New England sawmillers in Scotland – Recreation and meeting hut
The images are courtesy of Rene Knott and Kyle of Sutherland Historical Society. However the writer is uncertain of how the photographs known as the Culeve (Location in Strathcarron) collection were formed and who initially collected them. A similar collection is in the care of the Jenks Library in Acton Massachusetts gifted by Webster Blanchard who was the foreman of New England Mill No 3 team. It is assumed that one of the Americans or more had cameras, took a selection of photographs which were passed to various team members. A local Scottish photographer or press reporter should perhaps not be ruled out as there would have been a ready market for photographs among the New England teams. Any further information on the photographs would be very welcome. Locations are within five miles of Ardgay, Ross-shire.
The size and structure of this building leads to the possibility that this is building may have been the main meeting hall for all the teams from the ten sawmills. There is reference in an American YMCA wartime report as follows:
“In the social centers which were organised chiefly in the smaller towns and cities adjacent to the camps, the assistance of the British Y. M. C. A. was invaluable in re¬cruiting local young women to assist in the social events, dances, teas and excursions. There is abundant evidence that the invaluable opportunity which these centers gave enlisted men to meet respectable young women, proved of the highest morale value to the Army.
Leave Centers: Though the Armistice made unnecessary the opening of the leave centre which was under way at Stratford, the Association has conducted a large of sighteeing work and theatre parties in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other centers visited by large numbers of Americans.
Lumber Camps: In seven of the ten sawmill camps scattered along the Dornoch River for a distance of ten miles, small recreation huts were built. A larger hut was provided for the unprovided units and for lectures, canteen and other activities in¬volving men of the whole force.”
The image in the PDF below shows one of the smaller YMCA huts, as described above, built on site of an actual mill. It is probable that some local ladies and girls were involved in running YMCA sponsored events within the large YMCA centre and friendships with the sawmill workers later developed into, as reported, several marriages.
The location of this hall is not known but the site is very dry and flat, somewhat elevated, close to a bungalow style house and a hill ridge is visible in the distance. There has been a report that a large hut was built at Culeave, Strathcarron and if this is indeed that site the hill ridge in the distance could well be that with Carn Salachaidh as its high point. Note the Union Jack flag flying at one end of the hut and would guess the Stars and Stripes would be at the other. Not sure of the role of the horse team at the corner of the hall, the barrels or the large drum like structure on the right hand side of the image but if this is Culeave this may well have been a sawmill base as well. Can anyone confirm the points above?
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Buildings in Forests, Horses at work in Forests, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills