1911 Snippets

Ralph Park, a New Brancepeth miner, just missed 1911 having died on 29 December 1910  as a result of an apoplectic seizure.

The year itself started on a Sunday and like any other year lots of people were born, lots died and tragedy was never too far way.

Just a few of those born:

6 February Ronald Reagan

11 May Phil Silvers

16 July Ginger Rogers

6 August Lucille Ball

5 November Roy Rogers

On 25 March there was a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City resulting in the deaths of 146 people.

George the Fifth was crowned and in the same year shot twenty one tigers, eight rhinos and a bear. Very brave, very kingly; oh  what an empire!

Meanwhile in Ushaw Moor the Yard Seam was abandoned;  Jimmy Dodds of New Brancepeth played for Durham County Boys against Northumberland  County Boys; Captain Cody landed his plane at Brandon Hill  [more details on this site]; Ushaw Moor Working Men's Club was seven years old and Station Road was 'pregnant' with the Empire Cinema [duly 'born' the following year].

George Clark was living in Ladysmith Terrace with his wife Dorothy. Their four lads, Norman, William, George and Frank took the very short walk to Ushaw Moor School.

26 October 1911 was a very exciting day for Ushaw Moor miner John Rochford; he married an Esh Winning lass called Annie Brennan. Edward and Esther Brennan acted as witnesses.

William Stamford was living at 48 Temperance Terrace around about this time and working at Ushaw Moor Colliery.Very sadly he died in Palmer's shipyard in June 1915 owing to Zeppelin bombs. 15 other people died as a result of the incident.

This was the year that Reverend Davies of Esh was critical of St Lukes Church because one of its oil lamps fell from the ceiling and started a fire. Tolerance Rev. Davies;  tolerance.

WB