Season's greetings to all Mosman Memories readers

Season's Greetings: postcards from Mosman

We’ve just received an email from one of our regular contributors, and ex-Mosman postie:

MERRY XMAS TO ALL IN MOSMAN,AND BEST WISHES TO THE POSTMEN OF MOSMAN. TERRY BROWN, SNOWED IN IN SUSSEX UK.

We wish Terry and all Mosman Memories contributors and readers a happy Christmas and a fruitful and productive New Year.

Mosman Library · 21 December 2010 · # · Comment [1]

The importance of preserving memories for subsequent generations

We had a lovely email from Rhonda with her memories of Middle Harbour Public School – parts 1 and 2 are now online – and thought Rhonda wouldn’t mind if we published her words on our blog. Local memories don’t just record facts of the past; they are redolent of the spirit of the time. And of course, they can be memories from yesterday, as well as of 50 years ago.

I must firstly tell you, in case you have already discovered this, I have already been a contributor to the ‘Mosman Memories Site’ but I have lost any user name etc that I might have had at that time. I lived in Hale Road just across the road from where Middle Harbour School has in recent years been extended. When my Sisters and I attended school there we had to walk right around the block via Erith Street and hence into Macpherson Street. Now of course our house no longer stands with a Retirement Village on the site and there, just over the road is the School! A friend of mine who lived down the road and whom I had not seen for around fifty years read my article on Hale Road and through M.M. we have a renewed friendship that started when we were children all those years ago. She now lives in Carlingford. With both of us owning computers we email each other on a regular basis. As you can imagine we have gone over all of those things we did and saw as children growing up in the late forties and early fifties in good old Mosman. After eighteen months or so we still haven’t run out of topics. It has been great!

But I digress. I would like to add an article on Middle Harbour School as it was back then. My friend has created a book which she presented to M.H.S of her years there and what she remembers which might be a little different from mine. There is only two years difference in our ages but we do have different memories.

Since writing my article on Hale Road and Mackie Lane one of my Sisters has sadly passed away which made me realise the importance of preserving memories for subsequent generations. Many of my friends have expressed interest in what Mosman Library are doing (have been doing) to keep these important details alive and want to encourage their own local Councils or Libraries to do the same. So I congratulate you all there for the work that you have been involved in and implore you to keep up the good work!

Yours faithfully, Rhonda Blunt (nee Higgerson)

Thank you Rhonda! We certainly intend to maintain this site, and will be working on some improvements in the New Year.

Mosman Library · 10 December 2010 · # · Comment [1]

Do you know of homes named Tasso, Wirral or Kenrodwal?

Lynda Macalpine of Auckland, New Zealand writes:

Various members of my husband’s family – Macalpine – have lived in Mosman since about 1878. Archibald Macalpine was an alderman on the first Mosman Council, and Clanalpine St, Mosman, was named in his honour. He married Annie Reed, also from a local family. There are three houses in particular the family lived in that I would like to locate. Often, even today, these names are found on a plaque at the front door of some of the older homes. I was wondering if any readers happen to live in homes named Tasso, Wirral or Kenrodwal. I would like to be able to locate these homes and take a photo of them. Tasso and Wirral may have been in Raglan St and Kenrodwal could have been in Avenue Rd. I would love to hear from anyone living in these homes, they can email me at macalpine@clear.net.nz

Mosman Library · 3 September 2009 · # · Comment

Looking for Lieutenant Gordon Ernest Howe

Can you help with research for an article about Lieutenant Gordon Howe of Parriwi Road?

I am trying to obtain any information I can about the World War 2 service of a local resident, Lieutenant Gordon Ernest Howe of 28a Parriwi Road who was a member of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.

I want to write an article about his war service… any information will be appreciated especially if there are any relatives I can contact.

Please contact Ken Wright if you can assist.

Mosman Library · 14 April 2009 · # · Comment [1]

Tin town, Middle Harbour

Tin Town, Middle Harbour

This unique postcard depicting a camp made out of kerosene tins is postmarked Mosman 1908. It is thought to be located in Mosman overlooking Quakers Hat Bay, near Cremorne and opposite Folly Point. Adding to the charm of this post card is the inclusion of a man, no doubt a resident, wearing a hat.

Mosman boasted many camps including artists’ camps, weekend camps for fishing and sailing and those appearing during The Depression of the 1930s.

Mosman Library would like to hear from anyone who may know of this camp and its exact location.

Mosman Library · 18 December 2008 · # · Comment