From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 11, 1997
The end of an era will soon be marked at Shinness when the local amenities committee hand back responsibility for Shinness Hall to its owners, the Highland Council. Continued deterioration of the fabric of the building and the lack of financial support from the local authority, prompted the committee to call a public meeting for all local residents recently. A final vote of 22 to five confirmed that the hall should be returned to the council's property board, and that all future Shinness events should be held in Lairg Community Centre.
George Jack, projects officer for Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, officially opened the new extension to Armadale village hall at a celebration ceilidh and dance by unveiling a wall plaque. The wall plaque is dedicated to the memory of the late Mrs Pat Mackay who was treasurer of the hall committee for a number of years. Work on the hall was funded by CASE, the Highland Council and money-gathering activities over the last two years by the hall committee. Mr Jack said Armadale hall was a "real community hall".
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 7, 1972
For geographical and historical reasons, Dornoch Town Council are vigorously opposing the proposed linking of the burgh and the landward area of the parish with Rogart and Golspie to form one of the four Sutherland seats for representation on the Highland Regional Authority.
They have stated in a letter to the Scottish Development Department that there have been "very strong links between Dornoch, its landward areas and the parish of Creich from as far back as the 13th century".
It is the end of an era at Lairg telephone exchange with the retirement for health reasons of Mrs Anne Macdonald. Her husband, the late Mr R. D. Macdonald, well remembered for his work for Sutherland football, was appointed to run the exchange in 1928 when it was housed in a room above the old post office. He was paid 12/- per week. When her husband died in 1960, Mrs Macdonald took over this work and gave loyal service. Although recovering from health issues, she now feels that the time has come to call it a day.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of April 6, 1922
At a meeting of Sutherland Standing Joint Committee, Murdo Kerr, Lochinver, said that one police constable would be sufficient for Assynt. How many offences had been reported from Stoer? The chief constable said he could not say off-hand how many offences there were. Mr Kerr said there were none as far as he knew and to keep a constable at Stoer was simply a waste of public money. There was nothing for the constable to do there. Mr W. E. Gilmour, Rosehall, said: “Of less use than the one at Rosehall.”
On Friday night of this week at 8 o'clock, a contingent of young converts from Brora will give addresses in the United Free Church, Golspie. It is hoped that the deep interest awakened on the east coast of Sutherland, will receive fresh interest in Golspie by their visit on that evening. Mr Dowie, the well-known evangelist of the Home Mission Committee of the Church, will be present on Friday evening, and will begin a series of evangelistic services. It is sincerely hoped that old and young will turn out.
