Scarinish in 1951

Photograph of Scarinish in 1951 showing the ruins of the Co-op store.

Courtesy of Mrs Cathie Omand

This photograph taken in Scarinish in 1951 shows Neil MacDonald, Cathy MacNeill and Hugh MacKinnon with Cathy’s daughter Teena sitting in front of the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background on the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry.

The fire began in the back paraffin store and destroyed the shop. There was a concert in Crossapol that evening and people returning home stopped to help salvage a few possessions. The couple who lived above the Post Office in the east end of the building were fortunately visiting in Balephetrish and no-one was hurt.

After the fire, the business moved down to the Church Hall at the pier, and then to a garage behind the Coop itself, while the present day premises were built by John MacFarlane of Balemartine. The shop became self-service around 1972.

Black and white photograph of Neil MacDonald, Hugh MacKinnon, Cathy and Teena MacNeill in 1951.

Scarinish in 1951 with the ruins of the Co-op which burnt down in 1948. ‘Taigh na Beairt’ is in background at the right. On the left is Neil MacDonald’s haulage lorry. L-R: Neil MacDonald (Catherine Mary’s husband); Cathy MacNeill of Scarinish; Hugh MacKinnon, brother of Effie Middleton and Donald Hough, and married to Duncanina MacMaster; Teena MacNeill, Cathy’s daughter.