When John Fyfe started quarrying operations on Paradise Hill there was a large influx of workers to the area and a dearth of housing to accommodate them. 

To alleviate this, he built four blocks of tenements, two on Paradise Hill called Paradise Cottages, or more commonly 'The Ra', and two blocks on the Dalmadilly Road called the Sidings.  In 1881 these four blocks were home to 40 families, totalling 219 people.

There were many different classes of workers employed at the quarries, from the lowly labourer through to the superintendents or managers.  Among the ranks of the managers was one George Gellie who was born in Turriff in 1839 and came to Kemnay soon after John Fyfe started his operations.  Over the years Gellie was to do much for the community of Kemnay.  In 1863 he took a lease of the building feu immediately across from the station entrance, but unlike A G Burnett's grandiose scheme, his was a more practical mind.  On the corner of the feu next to the lane he built a tenement house which for many years, like others in the village, was known by his name, Gellie's House.  In 1881 there were 4 families comprising 20 people staying there.  Alongside the house he built a shop which was for many years run as a bakery, initially by John McDonald from Kirkhill in the county of Inverness.  Since shortly after the last war it has operated as a public house, initially by John Gibb, who in true north-east tradition, named it after his namesake of nineteenth century fame, in William Alexander's book on life in the north-east, Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk.  At some later date another building was erected on the feu and this has had several uses over the years, including, dwelling house, tailor's shop, hairdressing salon, shoemaker's shop and now houses the Tandoori restaurant.

In 1867 Gellie leased a feu on the east side of the High Street and built the house known as Albion which he used as his own residence.  In 1874 he built the house on the feu adjoining Albion which was for many years called Woodbine and now known as Berriedale.  This was followed in 1879 by the construction of Gowanbank on Victoria Terrace, which was leased by Dr Henry until such time as he built and moved into Finnercy on the Monymusk Road, so called after Dr Henry's birthplace at Echt.

George Gellie also produced plans for the new school buildings in 1874 although he was not elected to the School Board until 1876.  He contributed much to the School Board until  March 1887 when he tendered his resignation 'owing to his having left the parish and gone to reside in the Island of Jersey.'  An acknowledgement of his work was conveyed to him.

George Gellie returned from Jersey and moved around a bit, but more of this later.

Memories: Our apologies for the slip in this article. In the second last paragraph, Alexander's Academy should have read Alexander Stevenson's Academy.