Page 8 - Microsoft Word - miniz-digest-98-103.docx

The firm in question is D. & J. MacEwen & Co. Ltd., who started out in 1804 when brothers
David and James MacEwen opened their first outlet as grocers and wine and spirit
merchants in Broad Street, Stirling. Up till then the family background had been in farming,
with many generations of MacEwens working on the Drummond Castle Estates. Over the
lifetime of the business they opened branches in Aberfoyle, Bridge of Allan, Callander,
Comrie, Crieff, Doune, Dunblane, Fort William, Killin and Inverness. Today, this side of the
family business is no more, but it has been replaced by a successful property and
investment company still bearing the MacEwen name, and based in Callander. The current
directors are Mrs Sheila MacEwen and Mrs I.J.R. MacEwen.

From its inception the business did rather well, attracting all the wealthier customers from
in and around the Stirling area. Ultimately they needed to expand, so in 1826 they bought
land in the area which is now Port Street in Stirling, and built larger premises to
accommodate all the diverse operations of their business. Around this time a third brother,
John MacEwen, joined the firm. He was by profession a lawyer, but was persuaded to give
this up to enable him to manage the Port Street operation.

In 1838 a new branch was opened in King Street in Stirling, and over the next decade or
so three more family members, Daniel, John and Robert MacEwen, joined the firm. Over
the following forty years three more branches were opened, Callander in 1857, Killin in
1895 and Aberfoyle in 1898.

Around 1900 a huge fire all but destroyed the Port Street premises, but they were rebuilt,
bigger and better than before. The new cellars covered some 3,000 square feet, and the
stocks held there included casks of Cambus, Glen Grant, Lagavulin, Talisker and Ben
Nevis.

By 1904, they had opened all their outlets with the exception of Comrie, Doune and
Inverness, and in this same year the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sir John Ure Primrose,
hosted a centenary celebration dinner for the firm in the Albert Hall, Stirling, which was
attended by 180 guests. The following evening a second function was held for all of the
staff.

- 7 -