A document from the 1950s hidden in a dresser has revealed details of reunions held by former residents of the Cumnock area who emigrated to the USA and Canada.

And it seems the first reunion was sparked by a visit to Niagara Falls by former Cumnock Chronicle publisher and editor, Duncan Ballantyne.

The document, entitled 'Chronicle of the Byelaws of the Cumnock Chronicle Parish Reunion' was found by Donovan Moore, from the US.

He revealed: "My great-grandmother moved to the United States from Scotland and I have recently inherited a few of her old dressers.

"When cleaning these dressers, my partner and I found a copy of the original bylaws that seemed to be handwritten and the paper feels quite old.

"My great-grandmother's name was Martha Gildea Hunter. Just thought it was a cool piece of information."

Cumnock Chronicle: The reunion bylaws found in an old dresser

The document states: "On Sunday, July 30, 1955, a group consisting of 75 loyal Scots held a reunion in the Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario in honour of Mr and Mrs D Maclean Ballantyne - Mr Ballantyne being editor and publisher of the Cumnock Chronicle, a weekly newspaper published in the south Ayrshire district of Scotland.

"The people present on that occasion were drawn from both sides of the Canadian and American borders, but originally emigrated from the various hone towns in said circulation area.

"Since the gathering became such an unqualified social event, it was unaninously decided to set aside the last week in July of each year for similar purposes and that the current president Mr James Thomson and secretary David Cunningham be instructed to draw up a set of bylaws covering all matters relevant to same. 

"The undernoted was presented at the second annual reunion in the Fox Head Hotel on 28 July 1956 and was adopted by acclamation."

It then sets out the groups bylaws, which confirmed that Mr Ballantyne would become permanent honourary president.

Membership would be open to any adult or a friend originating from any of the home towns where the Cumnock Chronicle reachers, Canadian or American. Descendents of parents from the area were also eligible for membership."

If any readers know anything about the reunions and how many years they continued for, we'd be delighted to hear from them.