Having been brought up in Newton Park. I always assumed that I should know the origins of the suburb, especially its name, but like most people, I am blissfully unaware of how it acquired its name let alone the history of the area. For me this was a voyage of discovery. Hopefully it is for you too.
Main picture: Aerial view of Newton Park in 1938
Early history
In Margaret Harradine’s superb book on Port Elizabeth, she states that in 1818, the original quitrent farm Baakens River Farm was granted to John James Berry. The numerous Berry family was well-known in the early days. His sons, Richard John and Matthew, were personalities in the early town. John Berry, he died in 1859, was originally a settler from Norfolk. In 1826 the farm passed to an 1820 settler from Devon, John Parkin. Like all farms in that era, it was extensive comprising the current suburbs of Newton Park, Sunridge Park, Fernglen, Mangold Park and parts of Fairview and Cotswold. On his death in 1856, the land was divided amongst his extensive family.
The lower part of it – the present Newton Park – comprising eleven hundred morgen – was let to Robert Newcombe who first called the area Fairview. The subsequent owners cannot be ascertained but in 1902, George Newton, born on 2nd April 1857 in Port Elizabeth, and his brother James, were both members of the Town Council when this piece of land came onto the market. With a few friends, they made an offer on this property. On successfully concluding the purchase of this property, the Fairview Suburban Estate Company was established in 1902 with Sid Hurd as the company secretary.
Newton Park and Fairview were laid out in 1907.
Hotel in Cape Road
A hotel, now long forgotten, operated in Newton Park on Cape Road from 1861 until July 1902 when it was burnt down. No extant photographs of the hotel survived, nor can the exact location be determined. According to Margaret Harradine, it was probably situated on the spit of land on which Pelo’s Café and the Wimpy restaurant currently operate. Notwithstanding that, Margery Lochhead claims that it was located near St. Hugh’s Church. In all probability, Harradine’s location is more accurate but both women indicate a similar area.
During March 1861, Mrs. Margaret McMullen was granted a license for a new hotel, the “Fair View Hotel“, on the Cape Road. Later on, William and Eliza Ingram took it over and operated it as the “Cape Road Hotel“. Apparently in 1873 it was either run by or belonged to a Mr. Reed. In the next year, Johannes Gates applied for a licence but in the subsequent year, Gates was in trouble with the authorities for not providing the promised quoits and skittles facilities. The farm Hartebeestefontein, on which the hotel was situated, belonged to the Parkin family and in 1875 the license for the hotel was applied for by Alfred Parkin. Whether in fact Parkin’s application was successful or not is unknown but as Margery Lochhear recalls Gates as being the operator for many years, so presumably Parkin was unsuccessful. From March 1882 Francis Dawson ran what was now listed as “Hunters’ Retreat” and in September 1886 the license was granted to Alexander Humphries, who owned the hotel for many years. In 1902 the Hotel was closed down due to lack of business arising from Martial Law imposed during the Boer War. Subsequently in July of that year, it was burnt down.
At the turn of the century
According to Margery Lochhead, at this time Tower House was the last house on Cape Road. Even though the exact location is unknown, it can safely be assumed that it was before was before First Avenue, Newton Park. Then there was veld as far as the plantation near the golf course. Then came Gates’ Hotel [like many hotels of the era, they were known by the name of the proprietor or owner and not by its official name] where St. Hugh’s Church is now situated. There was a tollgate at a bend in the road near Cotswold, maintained by Mr. and Mrs. Paine. The present Stella Londt Home was situated on Parkins’ Baakens River Farm.
Development of the suburb
Being outside the municipal area, Newton Park did not have access to a water supply. Without it, many aspirant purchasers of plots would be deterred. To overcome this obstacle, The Fairview Suburban Estate Company’s constructed a reservoir, a thirty-foot square structure, on the highest point, behind the old hotel in Cape Road. A windmill pump brought water from the Baakens River to fill it. On completion on the reservoir on the 24th July 1903, sales of plots commenced.
Thereafter a start was made to develop the area; roads were laid, attention was given to laying of stormwater drains, sewage, electricity and potable water etc. A deposit of £5 had to be made and the balance of £45 had to be repaid at £1 per month. The building of houses could now begin.
During 1907, Fairview and Newton Park are laid out. Because George Newton had the foresight to establish a company, the first portion of the land was named after him: Newton Park. Other portions that were developed were Glen Hurd, Mangold Park and Walmer extension 12. Another portion of 60 ha which was developed, was prime land suitable for smaller factories. In 1931, Newton Park was incorporated into the Port Elizabeth Municipality and postal deliveries commenced in the following year. By 1930, the top part of the farm where Sunridge Park is situated, was owned by C.E. Londt.
Lost Street Names in Newton Park
An old plan of Newton Park of 1902 (at that time called Fairview Estate) shows that it was intended to give names to the avenues and not numbers as at present. First Avenue was to have been called King Edward’s Road (Edward VII had recently ascended the throne). Second Avenue was to have been called Gordon Avenue; Third Avenue, Mortimer Avenue; Fourth Avenue, Kemsley Avenue; and Fifth Avenue, Mathew Avenue. Why or when it was decided to change this plan is not known. A King Edward Street was later constructed on the northern side of the estate. Gordon Avenue might have been confused with Gordon Terrace, and there was already a Mortimer Street in Mill Park and a Kemsley Street off Edward Street. There is, however, no Mathew Street. The names, like most of the Newton Park Street names, were probably chosen from the list of directors and shareholders of the Fairview Estate Company.
The present MacAdam Street which runs diagonally across Newton Park and is ”unadopted” and unpaved, is shown on this plan as ”Pipe Track”. What the pipe was is not indicated but was probably a water main. The open space on Cape Road, now a children’s playground between Third and Fourth Avenues is shown as ”Market Square”. Three existing buildings are shown nearby, one apparently in the middle of Cape Road. It is believed there was a hotel on that site but the name of it appears to have been lost.
Development of the suburb
The plan was drawn up to show the position of the first 100 buildings lots to be sold on 28th October 1902 and the notice says ”A bus will leave Cape Road Tram Terminus (at the golf course) to convey intending purchasers to the above’‘. This must have been a horse-drawn bus there was only one motor car known at this time, one belonging to William Alcock, first Mayor of Walmer.
Road names in detail
The original intention was to call the area Fairview but when the Post Office raised an objection that the name had already been used in Johannesburg. In the developers their original plan, only the area around the swimming bath was going to be called Newton Park but after this objection, the whole area was called Newton Park. One wonders why the Post Office never raised a similar objection when the suburb across the Baakens River was also called Fairview. The name Newton Park was derived from James and George Newton who were both prominent men, one a Councillor, and the other a director of Fairview Estate Company. Glen Hurd, Hurd Street and Herbert Hurd Primary School all got their names from Herbert Hurd, the Chairman of the Company, and also a mayor of Walmer.
Sunridge Park was given its name by the Londt family of Edworks fame, the suburb of Mangold Park derived its name from James Mangold, one the Directors of the Development Company and Cotswold was given that name by the Parkin family. Apart from these, JA Willett was a chemist, Allan A Mowbray was an owner of Birches, Cecil was a Hurd, Malcolm a godson, Ian was a grandson, Captain Kinnersley was a father-in-law, Frank Perridge was a Town Councillor and was also heavily involved with Prince Alfred’s Guards, a daughter was called Shirley, Burt was a City Engineer, Robert Tait was a municipal engineer, Jack Macadam was connected with the Sand River waterworks, Worracker was a Director. John Alexander Gordon was a shareholder and a local doctor, Bruce was also a doctor, there was also a Dr. Lucas, who had a son, Gerald, Hudson was also a shareholder while King Edward Street was named after the 1902 coronation.
The original King Edward Street became First Avenue and later Langenhoven Drive. Second Avenue was originally Gordon Street, Third Avenue was Mortimer Street, Fourth Avenue was Kemsley Street and Fifth Avenue was Mathew Street.
Macadam Street marks the course of the waterpipes from the reservoir into the city.
Later developments
In January 1926, the Newton Primary School was opened. The name was later changed to the Hendrik Verwoerd School. The foundation of the new school, designed by Eaton and Tait, was laid on 12 April 1930 by Mrs. Lilian Marks on land given by the Fairview Suburban Estate Co. The school was opened on 19 July 1930 by George Newton, Chairman of the Estate Company.
In November 1939, the Fairview Suburban Estate Co donated land for a second primary school, to be named after Herbert Hurd, the sole agent for this company.
During November and December 1943, the problems of Newton Park, described as the “Cinderella” suburb) especially the lack of sewerage, proper roads and stormwater drainage, were aired at meetings and in the newspapers.
Circa 1964 the first library in Newton Park, called the HB Smith Library after the Port Elizabeth architect and surveyor, was established in the Westway Centre.
On 25th February 1925, the first mail plane from Cape Town landed on the Newton Park sports field. This was an experimental air service organised by the Post Office and the SAAF, flying between Cape Town and Durban via Oudtshoorn, P.E. and East London. It was not viable and was terminated on 11th June.
Later life of the Newton family
The Newton family never made a fortune from this investment but there was always a modest income which was earned. George Newton believed that it was his duty to establish his sons in some type of business. To meet this requirement, he decided to sell his small properties in Port Elizabeth and relocate to Middelburg in the Cape. The land that he purchased was at Matjieskloof just outside the dorp where he stayed until his two sons had found their feet. Only then did he purchase two properties in the district.
These two sons, Herbert and one other, relocated to Bechuanaland, now Botswana, where free land was available for farming purposes. They quickly learned that there were no business opportunities. The only business transaction that Herbert concluded, was the purchase of 60 donkeys. After this, they decided to return to Middelburg with all 60 animals in tow.
George Newton then laid out the first bowling club in Middelburg in Van der Walt Street. In recognition of this, one of the parks at this Bowling Club were named after him. Later Herbert, George’s son, purchased the farm, Die Vlei, which his son, Herbie eventually inherited.
One of the lessons that George Newton’s applied in his life was “What you do, do it to the best of your ability”. His leadership ability was ultimately recognised by his appointment as president of the Middelburg Agricultural Union.
Sources
Die Oorspong van die Naam Newton Park, Die Burger, Wednesday, 2nd July 2008
Lost Street Names by Khitah (1977, Looking Back, Vol 17, No 2)
History of Newton Park by unknown author – transcribed during a presentation given by Margaret Harradine on the 16th May 1960 at the Newton Park Library