Strathalbyn commuters may have spotted a new detail to the Dollar Cottage restorations, a heritage-listed building on the corner of North Parade and Melville Street.
A newly-painted sign reading ‘Jesse Bray’ is now displayed across the front of the building, honouring the previous name on the sign last visible in the 1980s.
Owners Evan and Denise Higgins have been progressively restoring the iconic local building, and were awarded for their efforts at the Alexandrina Council Heritage Awards last year for Conservation Practice and the Mayoral Award.
The Nairne residents consulted a heritage advisor on the sign and chose to honour the building’s history.
Signwriter Geoff Turner, who specialises in conservation and restoration, did a “marvellous job” on the project, which included cleaning, filling cracks, making a stencil and painting the space.
Mr Higgins was grateful the circa 1860 building’s restoration has been supported by State Government and Alexandrina Council grants.
“Everybody’s been really helpful chipping in which is really good because it’s in a prominent position – you can see it down from the police station,” Mr Higgins said.
“To me, it’s a worthwhile project because it’s keeping it for generations to come, but it’s also good being there in the main street, so everyone can enjoy it as they go past.”
But, who exactly is Jesse Bray, the historical resurfaced name?
The Southern Argus spoke to several community members interested in history, and has pieced together small nuggets of ‘hearsay’ about the mysterious historical local figure, who has descendants still in the community.
As local legend goes, Mr Bray was the first butcher in Strathalbyn who ran the shop, and many believe the butcher was caught up in ‘sheep duffing’ – the theft of cattle – in the 1800s.
Some records reflect that Jesse Bray was born in Combe, Hampshire, in 1826, was married to Priscilla, and had nine children.
He lived in the region for about 50 years, died in 1914, and is buried in the Strathalbyn Cemetery.
Loyal Southern Argus reader, Brian Simpson, has dedicated years to researching local history, and has found Mr Bray a “question mark”.
“He lived to be what was then the grand old age of 88 which is exceptional in those times,” Mr Simpson said.
“He was, evidently, a keen member of the Salvation Army.
“He was a character, a bit of a Father Christmas figure it seems, with a long white beard and a very jovial character, but otherwise, I’m not aware of anything important he was involved in.”
In history, some residents involved in local affairs were mentioned in The Southern Argus “hundreds or thousands of times”, but Mr Bray was just a few.
“Jesse Bray has slipped through the net in that I have not come across much of particular interest relating to Jesse,” Mr Simpson said.
“I imagine he was an ordinary citizen who enjoyed life and was well-known and was a butcher as well.”
Mr Simpson described butchery as a more “standard occupation in those days” with increased butchers and bakers back then, even when Strathalbyn was a much smaller town.
As well as being a butcher’s shop, the building was formerly the residence of ‘The Tree Lady’ Betty Westwood.
The place was passed down to her godchild, Strathalbyn resident John Bradford, before he sold it to the current owners.
“Luckily the people who bought it, restored it, which is great,” Mr Bradford said.
“It’s nice to see the sign back up there.
“I can remember it as a very faded block letter sign (in the 1980s) – it’s something fairly similar to what they’ve put back.”
He described Ms Westwood as “amazing”, a nurse during World War II in Papa New Guinea, who earned the name ‘The Tree Lady’ after tireless efforts to protect the natural heritage of the region and for planting an estimated quarter of a million trees.
But, with Jesse Bray, Mr Bradford imagines the back cellar was used for hanging meat.
“Apparently, he was a bit of a character,” Mr Bradford said.
“Anyone who runs a business and pinches (cattle) is – according to local legend, anyway.”
