Port Elizabeth of Yore Archives - Page 65 of 71

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Town Hall-Epitomising a Vision for Greatness

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 23 December 2016 1 Comment

Amongst all the iconic buildings of Port Elizabeth, this must feature in the top five. Yet in 1977 this building which epitomises Port Elizabeth, almost became an ex-icon as a result of a conflagration which destroyed it.

What a momentous loss that would have been?

This blog covers the odyssey of a plan transformed into a Town Hall to finally being acclaimed as the City Hall. Finally it is saved from destruction by the wreckers’ ball of short-sighted Councillors and then from a fiery inferno.

Main picture: The Town Hall under construction from 1858 to 1861

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Ghosts & Apparitions

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 22 December 2016 3 Comments

All towns have their ghost stories. Real or imagined, they form part of the folklore of the town. In Port Elizabeth’s case, it has its fair share. Apart from perhaps one, none are real ogres.

Being a sceptic of the metaphysical world and paranormal phenomena, I do not place much credence on these inexplicable tales. However, given the interest of various people in these alleged phenomena, this blog covers the most important ones.

Main picture: Richly House formerly Langford Lodge. Is it the most haunted house in Port Elizabeth?

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Mad Pyromaniac

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 21 December 2016 2 Comments

Some people gain fame, and possibly fortune, through charity, good deeds and hard work whereas Miss Francis Livingstone Johnston only gained notoriety through setting fire to numerous buildings in Port Elizabeth in the mid- 1890s. The reason for burning down churches was an apparent irrational hatred of altars.

The blog covers the wayward and abnormal career of this atypical female.

Main picture: The Cleghorn, Harris and Stephen’s building, next to where the present Port Elizabeth Public Library was later built, burnt down on Wednesday night 6th May 1896.

Schoenmakerskop: From Convict Station to Sleepy Hamlet

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 December 2016 5 Comments

On the southern coast of Port Elizabeth lies a hamlet barely touched by civilisation. Comprising less than 100 cottages, it is partially a retirement village as well as a holiday resort. Unlike the endless sandy beaches of Algoa Bay, it comprises shingly gullies and rock pools. Instead of the perfect waves for surfers, theses gullies are safe even for toddlers. This blog chronicles the early history of this timeless hamlet with its Norfolk pines oblivious to the sea breezes. This is where I learnt to swim, to dive, to fish – which I never enjoyed – and to explore the inter-tidal zone and rock pools.

Main picture: Motor vehicles on the commonage in front of The Hut Tearoom at Schoenmakerskop. This photograph was originally hanging in my parent’s house at 57 Mowbray Street, Newton Park

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Piet Retief as Land Speculator, Farmer & Merchant

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 5 December 2016 0 Comment

In all likelihood, school pupils who take history as a subject are made aware that Piet Retief, a descendant of French Huguenot extraction, was a renowned Voortrekker leader who was ultimately killed by the duplicitous Dingane.

What the school history books do not teach is that he owned substantial land in well-known parts of what was to become the city of Port Elizabeth. Furthermore he earned the lasting friendship of the 1820 Settlers for ther kindness that he showed them when acting as their transport contractors entrusted with their conveyance to the wilds in the Albany District.

Main picture: The Piet Retief Monument in Summerstrand

Port Elizabeth of Yore: St. Alban’s Church, Draaifontein

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 December 2016 0 Comment

Amongst the few things that I know about my grandmother’s upbringing, is that as a Beckley, she was raised in the family house in Draaifontein. Furthermore, Elizabeth Daisy McCleland always claimed that she was the first person to be betrothed in the St Albans Church. Only after recently receiving a photograph of the original iron & timber church from Rosemary MacGeoghan and the excellent notes by Anthony Beckley, have I been able to establish something of substance about this quaint church.

This is the story of the family church.

Main picture: Original St. Alban’s Church

Wild Fig Trees in Port Elizabeth

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 December 2016 5 Comments

Strangely, as a youngster in Port Elizabeth I harboured a love hate relationship with trees. The Syringa tree in my Aunt Thelma’s back yard was the best. The three of us kids – Cheryl included – would attempt to climb to the top most branches. I loved it for the challenge.

On the other hand, what I loved for its beauty was the Wild Fig, which we drove past every Sunday in 17th Avenue on our way to Granny Mac. This was just a passing acquaintance but the visit to Trinder Square was the real deal, an enchanted affair. Whenever we visited out cousins staying at 17 Pearson Street, this is where we would play. Unlike the Syringa, one could not climb it, but only admire it.

Main picture: Wild Fig trees in Trinder Square

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Saga of the Drift Sands

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 1 December 2016 1 Comment

The fact that the whole tip of the peninsular formed by the southeastern part of Port Elizabeth comprised a huge swathe of sand dunes is now totally lost to its current inhabitants. Commencing in the late 1800’s, a scheme was instituted to prevent the further northern spread of these dunes.

This was their death knell. Today some dunes, a remnant, are still visible at its extremities of Sardinia Bay, the western extent of this dune field, and around the Cape Recife area whilst the driftsands incubator itself, lost its battle for primacy.

This is the story of their demise.

Main picture: Sardinia Bay, a remnant of a once vast sand field stretching inland through Bushy Park to Humewood

Memories of Daisy’s Tea Room at Schoenmakerskop

By Dean McCleland in McClelands, Port Elizabeth of Yore 29 November 2016 1 Comment

This article has been written by Rosemary MacGeoghan in response to my request for an article on the life & times of the McCleland family at Schoenmakerskop.

Main picture: Schoenmakerskop on 10th December 1922 after the opening of Marine Drive outside Daisy’s Tea Room called THE HUT TEAROOM

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Schism in St. Mary’s creates the Holy Trinity Church

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 28 November 2016 1 Comment

St. Mary’s was the progenitor of a number of daughter churches such as St Paul’s Church. As always, like in politics, there are different views of liturgy in ecclesiastical affairs. Central to this dissident group’s disaffection, was their disapproval of the replacement clergyman (Rev. W H Fowle) at St Mary’s Church “high church” proclivities, , and they left St Mary’s in January 1854.

Therefore it came to pass that this disaffected group abandoned St Mary’s Church and formed what they initially called the Trinity Church.

Main picture: Holy Trinity Church near Havelock Square

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.

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