Newsletter No - Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage ...

Paddy before the court for having “too much“powder on the job”In March 1898 John Lawler, aSydney bedding manufacturer,employed Paddy Ryan to build hisstone cottage on a rather unevenpiece of property that he owned inRailway Parade, Springwood.The home still stands today and isone of the finest in the district. It islisted on the Blue Mountains CityCouncil heritage register.The erection of Lawler’s home didnot pass without its share of drama.The quarryman (Paddy?) who wasworking on the project was servedwith a fine for having ‘too muchpowder on the job’, with insufficientmeans of storage.He was obliged to appear beforethe bench at Penrith Court Housewhere he was duly fined. The nameof Lawler’s home, Eringah, likePaddy Ryan’s unfinished home(Erin go brah), would suggest theyboth had Irish connections.In August 1903 the Nepean Timescorrespondent mentioned that ‘Mr PRyan was doing some good work asa stonemason at Mr Lawler’s newbuildings’.Unfortunately, the reporter failed tospecify where these buildings were!Almost a year went by withoutfurther news, and in July 1904readers were told by the NepeanTimes that Mr P Ryan of Vale ofAvoca had lately started in thepoultry farming line.An amazing tale was told of anOrpington hen he had purchasedfrom a Rooty Hill poultry farm thathad laid 66 eggs without a break.The poor hen rested for a weekbefore she started this amazing featall over again! He was reported tobe very pleased with his purchase.Paddy had a stern warning given tohim via the pages of the samepaper in 1906, which said that itwould be advisable for Mr Ryan tokeep his pigs and poultry wellprotected with the rifle clubmembers so anxious to startshooting.The exact location of Vale of Avocais unclear, however a paperbackentitled Exploring the BlueMountains mentions a place withthis name as being downstream ofthe Grose Valley.The first explorer into the narrowvalley was William Paterson whothought it might be a gateway to thewest. However, it is not known if thisrefers to the place of residence ofour Paddy Ryan.Paddy is known to have marriedKathleen (Kate) but no details areavailable as to where or when thisevent occurred.They had a son Patrick junior whowas a contemporary of William andPercy Croucher.About the author......Pamela Smith, the author of thisbiography of Paddy Ryan is aregular contributor to HERITAGE.She has an Advanced Diploma inLocal, Family & Applied History, aBachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Historyand is currently studying for aMasters in History all through theUniversity of New EnglandArmidale.She has studied Australian andinternational history, museumpractices, and conservation. Herspecial interests are women’shistory, the history of educationand politics and social history ingeneral.She is currently working through aunit on crime, punishment andservitude which encompasses theconvict era, the architecture andfunction of early prisons, WorldWar internment in Australia andthe current day internment ofasylum seekers.She is also currently president ofthe Blue Mountains Association ofThe three made a return trip on footto Jenolan Caves in 1895.Paddy died in 1917, and proctorJames CJ Ryan administered hisestate. Kate was his beneficiary.The 1920 electoral roll mentionsThomas George Ryan, railwayemployee, Tyneside Faulconbridge,Kathleen Ryan, St Martha’s HomeLeichhardt, and Martin Ryan,Avoca, Archer Street, Chatswood,as owners of allotments of land atFaulconbridge.It seems safe to assume thatKathleen (his wife?) and Martinwere relatives of Paddy but moreresearch would be required toconfirm if all three shared kinship.Cultural Heritage Organisations Incand a founding member ofSpringwood Historians. She alsoserves on Blue Mountains CityCouncil’s heritage advisorycommittee.An avid local history researcherand author she has been publishedon a wide range of subjects.This article was first published onSpringwood Historians blog http://springwood historians.blogspot.com.au/Book before 20 August and save 10%Blue Mountains History Conference20 October, 2012 at Carrington HotelKatoombaContact Jan Koperberg at j.koperberg@bigpond.comHERITAGE 12July - August 2012