Donald uses photographs to bring old Dumfries to life in lecture
| Published date | 29 April 2022 |
| Publication title | Dumfries & Galloway Standard |
He had a vast number of photos to show of old Dumfries and Maxwelltown and, with an interest in local steam traction engines, a couple of his slides included them.
Another was of the old prison located on Buccleuch Street which was the scene of the last two public hangings in Scotland.
One was the hanging of an Eaglesfield man, Robert Smith, and the other was the better-known hanging of Mary Timney, who murdered her neighbour in the Glenkens area.
No other public hangings took place on Buccleuch Street.
Donald revealed that in Queensberry Square there used to be underground public toilets but these were filled in many years ago.
Also, that in the first outbreak of cholera in 1832, 550 died and, in the second, in 1848, 450 lost their lives.
While some of the victims were buried in St Michael's churchyard, more were buried in Bane Loaning (Bone Loaning).
Interestingly, around the Crichton Royal Institution site it is believed there were no cholera victims on the second outbreak and this was his was because it had its own independent source of fresh water - unlike the town.
A photograph of Nith Place was shown and Donald pointed out where the violinist John Law Hume was born before the family moved to 42 George Street. John was aboard the Titanic on its fateful maiden voyage in 1912.
A picture was shown of the location of the now town centre police station before it was built in 1942.
Another showed that St Michael's Church, built in 1744, has the only steeple in the area with four clock faces.
Next came a picture of the Maxwelltown fountain at the Dalbeattie - Castle Douglas Junction which was erected by solicitor James McGowan in memory of his mother. In 1929 Maxwelltown joined with Dumfries town though this was not a wholeheartedly popular move.
Donald also said that on the Whitesands by the present snooker club was Armstrong and Dickie's aerated mineral water and lemonade business.
In 1800 on a frozen River Nith a curling match took place between two bakers from Maxwelltown and Dumfries and the loser of the match had to supply 10 loaves of bread to the winner's side poorhouse.
We were also reminded that Grierson and Graham and Gardiner and Ball supplied the town's residents with all kinds of electrical goods; and the Arrol-Johnstone...
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