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- I am just in from the meeting of the school Literary Society. They had a Gaelic debate: “Has emigration been beneficial to the Highlands?” They went into it with great vim and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Several times it resolved itself into little duels in which there seemed to be excellent bits which brought down the house, and retort would follow retort to everybody’s delight… The affirmative won by 35 votes to 14; some did not vote… Stornoway, 28th Feb. 1917
- There have been some fine catches of herring this last week, one day 5000 crans. The Minch has been getting “swept” and the mail-boat is running regularly. Oatmeal scarce; we have had to fall back temporarily on Quaker oats… Stornoway 22nd Feb 1917
- This week’s letter highlights a difficult truth which is very pertinent, given that it is Black History Month. In the course of transcribing the letters we occasionally encounter racist language which is extremely offensive and considered abhorrent today. The fact that a highly educated woman like Mrs Gibson would use this particularly horrible word in such a context reflects the racist ideas prevalent in Britain at this time. We thought carefully about whether to publish this letter on the blog, but we feel it is important not to cover up the past and that we should bring it out into the open, as the attitudes of people in the past are an important part of the historical record. In another sentence of the letter there is a reference to insanity in a particular family. We have not revealed the family’s identity in case this causes distress to any descendants.
- I had letters this week from Wm. B. Macdonald, who is with a battery in France and has had one or two narrow escapes, from J. W. Matheson, in Salonika, and from Alick Thomson, in the training camp at Gailes. He is enjoying the change from the trench-mud. Did I mention that Simon Mackenzie, who has been on a minesweeper off the west coast of Ireland, is now home, discharged on account of his health?… Stornoway, 15th Feb. 1917
- He told us of a mule who had a spite against a man and waited patiently for an opportunity to pay him out [get revenge]. One day the man was grooming the third mule from his enemy. The watchful one saw his chance and laid the man out with a kick delivered below the bellies of the two intervening mules. What do you think of that? E. says they never forget anybody who has beaten them…Stornoway, 9th Feb. 1917
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Tag Archives: Stornoway Historical Society
The Nicolson Institution in 100 Objects (give or take)
Today saw the opening of a new exhibition in Stornoway Town Hall presented jointly by Stornoway Historical Society and the School’s Heritage Committee. The event marks the closure of the old and fondly remembered Springfield Road campus as the school … Continue reading
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Tagged exhibition, Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, Stornoway Historical Society
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Stornoway Town Hall
Stornoway Town Hall opened for the second time 83 years ago today in 1929 following a devastating fire in 1918, which burnt the building down to ruin. The leaflet above is from the Museum nan Eilean collection, and was distributed following the fire … Continue reading
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Tagged cake, fire, Stornoway Historical Society, Stornoway Town Hall
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Friday Photo; Leap Year Dance
This poster from 1944 is from Stornoway Historical Society’s collection, and is currently stored in Stornoway Library. The hand drawn poster advertises a dance to be held by Sandwick Badminton Club for a Leap Year Dance, and features some interesting … Continue reading
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Tagged Friday Photo, Leap Year, Sandwick Badminton Club, Stornoway Historical Society, WWII
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An Archive Tour of Stornoway
On Monday night I presented a paper entitled An Archive Tour of Stornoway to Stornoway Historical Society in the Council Chambers at Sandwick Road to around 50 people. The talk took the form of a wander around the streets of Stornoway, stopping off … Continue reading
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Tagged James Shaw Grant, Lews Castle, Lord Leverhulme, Stornoway, Stornoway Historical Society, Stornoway Town Hall
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Memories of the Mills
Stornoway Historical Society are holding a talk tonight on the Harris Tweed mills of Stornoway, led by Malcolm Macdonald and Ian Maclennan. The talk will be held in the Comhairle Chamber, Sandwick Road tonight, doors open at 6.30pm and … Continue reading
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Friday Photos; Old Shops of Stornoway
Last night we had our Old Shops of Stornoway event co-hosted with Stornoway Historical Society in the library. I’m very happy to say that it was a great success with a fantastic turnout! Our three speakers, Sandy Matheson, Norrie Macgregor … Continue reading
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Old Shops of Stornoway Event
Come along to our Old Shops of Stornoway event tomorrow night! Norrie and Malcolm from Stornoway Historical Society will be talking about some of the old businesses of Stornoway and anyone attending is welcome to share their reminiscences of old … Continue reading
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Friday photo; Lewis Hospital
On Monday at 7.30 in the Comhairle chambers, Sandwick Road, Stornoway Historical Society will be presenting the last of their lectures for this winter. The talk will be part three of a series focused on Lewis Hospital by Margaret Dobson, … Continue reading
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Battery Recollections
Stornoway Historical Society tonight hold the second of their Winter lectures, this time presented by R. J. Macleod (‘Barts’). Those who read Back in the Day will be familiar with the presenter from his interesting articles on Stornoway, and his talk tonight, ‘Battery Recollections’, … Continue reading
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Remembrance Day
Lest We Forget Today is of course Remembrance Day, and to mark this I have decided to post a few links to various sites that have information relevant to the military service of the Western Isles. Comann Eachdraidh Uig make … Continue reading
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Tagged Comainn Eachdraidh, Comann Eachdraidh an Taobh Siar, Comann Eachdraidh Uig, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, Iolaire, Library, Remembrance Day, Roll of Honour, Scottish War Graves Project, Stornoway Historical Society, War Memorial, WWI, WWII
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