A home of this scale provides the perfect venue for extravagant dinners, and hosting just such affairs was one the favourite avocations of one it's former occupants, Mary Collins Jones. In 1978, Mary and her boyfriend, Bernie Wolfson, who were friends and business associates of my father, hosted a sumptuous dinner party in the main house. As I remember, my eleven-year-old's perspective clearly viewed the large, whole salmon, served in the center of the formal diningroom table, as the height of the meal.

Nevertheless, as the evening progressed, there came a time when the water in the house failed. Faucets would not run, and toilets would not flush. Eventually, a small party of adults decided to set out for the water tower, some distance up the hill from the main house (on the road which, in this photo, curves to the right of the main house). I was permitted to join them. And so we set out, flashlights in hand, on what seemed to me a real-life adventure.

Upon reaching the water tower, one of the adults was able to determine that the tank was empty. Thereupon, we set out on the second leg of our "journey," to the pump house at the bottom of the front field, near the reservoir/pond. Sure enough, the pump was found delinquent in its duties. I don't recall what solution was arrived at, except that it was temporary, and would provide water for the remainder of the evening.

Since this photo was taken, the property has been subdivided, and, although the tower still provides water to the smaller residence known as "the lodge," the main house now has another source.

I neglected to mention that the house/estate is named "Achnacarry."