| YEAR |
EVENT |
| 1659 |
The first Parish Church opens with Crawford as first minister |
| 1662 |
No minister till 1688 due to troubles in covenanting times. Crawford returned in 1688 |
| 1696 |
Gilchrist installed as minister |
| 1706 |
Hunter became minister |
| 1758 |
Next minister Young (Jamie Goose in Burns poem "The Kirks Alarm" |
| 1760 |
Rev Hunter dies - age 100 |
| 1786 |
Connel Burn bridge is built |
| 1789 |
On the 31st of August, an English company opened Afton Mine |
| 1791 |
The original Castle Races opens. The race was run on the Cumnock road between a horse from Hamilton and one from Dumfries. The Dumfriesshire mare wins |
| 1795 |
Mr. Reid becomes minister |
| 1829 |
New church built with the clock being presented in 1872 |
| 1829 |
Craig replaces Reid as minister |
| 1835 |
Rev Kirkland takes charge |
| 1843 |
Murray takes over as minister |
| 1846 |
Navvies riot in the Castle when the railway went through |
| 1850 |
Gas is introduced by A & H Kirkland. The Brass Band was formed |
| 1852 |
First postal delivery made by Alex Dalziel |
| 1854 |
First Cattle Show |
| 1854 |
Dalleagles School built by Miss Guthrie. First bank opens as the City of Glasgow Branch |
| 1870 |
Bowling Club opens |
| 1873 |
New Cumnock Town and Bank Schools built |
| 1874 |
Police Station built |
| 1879 |
Afton Bridge built |
| 1883 |
Roman Catholic School opened |
| 1886 |
Its the turn of Rev Millar |
| 1889 |
Town Hall opens |
| 1919 |
Rev Bodin starts |
| 1926 |
Burnet installed as minister |
| 1926 |
Pathhead Pit closes (Paddy Waddal's) |
| 1926 |
The General Strike began. Soup kitchens are seen in the streets, children fed three meals a day in schools. Menu contained:- Roll and butter plus cup of tea in the morning, soup and beans at lunch time and bread and jam at tea time |
| 1929 |
September 2nd sees a gas explosion at Bank No. 2 pit, killing 3 men and injuring 11 |
| 1929 |
Work starts as pipes are laid for the impending Afton Reservoir |
| 1930 |
Glenafton Athletic are formed at Connelpark |
| 1930 |
The Model pit closes, affecting 100 men |
| 1931 |
New Cumnock gets electric street lighting for the first time on October 9th |
| 1933 |
New Cumnock Bowling Club wins Scottish Championship |
| 1939 |
Evacuees arrive from Glasgow. 4000 gas masks allocated |
| 1939 |
Tweedie's Garage install fire fighting equipment |
| 1939 |
Five people take part in a skiing event on Corcencon Hill |
| 1940 |
Young Farmers Club is formed |
| 1945 |
The Home Guards stand down on February 28th |
| 1950 |
Waugh only did three years as minister |
| 1950 |
September 7th - Disaster occurs at Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery. Thirteen men were killed and 116 are entombed but rescued after 50 hours in one of the greatest rescue operations in mining history |
| 1953 |
McPherson is the new minister |
| 1959 |
New hall opens at the Crown Hotel on May 28th |
| 1960 |
The Glens move to Loch Park |
| 1963 |
Afton Hotel and Afton Buildings burn down January 21st |
| 1963 |
One of the worst blizzards in history hit the village during February |
| 1965 |
In September New Cumnock Amateur Dramatic Club disbanded after 28 years. Funds given to local charities |
| 1966 |
Knockshinnoch closes - New Cumnock Swimming Pool opens |
| 1974 |
Coull takes over from McPherson |
| 1983 |
Mr. McGurk becomes minister |
| 1993 |
My name sake Rev Kennedy is in charge |
| 2001 |
Rev Rona Young becomes the first female minister |