The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Rutger Metelerkamp & Papenkuilsfontein

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 25 February 2023 0 Comment

As daunting as the challenge was, Rutger Metelerkamp rose to meet it by acquiring the farm previously owned by Thomas Ignatius Ferreira known as Papenkuilsfontein. Part of this danger stemmed from restive Khoikhoi and Xhosa tribesmen but also due to the utter isolation from civilisation. Taken all together, Rutger Metelerkamp [1780-1849] must have risen to the challenge. He also foresaw the potential of Klaaskraal, a former Khoikhoi “village” on the property later to be known as Bushy Park owned by the well-known local family of Lovemores.

It was intrepid entrepreneurs such as Rutger who would become the backbone and mainstay of economic development in this land. For that we should salute such men. Yet history now casts many pejoratively as colonisers and worse.

Main picture: Painting of Cradock Place by Thomas Baines

Jan Hoets: Connected to both Chase and Korsten

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 22 February 2023 0 Comment

While Jan Hoets might not strictly have been a full-time resident of Port Elizabeth, he was closely connected to two residents who were intimately involved in business in Port Elizabeth and who were largely responsible for Port Elizabeth’s initial growth: These prominent citizens were John Centlivres Chase and Frederick Korsten with the latter person being Hoets’ son-in-law. This arose due to his marriage to Korsten’s eldest daughter, Maria Johanna Charlotta. Of course by marrying a Chase meant that Hoets was also related to the Chases.

By all accounts Hoets was a successful merchant in Cape Town with its more lanquid less frenetic lifestyle. Here the bureaucrat predominated unlike Port Elizabeth which possessed a more energetic business like mien, the very anthesis of Cape Town.

Main picture: Jan Marthinus Hoets, grandson of Jan Hoets, and his wife Arabella Helen Centlivres Chase

A SMAC in the Face #49: SONAR 2023 – RSA Titania

By Blaine McCleland in Opinion Pieces 11 February 2023 0 Comment

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) normally follows a predictable pattern. This year was no different. It kicks off with a distasteful display of female politicians trying to outdo each other in the mutton dressed as ham stakes. Someone should tell them the address part is about a speech, not a fashion parade. Someone should also tell all the ANC politicians that the walk up the red carpet is not like the Grammys or the Oscars but, for them, a walk of shame and, for some, a perp walk. Then it was on to the address itself.

Port Elizabeth of Today: Not a Fairy Tale Ending

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 11 January 2023 3 Comments

Once upon a time, in the time of our forefathers, a hamlet was accidentally created on the shores of Algoa Bay. Without inlets, coves, and navigable rivers, the littoral lacked a natural harbour. The need for freshwater is what attracted the passing vessels like a magnet to this nondescript point on the otherwise barren coastline. Being unintended, the town grew frenetically but without hindrance, plan or scheme to become the butt of derision for its unkempt, scruffy appearance and undefined & also unnamed roads if these tracks could be called that. Quaint was not one of the epithets used by visitors to describe the village.

But this was about to change

Main picture: The carcass of the Victoria Hotel. Note the bricked up windows in a futile attempt at preventing further destruction by the vandal hordes [Photo by Anton de Klerk]

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Walmer Golf Club

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 14 December 2022 0 Comment

The oldest golf club in Walmer and one of the oldest in South Africa, the Walmer Golf Club is still in existence and is prospering despite initially not possessing security of tenure as it operated on a year-to-year basis. This constraint over its first twenty years of existence made the members and the committee loath to invest in its development. Hence development lagged behind the members’ ambitions for the Club. Largely based upon FA Longworth’s book, succinctly entitled Walmer, this blog provides a comprehensive history of the trials and tribulations as well as the birth pangs of a golf course in another era.

Recognised as Port Elizabeth’s premier 9 hole golf course, Walmer Golf Club, commonly known as Little Walmer, lies in the heart of the city.

Main picture: Walmer Golf Club

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Baakens River, its Tributaries and Environs

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 December 2022 0 Comment

From very young, F.A. Longworth started to explore the Baakens Valley. From these explorations, Anthony would develop an abiding interest in the Baakens and for that reason it probably defined him. Longworth would come to love everything about the Baakens during the 1920s and 30s. It was only in the twilight of his life that under his wife’s incessant urgings would he put pen to paper not only about the Baakens River but also the whole town of Walmer, the centre of his universe.

This descriptive essay is extracted from his book simply entitled Walmer.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Sabre Crash in 1960

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 5 December 2022 0 Comment

South Africa entered the Korean War on the side of the United Nations issued with their WW2 era Mustangs. During January 1953, Number 2 Squadron had their Mustangs replaced by North American F86F-30 Sabres on loan from the USAF. This would be the first jet flown by the SAAF. After the war, the SAAF would acquire Sabres. It was one of these that would crash in Port Elizabeth. On the 15th July 1960, Canadair CL13B Sabre Mk6 #379 was written off near the main airport after colliding with Sabre #353. Fortunately, the pilot, Lt HJW Bothma, survived.

Main picture: Crash scene

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Controversial Baakens Parkway Proposal

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 December 2022 0 Comment

Most residents regard the Baakens River, apart from its lower extremity, as being a vital green lung for the expanding city. Despite this, to solve a seemingly intractable transport problem, the solution proposed by the City Engineers Department was to convert a treasure into a paved highway. Would the nascent conservation/environmental groups win the battle over the engineers’ dream project?

Main picture: Aerial view of the lower reaches of the Baakens Valley with the freeway superimposed upon it

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Diamond Fever grips the Town

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 17 November 2022 0 Comment

In the mistaken belief that diamonds were scattered on the ground waiting to be picked up, the discovery of diamonds in 1870 caused an exodus to the Diamond Fields in search of their fortune. In many cases Port Elizabeth, being the nearest port, would be the starting point for many fortune hunters travelling north, by wagon or even on foot, covering the 420 miles to De Beers’ New Rush. Soon a dose of reality would set in and many would retrace their footsteps back to Port Elizabeth.

What is little known is that it was not a one way street. Enrepreneurs in Port Elizabeth grabbed the opportunity with both hands and organised the first South African diamond auctions in the town being yet another first for the town.

Main picture: Diamond mining at Kimberley

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Grandiose Freeway Scheme

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

By the 1960s and after a decade of spectacular economic growth, traffic volumes had increased substantially. Burgeoning vehicle ownership had exacerbated the situation. Lest we forget, the road grid was designed to cater for the central business district and North End whereas the commercial and industrial growth was northwards. Something had to be done to arrest the traffic situation.

The proposed solution was the construction of a freeway network.

Main picture: Settlers freeway under construction