ROSS-SHIRE JOURNAL OLD FILES: 100, 40 and 25 years ago
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
100 Years ago
February 1, 1924
The matron of the Joint Hospital, Invergordon, acknowledges with thanks donation from Miss Gall, Rossville, Saltburn.
Miss Joey E. Robertson, Logie School House, has been appointed temporary teacher of georgraphy at the Maclaren High School, Callander.
A complimentary dinner is to be given in the Commercial Hotel, Alness, to Mr David Ross who on retiring from business, is leaving the district. Mr Ross has the keenest interest in the affairs of the village and district for many a long day, and he will be greatly missed. The honour to be conferred on him is well-deserved.
The opportunities that exist "for British brains and brawn" in Canada were to be expounded in an illustrated lecture by George Adam in the Town Hall in Tain. The experienced Canadian farmer was talking under the auspices of the Canadian National Railways and planned covering agricultural opportunities in the Dominion.
A marriage that "created much interest locally" took place in the Balintore Hotel. The bridegroom was P.O. Morgan and the bride Miss Bella Vass, Balintore. There was praise for the tastefully decorated venue and "sumptuous luncheon" and and, we are told, "many of the guests, who came from the South, expressed their surprise at a finding such an hotel in outlandish Balintore".
The annual ball of the Cromarty Freemasons was to take place.
Meanwhile the seed and root show of the Black Isle Farmers' Society was to be held in the Drill Hall, Fortrose.
Particulars and schedules could be obtained from Mr John Mann, Bog Farm, Munlochy, the secretary.
- More from the old files of the Ross-shire
- The Ross-shire news briefing twice a week direct to your inbox
40 Years Ago
February 3, 1984
A Romanian fish factory ship has been arrested by Sheriff Warrant in Loch Broom after a court action by the owner of the Corry Fish Farm, Ardmair, near Ullapool.
The Ozana, which was driven ashore in the recent storm, landed at the Ardmair Fish Farm where the operator, Dr Robin Bradley, claims about £100,000 damage was done. Thousands of salmon apparently escaped into the sea from the fish tanks which were damaged.
The fish farm proprietors sought an order of arrestment at Dingwall Sheriff Court last week, and Sheriff Officers, chartered a craft to board Ozana to deliver the warrant, the paper reported 40 years ago.
Work on the flood prevention scheme at Dingwall is to be brought forward following the flooding at Burns Crescent over the new year period. The Highland Regional Council is to spend £50,000 on cleaning out the River in March. They plan to follow this up with a full flood prevention scheme and coastal protection works. At last week's meeting of the Regional Water and Sewerage Committee, Mr George Burness, Dingwall, spoke of the widespread flooding which had affected several houses bordering the river banks. Members agree to take immediate action although the programme was not due to start until Spring next year.
25 Years Ago
February 5, 1999
A historic Wester Ross coaching inn has been put on the open market for the first time in 250 years.
And the buyer of The Old Inn in Gairloch, takes on a hostelry which has gained a reputation as something of a real ale drinker's paradise in the heart of whisky drinking country.
The Old Inn was built by the Mackenzies of Gairloch in the mid-1700s and remained in their ownership until 1960 when they agreed to sell following an approach from a local family. In 1977 an Inverness man, Ian Ross, purchased the property from them when he discovered they were thinking of retiring.
And a chance conversation in 1985 resulted in The Old Inn changing hands _ for only the fourth time in 250 years – to the present owners, David and Anne Carruthers.
The hotel which was bought in 1960 for only £500 is now up for sale for offers over £495,000 through Inverness agents, T C Bell.
See also: 17-bedroom Gairloch hotel goes on market for £950,000-plus
"Seaforth Court play area in Tain is the worst play area in Ross-shire when it comes to litter", states Jonathan Ward, Ross-shire district area manager for leisure and recreation in recent correspondence with Tain Community Council.
The letter, read at a recent meeting, drew the community council's attention to the fact that they continually have to remove lorry loads of offending rubbish from the play area. Most worrying is the amount of broken glass that is a danger to young children. A resident was reported as saying fiteen and sixteen-years-olds were using the Noah's Ark replica as a shelter for drinking and then throwing bottles around.
Police promised to investigate any incidents brought to their attention.
