The Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society bought MacArthurs’ shop in Scarinish around 1941. Within seven years, however, disaster had struck, and a beautiful building had been destroyed:

FOOD RUSHED TO ISLAND AFTER BIGGEST FIRE FOR YEARS

‘Five tons of rationed goods and other food supplies were rushed from Oban to the Island of Tiree this morning following one of the most disastrous outbreaks of fire in the Hebrides for many years. The island post office, the general stores of the S.C.W.S, and the home of the sub-postmaster in the village of Scarinish were destroyed during the night with practically all their contents. The damage is estimated to run into thousands of pounds.’ (Edinburgh Evening News, 19 April 1948, p. 3)

1948 CO-OP FIRE

SERIOUS FIRE ON TIREE

CO-OPERATIVE STORE DESTROYED

‘Four bare walls are all that remain of the Co-operative Store and Sub-Post Office at Scarinish Tiree following the disastrous fire that gutted the building late on Friday night. Between 11 and 12 p.m. Mrs MacArthur, wife of the sub-post master, who lives above the store, saw smoke coming from the rear of the building. She immediately raised the alarm, and quickly started saving the island mail, which was in the Post Office ready to be despatched on the steamer for the mainland the following morning. Unfortunately, most of the young people of the district were attending a concert at Crossapol some miles distant, and before their help could be obtained, the fire had a firm grip on the building. Though the mails and most of the stock of the Post office was saved from the fire, little could be rescued from the store, and although efforts were made to fight the blaze, the lack of adequate fire-fighting equipment and the shortage of water made the task hopeless from the start. The flames, shooting high above the blazing building, could be seen from all parts of the island and attracted crowds of islanders who quickly made their way to Scarinish to offer their assistance. To replace the stocks of food lost in the fire, a large amount of rationed goods was rushed from Oban to the island on Monday by the island steamer.’ (Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser, 24 April 1948, p. 3)

After the fire, the business moved down to the Church Hall at the pier, and then to a garage behind the Co-op itself, while the present day premises were built by John MacFarlane, Balemartine. 

Comments and further information are always welcome. Dr John Holliday