Coll Traders of the 1880's
Ruth & Robert Sturgeon.
Some call them the 'bad old days' - but were they? In 1881 when Coll had a population of 643, it was possible to obtain clothing, footwear and many essential services right here on Coll. In those days every man had a traditional 'good' blue serge suit in which he was impeccably dressed. No matter what the occasion, whether for going to the Kirk or attending a wedding, a funeral or a dance, every man donned his good blue suit.
With tailors at Gortan, Benmenach and Cornaig, and weavers at Frishland, Acha and Sorisdale, one assumes it was simpler to buy a piece of cloth - either from the island or 'bought in' - and take it to a tailor to be made up to one's own measurements, than nowadays, when to purchase a suit one must either send to a catalogue company or journey to the mainland.
The ladies were not lacking either - according to our information. By 1887, there were no less than 6 dressmakers on the island to say nothing of Janet Macorkindale of Arynagour who was also a milliner of some renown, able to make not only everyday headgear but some more striking concoctions - perhaps 'Penny plain or tuppenny coloured'? At Gortan, brother and sister Hector and Ann MacLean working together could rig out the entire family. Agnes Kennedy at Kilbride probably worked at Kilbride dairy as well as doing dressmaking, and with Euphemia at Ariverich, Mary at Sorisdale & Annie at Arynagour, there was ample choice of talents for the ladies to partonise when in need of new clothes.
Footwear, whether for working in or for best, could be obtained at Loanbane, Ariverich or Arynagour presumably made to measure, or could be bought 'off the hook' at the village shop. Marks of the hooks can still be seen in the ceiling of Coll Trading Co. Some used for pairs of bootsd, and some for hams and bacon.
Horses to be shod were brought to James Smart in Arynagour (his great grandson visited us at Tigh-na-Mara in 1987). In addition to shoeing horses, James would also make gates and iron tyres for cartwheels. The anvil he used is still in the old smiddy.
Stone masons must have been kept busy in those days. Dressed stone work as seen in the Church of Scotland in Arinagour was the work of local mason Hugh MacDonand (father of 'Neil the Shop'). Duncan Maclnnes of Uig, also a sotone mason, was father of the 'The Coll Boy'.
The following list of Trades in Coll was compiled in 1887. Spellings are as shown on the original document.
John Maclean, Uig: Carpenter
Charles Macdonald, Arynagour: “
James Smart, Arynagour: Blacksmith
Duncan Macinnes, Uig: Mason
Hugh Macdonald, Arynagour: “
Hector Maclean, Gortan: Tailor
Angus Kennedy, Benmenach: “
Malcolm Maclean, Cornaig: “
Roderick Mackinnon, Loanbane: Shoemaker
Roderick Maclean, Ariverich: “
Archibald Macniven, Arynagour: “
Charles Macdonald, Frishland: Weaver
Flora Madfadyen, Acha: “
Mrs. D. Macdougall, Sorisdale: “
Anne Maclean, Gortan: Dressmaker
Agnes Kennedy, Klibride: “
Euphemia Maclean, Ariverich: “
Mary Maclean, Sorisdale: “
Annie Johnston, Arynagour “
Janet Macorkindale, Arynagour: Dressmaker and milliner. 
