The Great Depression in the Vale

Vale of Leven History

The Great Depression in the Vale

The original, now colourised, image has been featured before. This was circa 1936. They show some homeless people from the Vale, who were living in huts and tents at that time. This was near where the cricket park is now located. The stand at Millburn Park can be seen in the background of one image. For orientation, the white coloured building at the top left in the picture with the woman and baby is still standing. It was most recently David Graham car sales.

Last time these were featured, Linda Curley explained that the lady in the picture was her gran, who is holding her uncle James, her dad’s twin brother. They were born in 1935. Happily, they were later housed in Burns Street, then Napierston, Bonhill.

John Stewart TOLD US: “In the first picture, am I right in saying that just behind the tent is the branch line that ran off after Milburn shop round past cricket pitch area n over black bridge to the Dillichip distillery, which Vola Academy had its boundary fence along?”

Chris Keenan told us: ” I lived on Victoria Street at the corner of Arthur Street in the late 60s when I was about 2 years old. I can still remember it. I think the house I lived in (although it was demolished years ago) might be in picture number one, to the right of David Graham Cars, on the right-hand side of the large tree. My auntie Lizzie lived next door to us. I’m pretty sure the ground was flat from there to the river inside of Bonhill, but was excavated for the new road? Chris Keenan, my wee sister Margaret (a year younger than me), my mother Lizzie, and my dad Neil (Neily). I wonder if anyone would remember us.”

Campbell Morgan asked: “Would that be where Rowantree Grove and Cloverleaf Path is now?

Heather Philipps commented: ” Gosh, what hard times they had then; won’t be long before it happens again.”

Hard Times Come Again No More

by Stephen Foster

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay
There are frail forms fainting at the door:
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say –
Oh! Hard times, come again no more.

Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor:
There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

There’s a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away
With a worn heart whose better days are o’er:
Though her voice would be merry, ’tis sighing all the day –
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

‘Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave,
‘ Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore,
‘ Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave, –
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary;
Hard Times, Hard Times, come again no more:
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
Oh! Hard Times, come again no more.