Ardrishaig Shops of The Past

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Ardrishaig Shops of The Past OLD Mr Fletcher was the ironmonger and next to his shop was Agnes MacGregor's ladies' dress shop. Mrs Mitchell'.s sweet shop is now the cafe. Then there was the Lorne Hotel, Nessic MacCracken's shoe shop and the old Broom Hotel. The old shoemaker's shop belonged to Mr MacCracken senior. Strang's drapers was taken over by Alex MacEwan and ran for many years. His good lady is still with us. Mary MacVicar's is the fish shop, which she and her brother John ran for 30years. John's wife May is an expert baker and jam and and marmalade maker. Belle MacVicar had a grocery shop and wool store. What can anybody say other than she was a lovely lady. Bob MacInnes, the painter, served his time with Aulds the painters. He papered my living room and large bedroom as a wedding gift. People don't do these things today. At the Argyll Hotel. Mrs Gillies was host for 50 years, followed by the Kinghorns. Next to that, was Duncan Livingstone's garage, Lawson's lemonade works and the bakehouse next door was Hugh MacDonald's. The wee chip shop in front of Hermione Terrace was where Mrs Bom served for many years, then up to Tom Hamilton's wite's wee shop. She sold fizzy lemonade drinks tor a penny. The shop at the end was the British Legion Whist Club. Jim and Katie Johnson sold lamps and electric fittings. Going back down the street we had Bayview Black, the butcher, followed by Mr Lament, Archie Cunningham; Jake Arman, bakers shop and grocer supplies. Sandv Crawtord, the tailor followed by Miss Livingston's hair and beauty salon. Next was the garage and church hall. Bob Gillies the tailor, Johnnie Barr, Robert Hamilton, hairdresser, Donnie Robertson, the ironmonger, then the post othce and Phillip Hugh's house, below the telephone exchange (Neil Hamilton's house for 30 years). Morrison had a shop and store at the back for 60 years; he had two vans on the road and his nephews helped him in the shop. Donald Makey was one driver and big Kenny MacPherson was the other. Jessie Munro's shop was MacKay's store before. A lady who had some money to pay him had her cow and calf removed and he had them down at the back of the shop till she paid the bill. There's no flies on the MacKay's ! MacGilp, the bakers, next. The Union Bank, run by Mr Roy, then by Mr Bulloch. Maggie Thompson's shop was followed by Donnie Sinclair, then Donnie MacMillan. Phebie Carmichael had the wool shop, which was taken over by Mary MacArthur ("Mary-All-Things") who sold everything from book-lending to kmcker elastic. Mrs MacFarlane's, Bennie Duff, the fruit shop, then Jim MacLachlan, Angus MacVicar, the butcher, followed by Andy Campbell's grocer's shop. He had one of the most beautiful displays of fruit and sweets you could ever hope to see. Next was Jimmy Mitchell, the plumber, Ian Mitchell's father. The chemist shop run by Mr Stevenson, the druggist, was taken over by Mr Tommy Menzies and his good wife. They are both still with us. Mrs Menzies was the lady who ran the Ardrishaig Drama Club and took most of the cups in the Argyll competitions. The garage next to their shop was where Josie McCrackcn sold his Sunday papers. The Anchor Hotel was run by Duncan Livingstone whose wife and son stay next door to me here at Attichuan Croft. Bannatyne the draper, then J. Carmichael's stores, followed by the Co-operative. Paterson, the chemist, then Willie MacCracken. nephew of old Willie at the shoe shop. Then A. Ferguson, the butcher, the Co-op butcher, Angus MacGregor's cycle shop, Cathie Mitchell had a shop opposite, where she sold kippers. The last shop was Barbara Law's fruits and sweets. On the south side we had Loll Jackson in the Fisher Row. The old shop was owned by the MacTavishes. Mary Campbell's, or "Wee Mary's" as she was known, was the shop where Andy Campbell started his grocer business before he went up the street. After him. we had Miss MacGeachy and Miss MacFarlane. Morrison's shop was followed by Davy and Mary Sinclair. Next we had Dan Hamilton's shop and the sweet shop next door was run by ]essie MacVicar and her son Archie. Dan's shop used to be Dan MacLachlan the butcher's before the first world war and at one time the house or landing was called the "Carriers' Inn". That is the reason the stable up the big lane went with the house. The horses came with the mail from Clachan to Ardrishaig and changed and then went on to Inveraray.

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Lochgilphead Shops of the Past Butchers—Jock Todd, Willie Todd. The kids in Lochgilphead used to sing, "Jock Todd, Jock Todd, the rabbits are running accross the road." A. Ferguson along Lochnell Street, along with Hugh Ferguson, another old worthy, around Lochgilphead. A. Ferguson's grandson is now the butcher in Ardrishaig while Hugh's grandson is in Lochgilphead. Tom Adair and Alex Fleming are two well-known names around these parts for the last 65 years. Alex's butcher shop is being carried on by Sandy Cameron, his grandson, and I'm sure he would be proud of this boy. Ironmongers—Coultart and MacBrayne were in the square. MacBrayne's business is still being carried on in the same shop by some of his relations. Dishes and Chinaware—The Newtons. Fruit and Vegetables—Annie MacGregor and her aunt. Mrs Duffy and her son Duncan. Bakers—MacDonald's, tamous for their bread and fruit cake. Grocer—Smith's, also Mr McCallum, where Spar was taken over by John Mitchell. Chemist—Govan, who emigrated to Australia. Jack the chemist near MacBrayne's the draper. Tailor—Sandy Crawford: when he moved, I bought two of his windows. Tearoom—Mr Kemp and his wite, before he retired to the Free Church Manse in Tayvallich. Tearoom—The Lavender Tearoom with Miss Howett. Cycles and Wireless—Willie Holden. Draper—Eddie McCallum who sold gent's caps at 2/6d. You won't get much of a bunnet these days for 12½p McFarland ! Also Stirling who travelled about Argyll selling clothes of all kinds. Squeak Office—Mr Harvey, where the top Spar is today. Jeweller—Mr Wilkinson, Argyll Street beside the Stag Hotel Crawford, where the chemist shop now is in the square. Mr P. Fary, Shoe shop—McCracken's now run by Mr Crawtord and his good lady. Mr and Mrs McLevin, shoes and dressing, a lovely old shop. Mr McGregor, agent for good footwear. Plumbers—Mr Bob McKirdy; his sons are still working as plumbers and know every tap and water stand pipe in Lochgilphead. Tombstones—Gray's; he said, "Buv one, they will last forever!" Mr MacGregor sold tombstones. Ladies' Wear—Nan MacTavish ot Castleton. Miss Crawford and Maggie Crawtord in the front street. Tobacconist—Crawford MacAlpme, in choirs all his life. His wife was a Miss Beaton, teacher in Ardrishaig school before she married. Saddler—Mr Donald McLean, who was also sanitary inspector and 'whipper-in' for the school; also latterly ran the employment exchange. Painter—Lambert. These coats of paint would last for years. Sweets—Phemie Lang. Gasworks—Mr Downie where you could get five gallons of tar for 2/6d, What would the planners say to this in the middle of Lochgilphead today. I wonder ? Coalyard—Bella McLauchlan could be seen any day hurling a barra-load. Allan Thompson and his father were in the square. Willie Bell beside the Bank of Scotland; he was taken over by Jimmy MacWhirter, but it is now Harry Ross's yard. Donnie MacLullich was in the middle of Union Street and it is still there now. Pictures—Mr McLulloch, After the 1938 Empire Exhibition Mr John Brodie had the new cinema but it was operated by his daughter Mrs Watson until recently. This cinema was a great success at the Glasgow Empire Exhibition. Where the TSB is in the back street was the chapel and that was run by Father Collins. At the top of the street is the big Church of Scotland where Mr R. C. Robertson was the minister for 50 years. He said to Father Collins one day, "It is dreadful, this oath of celibacy. You do not have a wife. "The Father replied, "You go home to your Judy and I go home to my Punch." Annie Tate looked after the RCR. MacBrayne the draper was a brother ot MacBrayne the ironmonger. I believe both belonged to Ardrishaig. They had a brother who ran MacKinney and Rafferty, fish and game business in the Glasgow fish market. Another shoe and repair shop was Duncan Johnstone's; he was a great Rangers supporter. He wanted to know what team I supported, so I told him Queen of the South. He told me I must be taking leave of my senses. I said, "Duncan, did you hear about the old lady who went to watch a football match. When she saw them all running about chasing the ball she said, 'Would it not be better to give the boys a ball each !" The family of these good people are all gone but one sister, whom I see on Friday night up in the rest home at Duncan. She is being well cared for by these good lassies who are employed as nurses.

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There were, by the records, more Bruce families in Ardrishaig than any other name. When I was a boy, a man called King Robert Bruce, stayed in a small house up at Colonel Henderson's. He could be seen everyday fishing with his small boat out at the Black Buoy. Everybody said at that time we have three Kings: the King on the throne. King Robert Bruce and Heb King, the plumber. We also had five Dukes: the Duke of Argyll; old Dan Duke; Robbie Duke; Angus Duke and young Dan Duke. So Ardrishaig was a notable place at that nine. The roadmen were old Dan Keller (I am now staying in his old house), big Dochy Carmichael and Jimmy MacSporran. When old Dan would be cleaning up after the horses had passed he used to say, "It's a God's blessing these cars just have exhausts !" Old James Jackson and Dan MacLauchlan were the pier porters and, sometimes Alex Milne, known to us as the grinder. He had been an engineer in the old steam boats that were the floating market and he always wore a sweat rag round his neck. Annie Ginty stayed in the bottom flat of Dickson's land. Next door was Aggie Burnett, who had the biggest clothes mangle I have ever seen. Old Vorack Dawson also stayed there, in the place I was born, and she belonged to Loch Boisdale. On the day she died she had £180 stuffed in her stocking. My mother helped the nurse to dress her before she went to Achnabreck Cemetery. Donnie MacMillan had a butcher's shop in the middle of the village. It was the Poltalloch Produce Society. Many a night we played cards in the back of his old Ford van, parked beside Peter MacGregor's garage. Jim MacGregor was one of the postmen. He also played in the local band during and after the First World War. He played the fiddle, George Stuart, the plumber, played the piano and Freddie Boni, the Italian, played the accordion, while Sandy MacNab played the drums. These bandsmen were followed by Archie MacGilp, Donnie Munro, Ian Mitchell and Hughie Mitchell who was in the Argylls and disappeared at Dunkirk. Jean Mitchell was a real star on the piano and she played with these lads. Jean is still with us and was playing last Wednesday at the Club.

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