Musical group

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Musical group

A drawing showing two men and a small girl dancing to a fiddle player.

This image has been reproduced from a glass lantern slide.

Our initial thoughts were that these individuals might be the "odd-fellows" who entertained passengers of the Aberdeen Canal.

In a chapter on the Aberdeenshire Canal, author John Milne writes the following in his 1911 book Aberdeen: Topographical, Antiquarian, and Historical Papers on the City of Aberdeen:

"At Fullerton Road, often called the Brae Road, there was the Boat-House, still standing, but originally it had a red-tiled pavilion roof. Passengers were not carried further than this house, which is two miles from the harbour, as may be seen by a milestone bearing the figure 2 at the edge of Great Northern Road. [...]

"At the Boat-House there were usually numerous onlookers, and amongst them often one or more of Aberdeen's 'Odd-fellows,' who likenesses may be seen near the entrance of the entrance to the Reference Department of the Public Library, willing to play the fiddle, sing, or dance for coppers from the passengers." (pages 265-266).

In the early 20th century historical photographs and illustrations, with accompanying descriptions, were displayed in the library's stairwell and reference department.

However, this glass lantern slide likely originates with the George Kemp collection donated to Aberdeen Public Library in October 1914, which is after Milne published the above book.

The style of the illustration in this image is similar to that used in East Neuk Chronicles (1905) by William Skene. This image most likely shows a group scene of some of the "characters" (notable eccentrics) detailed in that book. From left to right, the figure resembles Moorikan Room, Jumpin' Judas, small girk unknown, Davie Frost and Gurk Middleton.

Though this image does not feature in East Neuk Chronicles.

The image to which John Milne referred to in his 1911 book remains a mystery.

Illustration

D22_13

Dancing

Aberdeen Local Studies

Yes

Yes

Yes