Port Elizabeth of Yore: Fischer’s Jewellers

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 Comments

Not only does Fischer’s Jewellers embody the essence of Port Elizabeth but also for many of its citizens, especially in prior generations, Fischer’s was their preferred choice for jewellery. Also, the building is one of the remaining structure built in the Art Nouveau style.

Apart from this obvious connection, my grandmother had another, more obtuse connection, to this iconic store. 

Main picture: One of the very earliest photos of the newly opened Fischer & Co building in Main Street circa 1914

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Malays Create a Niche

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 5 Comments

One misconception about the Malays in South Africa concerns their ethnic nomenclature “Malay.” In fact they originate from Batavia, today called Indonesia, and not from Malaysia. Instead the word Malay was derived from the language that they spoke. The Malay language is spoken in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore where it holds official or national status. It is also spoken by communities in other countries, such as the Philippines, Southern Thailand, and East Timor.. Another erroneous notion is that Malay population only arrived after the British settlers. 

This chapter rebuts these fallacies.  It also reveals the important role the Malays played in the development of Port Elizabeth. 

Main picture: The Green or Pier Street Mosque

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Its Inhabitants in 1822

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 Comments

Port Elizabeth is fortunate in having somebody who prepared a list of its inhabitants at the inception of the town itself. Without a functioning civil authority, nothing is recorded, let alone a population register.  

This blog lists Port Elizabeth’s inhabitants in 1822 together with a biographical sketch of some of them. 

Main picture: Port Elizabeth in 1823

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Magnificent Gothic Hill Presbyterian Church

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Initially the Presbyterians in Port Elizabeth could not afford their own church so they supported the “New Church,” an Independent Church, from 1853. This church was located at the corner of Main and Donkin Streets. Finally, in 1861 they were able to support their own church. 

Accordingly, they built a magnificent Gothic Revival style church in a prominent position on the hill which is visible from Algoa Bay. 

Main picture: View of the Hill Presbyterian Church from Donkin Reserve

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Advent of Bioscope

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 Comments

The fact that just over a year after Cinématographe was invented in 1895, it was demonstrated commercially first in Joburg and then in Port Elizabeth, is indicative of the pervasive nature of technology. Moving pictures had finally been invented albeit without embedded sound. 

In spite of these restrictions, people flocked to witness the latest invention which, like all pioneering devices, would be used both for good and ill. Think of Geobbels, the Communist states and even Donald Trump with his fake news. 

Long known as bioscopes but in the modern parlance these places of entertainment with their huge screens are called movie houses or just movies.

Main picture: A little crowd gathering outside the theatre  that became the Grand

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Water, water, everywhere but……..

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

In the annuals of history, one of the key criteria for the establishment of a town was a ready water supply. What this meant in reality was that towns were located on a perennial river with a persistent strong flow. Not so Port Elizabeth. This problem was to bedevil its development over the years. 

Where did Port Elizabeth obtain its water supply from, especially in the early years? 

Main picture: On this puny stream, grandiloquently called Shark River, that supplied Port Elizabeth with its first piped water

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Great Gale of 1902 -The Southeaster’s last Hurrah

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 Comments

Port Elizabeth is renowned for its shipwrecks. The most calamitous ones were as a consequence of south-easterly gales in Algoa Bay. They are a poignant reminder that in the face of on-shore winds, sailing vessels in the roadstead and at the mercy of the elements, frequently lost their anchors and were driven ashore. An additional problem was that some ships were in poor condition with rusted cables and other defects. 

The most disastrous gale in South African maritime history was the gale of 1902 resulting in the destruction of 21 ships, numerous lighters and other small craft and the loss of 38 lives. The curve of the Bay towards North End is often referred to as the “bight”, an old English word. The North End bight was a notorious graveyard for wrecked ships. And 1902 was no different.

Main picture: On the morning of 2nd September 1902, North End beach was strewn with ships

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: What Happened to the Baakens Lagoon?

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 Comments

Like many of the rivers in the Eastern Cape, the Baakens River also originally possessed an impressive lagoon. Old photographs and paintings show it being used for leisure activities such as boating. 

What eventually happened to this splendid lagoon? 

Main picture: Baaken’s River looking up from the mouth in 1860 with Fort Frederick atop of the ridge. This expanse of water to the north of Union Bridge does not form part of the lagoon as it is a shallow expanse of water subject to the vagaries of tides and the strength of the river flow.

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