From 1919 The Town Council were given the responsibility of house building in the burgh

A meeting of the unemployed was held in the Public Park in 1921 where it was agreed to send deputations to County, Town and Parish Councils asking for work.
In May 1922 there were 315 registered unemployed in the town

There were many people on the dole after the war not helped by a decline in demand for the products of coalmining, shipbuilding and textiles plus the influx of cheaper foreign goods. Before the war the main employer had been the textile industry in mills owned by Robert Archibald and J & D Paton. The depression drove Robert Archibald out of business and almost did the same to J & D Paton which was forced to experiment in the 1930's with a new development - knitwear

 

Tillicoultry participated in a national scheme for the provision of allotments for the unemployed. In Jan 1933 2 acres of land were provided at Stoneyacre by Major Wardlaw Ramsay which was then divided into 30 plots to grow potatoes. This scheme was not altogether successful as people really wanted regular work

 

1921 -New council housing was built under the 1919 Housing (Scotland) Act. 14 houses in Ann Street, 8 in Hill Street and 8 in Walker Terrace. Rents were between £22pa and £28pa dependent on size

With the help of state subsidies 36 houses were built in Jamieson Gardens

In all 222 new houses were built between the wars, those mentioned above and also in Stoneyacre, Union Street, Hareburn Road and Lower Mill Street

1935 - houses were built in Moss Road by the Devonvale Co. to provide housing for mill workers

 

July 1919 - the Walker Institute was opened to the public - billiard tables were available for use

 

1922 - John Hewitt's knitwear factory opened weaving Shetland wool

1921 - Samuel Jones (Devonvale) Ltd opened the Tillicoultry branch of the famous London papercoating firm and the following year Sidney Platfoot was appointed as managing director

He stood successfully for the Town Council in 1926 with the motto "We should try to make the good better and the better best"

He was Provost 1930 - 1936

Dec 1925 - A resolution was passed by the Town Council "to purchase, rent or otherwise acquire a right of access to Tillicoultry Glen.................to be used as a pleasure ground or place of public resort or recreation"

May 1926 - Work began on the construction of the Glen Road

21st Aug 1926 - the official opening of the Glen

 

Sept 1928 - 334 buses passes through or came to Tillicoultry on weekdays and 427 on Saturdays

Feb 1929 - The Council agreed to build a bus stance and public toilets at the junction of Moss Road and High Street - Murray Square

1935 - the Children's corner in the Public Park was laid out with swings, a rocking horse and a merry go round

 

1924 - The Co-operative began an annual treat for older members to show the society's indebtedness for their loyalty

April 1923 - Wireless was first heard in Tillicoultry, arranged by the Bowling Club in the Town Hall. However the reception was very poor with nothing much more than an irritating grating sound being heard

By autumn 1923 the reception was much improved and people began to buy radios and aerials

1926 - the Council agreed that all new houses would include a fixture for a wireless aerial.

 

12th Oct 1931 - the first talking pictures were shown at the Town Hall

1933 - the hall was renovated and a telephone installed. New permanent tip up seats were also installed

1938 - Newsreels were introduced

June 1925 - The centenary of the opening od J & D Paton was marked by an excursion to Rothesay for the 400 workers where they were given dinner and tea at the Palace Hotel

July 1929 saw the centenary of St Serfs Church

 

July 1939 - the centenary of the forming of Tillicoultry Co-operative Society which at that point had 1700 members in Tillicoultry and Dollar

To celebrate 3 concerts were held and all members were presented with a souvenir tablecloth and an increase in the dividend paid out. The children of Tillicoultry were given a souvenir handkerchief, a packet of fruit and a free cinema show