Update from the Historical Society
History Notes
Another busy week for some of our members and with the markets coming next weekend there is still plenty to do. Our market coordinator, Diana, tells me there will be a bigger selection of stalls on Saturday, so come along and have a browse. As usual the chairs and tables will be out, so you can sit down and have a chat.
Unfortunately, the meeting this month has had to be changed to the fourth Tuesday- apologies to anyone who cannot make it.
Lots of photos and documents have turned up with dozens of second-hand books - the society stall promises to be over stocked this weekend -fiction, sporting books, our sporting hero’s and lots more - even a few second hand goods.
The photos and documents are all in mixed boxes and so have to be sorted as well as labeled and rubbish such as the rough 2002 committee minutes thrown out. Some interesting photos have appeared, some without names on them. We have named the hospital committee, probably the 1971 version, and included it with these notes. Please let us know if there is a mistaken identity.
An interesting query re the Breen family this week. Mr Joseph Breen was employed at Stoddart's in Manilla until 1920 when he moved to Barraba to take over the drapery section of Dean & Smith. He brought his wife, Mary, and two children to Barraba adding two more children while in Barraba. I have been able to trace the children enrolled at the Convent although the family address changes from Henry Street to Cooper Street to Savoy street in the 15 years they were in the district.
Apparently, Dean & Smith celebrated 25 successful years in business in 1925 with a banquet, at which the heads of each department addressed the gathering, including Mr Breen, head of the drapery department. Mr Dean died in October, 1935 and the business was sold about two years later. The Breen family moved to Manly, Sydney.
Also, on the research side there are still McKid family queries - a couple of years before she died Mrs McKid/Newton gave her address as eastern end of Rodney Street (that is on the river) for the electoral roll and then there is a Queen Street address on her death certificate at the beginning of the 20th century.
Perhaps the former is "Old Thurso" -the site of an old ruin these days.