Alex McKechnie for many years owned the garage across from the old Co-Op building taking over from his father who started the business way back in 1918. Alex kindly invited me to his home and provided the pictures below of many of his family from days gone by.
His Grandparents started off as tinsmiths, making piece boxes and flasks for the miners and opened the garage, paper shop and Macs Bar, which were handed down to their children over the years.
Alex McKechnie\'s Grandmother Marion and Mother Elizabeth and Alex 1930
The Queen in Cumnock 1957
Taken around 1950, a day trip, unknown location including Dave and Anne Black and Mrs. Murray of Connelpark stores
Seddon bus owned by the McKechnies
A day trip 1947 on a McKechnie\'s bus
Alistair McKechnie, Alex Muir, Alex McKechnie, Goerge Hannah, Ian Lawrie, Ian McKechnie
Ian Laurie, Sheena, Mae, Alex, Beth Henderson, John Simm, Alistair, Sandy
The Nighthawks
Stamp Brae in winter Biley, Alex, Nessie, Bobby and Mae McKechnie in the 1940\'s
Macs Bar in winter Nessie, Mae, Alex and other McKechnie\'s
Anne Black, Bette McKechnie, Elizabeth McKechnie, Mrs. McLatchie and Mrs. Burgoyne
Alex parents John and Alex McKechnie in front or a Bedford Vega bus 1953
Biley, Alex, Mae, Nessie, Ellen, Bobby McKechnie
Taken at Towans Hotel, Prestwick at a wedding with various McKechnie\'s and friends
John McKechnie with the cap and Elizabeth on his left. Unknown others
Taken in the 1920s at the rest and be thankful.
A wedding with the McKechnie\'s. Peter Jardine on the left
The back of Haughview or the Gold building as it was also known. Also shows the back of the old wooden garage. Marion and Alex McKechnie mid 1930s. Arthur Scoular once lived in a house to the left. In 1939 the wooden structure was pulled down and the current McKechnie\'s built
An old Macs Bar with Harry Burgoyne and an unknown person
Unknown driver and location for this but taken in the 30s
Unknown location and event
Can you name these people?
Marion, John, Elizabeth and Alex McKechnie
Model T Ford, possible at Loch Lomond and Elizabeth McKechnie 1930s
Elizabeth McKechnie on the right. Can you name the other lady?
Taken at the Towans Hotel, Prestwick, various McKechnie\'s and friends
John McKechnie smoking the cigarette in 1917/18. John worked for Tweedie\'s before the war and opened McKechnie\'s on his return
Sandy McKechnie, 1940
Sandy McKechnie, Alex\'s Grandfather, who bowled the first bowl at New Cumnock in 1870
Kate McKechnie nee McLatchie
Jim Jackson, McKechnie\'s taxi driver who moved to Australia
A Seddon 30 seater bus with John McKechnie
Mae Crombie who lived next to Macs Bar
Sam Mason, Hugh Melvin, Jim Glendinning, Alex McKechnie
John Cambell who drove taxis for McKechnie.
Johnny McNab, driver of taxis, buses, coal lorries and ambulances. His daughter Christine plays the organ at the church
Bobby Logan and Sandy McKechnie, 1957
More of the McKechnie family. Thanks to Alex
Including Ian Lind, Ian, John, Alistair, Bette, Elizabeth, Sheena, Wullie, Marion, Nan, and Alex McKechnie and May McKelvie not in that order in front of a Bedford bus 1946
John McKechnie in the Flying Corps 1918 just before he opened the first McKechnie\'s garage which was a wooden building.
Elizabeth and John McKechnie and and unknown person on the right
Alex\'s Wedding in 1957. Andrew, Nan, Kate, Maureen and Molly McKechnie Mae and Tommy Adams
Nan McKechnie\'s wedding. Jimmy, Andrew, Stuart, John, Alex, Wull, Marion, Bert and Alex McKechnie