Abstract of Solomon SHEPHERD, 2018
Item — Box: 63
Identifier: H03550003
Abstract
Solomon Shepherd and the making of the Feldwick Gates
This is a transcript of a recording made in 1973 by Mr Graham McConechy of Mr Solomon Shepherd telling the story of the building of the Feldwick Gates in 1924/25.
Graham McConechy’s father was an apprentice blacksmith with J Johnson & Sons in Leet Street (current site of the Ten Pin Bowling Alley) under Solomon Shepherd.
“During the early days of Invercargill, the SOUTHLAND DAILY NEWS was owned by MR FELDWICK. About 1900s or before he disposed of his interests in the paper and property and returned to England and retired at BOURNEMOUTH, where he passed away in early 1900. He was a man of considerable means and he left some thousands of pounds to INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL for the development and maintenance of QUEENS PARK. After the first war of 1914-18 the City Council considered they should commemorate the wonderful gift by erecting something to his memory. And it was decided to erect GATES at the entrance to the park. MR WILSON, the council architect drew up plans and J JOHNSON & SONS in LEET STREET got the contract to make them. So in 1924 [unclear word] was made on them. I was at that time the BLACKSMITH at Johnsons and it fell to my lot to do the work on them. They were made of iron and all the main framework was safe and welded in the blacksmith’s fire. The scrolls and fittings, according to the specifications, had to be electric welded. At that time there was no electric welders in Invercargill, so when all the [unclear words] were ready it was sent to PORT CHALMERS. Mr B BROWN, a young engineer at Johnsons went up to cut and to [unclear word] and to see that everything was put in its right place. After it was finished the came back to Johnsons and some of the welds were a bit rough so MR MCCONECHY was put on to cleaning them up so they would look tidy. The contract for brick work was started late in the summer of 1925 and the gates erected. So that’s as far as I know the history of making and erecting the [gates], to commemorate the memory of Mr Feldwick. S Shepard 30 [?] Leet Street, Invercargill”
This is a transcript of a recording made in 1973 by Mr Graham McConechy of Mr Solomon Shepherd telling the story of the building of the Feldwick Gates in 1924/25.
Graham McConechy’s father was an apprentice blacksmith with J Johnson & Sons in Leet Street (current site of the Ten Pin Bowling Alley) under Solomon Shepherd.
“During the early days of Invercargill, the SOUTHLAND DAILY NEWS was owned by MR FELDWICK. About 1900s or before he disposed of his interests in the paper and property and returned to England and retired at BOURNEMOUTH, where he passed away in early 1900. He was a man of considerable means and he left some thousands of pounds to INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL for the development and maintenance of QUEENS PARK. After the first war of 1914-18 the City Council considered they should commemorate the wonderful gift by erecting something to his memory. And it was decided to erect GATES at the entrance to the park. MR WILSON, the council architect drew up plans and J JOHNSON & SONS in LEET STREET got the contract to make them. So in 1924 [unclear word] was made on them. I was at that time the BLACKSMITH at Johnsons and it fell to my lot to do the work on them. They were made of iron and all the main framework was safe and welded in the blacksmith’s fire. The scrolls and fittings, according to the specifications, had to be electric welded. At that time there was no electric welders in Invercargill, so when all the [unclear words] were ready it was sent to PORT CHALMERS. Mr B BROWN, a young engineer at Johnsons went up to cut and to [unclear word] and to see that everything was put in its right place. After it was finished the came back to Johnsons and some of the welds were a bit rough so MR MCCONECHY was put on to cleaning them up so they would look tidy. The contract for brick work was started late in the summer of 1925 and the gates erected. So that’s as far as I know the history of making and erecting the [gates], to commemorate the memory of Mr Feldwick. S Shepard 30 [?] Leet Street, Invercargill”
Dates
- 2018
Conditions Governing Access
For access please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Conditions Governing Use
The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Extent
1 Sheets
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: McConechy, Graham Spencer (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
