The missing fruit shop in Hamilton st.
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 9:59 pm
As a result of encouragement from “down south” I submit the following but alas without accurate dates. This was the fruit shop opened by my father Gerard shortly after his return from whaling in the South Atlantic aboard the “Southern Venturer” The person at the door is I believe my aunt Lila Clarke (nee Cunningham) who worked there at that time. I believe a plumber by the name of Shedden occupied a workshop at the rear of the premises which was accessed through a passage at the side of the shop.
Unfortunately for the Lee family, history was not to be kind and Mr John Lee senior died as the result of the well documented house fire at Arthurlie Place (still a gap site to this day I believe) which I witnessed from my bedroom window in our house just across the railway line. Young Ailsa married Matt Stevenson and they enjoyed some quality time together at the Reaper before young Ailsa’s far too early demise. I believe her brother John died within the last few years as did his brother Henry.
On a happier note I do remember one of my treats from the shop was to search the grape barrels for loose grapes as at that time the barrels were filled with sawdust to protect the fruit in transit. Empty Fyffes bananas boxes also made a decent base for a bogie. Mr Rankine had a toy and paper shop across the road which we passed en- route as my father took me for morning coffee in Winnie Bairds. I have also just noticed that my father had included the apostrophe in the shop signage, changed days.
The shop was latterly sold to Ailsa Lee senior (Melbourne Terrace) who was happy for her daughter young Ailsa to run the shop at that time. Unfortunately for the Lee family, history was not to be kind and Mr John Lee senior died as the result of the well documented house fire at Arthurlie Place (still a gap site to this day I believe) which I witnessed from my bedroom window in our house just across the railway line. Young Ailsa married Matt Stevenson and they enjoyed some quality time together at the Reaper before young Ailsa’s far too early demise. I believe her brother John died within the last few years as did his brother Henry.
On a happier note I do remember one of my treats from the shop was to search the grape barrels for loose grapes as at that time the barrels were filled with sawdust to protect the fruit in transit. Empty Fyffes bananas boxes also made a decent base for a bogie. Mr Rankine had a toy and paper shop across the road which we passed en- route as my father took me for morning coffee in Winnie Bairds. I have also just noticed that my father had included the apostrophe in the shop signage, changed days.