Dean McCleland, Author at The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Annerley Terrace

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 19 June 2022 0 Comment

In the 19th century Annerley Terrace was amongst the most historic roads in the emerging town of Port Elizabeth. Many of the newly minted elite resided here on what was previously the Garrison’s land. Like most streets on the Hill, as it was called, Annerley Terrace, was short, running from Gordon Terrace to Bird Street.

Main picture: Annerley Terrace in1867. In the foreground is a camp on the Military Reserve. Behind it on the left is the house built c1850 for William Henderson. but later it was the home of H. H. Solomon. Then come the homes of Sir Frederick Blaine (“Bay View House”) & Sir Edgar Walton (“Annerley House”) whch is still standing. In the centre is “Annerley Terrace”, built by 1864 for John Paterson

Port Elizabeth of Yore: 1888 – Another Disastrous Storm

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 16 June 2022 0 Comment

The Rocket Brigade in Action

During the age of sail vicious storms were always potentially disastrous for ships as the fierce gusting winds could drive ships onto the coast fatally wrecking them. In the case of Algoa Bay, it was renowned for treacherous south-easters during the latter half of the year. To assist in the rescue operations, the local regiment, Prince Alfred’s Guards, established a separate unit known as the Rocket Brigade.

This blog deals with the rescue operations during this unprecedented storm

Main picture: The PAG’s Rocket Brigade in action during the 1888 gale

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The multi-racial Union Chapel and School

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 13 June 2022 2 Comments

The Congregational Union Chapel in Chapel Street was never one of the foremost churches in Port Elizabeth but in two ways it was unique in that it held mixed services with khoikhoi and whites as well as mixed schooling. It might not have been a prominent church but it went into use in May 1828 which was four years ahead of St. Mary’s making it de facto the first completed church building in Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: Chapel Street. Union Chapel was enlarged in 1882 to plans by John Thornhill Cook & was demolished in 1964.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Robert Pinchin: The Engineering Juggernaut

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 12 June 2022 0 Comment

Robert Pinchin should be remembered for his contribution to the development of Port Elizabeth and the water supply in particular. In 1862 he wrote a treatise advocating the Van Stadens Water Scheme. It was only after more than a decade of prevarication that the Town Council acted upon his recommendation. Moreover he was involved in engineering in all its manifestaions. Ironically what he is remembered for is his ascent of the Cockscomb peak in April 1870.

Main picture: Baakens Street. 1862. The house centre right is on the land granted on 1 Oct 1821 to D.A.C.G. John Craig. At the end of 1826 he sold the land with a stone house. The house became the property of Capt. John Burton, then his widow Mary, who married Thomas Henry Martyn. Mary Ann Burton then married Robert Pinchin, and after her death he and their daughter lived here with his mother-in-law – hence Pinchin Lane. It was sold to Mangold Bros. in July 1879 for their foundry, and they demolished it in 1882 for stores.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: John Harrison Clark

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 9 June 2022 0 Comment

Among Port Elizabeth’s early entrepreneurs was one, John Harrison Clark, whose occupation is given as merchant. According to the Port Elizabeth Directory and Almanac of 1877 he sold hardware from premises at 14, 16 & 18 Main Street. The company John H. Clark & Co was bookended between Dreyfuss & Co in front of St. Mary’s Church occupying erfs 2 to 12 and on the northern side of Clark’s premise, was Standard Bank. On the opposite side of Main Street at number 11, was John Geard’s ironmongery shop.

This is a brief blog on the life of John Harrison Clark.

Main picture: Property of John Harrison Clark in Rufane Vale which formed part of Baakens Valley. Originally part of the property owned by Jonathan Board, the first “cottage” was erected here by 1852 when he offered the lease for sale.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Wagners of the Farm Zwartebosch

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 8 June 2022 0 Comment

The farm, Rondebosch, formerly called Zwartebosch, is located north of the Kromme River mouth. Professor Charles Wait of NMMU has kindly supplied me with the family records relating to this farm and the Wagner family who have owned it until recently.

Main picture: Aerial photograph of Rondebosch

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Bean Family of Ferndale near Hankey

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 24 May 2022 5 Comments

What I find fascinating about the history of South Africa are the stories of the old farmhouses scattered like chafe on the parched plains of the Karroo, the water sodden Southern Cape and the rocky hillocks and outcrops of the foothills of the mountain ranges. Many of these have stories going back to the original Trek Boers of the 1770s. Equally of interest are the anecdotes of privations and struggles on obdurate lands and unfriendly tribesmen.

This is the story of the Bean family and their family house located near Hankey. Locally Ferndale was known as “Bean se Bos”

Main picture: Leonard Orlando Bean [1809-1892]

A SMAC in the Face #33: An Erection for a Dysfunctional Country

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces 20 May 2022 0 Comment

What do you do in a dysfunctional country with a flagging economy that has failed to shoot the lights out (or maybe it did just that)? You have run out of things to do like boxes to tick and stupid policy and name changes, so you propose a simple-to-execute pointless project that doesn’t involve difficult issues. As a bonus, you might get a legacy out of it and Nathi Mthethwa needs one. After all, it was under his watch as Minister of Police that the 2012 Marikana Massacre occurred. Having cocked that one up, he was demoted to Minister of Arts and Culture in 2014. As usual, he is hardly qualified for the post by any creative stretch of the imagination given that he holds a Diploma in Community Development, a Certificate in Mining Engineering and a Certificate in Communications and Leadership – in other words, he doesn’t know his arts from his elbow.

This Ministry is one of the slag heaps where they dump senior ANC politicians that they don’t know what to do with. After all in March 2010, a wholly unsuitable Arts and Culture Minister, one Lulu Xingwana, stormed out of an art exhibition that she was due to open. She objected to pictures of naked women embracing intimately, but not even so much as a nipple, erect or otherwise, was showing. She stated afterwards that “It was immoral, offensive and going against nation-building.” I suppose it would have been OK if they had been photos of African beadwork on naked-breasted, bare-footed virgins that don’t need Brazilian butt lifts – the ones that Zuma finds attractive.

The Sports Ministry was added in 2019 in an effort by Ramaphosa to streamline the cabinet. Again, like his predecessor, Fickle Mbalula, Nathi is hardly qualified in this area. This coxless pair couldn’t kick a ball between them. The fact that our soccer team cannot even beat minnow countries in the midst of a revolution (Equatorial Guinea), it is highly unlikely to help endow your legacy. That the Springboks lifted the Rugby World Cup for the third time in 2019 and that our swimmers have umpteen Olympic golds between them is meaningless – it’s got to be soccer and Caster Semenya.

What to do?

Ah, a moersa flagpole. Nation building and a legacy for only R22million – cheap at the price. Psst! Don’t tell him that Gqeberha (PE for the unliberated) already has a 68m one and I haven’t seen that contribute to nation building there.

Psst²! Flags don’t last long – they tend to flagellate themselves to death in about a year which becomes quite an expensive exercise given the required size of the flag. The Hearld reports that PE’s flag costs R200,000 p.a. Also it has to be raised every morning and lowered before sunrise and I’m sure that there are strict ceremonial requirements. If the wind gets up, then it must be replaced by a storm flag. If Gqeberha is any indication, the display of the flag will be highly random.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: A Brief History of Hankey

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 18 May 2022 0 Comment

Hankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein and Gamtoos rivers in South Africa. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape. Mr Bart Logie compiled the following (undated) history of Hankey and surrounds, titled ‘The history of Hankey, the resting place of Sarah Bartmann’.

Main picture: The picturesque town of Hankey

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Hougham Hudson – Questionable Probity

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 16 May 2022 0 Comment

By being not only a Civil Servant but by also occupying positions such as that of Civil Commissioner and Magistrate, the highest levels of integrity, trust and probity were demanded from the holder of these offices. During the establishment of a Leper Institution in Port Elizabeth, many questions were raised about Hougham Hudson’s integrity, and he was found wanting. Despite these episodes exposing additional breaches of ethical standards and behaviour, there appears to be no ostensible consequence for Hudson but it must have tarnishing his career in some manner or fashion.

Main picture: Hougham Hudson [1793-1860]

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

Author: Dean McCleland