The Folks Who Lived on the Hill.
There was a popular romantic American song doing the rounds on the wireless in the early 50’s – ‘The folks who live on the Hill’ – That was us!! We lived at 18 Ann Street, half way up the Hilltown in Dundee. All be it, mind you, not in the same idyllic dream home portrayed in the song’s lyrics, but more, shall we say, in slightly less salubrious surroundings. There were actually three ‘Lands’ serviced by the same narrow close at number 18, opening out into a large elongated cobbled courtyard accessing outside stairs leading to the three storey tenements above the shops on the main street, each accommodating 8 to10 houses. On our own landing and the one above, we shared the same ‘La’vie’, recycling the Sunday Post with five other one and two room ‘residences’. We were a family of six, although by the time I was of the age in the photograph, my father had died, and my two sisters had married and moved out, leaving so much room in fact that we actually took in a lodger.
Which brings me to the picture. Have you ever seen such a bunch of healthy, happier, and well turned out children? Some having just returned I might add, from the Wild West of America, just a few hundred yards away at the Plaza cinema. Mr. & Mrs. Hooper (that’s him on the left) had no children of their own, but being an integral part of the close ‘Nit’ (we all had them) community, hosted regular parties for all the kids (and their parents). Everyone was your auntie, uncle, or granny anyway, each adult accepting parental responsibility, dispensing ‘wisdom’, advice, and the occasional skelp in the lug when you did something wrong. Like the time I took my pal Pat Donahue to Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Forebank (With a name like that he should have been a Catholic anyway). That’s me in the centre of the picture by the way, with the young lady’s hand on my shoulder, and Pat Donahue beside me looking blessed.
The wind up verse of the popular song went “Darby & Joan, who used to be Jack & Jill – Still like to be called the folks who live on the Hill”. Well, most of us are old aged pensioners now, but I bet none of us still live on the Hill.
:-)) My Gran lived at 47 Ann Street, we lived in Shephers's Pehnd, halfway doon the Hull on the right side, next to Norie's and the Deerie. I went to Rosebank School 1950-1955 but would go the Minor's club at the Plaza on Saturday mornings. Happy days..in fact, my fondest childhood memories were of the Hilltown, Ann Street....nice blog here!
ReplyDeleteAh! The ABC Minors at the Plaza – Do you know, I still remember the song – “We are the boys and girls well known as the Minors of the ABC…” – Sang it for the boys in the sauna the other day (They had a different one in Glasgow where I live now). When it was your birthday you were invited onto the stage for a little gift – Needless to say, I had a Birthday every other week. You must have stayed across from Ned’s the Sarsaparilla shop, half way up the Hill; it was a refreshing pit stop on the way up. My wife went to the ‘Rosie’ with her brothers at that time, Sheila Grant?
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise I had finding this photo whilst looking for pictures of old Dundee. There I was merrily clicking away and had to do a double take. But sure it was , there was my dad Pat Donoghue sat there looking back at me, a quick look around and theres my gran and grandad Nes and Pat on the far right.
ReplyDeleteI had an Uncle Pat and Aunt Nessie Pat was my dad's brother they came from a family of six could it be the same family?
DeleteAnd don’t forget your auntie Agnes Rick – She’s on the right peeking behind the Italian girl who’s father had the chip shop across the road. There’s another photo of them on the ‘Town on the Hill’ link on the blog. How are they by the way?
ReplyDeleteIntrigued to find your blog. Was searching for information about the address as my great, great grandparents, William and Mary Finlay lived there in 1896. A little before your time!
ReplyDeleteBefore my time indeed – But interesting to hear about former residents – Your great, great, grandparents must have moved in when the building was almost new. Where did they end up?
DeleteHI Patrick;
DeleteI just stumbled upon your blog while researching my Scottish grandparents. I found a passenger manifest that showed my Nana,Mary Ann Hannan (nee Necy) leaving Glasgow in 1924 with my then two year old Uncle Art (Arch). She was only there for a visit, having emigrated to Canada a couple of years earlier where she married my Grandfather Robert Hannan. On the passenger manifest of the address listed in Dundee was 18 Ann Street. Perhaps she knew the Finlays mentioned in the post by "Anonymous"!
Great piece of family history Pat...came across it while looking for info on my "Murrays" from Jamacia Street...!
ReplyDeleteI just recently found my Great Grandmother's birth certificate. It has her being born at 18 Ann Street in 1887.
ReplyDeleteWell, It's amazing what this Blog of mine turns up, your grandmother obviously had a great heritage and an excellent start in life being born at 18 Ann Street.
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