1890
The New Year has been very quietly observed in the East of Fife. On Hogmanay night the streets were busier then usual by bands of people parading about, but about midnight there was a clearance, and not so many congregated at the Cross to welcome the New Year as formerly. In Cellardyke Town Hall a watch-night service was conducted by the Pilgrims, while the members of the Free Church Choir, who were holding their annual supper, brought in the New Year by singing the 100th Psalm. The weather on New Year’s day was bright and genial, and made pedestrianism very pleasant. Business was entirely suspended, the shops being closed on Tuesday night for two days. In a number of the churches religious services were conducted and were fairly well attended. The attractions during the day consisted of the golf match and football match, and these drew together a large concourse of spectators. In the evening the usual soirees and entertainments were held, and were well patronised. Some annoyance was caused in the evening by young boys firing off squibs on the streets, but otherwise things seemed to be very quiet and orderly, Happily the number of people under the influence of liquor were few. The trains during the day were from half an hour to nearly an hour late. The east trains were up to time, and arrangements were made by Mr Smart to send the one and four o’clock trains on to Elie, and allow those from Thornton to pass there. In the evening the St Andrews train was brought on to Anstruther, before the Thornton train was sent on to Crail and other stations. This arrangement was much appreciated, but some grumbling was heard at the cold and comfortless third carriages provided.
1891
At Penicuik Ornithological Society Show last Saturday, David Guillan, Cellardyke, gained first and special prizes for homer pigeons in the two classes, and R. A. Fowler, Cellardyke, first and second prizes for homer hens.
Old Folks festival —The annual festival to the old folks of Cellardyke held under the auspices of the Young Men’s Christian Association was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. There was a large attendance of all classes, the Hall being crowded.
THE FISHERMAN’S UNION AND BENEFIT SOCIETY. —Mr Thomas Cunningham, the treasurer of the above society, writes:—” ln your issue of December 26th, you have under the heading of ” a denial,” the statement of Ellen Wood or Gardner, that it is stated in the abstract of accounts of the Cellardyke Fishermen’s Union and Benefit Society that she received £3 4s. from the funds of the above society. The aforementioned £3 4s was allocated to, and received by, Widow Alexander Smith (Gardner,) and the mistake happened through my omitting to put in Smith. This l explained to Ellen Wood, on her asking me, why the name, Widow Alex Gardner, was in the abstract, and apologised for the mistake, which explanation and apology I think might have satisfied her.”
On New Year’s Day thirty-five old people belonging to Cellardyke were presented by Mr Oliphant, of Mayview, with a nice pie for dinner, along with tea, sugar, lc. The presentation was made after the service, which was conducted by the Rev. Mr Ray.
1892
FISHERMAN’S UNION AND BENEFIT SOCIETY, The half yearly general meeting of this society was held in the reading room of the Town Hall on Friday evening—Skipper John Wilson presiding. About 35 members were present. The Treasurer submitted his balance sheet in which was shown the amount at the credit of the society was £1450 11s 0 ½d. General satisfaction was expressed at this favourable balance. It was reported that three trustees had retired, and this meeting would require to fill the vacancies up. Ere proceeding with the nominations, Mr John Carstairs gave an account of the work accomplished by the board. In 1882 he stated fully £600 was in their hands, and after inquiries it was resolved as the best possible investment to purchase a mortgage then on a large tract of land in Australia. Mr Fowler, late of Cellardyke, now of Australia, conducted the transaction, about £300 being thus placed in a very advantageous speculation. For three years their tenant forwarded between £12 and £13 each six months as rent, but as drought fell on the district, crops failed, stock died, and their tenant in common with many who inhabited the district became bankrupt. His estates were seized, but owing to a prompt communication to Mr Fowler, and subsequent action by him, their property was saved them. Settlers left the district, and so depressing was the condition of the country that the Government offered land at 2d per acre to whoever would settle there. Mr Fowler procured them a tenant who paid 6d per acre. About a year after this Mr Fowler visited Scotland and had a consultation with them. In it he offered to purchase the land at is original price, and take the risk himself. The trustees made it a bargain, and the transaction was completed. With regard to the money in the permanent fund he was happy to say more than £100 had accrued from it. Messrs J Pratt, George Murray and John Wilson were elected trustees, and seven directors appointed in room of several retiring. A very hearty vote of thanks was awarded Mr Carstairs for his explanation, and to the trustees for their management. Skipper Martin Gardner in view of the decrease which had occurred in their membership, moved that a general meeting be held on an early and suitable date to discuss, and if advisable, change rule 5, so as to make more young men join. Mr Carstairs seconded. A vote of thanks to Mr Wilson for presiding terminated the proceedings.
1893
On Monday afternoon, about one o’clock, while Mr Thomas Swinton, baker, George Street, was proceeding with his van on his usual rounds, and while running along James Street on his way west, his horse slipped. The jerk broke the back band of the saddle, and the horse coming down, Mr Swinton was flung to the street over the horse’s head. In being jerked off his seat, he came against the lamp, and he was landed with some force on to the kerb. The accident being noticed a number of people ran to his assistance, and found that he had been rendered unconscious. He was carried home, and attended by two medical gentlemen, who found that the hip joint had been dislocated, and that he had sustained some other bruises about his body. He is now progressing fairly well.
1894
Registrars’ Returns. —The statistics kindly supplied by the various registrars show that the depression of trade has little affected the marriage rate, while the mild weather has tended to increase rather than diminish the number of deaths. Both here and in the birth-rate the returns show an increase. In East Anstruther the number of births was 31, or 14 more than last year; 7 marriages, as compared with last year; and 25 deaths, against 15 in 1892. In West Anstruther the births registered were 18, against 11 last year; 1 marriage, or the same as in 1892; while the 10 deaths showed an increase of 1. For Cellardyke 99 births, as compared with 100 in 1892, were recorded; 13 marriages were celebrated in both years; but 38 deaths, increase of 15, were reported. Of these 4 were over eighty years, while other 4 exceeded seventy years.
KILKENNY SCHOOL BOARD. — At a meeting of the Board last night, Mr Jack reported that since last meeting of the Board, he had been round the parish taking a census of the children. In Cellardyke there was an increase of 9-484 against 475. Kilrenny village and the landward part are just about the same as last year. In Cellardyke there are 484 children of school age, of whom 15 are at Anstruther school, and 34 at Kilrenny, leaving a total in Cellardyke of 434. In Kilrenny and the landward part there are 86 children of school age, of whom 4 attend Crail schools, and 13 Anstruther schools. De- ducting these leaves 69, but adding the 34 from Cellardyke makes a total of 103 The total over the whole parish 570, against 564 last year, an increase of 6.
Crail – On New Year’s Day the only public entertainment was a football match between the Union and the Pathhead United, when drawings, it is said, beat the record, over 40s being taken as admission. The plough. men were well represented among the crowd, and seemed to enjoy the fun. At night a ball was carried through with great glee in the Town Hall dancing being indulged in till well on in the morning. The only other thing in the nature of an entertainment was the conduct of several fishermen, said to be from Cellardyke, who were very much the worse of drink, and made sad exhibitions of themselves on the streets, not a few being bespattered with mud, from the face downwards. One worse than his chums had evidently been interviewing the metal on the roads, and had got a poor reception, judging from the blood and dirt about him. But for this invasion the town would have been quite dull.