Joseph Richard Pike McAlery C.E. 1882-1921

Richard, always known as Dick, was born in Belfast, the younger son of John Mecredy McAlery and his wife Elizabeth.   The family lived in Whitehead, right on the Promenade and close to the railway station.   Dick became a Civil Engineer and was apprenticed to James Wise, a noted railway engineer, who worked for the Belfast and Co Down Railway, and the Belfast and Northern, later to become the Midland Railway.  Wise designed many stations, including York Street, as well as paths,  bridges and a teashop at Glenarrif.

Dick then worked assistant to James Barton on the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway.   He was then placed in charge of the work in his home town, Whitehead, where Wise was constructing  the Promenade and a path around Black Head.   In 1906 when the the work was finished Dick decided to go to South America

He obtained a job with the Argentine Great Western Railway, based in Mendoza, to build a station there.   From 1911 to 1915 he was in charge of building the Station at Cordoba for the Central  Argentine Railway.

In 1920 he paid a visit to his parents, returning to Argentina where he took ill and died in the British Hospital in Buenos Aires.

Provided by: Moyra Dudman

References.
Dictionary of Irish Architects
www.MyHeritage
Family papers