September 2004

[TheGorbalsAdmin]

I'm researching my family tree. I found out that my uncle John McDonald had a wee shop on Rutherglen Road, he sold wee metal soldiers and plastercast models. Does anyone remember this shop? He started it just after the war ended and had it for about a year before moving to London. I was also wondering if anyone remembers a poolhall on Breahead Street, it was my grandparents and they lost it during the recession?

Submitted by: Andrea
Port Coquitlam, Canada
30/09/04
Email: gama-f@shaw.ca
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Does anyone remember a David Houston - he lived at 175 Mathieson St and would now be in his seventies. He could help me with my late husband's family history.

Submitted by: Catherine Lee
Northern Ontario, Canada
29/09/04
Email: carsaig@shaw.ca
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Like most folk browsing the net to find past roots. Came across this site, the memories came flooding back names characters who I knew and people my auld man spoke about. Remember Dan the funny wee man always drunk. Just remember the back court square goes. The drunks that held races in Sandyfauld St, the kids awe racing to win a halfpenny bar of chocolate. The ragman used to go daft trying to get rags to get a balloon. Eddie Mulligan was ma best mate, Tam Rutherford from Mathieson St used to run about with him. Then they started pulling down sandyfauld St, we got a new house up the flats in Waddell Court, 57, 6 up. Eddie Mulligan stayed on landing 5. Could go on all night great days running about the Gorbals as a kid. If you read this message John, tell Eddie a was asking for him....Wee Pat.

Submitted by: Pat Smith
Glasgow, Scotland
27/09/04
Email: r.gallacher@ntlworld.com
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Does anyone remember the Murrays from Mathieson st (1930s, 40s, 50s)? There was my dad Frank, uncles Terry and Pat, as well as aunts Beatrice and Cathy.

Submitted by: Anne Marie McGreecin
Glasgow, Scotland
27/09/04
Email: mountaingirl@btinternet.com
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ATTENTION: ST LUKES SCHOOL:-............I wonder how many people remember St Lukes especially from 1939 to 1948 the headmaster Mr McGuire and his famous choir going to St Andrews hall to compete for the best school choir in Glasgow. The other teacher were Mr Berry, Miss McCarron, Miss Foley, Miss Schollar, Mrs Black and not forgeting Father Toy who I understand is still living he would be 99 years old. Hoping to here from someone on this subject.

Submitted by: Thomas Kelly Donnelly
Brooklyn New York, USA
24/09/04
Email: weecheekyman@msn.com
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I knew your brother Acky. and I've got an old photo of him in the 'CLELLAND' with my old pal Terry Bryson, sadly deceased. My name is Terry Young and I ran around with the 'CUMBIE' as it was then. Tarzan Wilson, John McCue, the McMenemy twins (sadly both gone), Jimmy Boyle and his brother Tam, Jimmy Tierney and a host of others. By the way anyone want to go back to how it was and up to the first changes, you should buy 'A Pictorial View of the Gorbals' available in all good bookstores El Tell.

Submitted by: Terry Young
Glasgow, UK
23/09/04
Email: terryyoung83@hotmail.com
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If you went to school in the Gorbals up to the 1960's you were probably on the receiving end of the belt, or leather tawse, which were made by a saddler in lochgelly. One teacher I knew had three such belts and if he did not like you he would then use belt number three which was extremely thick and heavy. But there was a way to combat the belt hurting you...you had to bend your fingertips just slightly before the belt hit your hand and it was only the fingertips that got the pain. My classes at saint lukes and bonnies were all a wee bit wild so nearly everyone got the belt and we really felt no fear of it but newer kids joining the school did and would often "hiv a good greet" after getting the belt but the secret was "no tae greet" and show the teachers you weren't at all afraid of them. It baffles me now how teachers can control wild glasgow street kids now...the belt may now be considered barbaric but then it was essential for keeping order. I got the belt once for! not knowing my 12 times table off by heart...I soon learnt it and even to this day I can do sums very quickly in my head, something the modern generation can't do without a calculator...so thirty years on I look back and think the belt was good for me!

Submitted by: Colin Mac
Pontypridd, UK
23/09/04
Email: colinmacuk@yahoo.com
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I lived at top of crown st next to church went to camden st school till I moved aged 13 now aged 56. Does anybody remember JACKS seconhand shop opposite dixon blazes I lived up close next to shop? My dads name was James (jimmy) & betty bryce I had a brother jim 6yrs older than me.Great to stumble on this web site lots of memories coming back. Can't remember the pub just down the road from us used to hang out the tenement windae watch the MEN fighting coming out at time up .I remember the gangs a few years later tongs, maryhill fleet, and the boys of course cumbie ya bass simply amazing!

Submitted by: Vic Bryce
Middlesex, London
21/09/04
Email: vic.bryce@tiscali.co.uk
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I am an architectural student at the university of Dundee and for my dissertation I am studying the regeneration of the Gorbals. I am looking for peoples opinions on the regeneration, is it for the people of the Gorbals or outsiders who can afford to buy property? Is it really becoming a clearing out rather than a regeneration of the area? Really I would appreciate any opinions that anyone may have. Thanks

Submitted by: Kirsteen McNee
Dundee, Scotland
19/09/04
Email: kirsteenmcnee@yahoo.com
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Can anyone help me? I am trying to find the family of David Savill, who lived at High St Billericay, Great Burstead, Essex, England in 1881! Edward Stringer who lived at Abi Cottage, Barking, Essex, England in 1881.

Submitted by: Sean.W.Liddell
Preston, Lancashire
19/09/04
Email: seanliddell_9@msn.com
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Does anyone remember the mural of Samson and Delilah on the wall of the paint shop/warehouse next to the close at 79 Oxford Street (1960's)?

Submitted by: Helen Carlin
Glasgow, Scotland
17/09/04
Email: HelCrln@aol.com
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The name of the man that sold peanut's was Mr Checkman, my sister Susan Brolley's husband John used to work for him.

Submitted by: Mary Millerick
Chesapeake, Virginia
17/09/04
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Looking for a few old friends Iris Finlay Ann Robinson both lived in one of the side streets of the top end of Crown st towards Cathcart rd attended Adelphi sec circa 70-72, and the Morrison (Billy Jimmy Catherine ) to name a few would all be in there late 40s early 50s. Would appreciate any help I myself was born in Hospital st 1955 moved to Eglinton st then to Hutchesontown ct. Love the site some great memories.

Submitted by: Eileen Henriques (Nee Williamson)
South Yorkshire, UK
17/09/04
Email: CATS5@activemail.co.uk
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Does anyone remember the Baronial Halls on Thistle St. Gorbals and the little sweet shop next door which used to sell the candy bar called the gold mine? When you split it in half and there was a red dot in it, then you got one for free. Also, does anyone remember the Rose family from 119 Thistle. George & Dorothy, children Ella, Olga, Ruby, Jean, Lily, Leon, & Ruth?

Submitted by: Lily Graham (nee Rose)
Troy, MI, USA
17/09/04
Email: hgraham37@comcast.net
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My Mum was born at Silver Fir Street in 1908, She married Bill Russell in 1937 and moved to Australia in 1956 with their 5 children. Does this ring any bells? I'm trying to get some info.

Submitted by: Cameron Russell
Toowoomba, Australia
15/09/04
Email: cameronrussell@netscape.net
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My Great Grandfather, John Kelly lived on Malta St in Gorbals. He was a Brassfinisher, and he married an Elizabeth Burns in 1870. He was born in 1847; but, I don't no if he was even born in Scotland. I would appreciate any lead however small. Nice website, keep up the good work.

Submitted by: James Kelly
Hialeah, Florida, USA
15/09/04
Email: jkelly11@bellsouth.net
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If you want to see old pictures of the Gorbals, streets, pubs an schools go to the Mitchell Library site, it his a breakdown of pictures of most Gorbals streets and I even saw my old close in Crown street, for the first time in many years (it was the bank close at 134 crown street with the dentists on the first landing).

Submitted by: Colin MacFarlane
Pontypridd, UK
14/09/04
Email: colinmacuk@yahoo.com
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I just found your web site and read all the stories with all the familiar street names and sauings, it was great. I was born in Thistle st across from Armour's dairy. I speak with my family on a weekly basis and will be in Scotland for the New Year's. I felt very much at home surfing this site.

Submitted by: Mary Millerick
Chesapeake, Virginia
14/09/04
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I lived at 26 Thistle St from 1951 to 1967. Went to St. lukes then holyrood. My best friends were Agnes McDermot & Linda McGowan. My mother lived in Toryglen until her death in 1991 - her name was Annie. My sister was Irene, my brother is Leon. All the info on your site brought back many memories. Hope someone remembers me.

Submitted by: Josie Cyrson
East Sussex, England
11/09/04
Email: joandpaul_571@fsmail.net
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In reply to Jean Fowles who is searching the name Laven. Have you tried http://www.ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk There are quite a few Laven's there.

Submitted by: Maureen Mathie
New Zealand
10/09/04
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Anybody remember the Fox family from Hospital st, or the Doogans fae Rutherglen rd or Nicholson st, pleased to hear from old neighbours/friends.

Submitted by: Bernie Doogan
Glasgow, Scotland
08/09/04
Email: bendoogan@hotmail.com
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Any information that anyone can give me would be most welcome. I have been trying to research my mother's family for quite some time. My grandmother was Clara Laven and she lived at 39 Muse Lane, Glasgow and she was a Book Binders Assistant. So far, I have had no luck, can anyone suggest any Internet sites that I can use. Or if anyone remembers her or her family, please could you let me know.

Submitted by: Jean Fowles
Basingstoke, England
08/09/04
Email: j.fowles@macmillan.co.uk
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I remember the Gorbals quite well. My family lived in Caledonia Rd and then Ballater St. My Nana & Granda Smith lived in Caledonia Rd. I remember Bill McDonald's pub at the corner of Caledonia Rd & Sandifaulds St; Wordsworth's shop across from the Cemetry Gates; The Paragon Cinema on Cumberland St and the doorman Wee Willie Hamilton; the Cumberland St markets where my Mum bought a lot of my clothes; Wee Jackie the paperman. My Granda Smith was a carter and had stables up the pen in Sandifaulds St I think. By the time I came along he had graduated to a lorry. My great Grandmother lived in 134 Naburn St from 1914 - 1956. Anyone remember them?

Submitted by: May Kelly Farries
Sydney, Australia
07/09/04
Email: mayandfrank@optus.com.au
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I'm trying to find info about my mother's family. Her maiden name was Mary Malone, her father was Thomas and her mother Mary ann. Mother was born at 50 Commerce st, her parents were married in st francis church 26/7/1904 and lived at no 7 Mathieson lane. Witnesses at wedding were Francis Donnelly and Agnes Convy. Do these names mean anything at all to anyone? Please email me with any info at all thank you.

Submitted by: Patricia Gillespie
Glasgow, Scotland
06/09/04
Email: patriciagillespie@btinternet.com
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Hello Mike Lewis Jnr, Melbourne Australia (27/08/04). Get in contact as I have info for you about your mum's friends who lived in Hospital st.

Submitted by: Bernie Doogan
Glasgow, Scotland
06/09/04
Email: bendoogan@hotmail.com
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What a site, came across it looking for maps of Scotland. I lived at 335 Mathieson St in the 40s and 50s. the first close next to Ropers Pub. Wonder if anyone knows the Donnelly's...Jesse was the mothers name, had a daughter called Agnes. The mcQuades, the Greens up the street from us. The Boyle's across the back in Sandfaulds St. Think there was a lot of boys in that family, my granny lived in Thistle St. Her name Quinn, daughter Jean mc Cluskey who had a daughter called Theresa. My memory of the Gorbals is not too clear, but this site is helping me remember. Anyone ever watch the cowboys and indians at the paragon picture house in Cumberland St? Going to drop into this site a lot now, and get the cobwebs out of my brain.

Submitted by: Eileen Roche/Devlin
Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
06/09/04
Email: eileensemail@eircom.net
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I am looking for family members (friends) of Charles Paperman who can be kind to tell me his life story. He's my great grandfather.

Submitted by: Kendra Valentín
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
06/09/04
Email: KAVPLexis@aol.com
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For MARGARET MCPHERSON (PLAYBARN). The following information was obtained from the Mitchell libray archives. Gorbals train station opened, 1st august 1877, closed 1st June 1928 btw. When I tried to email you, it was returned. Regards Owen Dougan

Submitted by: Owen Dougan
Glasgow, Scotland
04/09/04
Email: g132yn@bushinternet.com
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I work in the Playbarn (youth centre) in the Gorbals. We are undertaking a photography project in the Gorbals area and are looking for information regarding Gorbals Train Station (Cumberland Street). We want to confirm if it opened in 1877. Also have two conflicting closing dates of 1928 and 1966! Can anyone shed light on the above. If anyone used the station when it was open would love to hear their stories.

Submitted by: Margaret Macpherson
Glasgow, Scotland
01/09/04
Email: Playbarn@btinternet.com
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