1924 Cheung Chau Assembly Hall

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1924 Cheung Chau Assembly Hall

Caption reads: This interesting photograph was taken just after Lady Severn had performed the opening ceremony of the new Assembly Hall at Cheung Chau last Saturday afternoon. Lady Severn is holding the bouquet presented to her by little McPherson. Standing beside Lady Severn is the Hon. Mr. C. C. Alabaster, K. C., C. B. E., the "Mayor" of Cheung Chau.

China Mail 24 July 1924

Date picture taken
19 Jul 1924
Gallery
1920s Hong Kong
Shows person / people
Chaloner Grenville ALABASTER [1880-1958]
Shows place(s)
Cheung Chau Assembly Hall [c.1924-????]
Shows organisation(s)
Mee Fong Studio [????-????]

Comments

The wider photo clearly spoke about one very interesting fact about the topology of the site.

The ground on the left flange of the hall was very narrow, so more people had to stand to the right of the entrance. 

The sidewalk on the left must have a drop-off, which might be a natural boundary on this side.

Today, from Google Street View, the location seemed to be near the junction of Fa Ping (or Peng) Road and Don Bosco Road.

What's about the other end of the hall? It should be near the junction at Ming Fei Road, if that is the case.

And...

Checking the 1938 photo of a European house with a damaged roof, which had a sandpit chimney exposed, and most of the rear wall badly collapsed, I think that the electricity line and its power pole could be considered as an important clue. The location used to be permanent.

Using the Google Street view to examine the location as discussed, I see a modern lamp pole remaining in the same position.

Tung

 

In fact there is one other photo which shows the left side of the hall, not uploaded before. (link, pls view it on p. 10) The original shows it is a very sunny afternoon.  ⛱️

For illustration only, I try to overlay it with the group photo. It may show a better picture of the terrain of the lot. And it may be compared to the 1937 photo of the hall with damaged roof also. 

a wider view of the Assembly Hall, July 1924 , by hkspace_wl

For reference, the attendees (of note) at the opening of the Cheung Chau Assembly Hall included:

  1. Lady Severn
  2. Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster
  3. Mr. & Mrs. J. L. McPherson*
  4. Mr. L. M. Whyte
  5. Capt. Lossius
  6. Dr. Wannup
  7. Dr. O. Thomson
  8. Capt. Baylis
  9. Dr. E. W. Kirk
  10. Rev. & Mrs. E. Baxter
  11. Mr. D. E. Donnelly
  12. Mr. G. E. Wetton
  13. Mr. G. W. C. Burnett
  14. Mr. C. M. Macdonald
  15. Mr. & Mrs D. Reid
  16. Mr. & Mrs. A. Hyde Lay
  17. Mr. T. G. Patterson
  18. Mr. A. H. Mackenzie
  19. Mr. A. G. Coppin
  20. Mr. A. C. Franklin
  21. Rev. R. D. Rees
  22. Mr. V. R. Jones
  23. Miss Walters
  24. Miss Bennet
  25. Miss Dunnet
  26. Miss Sayer
  27. Miss D. Hay

*Mr. J. L. McPherson was Hon. Secretary, treasurer, clerk of works of the Assembly Hall

The 1924 Board of Management of the Assembly Hall included:

  1. Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster
  2. Rev. C. D. Cousin
  3. District Officer South, Mr. J. A. Fraser
  4. Dr. C. A. Hayes
  5. Rev. J. A. Kemp
  6. Mr. J. L. McPherson
  7. Rev. J. C. Mitchell
  8. Dr. B. R. Vickers
  9. Mr. L. M. Whyte
  10. Mr. J. M. Wright

(Some in the Board of Management may not have attended the Opening Ceremony)

Source: China Mail 24 July 1924

Opening of the CC Assembly Hall  attendees 1924

  1. Lady Severn
  2. Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster
  3. Mr. & Mrs. J. L. McPherson* missionary
  4. Mr. L. M. Whyte
  5. Capt. Lossius
  6. Dr. Wannup
  7. Dr. O. Thomson
  8. Capt. Baylis
  9. Dr. E. W. Kirk missionary
  10. Rev. & Mrs. E. Baxter
  11. Mr. D. E. Donnelly a wine merchant, lived at Shebeen , Cheung Chau.  (Shebeen - an unlicensed or illicit establishment that sells alcohol)
  12. Mr. G. E. Wetton
  13. Mr. G. W. C. Burnett
  14. Mr. C. M. Macdonald
  15. Mr. & Mrs D. Reid
  16. Mr. & Mrs. A. Hyde Lay
  17. Mr. T. G. Patterson
  18. Mr. A. H. Mackenzie
  19. Mr. A. G. Coppin  HKVDC
  20. Mr. A. C. Franklin
  21. Rev. R. D. Rees
  22. Mr. V. R. Jones
  23. Miss Walters possibly daughter of A J Walters?
  24. Miss Bennet
  25. Miss Dunnet
  26. Miss Sayer
  27. Miss D. Hay

 

The 1924 Board of Management of the Assembly Hall included:

  1. Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster
  2. Rev. C. D. Cousin  missionary
  3. District Officer South, Mr. J. A. Fraser
  4. Dr. C. A. Hayes  missionary
  5. Rev. J. A. Kemp missionary
  6. Mr.  J. L. McPherson  missionary
  7. Rev. J. C. Mitchell missionary
  8. Dr. B. R. Vickers  see House 24
  9. Mr. L. M. Whyte
  10. Dr. J. M. Wright  missionary