Butterworth, a civil engineer by training, played a key role in the development of the town. The Fire Brigade also fell under his remit during the period of growth and professionalisation of this service.
Implicit in the fact that Butterworth was involved with many of Port Eizabeth’s most pestigious and technological projects during that age, it should be acknowledged that he was the right person in the right place at the right time.
Main picture: Arthur Butterworth at the Military Road Fire Station
Biographical data while in Britain
Butterworth, a civil engineer, was born at Rochdale, Lancashire, England. He was educated at The Leys, Cambridge, and served a pupillage to Ambrose W. Cross, then borough and water works engineer, Loughborough, in 1889-1892. Butterworth was then appointed the assistant engineer to the Loughborough Corporation, and in 1893–1895, was engaged as resident engineer on the Loughborough Refuse and Sewage Disposal Works.
In 1895–1896, he was engaged as a surveying assistant to EG Mawbey, borough engineer, Leicester. In 1896, Butterworth was elected to the position of the second assistant to EJ Purnell, city and water works engineer, Coventry. In 1898–1900, he was the chief engineering assistant to JE Swindlehurst, city engineer of Coventry. In 1900–1902, Butterworth was borough surveyor in Hythe, Kent.
Biographical data while in Port Elizabeth
Butterworth arrived from England to take up an appointment as Town Engineer of Port Elizabeth from 1902 to 1912 and City Engineer from 1913 until his death in 1917. He was responsible for the construction and tarring of the main thoroughfares thereby removing the dust nuisance.
Plans for the town
At a Council meeting on the 21st January 1903, Butterworth was granted permission to proceed with the making of a plan of the whole town showing each building in detail. This was essential for the laying of drains for the proposed drainage system. The survey was completed by the end of 1906. It was a splendid piece of work and is still availble for consultation. It’s usually known as the Smyth Survey, possibly after T. Smyth, a surveyor who was in Port Elizabeh in 1904 and 1905.
Mount Road Power Station
On the 28th June 1905, the foundation stone of the Mount Road Power Station was laid on part of the old Agricultural Show Ground. Designed by Butterworth, it wasa opened on the 1st May 1906 when the Mayor, Alexander Fettes, switched on the first street lamps. The elecrical enginner at te time was Richard Pape. A new power station wsa built on the site in 1924.
The Market Extensions
Even though Miles had drawn up plans in the 1880s for the Market Extensions which comprised a building in front of the Feather Market Hall, it was only in 1908 that the Baakens Street facade was campleted according to the designs of Butterworth. An amount of £10,000 was voted by the Council for the work.
The Octagon Cafe
On the 12th April 1913, the Octagon Cafe at Humewood, designed by AS Butterworth but owned by the Municipality, was opened. The concrete foundation went down to the rock. The forty-foot diameter cafe could seat 400 and consisted almost entirely of leaded light glazing. The substance of the Octagon was neither durable nor easy to maintain. By 1941, it was classified as an eye-sore and was demolished in 1942.
Bathing House at Humewood
The orginal Bathing House on Humewood Beach was designed by Butterworth and the foundation stone was laid by the Mayoress, Mrs AW Guthrie, on the 4th July 1913. Built by Kohler and Sons, it had a reinfrced concrete foundation based on rock
Other achievements
He also designed and erected the first abattoirs, introduced the first sewerage mains, and was responsible for the market buildings in the Baakens Valley. He was also the first Chief Fire Officer. In 1916–1917, Butterworth was the honorary secretary of the African District of the Association of Municipal and County Engineers. Previously, he was a member of Royal Sanitary Institute and Royal Institute of Public Health.
* Rochdale, Lancashire, England 1.6.1873 † Port Elizabeth 5.3.1917.
Butterworth was first appointed by the Port Elizabeth municipality in 1902 at the age of 28. While he lacked a formal qualification, he had undergone an apprenticeship. Arthur was to die in office after 15 years’ service of a heart attack. After his death, his widow and children returned to the UK.
Rating the Civil Engineers
Among the Civil Engineers employed by the PE Municipality over the years, Arthur Butterworth can be rated among the best. Doug McCallum was a real go-getter, who took no nonsense. He and Councillors clashed and eventually he resigned. Notwithstanding that many had great respect for him. Other good Civil Engineers were George Begg and Arthur Clayton.
What makes Butterworth stand out was all the development of the City under his watch as has been documented above. He was the Town and then the City Engineer for a considerable period. To prove the assertion, Butterworth wrote a report with costs to sewer the town. Councillors did not believe him and hence did not accept his report. To prove the veracity of his costing, they appointed another Engineer from the UK to review his report. The other Engineer made a few minor changes such as reducing the pipe sizes of some sewers (probably to justify his appointment). The report was accepted but implementation was delayed for a few years. Some of Port Elizabeth’s City Engineers had great vision for the future and he was one of them.
Obituary
Butterworth, Arthur Shaw, civil engineer. Butterworth was born at Rochdale, Lancashire, England. He was educated at The Leys, Cambridge, and served a pupillage to Ambrose W. Cross, then borough and water works engineer, Loughborough, in 1889-1892. Butterworth was then appointed the assistant engineer to the Loughborough Corporation, and in 1893–1895, was engaged as resident engineer on the Loughborough Refuse and Sewage Disposal Works. In 1895–1896, he was engaged as a surveying assistant to EG Mawbey, borough engineer, Leicester. In 1896, Butterworth was elected to the position of the second assistant to EJ Purnell, city and water works engineer, Coventry. In 1898–1900, he was the chief engineering assistant to JE Swindlehurst, city engineer of Coventry. In 1900–1902, Butterworth was borough surveyor in Hythe, Kent. Arrived from England to take up appointment as Town Engineer of Port Elizabeth from 1902 to 1912 and City Engineer from 1913 until his death in 1917. He constructed and tarred the main thoroughfares thereby removing the dust nuisance. He also designed and erected the first Electric Power Station at Mount Road, the abattoirs, introduced the first sewerage mains, the Octagon Café building on the Humewood Promenade and responsible for the market buildings in the Baakens Valley. He was the first Chief Fire Officer. In 1916–1917, Butterworth was the honorary secretary of the African District of the Association of Municipal and County Engineers. Previously, he was a member of Royal Sanitary Institute and Royal Institute of Public Health. * Rochdale, Lancashire, England 1.6.1873 † Port Elizabeth 5.3.1917
Sources
David Raymer
Hills Covered with Cottages: Port Elizabeth’s Lost Streetscapes by Margaret Harradine (2010, Express Copy & Print, Port Elizabeth)
Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the end of 1945 by Margaret Harradine (1996, E H Walton (Packaging (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth, on behalf of the Historical Society of Port Elizabeth).