Dunfermline Cricket Club

JOHN McKANE 1862 – 1911

 John McKane, born at Kingskettle, Fife in 1862, was brought to Dunfermline as a child when his father was appointed police constable at Oakley, Fife.    He finished his education at the High School and on leaving became an apprentice clerk at the Royal Bank, Dunfermline under Dr Rose.

 On completion of his apprenticeship at the age of 22, John McKane made his first trip abroad when he applied for and was successful in obtaining a banking post in Canada.   Being of an adventurous disposition, he was soon caught up in the gold and silver fever of the 1890’s and in 1896 decided to go prospecting for silver at Rossland in Canada.     There he staked his claim and believing it to be successful, returned to Dunfermline in an effort to raise sufficient capital to finance the development.

 He secured loans from various friends and associates in Dunfermline, floated a company and returned to Rossland to pursue his silver strike.   Unfortunately, the venture failed and all the money was lost.

 He then heard of the gold discoveries in Nevada and there joined the many prospectors, becoming owner of the first claim in the famous “Death Valley”.   He obtained money to develop it from a Mr Schwabb, who was associated with Andrew Carnegie in the steel industry and was lucky to find gold ore on his claim.   Within months John McKane became a very wealthy man and eventually became one of the “Gold Millionaires” of Nevada.

 He returned to Dunfermline, repaid all his friends with interest and made various gifts to his home town.

 On returning to Canada he acquired an interest in a timber track in British Columbia and was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Federal Parliament of Canada.

 In 1906 he again visited Dunfermline, during which time he bought Ladysmill Park from Colonel John Hunt for £2,500 and presented it to Dunfermline Cricket Club.   The ground was renamed McKane Park in his honour.   The gift of the ground coincided with Dunfermline’s acceptance of the invitation to participate in the Scottish Counties Championship as Fifeshire. By chance the first County Match was against old rivals Perthshire on 19^th May 1906.

 His other gifts at this time included £500 to a University extension scheme, £250 towards the restoration of Culross Abbey and a sum of money to assist with renovations to Dunfermline Abbey.

 John McKane became engaged to a wealthy American lady, but it was characteristic of him in that he made a vow not to marry until he was as wealthy as she, which was some months later.    There were no children of the marriage.    John McKane died in Oakland, California on Thursday, 22^nd June 1911.    News of his death was sent by Mrs McKane to his sister, Mrs Aitken, who resided at North Queensferry at that time. This coincided with the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.