1900 – Death of Dallas Shoemaker
James Stuart, the oldest resident in Dallas. was buried on 22 January. Born in the parish of Glenlivet in 1808, he was a shoemaker to trade and he settled in Dallas about 1830. He and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding in 1897. Unfortunately, his wife died in 1898 after nearly 61 years of married life.
He had a very large number of descendants – sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.
1900 – Temperance Lecture
Mr J Smith, one of the agents of the Scottish Temperance League, delivered a lecture in the public school on the evening of Wednesday, 8
April. However, it was reported that these periodical lectures were not patronised in Dallas as they should have been!!
1900 – Collections for the Red Cross
Collections were made in Dallas for the Scottish Hospital and the National Scottish Red Cross Hospital in South Africa. Details of the contributions from all parishioners were made public. (The effect was that contribution was virtually compulsory. No-one would refuse to give if their neighbours’ names were on the list. Not only that, they would no doubt feel obliged to give no less than their neighbours had given.)
The total amount collected was £18 15s 6d which was a huge amount bearing in mind that the average farm worker’s wage at the time was about £6 per half year.
1900 – Reconstruction of Dallas Church
In 1900 the Rev J L Brown pushed for a new church and a new manse. The matter went to the Courts with the minister failing to make his claim good. However the church was reconstructed by voluntary effort. The dyke between the church and manse was rebuilt.
1900 – Harvesting in Dallas
Harvest operations began on the farms of Ballachraggan and Tomcork in the week beginning 12th September. The ‘brae district’ had again taken the lead and it was reckoned to be about ten days before harvest would be started all over the district. Recent unsettled weather had put the crops in a sad tangled state which would make harvest difficult and expensive.
Over a month later the harvest was still dragging on and it was one of the worst harvests on record at that time. Farmers were downcast. The crops had earlier looked to be good but there were now acres of stooks in a sodden condition. There were also extraordinary numbers of grouse which were playing havoc on all the hillside places..
Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held in both churches on Sunday 15 November. Stooks (or what were once stooks) were still to be seen in one or two places in the parish.
1905 – New Manse
The old manse which was said to have been built in 1783 was demolished and a new manse was built by the landowners.
1907 – Instrumental Music to Dallas Free Church
Instrumental music by the organ was introduced into the Free Church, Dallas and was used in the public worship for the first time on Sunday
1 August. The total cost was about £85, half of which was paid by Mr Carnegie. Hymns were also introduced into the public worship at the same time, the hymnary being used.
1908 – Sale of Dallas Estate
Dallas estate was purchased by James H Houldsworth from the Cummings of Altyre in December 1908. However, a dispute subsequently arose regarding on which side of the boundary of the estate Loch Dallas fell. This was eventually settled by the Court of Session in Edinburgh in favour of Altyre.
1909 – Death of Dallas Blacksmith
The death occurred of one whose name had been a household word for over half a century – Mr Gallon, the Dallas blacksmith, who was also an elder in the parish church. He was said to have been of a happy and cheerful disposition and obliging manner and straight-forward in his dealings.
1912 – Kellas Estate Sold
Kellas Estate was acquired by the Christie family from the descendants of the Duke of Fife. At that time there was no major property for the landowner on the estate. However, building work soon commenced and Kellas house was ready for occupation around 3 years later.
1912 – Emigration
The population of the parish was hit by the emigration of a sizeable family. Hugh Sutherland, his wife and 12 children left the farm of Tombreck to sail to a new life in Australia. The family were presumably encouraged to go by Hugh’s brother, William, who had emigrated there some years earlier.
1920 – War Memorial
A memorial was erected at the western end of the village to commemorate those who had given their lives in the great war. It is almost incomprehensible that 39 of the young men who died either stayed in, or originally came from, the parish of Dallas. The inscription states ‘See ye to it that they shall not have died in vain.’ and the names inscribed on the memorial are:-
J Sutherland Brown Thomas Brown
David Denoon Alexander James
Richard Bisset Lawrence Grigor
William Watt John Morgan
William Ross William Walker
Frank Gordon William Allan
William Innes George Grant
David Allan Joseph Allan
William Bluntach David Ettles
George Grigor John Macdonald
David Macintosh John Maclean
James Munro James Petrie
Alexander Ross Alexander Roy
George Jamieson John Stephen
John Rothnie Alexander Walker
J Walker Clark Alexander Jack
Alexander Garrow William Grigor
Lachlan Fraser Magnus Brown
Andrew Izatt Andrew Sutherland
Alexander Cooper
The following was composed by Dr Robert Douglas in grateful remembrance.
The Lads o’ Dollas
1. The lads of the vale on that calm August night,
Sat resting and jesting on Jeems Stuart’s dyke,
When the sound of dread war came up through the Glen,
They set out for their homesteads o’er moorland and fen.
2. One by one did these lads dressed in khaki array,
Go forth to the battlefields to join in the fray,
To Egypt, to Turkey, to Greece and the Somme,
To fight there for freedom and loved ones at home.
3. The roll call at last in the heat of the day,
Found many asleep in Flanders cold clay,
And the wail in the glen set free many a tear,
For the lads that are gone are to some ever dear.
4. A memento now stands on the spot where they met,
Their places are vacant, their names thereon set,
And all men hereafter, no matter what follows,
Shall stand there in silence for the brave lads o’ Dollas
The following early photograph of the unveiling of the memorial in Dallas in 1921 shows that its top was adorned by a lion facing down the village street. However, as can be seen from the recent photograph, the pillar and top have at some time been replaced.
The original lion was moved and can now be found on top of the Watch House at St Michael’s Church.
Lion now adorning the Watch Kellas Memorial 2004
House at St Michael’s Church
Although the memorial for those from the whole of the parish who were lost in the great war is situated in Dallas village, the people of Kellas felt that they should also have a local memorial. The Christie family who owned Kellas Estate at that time therefore organised the erection of a separate memorial to those from Kellas Estate. The memorial is situated at the eastern end of Kellas village on the site known as Chapel Hillock. Not much is known of the history of this site though there is evidence of a small, probably one roomed, building having existed. Burials also took place there though no headstones now mark the graves.
All of those listed on the Kellas Memorial are also included on the Dallas Memorial.
1921 – The Houldsworth Institute
In June 1921 Capt. James Hamilton Houldsworth formally handed over the Houldsworth Institute to the custody of the district. The want of a hall had for long been felt in the parish for, with the exception of the school, there was no place available in which to hold public meetings and entertainments. The village was then able to boast of possessing one of the most modernly equipped halls in Moray.
The stone for the hall was taken from the local quarry and the timber from the Wangie hill. The contractors were:-
Mason Provost Ross, Forres
Carpenter Mr A Mitchell, Dallas
Plasterers Messrs R & R Murray, Forres
Plumbers Messrs Boyne & Martin, Forres
Slaters Messrs Davidson & Son, Elgin
Painters Mr MacDonald, Forres
Heating Messrs Donaldson & Skene, Edinburgh
Architect Mr John Wittet, Elgin
One unusual feature at the hall is the weathervane. This is in the shape of a grouse and highlights to some extent the importance of the grouse moors at that time to the economy of Dallas Estate.
The Grouse Weathervane 2004
1932 – Dallas Miniature Rifle Club
Dallas Miniature Rifle Club was formed, receiving its authorisation licence on 30 January of that year. Prior to that time there had been an air rifle club which had operated in the hall. However, enquiries had been made regarding a purpose built range and the then laird, Mr J H Houldsworth, offered to help by making a donation of £5, installing a cement base, making available all of the rough wood and lending the club the balance of the money required. This was gratefully accepted and the range was erected behind the Houldsworth Institute. The club was temporarily closed during the war though the range continued to be used during that time by the Home Guard.
1935 – Silver Jubilee
Mrs Houldsworth planted a Western Hemlock tree at the West End of the village to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.
TheWestern Hemlock Pictured in 2004
1937 – Appointment of New District Nurse
Miss Jean Gordon Mitchell was appointed as nurse for the District of Dallas on 16 July 1937 at an annual salary of £83. An additional £61 was paid towards board, uniform and laundry.
1940 – Prisoner of War Camp
Considerable numbers of German and Italian prisoners were housed in a P O W camp erected near the Leanoch and many of them were put to work on the farms in the parish. Initially the prisoners had to return to the camp each night but this was most inconvenient and it was not long before prisoners stayed all of the time on the farms where they worked. They were generally free to move about the area and meet with other prisoners though there were some restrictions on travel outside their local area. After the war was over most prisoners returned to their homeland but a number remained and settled in the area.
1942 – Weather
Dallas was hit by heavy snow in the early part of 1942. No only was there a heavy level fall but strong winds resulted in extensive drifting.
On going to discover how his sheep had managed to get out of the field they were in, one farmer found they had simply walked straight over the fence which was totally submerged in a drift.
Roads remained blocked for weeks. In many places the snow was too deep for the snowploughs to clear and much had to be cleared by hand. Often the part cleared by hand one day was totally filled in overnight (to an even greater depth) by drifting snow.
1943 – Lord Lieutenant of Moray
Brigadier Sir Henry Houldsworth of Dallas Lodge had the honour of being appointed Lord Lieutenant of Moray in October 1943 and remained Lord Lieutenant of the county until his death in 1963.
1945 – The Second World War
The second great war again claimed the lives of men from the parish of Dallas though fortunately this was not on the scale of the war of 1914-1918. The names inscribed on the memorial are:-
John A Dunbar Alexander Gow
George Perry John Grant
The Kellas memorial also shows that a Robert Allan was lost in 1943. However, his name is not also shown on the Dallas memorial presumably due to the fact that the Allan family had left the area in 1942.
1945 – Major Flood
Dallas was again hit by major flooding though this was not as bad as in 1829. However, the river again burst its banks in approximately the same area, with water entering the middle of the street. One resident was wakened in the middle of the night by a banging noise – which turned out to be the chamber-pot floating and knocking against the underside of the bed. However, fewer houses in the village were flooded compared to the 1829 flood.
The river probably rose faster during this flood than in other major floods. There was no concern when those near the river went to bed but when they rose in the morning almost the entire valley was flooded. The speed with which it rose resulted in considerable loss of stock which had not been moved away from the river bank to higher ground.
Two horses belonging to Peter Allan who was the farmer at Hillockhead were cut off on the bank between the Lossie and the Doual Burn by the raging torrent. The loss of two horses would have been a major disaster and one of the locals, Bob Smith, was persuaded to try to rescue them. Bob was, unfortunately, a non-swimmer but persuaded his friend Willie Sutherland to help. They waded/swam down the bank and then each led a horse to safety. . When the flood receded and they saw the huge holes the flood had dug out of the bank they realised how narrowly they had missed them and that they were lucky to have survived. Anyone who has seen the Lossie in flood will realise the extent of their achievement.
1947 – Weather – Frost
The winter of 1946/47 proved to be long and very harsh with hard frosts. In May of that year there was also a fall of snow of about 1 foot. However, it was followed by an excellent summer!
1948 – Weather – Rain
This turned out to be an extremely wet summer. There were no major floods but for many weeks in the late summer there was a spate every week. In many of them the river burst its banks. One newcomer to the area that summer was Donald MacRae, Tombreck. Having seen the flooding caused in the late summer, he was fearful of what would happen in the winter!! As is often the case, there was little or no problem from the river during the whole of the winter months.
1951 – Wedding Celebrations
1951 saw the wedding of Major Ian Houldsworth, the eldest son of Brigadier Sir Henry and Lady Houldsworth, to Clodagh Murray of Geanies.
In the same year Brigadier Sir Henry transferred ownership of Dallas Estate to Major Ian.
1952 – Police Station
Although Dallas had had its own one-man police force for a considerable number of years, the various constables had operated from private houses within the village. This changed in 1952 with the completion of a purpose built police station on the main street. The station was made up of a house for the policeman and his family, an office and 1 cell to house offenders overnight.
1952 – Reopening of the Rifle Range
The rifle range, closed since the Second World War, was restarted.
1952 – Closure of Dallas Free Church
The Free Church or High Church was situated at the bottom of the Wangie overlooking the village.
The church closed following the retirement of the minister, the Rev James Mathieson in 1952. Following the closure, the manse was sold but one of the conditions of the sale was that the church had to be demolished.
1953 – Severe Gale
The worst gale in living memory at that time happened on 31 January. Many sheds and outhouses were totally destroyed and several people had lucky escapes from injury.
Thousands of acres of trees and forests were destroyed, including virtually all of the Mulundy. Many roads in the area were blocked including the Avenue between the village and Dallas Lodge.
1954 – Summer Storm
Dallas and Knockando areas had one of the severest storms for years on 5th July. Hail, snow and torrential rain hit the area during the early afternoon. Snow and hail lay to a depth of 6 inches in isolated patches of the Oak Hill Road but the ground all over had a wintry look.
1955 – Electricity Comes to Dallas
The greatest change for many years in the lives of residents happened with the switching on of mains electricity for the first time. Prior to this houses had to be lit by candles, paraffin lamps or ‘Tilley’ lamps.
Connection to mains power meant, among other things, that:-
a) great changes occurred in the kitchen. It now became possible to have electric cookers, electric kettles, toasters, fridges, freezers, etc.
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- b) it was no longer necessary to have ‘wet cell’ batteries (which required re-charging on a regular basis) to power radios.
- c) television reception became possible. This was, of course, in the days when reception, such as it was, was in black and white.
- d) street lighting in the village became possible, though this was not actually installed until 1956.
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1955 – Doual Burn
jor drainage took place in the marsh on the flat between the village and Edinvale. The burn was deepened to such an extent that it was no longer viable to retain in use the bridge where the burn passed under the road between the village and Hatton Corner. The course of the burn was therefore changed towards Hatton and put through a large pipe under the road. The depth also meant that it was no longer possible for the burn to enter the Lossie where it had previously done. The burn was therefore extended so that its exit into the Lossie was almost below the farmhouse at Tombreck.
The marsh was very soft which made it dangerous for the large crawler digger which was doing the excavation. The problem was solved by ‘floating’ the machine on a raft of railway sleepers which was supported by the tangle of grasses and reeds on the marsh. As the machine moved forward, the operator transferred the sleepers from the back of the digger to the front and so was able to proceed from one end of the marsh to the other. However, during the whole of the exercise, the door of the digger was kept open to facilitate the escape of the driver should the flimsy tangle on the surface of the marsh give way.
1955 – Farmer Drowns
Searchers found the body of James Cant, farmer at Torchastle, who had drowned in the River Lossie not far from his home.
1957 – Water Pumps Removed.
In the past, not all houses had been connected to the mains water supply and affected residents obtained their supply from pumps on the edge of the pavement. Following connection of the last of the inhabited houses, the pumps were removed in 1957.
1959 – Closure of Kellas School
Kellas School closed in June 1959 with both the teacher and the pupils transferring to Dallas School.
1961 – Linking of Churches
In a church re-organisation, Dallas church became linked with Rafford in 1961
1962 – ROC (Royal Observation Corps)
Dallas Royal Observation corps (ROC)
Dallas ROC post opened in April 1962 and closed October 1968
Location: 50 yards from the ruins of an old castle (in the same field).Opposite an entrance to a farm.
Remaining surface structures: None, the ruined building in the same field doesn’t have any connection
1962 – Last Dallas Dairy Closes
Dallas had, at one time, sported 2 dairies – School Brae and Hatton – and these had, for many years, supplied milk for the village and surrounding area. However, the last of these, operated by the Stephens at Hatton, closed in 1962 and milk thereafter was delivered in bottles from Allarburn Dairy near Elgin.
1963 – The Houldsworth Family
1963 proved to be a disastrous year for the Houldsworth family. Major Ian Houldsworth died on 30th July at the age of only 41, being survived by his wife Clodagh and their five children. Major Ian’s father, Brigadier Sir Henry Houldsworth, survived him by only around 10 weeks and died on 9th October.
Following Major Ian’s death, the estate passed to his eldest son, David, who was at that time still a minor. The estate was therefore managed by trustees until he came of age.
1965 – Closure of Dallas Police Station
The Police Station at Dallas closed in October 1965 following a re-organisation of the police services in the North East. Following the closure Dallas came under the area covered by the Forres Police Station.
1969 – Fire at Coldhome Farm
Fire demolished a new barn at Coldhome. The barn was in the final stages of construction and it is understood that a tongue of flame from a blowtorch being used in the installation of the guttering was blown on to the straw which was being stored inside.
1971 – Replacement of Bridge at Dallas
The bridge over the Lossie on the Knockando Road which had been built in 1858 was replaced. The old bridge was narrow and on a sharp angle to the road.
The new bridge was wider and crossed the river on an angle. However, to many, it was less impressive than the one it replaced.
1971 – Opening of Dallas Hotel
The facilities available to both residents and visitors increased dramatically with the opening of Dallas’s first hotel. The hotel, which was situated in the middle of the village, included not only accommodation but also a bar and restaurant.
1972 – Fire at Dallas Lodge
A serious fire broke out in the east wing of Dallas Lodge. The fire, which started as workmen were carrying out renovations, was probably caused by the flame from a blowtorch setting roof timbers alight. Much of the contents of the affected part were saved due to the efforts of both staff and villagers. However that part of the building was so badly affected that it was eventually demolished. It has not been rebuilt.
1974 – Presentation
A presentation of a stalking rifle was made by Dallas Estate tenants and friends to Mr David Houldsworth to celebrate his attainiment of age 21.
1974 – Forestry
Following an extensive decline in the numbers of grouse, thousands of acres of the Dallas Moor were sold for the purposes of forestry. This included much of the peat banks which had for many years been used by the residents of Dallas Estate. However, the cutting of peat for winter fuel had diminished and the peat banks at the Aultahuish end of the moss were redistributed amongst those who still wished one.
At the time of the sale of the moor, forestry was being encouraged by the government of the day and those who invested in it received considerable tax breaks. Investors in forestry therefore included many of the stars of sport, music and entertainment at the time.
It took several years to complete the building of new forestry roads and the planting of the hill.
1979 – Dallas Small Bore Rife Club
The old rifle range behind the Houldsworth Institute, which was largely made of wood, was demolished and replaced by a much more substantial structure. The funds to do this were mostly raised by the members and the members also carried out much of the work involved. The new range was one of the finest in the area.
1985 – Memorial Tree
A tree was planted next to the car park opposite the church in memory of Major David F Cunningham who was the husband of Chrissie Brander of Branchill . Major Cunningham had been murdered during a wages robbery in Edinburgh on 17th January 1985.
1994 – Church Bi-Centenary Celebrations
Celebrations were held to mark the 200th Anniversary of the building of St Michael’s Church. .To mark the anniversary Patricia Robertson, the minister’s wife, created (mostly by her own hand) a banner which now hangs in the church.
The banner includes:
A Dove – The sign of peace
Rainbow – A sign of the everlasting covenant
The Church – St Michael’s church
The Cross – Reminder of the Cross on which Jesus died.
People – Representing everyone.
Trees, Birds Fish and Flowers – A reminder of God’s wonderful creations.
Burning Bush – Church of Scotland Logo
Stream – The river Lossie beside which the church is built.
A second banner, also displayed in the church, was created by Val Shand, one of the elders.
The main meaning of the Banner is the Parable of the Sower. St Mark 4: 3 – 20.
The banner depicts:
Brown – Soil ploughed ready for sowing.
Sower – Sowing seed by hand as would have been the case in 1794.
Green – Seeds have sprouted and grown.
Yellow – Field of corn ripened and being harvested
1996 – Rifle Championship Comes to Dallas
Duncan Garrow, a local joiner, won the Earl Haig Scottish Small Bore Rifle Trophy at the Scottish Open Championship which was held at Logie near Forres. This is the first time this trophy has been won by a Dallas marksman.
Duncan being chaired aloft after his win at the Scottish
1996 – Unusual Burial
Murdo Munro who had farmed at Blackhills and died at the age of 89 was not buried in the churchyard. Having received permission from both Dallas Estate and Moray Council he was buried on the hillside up towards Clashdon overlooking his previous farm.
1997 – Flooding
1st July 1997 saw more major flooding in the Dallas area though the damage caused was, for once, much less than that which occurred in the Elgin area. The river burst its banks near where it crosses the Elgin/Forres railway line with a torrent of water travelling eastwards along the line and causing considerable damage. Much of the lower lying area of the town was flooded including the well-known manufacturers of woollen and cashmere goods, Johnstons of Elgin, which was flooded to a depth of over 2 feet.
