Port Elizabeth of Yore: Main Street in the Tram Era

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Sixty one years after the landing of the 1820 Settlers, the tramway network was established on 14th May 1881. As the initial trams were all horse drawn, no routes up the hill could be established. Instead the line followed the route of Main Street and its various extensions to North End. From 16th June 1897, it was converted to electrical power which allowed the routes to be extended up White’s and Russell Road. 

The tramway network was finally closed down on 17th December 1948. 

Main picture: My favourite picture of this era showing a horse drawn tram at the terminus where the incoming and outgoing lines merged

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Main Street before the Era of Trams

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Pictures of Main Street dating from the era reveal an array of buildings which would not be any different from those of the set of a Western movie. Furthermore few if any of these buildings still stand apart from the building at the southern end of this road: the City Hall. 

In most cases, the dates of the photographs are unknown. 

Main picture:  Main Street prior to trams

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Cathy James: Growing up in Port Elizabeth

By Catherine James in Port Elizabeth of Yore 6 Comments

Personally I do not know Cathy at all apart from her regular posting to the Facebook page Ex PE 60’s 70’s & 80’s. Even though we are of a similar age, our lives stories differ markedly. But that is life.

This is a pictorial story of a Cathy as a youth in Port Elizabeth during the 1960s & 1970s. I am not biased but it was probably the halcyon days of Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: Cathy on the Humewood Beach

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Russell Road Methodist Church – 1872 to 1966

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Russell Road Church, though not the original home of Methodism in Port Elizabeth, is the Mother Church of those now extant. The first Methodist Church was erected in Queen Street in 1841, on the spot where the settlers had pitched their tents, and where the Reverend William Shaw, standing upon a rock, had preached in the open air.

Main picture: Russell Road Methodist Church

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Royal Visit of 1947

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 Comments

In 1947 the British Royal Family embarked upon a world tour. It included an excursion to South Africa, Rhodesia and Basutoland.  Included in this expedition, the duration of which was from 17th February to 23rd April 1947, was a stop-over at Port Elizabeth on the 26th & 27th February, five days after Princess Elizabeth’s birthday which was celebrated in Cape Town.

Main picture: Brigadier Arthur Coy with the Mayor of PE, Mr Neave, inspecting the Ex Servicemen with the King and Queen at Crusaders ground, St. George’s Park in February 1947. The princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were in attendance. There was a garden party in Victoria Park afterwards. 

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Horse Drawn Trams

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Horse drawn trams possessed manifold limitations foremost amongst them was the fact that the CBD has been built at the foot of an imposing hill which was impassable for these vehicles. Notwithstanding this, the Port Elizabeth tramway network was opened on 14 May 1881 operating with the available technology: horse-cars.

Main picture: A one horsepower Port Elizabeth tram in the 1880s. They were not suitable for hilly terrain such as Whites Road.

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Trinder Square

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 Comments

As a young child I had an aversion to trees. Most trees but not the Wild Fig tree. There was something enchanting even mystical about their giant protruding roots. Perhaps this affinity arose due to playing in Trinder Square with its veritable forest of wild fig trees. This arose due to my cousins staying in Pearson Avenue which is no more than a block away.

Main picture: Trinder Square in 1867 

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George Dix-Peek: Port Elizabeth’s First Architect [1839-1901]

By Dean McCleland in Other Family Histories, Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

A lasting legacy has been left by George Dix-Peek in his adopted town of Port Elizabeth in the form of some well-known buildings. Ironically his grandson, Milton Dix-Peek, also had ambitions of becoming an architect but WW2 intruded in his studies. Sadly, after the war he did not resume his studies.

Main picture: George Dix-Peek circa 1874 in colonial military attire

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: A Gentleman in the latter 19th Century

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 6 Comments

Apart from his name and a few other biographical details, there is a paucity of information regarding Howard Mapplebeck (1847-1909). Despite appearances that he was a prosperous individual, I am unable to establish much apart from the fact that he lived in a plush house on Emerald Hill. Having uncovered these photos on Flickr, I was intrigued. They cast a light on an elegant milieu and a graceful lifestyle.

Main picture: Howard Mapplebeck (1847-1909) with family and friends, in Emerald Hill, Port Elizabeth, in 1886. Howard is in white with pith helmet. Seated in front of him are his children Sybil Mapplebeck (1875-1955) and Sydney Mapplebeck (1877-1904). Nanny Marie stands to the side. Photo taken in 1886 at the age of 39.

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