 1912

PAYMENT OF STEVENSTON MEDICAL OFFICERS

Stevenston Parish Council has decided to advertise for two medical officers for the landward portion of the parish and the part situated in the burgh of Saltcoats at salaries of £35 and £20 respectively.

Mr P Reid, in submitting the motion, remarked that it was stated that the medical officers of the Parish Council were only paid 3d or 4d a visit, but from the record kept by the clerk he found that the landward medical officer was paid at the rate of 1s per visit and the medical officer for the Saltcoats portion at the rate of 7d per visit.

He thought such a difference ought not to exist and his motion was to increase the salary of the Saltcoats officer by £5, and bring the rate paid per visit nearly equal.

Mr Orr seconded.

An amendment was moved by Mr Morrison, seconded by Mr Alexander, not to advertise, but to reappoint the medical officers.

On a vote the motion was carried by 6 to 5.

[down south]

13TH APRIL 1974

On this day began the final retiral sale of " Rea's " childrens' wear shop in Stevenston. A shop I'm sure was familiar to many of you Stinsonians; as described here , she was the sister of R T Evans the photographer, and aunt to one of our members, Robert Cook.

Susan

[down south]

14TH APRIL 1972

Looks like this was the end of another well-known Stevenston business. As mentioned elsewhere on site eg here, Isaac Cherry's was a builders and also had a furniture shop.

Susan

[John Donnelly]

Isaac Cherry lived in the large bungalow which he built on the High Road, halfway up the hill on the left going up .

He was killed in a car accident just outside Dalry, which is why the prosperous business closed.

I don't remember him having a furniture shop. I can't get the link to open. (Blasted W8)

JD.