The Govan Hooch Party

Moderators: John, Sharon, Fossil, Lucky Poet, crusty_bint, Jazza, dazza

The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Godsgift » Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:25 pm

I vaguely remember my father mentioning something about wood alcohol being looted from a ship with more than a few fatalities. I've googled (sorry researched) this and can find nothing. Does anybody have any information or links? :!:
User avatar
Godsgift
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:52 pm
Location: Co. Clare. West of Ireland

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Guacho » Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:31 pm

Are you sure it was Govan? There was a new year party in Blackhill in 1949 where nine people died.
User avatar
Guacho
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 558
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:22 pm
Location: Scotstoun

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Gerry B » Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:33 pm

Try Methanol In Your Search :wink:
The Last Time I looked In The Mirror! I Was Still There......
User avatar
Gerry B
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:39 pm
Location: South Lanarkshire Now...

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby moonbeam » Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:59 pm

There was a laboratory suppliers business in an old church, I think, in Cadogan Street. The caretaker/watchman/doorman supplied some people with methanol and if recall some went blind or nearly died. Cant recall when but the firm I worked for bought items from them so it would be around the mid 1960s? Was in the papers at the time.
moonbeam
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 449
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:32 am

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby The Egg Man » Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:32 pm

Guacho wrote:Are you sure it was Govan? There was a new year party in Blackhill in 1949 where nine people died.


Are you sure it was New Year? That was an every weekend occurrence in Blackhill at one time.
I hear the people sing.
The Egg Man
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 2702
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:07 pm

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Guacho » Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:00 pm

On looking up the details, it was eleven souls. This one made all the front pages of the papers.

Reference Title Date
SC36 Glasgow Sheriff Court 1748-1988
SC36/30 Records of Fatal Accident Inquiries 1900-1981
Country code GB
Repository code 234
Repository National Archives of Scotland
Reference SC36/30/1949/8
Title Fatal Accident Inquiry: John and Elizabeth McCallion, both of 31 Maryston Street, Glasgow, both died on 3 January 1949, Robert Small, 44 Acrehill Street, Glasgow, Francis McGowan, 27 Maryston Street, Glasgow, William Watson Cowan, 8 Acrehill Street, Glasgow, Thomas John Sullivan, 33 Acrehill Street, Glasgow and Teresa McIntyre, 48 Hoggan Street, Glasgow, all died on 4 January 1949, Margaret Scott, 10 Provanhill Street, Glasgow, died on 4 January 1949, Elizabeth McDonald Halliday, 55 St. Mungo Street, Glasgow, died on 5 January 1949, and Patrick McGowan, 15 Maryston Street, Glasgow, died on 11 January 1949
Dates 1949
Access status Open
Description Minutes and verdicts (bound in volume)
Level Item
Previous numbers SC36/30/30
Departmental cipher 1949
User avatar
Guacho
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 558
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:22 pm
Location: Scotstoun

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Guacho » Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:58 pm

Transcript:
Evening Times 4th January 1949
Guests said to have been drinking a clear white spirit

SIX DEAD 16 IN HOSPITAL AFTER GLASGOW PARTY
Six people have died following a party in a corporation house at 15 Queenslie St in the Blackhill area of Glasgow. 16 others have been rushed to the Royal Infirmary where? Of them are on the danger list. Several bottles of “clear white spirit” which are said to come from a local chemical works figured in the drinks at the tragic party. Most of the guests drank some of this spirit.

Symptoms of Poisoning
All showed symptoms of poisoning, but mystery surrounds the actual cause of death. This it expected will not be definitely established until post-mortem examinations are held.

The dead are:- John McCallion (62) and his wife mrs Elizabeth McCallion (64) both of 31 Maryston St, Margaret Gillespie or ? (39) 10 Provanmill St, Thersa McIntyre (36) 48 Hogganfield St, William Cowan (23) 8 Arherhill St, James Small (23) 44 Acrehill St. Seriously ill Thomas Sullivan (21) 33 Acrehill St, Patrick McGowan (37) 15 Maryston St.

Among the members of the party who are detained in the Royal Infirmary for treatment are:- Francis McGowan (46) 27 Maryston St, Thomas Lynch (27) 9 Plant St, James McDade (36) 15 Queenslie St, James McGowan (26) 26 Craigendmuir St, Francis McIntyre (17) 48 Hogganfield St, Michael Farron c/o McGowan 27 Maryston St, James Kelly (44) 150 Maxwellton St, Joseph McDade (38) 69 Craigendmuir St, Neil McLaughlin (24) 46 Bright St, Mary McDade (30) 69 Craigendmuir St, Rachel McGowan (44) 27 Maryston St, ? Farrelly c/o McKenna Maxwellton Rd.

“66 year old Mrs Rachel McDade, Mrs Farrow’s grandmother was one of the guests at the party”
“All those who suffered from the sickness had attended a party given in a house at 15 Queenslie St to celebrate the removal of Mrs Helen McDade to a new home at Parkhead”
User avatar
Guacho
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 558
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:22 pm
Location: Scotstoun

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby baldybane1 » Mon Sep 30, 2013 2:35 pm

Hi There
I remember a hooch party in Govan three Brothers Two died and one went blind by that time I moved out of Govan
only heard through the grape vine
baldy bane.
baldybane1
Just settling in
Just settling in
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:12 pm

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Godsgift » Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:04 pm

Thanks to everyone for your replies. And I thought my generation discovered alcoholism. ::):
User avatar
Godsgift
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:52 pm
Location: Co. Clare. West of Ireland

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby motman » Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:13 am

When we lived in Linthouse (the posh bit of Govan), a newly moved in neighbour invited my mum across the landing for a welcoming drink, which she tactfully refused. I remember her telling me that it smelt like wood alcohol. In the late 60s or thereabouts. :roll:
motman
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 382
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:49 am
Location: Ashford, the Garden (aye right) of England

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Targer » Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:10 pm

Or possibly Meth?
Targer
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 9:20 pm
Location: Ontario,Canada

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby glasgowfranko1981 » Thu Nov 28, 2013 3:58 am

The Blackhill poisoning happened on my Aunt's Wedding Day on New Years Eve, 1949. I have various newspapers, clippings and family photos and can upload or send to anyone interested or connected. Tragic. My Dad still talks about the loss of most of his family with this. A few deaths happened gradually as well, and some people were left blind and with serious mental problems.
glasgowfranko1981
Just settling in
Just settling in
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:03 pm
Location: Glasgow

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Godsgift » Thu Nov 28, 2013 8:47 am

glasgowfranko1981 wrote:The Blackhill poisoning happened on my Aunt's Wedding Day on New Years Eve, 1949. I have various newspapers, clippings and family photos and can upload or send to anyone interested or connected. Tragic. My Dad still talks about the loss of most of his family with this. A few deaths happened gradually as well, and some people were left blind and with serious mental problems.


Ah, it's coming back. My dad did mention the blindness too. It would be interesting to see those newspaper articles if you had time.
User avatar
Godsgift
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:52 pm
Location: Co. Clare. West of Ireland

Re: The Govan Hooch Party

Postby Huggy » Thu Feb 14, 2019 8:42 pm

I think it was Wood Alcohol from the ICI in Townhead, smells a bit like vodka & is used by French-polishers etc, as the purple dyed Meths leaves a bloom on the varnish.
Huggy
Second Stripe
Second Stripe
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 11:26 pm


Return to Glasgow Chat (Coffee Lounge)

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 36 guests