25 Years Ago

September 26, 1975

THE story of homeless Mrs Vera Lamb in last week's Gazette reached a young Kendal couple, who immediately opened the door of their large detached house in Horncop Lane.

Now Mrs Lamb and her nine-year-old daughter, Karen, are settling in with Mr and Mrs Tony Conway and their four children, three dogs, two cats, two goats, two lambs and two rabbits.

"I feel overwhelmed," said the mother who became homeless after travelling the country to be with her severely handicapped son, Philip, in hospital.

But because the Conway's house is already busting at the seams, her home with them can only be temporary.

50 Years Ago

September 30, 1950

PEOPLE in Kendal, Ambleside and district were among the thousands throughout England and Scotland who, for about an hour on Tuesday evening, saw the blue sun which was followed by a blue moon.

Weather experts were puzzled but among the possible explanations are that the sapphire sun was caused by smoke from an enormous forest fire carried high over the Atlantic by strong winds, or that the sun had changed its appearance through refraction of light from clouds passing in front of it at an enormous height.

One meteorologist described the effect as being that which might be produced by cigarette smoke drifting across a light.

REFERENCE to a lack of "ordinary decent amenities" in most of the smaller houses in the Lakes Urban Council area is made by Dr F.T.

Madge, Medical Officer of Health, in his annual report to the council, presented yesterday (Thursday).

Stating that good housing conditions are an integral part of public health, Dr Madge says that, since most of the smaller property is very old, the structural state is not good.

Many of the houses, he states, suffer from rising dampness due to the absence of damp-proof courses, which cannot be remedied without extensive alterations.

Apart from structural defects, there was a general lack of ordinary decent amenities in most of the smaller houses.

"These conditions may appear quaint and interesting to casual visitors, but they are disgusting and disheartening to those of your folk who live in them," states Dr Madge.

100 Years Ago

September 29, 1900

THE Kendal Town Council has had another discussion about the water supply, ending as usual - nowhere.

We are assured that the water committee are doing all they can, that the manager is doing all he can, and that the ratepayers must do all they can - to stomach it.

That is very well, but it won't work.

People have such different ideas about water.

One man thinks it is good enough if he can wash in it without being dyed brown, and drink it without being poisoned.

Another man cannot tolerate it unless it is without colour and without smell.

Pure water, of course, ought to be without colour or smell - but Kendal water often has one, and sometimes both.

On the other hand, people who drink impure water ought to die - and in Kendal they don't.

This fact is the sheet anchor of the water committee, and they are holding on to it like barnacles.

Before they can be moved somebody will go to the Bird's Park reservoir, drink their fill, and die without unreasonable delay.

150 Years Ago

September 28, 1850

WE FIND in the New Orleans Picayune of the 10th ult., a letter dated Woodbridge, N.J., July 4, in which we find the following singular account of an eccentric old bachelor:

"An old bachelor has lately died in his place, leaving a fortune of 80,000 dollars.

From what I learn of him he must have been one of the most eccentric and curious chaps that ever lived.

His clothes, upon being taken off, were separately folded in papers, and were never allowed the sight of a brush, a silk handkerchief answering every purpose.

Should he be in the road and spy a wagon in the distance, he would run for his life, for fear a speck of dust should chance to fly upon him.

He always endeavoured to keep as clear of the ladies as possible, and particularly the widows, whom he looked upon as something very dreadful, and was never caught walking in the road with one, if he knew it.

Thus lived this curious old man, and when he approached death's door, he was odd as ever.

He could not bear the idea of any one seeing him, or entering his room for fear that they would soil his clothes, step on his shoes, or do some other damage."