Building Jonesville — Ballogie Estate 1953 G

Date Added: 11 June 2014 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1953 Picture No: 2534

This Aberdeen Journals Photograph is courtesy of Aberdeen Journals and Forestry Commission, Moray and Aberdeenshire Forest District who hold the image.

Workmen are building a temporary camp for forestry workers and sawmill operators near Potarch Bridge on Ballogie Estate where there was a large area of devastated blown trees. It likely that the camp housed many cutting and felling contractors as well as sawmill workers, many of whom may have come from far and wide to work on the sites.

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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Gale 1953, Groups of people, Northeast Scotland

2 Comments

My Dad, Wullie Wilson, worked at Potarch after the 'Big Blaw' in 1953. He came from Dumfriesshire with Jimmy Guild, a contractor. He actually met my Mum there (she worked in Potarch Hotel. They married there and lived for a short time in one of the houses in 'Jonesville'.

Dad later worked for James Jones from about 1963-1990 when he took early retirement. Comment left on 01 July 2015 at 11:01 by June Hodge

My Dad, Wullie Wilson, worked as an Extractor here between 1953-55. He was working with Dumfriesshire contractor Jimmy Guild at the time. In his squad were (if Mum remembers correctly) Wattie Carlyle and 4 brothers Sandy, Tam, Joe and Jock Stitt.

And yes, men came from all over Scotland to work there. A few other names Mum remembers were: Jackie & Duffy Cowie possibly from Fochabers (that is Duffy's old Ford parked at the corner of the building!), Jock Wood, Tam Lindsay, Dick Havey and Jimmy Ettles, all from Edinburgh.

Their 'Big Boss' was a man called Sandy Hogg.

In the row of 4 houses where Mum and Dad lived in 'Jonesville' were (1) Duffy & Joyce Cowie (2) Jock Wood (3) Tam & Margaret Lindsay (4) Wullie & Margaret Wilson. When Mum & Dad moved out, Jimmy Ettles and his wife got their house. Comment left on 01 July 2015 at 17:00 by June Hodge

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