Comunn Eachdraidh na Pairc (Pairc Historical Society) is the local historical society for Pairc in South Lochs, south west Lewis. The society collects information relating to the townships of Lemreway, Gravir, Marvig, Cromore, Garyvard, Caversta, Kershader, Habost, Orinsay, Calbost, and the abandoned settlement of Steimreway.
The society was formally constituted on 5 December 1990, following a notice published locally encouraging communities to establish local history societies. The founding chairman was Calum Macritchie from Gravir, who is now resident in Canada.
Within its first year, the society published its first major work, the Roll of Honour, which detailed the many men and women from the district who served in the Second World War. In December 1991, the first edition of Tional, the society’s quarterly newsletter, was published. The newsletter has continued since then, with only a small number of gaps.
In 1991, two further projects were established: Aig an Obair and the Heritage Trail. Aig an Obair recorded stories of life and work in the Pairc area and led to a series of articles published in Tional. These articles were based on transcripts of recordings made in people’s homes, many of which have survived.
The Heritage Trail focused on a different village each year. Each village was highlighted over a twelve-month period and then featured as a themed focus in Tional. The first village featured was Stiomreway in 1991.
A second book publication followed with The Hero of Buzancy, an account of the life of the Rev. Angus Macmillan. The society has continued its publishing work through the Village History series, which now covers all of the villages in Pairc, alongside a number of related booklets.
The society has a wide membership and offers membership to local school children when they leave Pairc School, with the intention of helping them maintain links with the area and the society wherever they may later live.
The society is also involved in a number of projects, including the Angus Macleod Archive based at Ravenspoint in Kershader. This joint project with The Islands Book Trust is founded on the collection of written and recorded material left by Angus Macleod MBE, who was Honorary President of Comunn Eachdraidh na Pairc.
Meetings are held regularly at the Ravenspoint Centre, and all are welcome.