Port Elizabeth of Yore: “New Church” in Main Street

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces 2 Comments

One of the little known facts about Port Elizabeth of Yore is that there was another church in Main Street apart from St. Mary’s. It was known by the highly imaginative name of The New Church. It stood in Main Street between Donkin Street and Constitutional Hill, which extended down to Main Street in those days. This church was initially an independent church built by the members of Union Chapel. 

Main picture:  New Church is on the right looking towards the market square. One is unable to view the Town Hall at the end of Main Street, as it did not yet exist. 

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Rations, Rules and other Regulations aboard the Settler Ships

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

As would be expected, meals were provided to all Settlers on their passage to the Cape Colony. The items comprising the meals were set out in detail in the Dietary Tables of the Algoa Bay Emigration Ships. 

Not only did these requirements specify the composition of the meals but also the bedding and the sleeping arrangements regarding unmarried women. Included are also the unofficial but quaint methods of food provisioning. Moreover, certain Party leaders would impose their own versions of control.

Main picture: Model of the Weymouth

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Earliest Photographs & Photographers

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 6 Comments

This was another first for Port Elizabeth. By all accounts, the first photographic studio in the Cape Colony was established in Port Elizabeth using the first viable photographic process. This was known as the Daguerreotype process, introduced worldwide in 1839. For the following nearly twenty years, it was the most commonly used photographic process internationally. The first photograph using this process in Port Elizabeth was on the 17th October 1846.

Main picture: The Beach at South End in 1878

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Defences during the Boer War

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 1 Comment

Although Port Elizabeth was never directly affected during the Anglo-Boer War as it was never occupied or fought over, measures had to be taken to prevent the destruction of infrastructure in the unlikely event of a Boer raid. 

The blog only covers those defensive measures. 

Main picture: One of the two forts at the Upper Van Stadens Dam which was constructed during the Anglo-Boer War

 

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Memorials to the Fallen in War

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Port Elizabeth is home to a number of memorials which recognise the sacrifice of the men of Port Elizabeth in past wars. 

This blog will only cover three of them starting with the least known, the Grey High School war memorial. Then I will cover the memorial of the Prince Alfred Guards and then finally the Cenotaph in St George’s Park. 

Main picture: Unveiling of the Prince Alfred Guard’s Memorial

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Fire Damage to the P.E. Advertiser in 1913

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 Comments

On the 9th March 1867, a new newspaper was to see the light of day. Known as the Port Elizabeth Advertiser, it was edited by William Edwards, a printer and bookbinder by profession. It was a free paper, published twice weekly, full of advertisements and items of local interest.

This blog covers the history of this newspaper and its almost fatal fire in 1913.

Main picture: Fire engulfing the offices of the P.E. Advertiser

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Albany Road formerly Cooper’s Kloof

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

For me and possibly other Port Elizabethians, the road up Cooper’s Kloof, commonly known as Albany Road, does not have the same prominence or cachet of either Russell or White’s Road. Nevertheless, it does serve as a vital arterial road carrying traffic both to Cape Road and through to Walmer via Target Kloof. 

Main picture: Albany Road in 1865

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Algoa Bay before the Settlers: Sojourn by Henry Lichtenstein in the Early 1800s

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Most of what is nowadays known as the Eastern Province was devoid of whites prior to the arrival of the 1820 Settlers. Notwithstanding that fact, a sprinkling of intrepid Dutch farmers did farm in the area between the Gamtoos River and the Great Fish River. By all accounts, it was a precarious existence at best. Not only were they at the mercy of marauding bands of indigenous tribesmen but they were also in danger from large predatory animals.

In spite of all these clear and present dangers, numerous indomitable adventurers also traversed this treacherous landscape. One such person was Henry Lichtenstein, a German medical doctor and a professor of natural history at the University of Berlin.

This is his story as recorded in his book entitled Travels in Southern Africa in the years 1803, 1804, 1805 & 1806.

Main picture: Henry Lichtenstein 

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Is this Future Here Already?

By Dean McCleland in Other Miscellaneous Topics 0 Comment

Kodak is one of the first megacompanies to face extinction when technological advances caught them off-guard. This phenomena is about to overtake many such companies, industries and even countries.

Here is a non-definitive list of those technologies which are on the cusp of this modern tsunami.

This will now happen with Artificial Intelligence, health, autonomous and electric cars, education, 3D printing, agriculture and jobs. Welcome to the fourth Industrial Revolution. Welcome to the Exponential Age

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