Dromore and District Local Historical Group Journal

Volume 3

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

COPYRIGHT RESERVED
COVER DESIGN BY JIM HUTCHINSON.
PUBLISHED BY DROMORE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORICAL GROUP 1993
ISBN 0 9520355 1 0
Printed by Review Press (Banbridge) Ltd.
 

FOREWORD

It gives me great pleasure to write this foreword and to welcome you to Volume 3 of the Dromore and District Local Historical Group Journal.
The response to the previous two volumes has been quite staggering and requests for copies continue to arrive from all corners of the globe. Two years ago when the group first undertook the task of publishing Volume 1 we wondered if enough material would be available for another issue. Well here we are on Volume 3 and the articles and photographs keep on coming. This is by no means to say that the preparation and production of such a magazine is easy. Lots of hard work and long hours are put in to ensure that the material is correct, the necessary photographs are available and the funds required for such a venture are to hand

I would therefore wish to thank all those involved in the production of this issue, the editorial committee, the finance committee, the contributors of articles and photographs and to our advertisers and sponsors. And to you, the reading public who have supported our previous Journals, I know you will enjoy this edition just as much

HAROLD GIBSON,
Chairman.

DROMORE AND DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORICAL GROUP

OFFICE-BEARERS 1993/94
Chairman: Mr. Harold Gibson, 29 Barban Heights, Dromore, Co. Down.
Vice Chairman /Treasurer: Mr. Will Dewart, 83 Diamond Road, Dromore, Co. Down.
Secretary: Mr Jim Hutchinson, 28 Milebush Road, Ballymacormick, Dromore, Co. Down. Telephone (0846) 692603.

Committee:
Chairman, Vice Chairman/Treasurer, Secretary and Mrs. Rosemary McMillan, Mrs. Hannah Dewart, Mrs. Alison Hutchinson, Mrs. Amy Flanagan, Miss Mary Cardwell, Miss Peggy Thompson, Mr. Trevor Martin, Mr. David Thompson, Mr. Harold Newby.

JOURNAL PRODUCTION
Editorial Committee: Mrs. Rosemary McMillan, Mrs. Alison Hutchinson and Mr. Harold Gibson.
Finance Committee: Mr. Will Dewart, Mr. Trevor Martin, Mr. Harold Newby, and Mrs. Amy Flanagan.
Marketing: Mr. Harold Gibson.

 

"Oh, raise thy voice, famed Druim More . . ."

CONTENTS

THE TOWN HALL CLOCK by Harold Gibson   5
LAMENT FOR A LANDMARK by Rosemary McMillan   7
DROMORE FIRE BRIGADE PAST AND PRESENT by Cecil Whan   8
DROMORE A CATHEDRAL CITY by Rev. T. R. McKnight   15
DROMORE'S OLD MILL RACE by Andrew Doloughan   20
MY FATHER, THE HORSEMAN by Roy Gamble   24
WATER by John McGrehan   25
The Life and Times of JAMES KIRKER STRAIN by Harold Gibson   27
MY UNCLE SAM by Sam Johnston   32
THE CROSS LANE DOWN THE YEARS by Rosemary McMillan   40
SAINT COLMAN OF DROMORE by Henry Murray   52
THE NEXT BUS DUE by Will Patterson   56
THE PENNSYLVANIA CONNECTION by Trevor Martin   59
FUN AND GAMES EARLY THIS CENTURY by Muriel McVeigh   64
THE BADGE OF POVERTY     65
THE SAD DEMISE OF AN INCURABLE ROMANTIC by Roy Gamble   66
BY COACH AND CAR TO NEAR AND FAR! A Victorian Timetable by Rosemary McMillan   69
ALEXANDER COLVILL WELSH by Gilbert Watson   71
PLEISTOCENE PARK by "Moose" McMillan   79
THE TOLL HOUSE by Rosemary McMillan   81
JEREMY TAYLOR by Mark Hobson   82
BREWERY LANE A Brewery with a Covenanting Connection by Robert McCollum   85
MY GRANDA AGNEW by Sam Johnston   89

 

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOURCES

 
Reproduction of old Postcards (P.C.)
Supplied by Group Members (G.M.)
Supplied by Friends of the Group (F.G.)
Supplied by the Writer (W.P.)