This incredible photo shows the inside of the former Masonic Hall in Glasgow Road.
I’m probably breaking all sorts of rules by showing the inside of a Masonic Hall, but I can breathe easier knowing this particular hall was demolished just after 1977 as part of the Glasgow Road redevelopment.
The hall was constructed in 1904. On Saturday 21st May that year, they were at that point in the building when the foundation stone should be ceremonially placed in position on Glasgow Road.
Time Capsule
A jar containing newspapers of the day and other documents was meant to be sealed in the cavity behind the stone bar but by some strange omission the usual coins of the realm had been neglected. Major Ness came to the rescue and immediately offered a commemorative set of coins presented to him during the Jubillee of Queen Victoria, a great sacrifice as the coins were of value and could not be replaced.
It is not known if the jar containing them was ever recovered when the old hall was demolished in 1977 and I fear ended up amongst the construction rubble.
Colour photos of the windows are available on Blantyre Project thanks to Bill Andrew. With thanks also to Gordon Cook for a copy of the interior photo.
Partly from “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2017
On social media:
The photos may have been taken abt 1910. . 1920. Robert’s photo has the name of a Photographer in the lower corner.
“Wm. Elsmore
4 St Enoch Square Glasgow”
Several of William’s children immigrated to America including my Grandfather William and his brother Robert. Gt Grandfather traveled to visit his children but returned to Scotland where he died in 1926.
Andy Paterson 82/83, Kenny.