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Saint Andrew Square
'The American Hut' |
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Recollections
1.
Bill Hunter
Silverknowes,
Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bill Hunter, Silverknowes, Edinburgh, who sent this
message.
Bill wrote: |
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Chancelot Terrace
"Every time I think about the 'olden days' I
think back to my wife's Aunt Elizabeth Gray who lived in Chancelot
Terrace from the age of six until she died in her nineties some years
ago."
'The American Hut'
"My Aunt was born in 1896 and used to relate a
story about going up to, what I think must have been a temporary
hospital in St Andrew Square for soldiers wounded in the first world
war.
She called this 'The American Hut'. I
have her autograph book that many of the soldiers, from all over the
world signed.
I was always fascinated by this story but have
never seen any reference to it anywhere else. I just wondered if
you had any information about it and if this would be recorded
anywhere."
Bill Hunter,
Silverknowes, Edinburgh: July 19, 2007
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If you know anything about 'The American Hut'
please e-mail me, then I'll pass on your message to Bill.
Thank you.
- Peter Stubbs, July 19, 2007. |
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Note for
Bill Hunter:
I attempted to send you an
e-mail today to tell you about update 2 below, but my message to you was
not delivered. Do you have a new e-mail address?
- Peter Stubbs,
December 22, 2007. |
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Recollections
2.
Jessica Brockmole
Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Jessica Brockmole
for telling me where more details of the 'American Hut' can be found.
Jessica wrote: |
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'The American Hut'
"They are currently working on St. Andrew
Square, and there are signs posted along the fence recounting the
history of the square.
A few of the signs mentioned the 'American
Hut'. I was intrigued enough to go to the Edinburgh Room in the
Central Library, where the librarians were able to help me find more
information about this.
It was apparently opened in March 1919 by the
American YMCA for American servicemen who were in Edinburgh on leave.
Before this time, they had been housed in private houses, but the Hut
provided them with a place to stay and eat.
I encourage you to ask about this at the
Edinburgh Room at the Central Library, as they have a few pictures of
this Hut. Tantalizingly little information, but a few pictures!"
Jessica Brockmole,
Edinburgh:
December 18, 2007
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Recollections
3.
Bill Hunter
Silverknowes,
Edinburgh |
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Thank you to Bill Hunter for writing with more
information about The American Hut.
Bill wrote:
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The American Hut
"A web site called
Edinburgh’s War,
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the
First World War ,has
been created by Edinburgh University.
The
researchers were so taken by the story of The American Hut and my wife’s
aunt’s involvement that the administrator,
Alistair McEwan, scanned her autograph book
and added it to the web site.
Here is a link to
The
American Hut page on the web site. It's
in the Home Front (Veterans)
section of the site and makes fascinating
reading.
There is also an explanation about the Hut
concept created by the American YMCA, the first one being the Eagle Hut
in London.
Bill Hunter,
Silverknowes, Edinburgh:
November 24, 2013
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