The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Mackay Bridge over the Sunday’s River

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 June 2018 0 Comment

The Sundays River is the Eastern boundary of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area and is situated right next to the Addo Elephant National Park’s southern boundary. The Khoisan people originally named this river Nukakamma (Grassy Water) because the river’s banks are always green and grassy despite the arid terrain that it runs through. It is said to be the fastest flowing river in the country.

For many years, travellers to Grahamstown had to cross the river using a pont. Ultimately the need for a bridge was acknowledged.

Main picture: The Mackay Bridge

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Beach Hotel

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 19 June 2018 0 Comment

The opening up of the shore south of South End to development in the late 1890s, ultimately culminated in the building of holiday hotels along the beach front. The first of these was named the Beach or the Humewood Beach Hotel. In doing so, confusion has subsequently reigned amongst historians as it was confused with the later Humewood Mansions Hotel in Beach Road.

Confounding the issue, was the building of separate Beach and Humewood Hotels after the original Humewood Beach Hotel on the site of the original Elizabeth Hotel was destroyed by fire in December 1915.

Main picture: The second hotel to bear the name of the Beach Hotel

Lesoba Hike June 2018: A Series of Firsts for the Quo Vadis Hiking Club

By Dean McCleland in Hiking 18 June 2018 0 Comment

From the swansong of Arnold Paikin to the debut swan dive of Clive Cameron, it was a weekend of high drama as norms, precedents and etiquette were summarily ignored and cast aside. It was an object lesson of how to let one’s hair down and to hell with precedent and regulations. The only redeeming feature was that everybody enjoyed themselves without killing themselves in the process.

A Third World Solution to Refuse Recycling

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 14 June 2018 0 Comment

The phenomenon of recycling is a First World concept yet the whole world needs to embrace it. If recycling is to be adopted by Third World countries as well, solutions will have to be found to overcome its two most contentious issues: cost and work opportunities.

In line with best practice, the Joburg Metro has announced its intention to role out recycling in the Metro as from 1^st July 2018. As might have been predicted, like all change, there are protagonists and naysayers. In any environment of costs constraints conflated with the urgent requirement to create jobs, how can a third world city meet both requirements simultaneously.

I believe that they can and will illustrate how it is possible.

Main picture: Is this what will happen? Separate bins per category of recyclable?

The Origins of the McCleland Trophy at the Victoria Park High School

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 June 2018 0 Comment

It was probably when speaking to Joan Clark about her book on the history of VP – Victoria Park School – that I came to hear about the McCleland Trophy. Fortunately my kind cousins provided the details.

This blog fills a lacuna in the McCleland history.

Main picture: Victoria Park High School

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Van Stadens River Mouth & Estuary

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 June 2018 0 Comment

Located half way between Port Elizabeth and Jeffreys Bay, the Van Stadens River mouth has always been a place where the denizens of Port Elizabeth could relax away from the hurly-burly and bustle of Port Elizabeth. Initially the holiday makers would have to bring everything with them – from the pots and pans to the canvas roof over their heads – on their carts and wagons.

Today, it sports rondawels, chalets and facilities to cater for all one’s needs. But its attraction is its beauty and tranquillity with miles of sand dunes in both directions

Main picture: Van Stadens Mouth from Cadles in 1870 by Sarah Holland, the earliest drawing of Van Stadens

Robert Leslie McCleland reminiscing about his Ancestors

By Dean McCleland in McClelands 2 June 2018 0 Comment

Robert Leslie McCleland has kindly succumbed to my pressure and tender mercies to produce a history of his line of the McCleland family. As I am totally in the dark regarding what I call the Gerald McCleland lineage, I am extremely grateful for his filling in this part of the McCleland clan’s history.

Main picture: Gerald McCleland 1870-1955

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Erica Girl’s School – The Early Years

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 29 May 2018 9 Comments

The establishment of the Erica School is a pointed example of what is possible when one person has the passion and determination to achieve their goal. In the case of the Erica School, it was a young woman of 26 who exuded this zeal and an almost fanatical determination, despite patriarchy being the dominant social norm.

The name of this trailblazer was Mary Anne van Wyk. The reasons for this intensity and forbearance is not particularly clear; suffice to say that she displayed an apparent timidity which concealed “a brave independence and an inflexible adherence to duty.”

Main picture: Erica School building

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Communication’s Revolution-Telegraphs and Telephones

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 21 May 2018 0 Comment

With the advent of these two innovations, the speed of communication surged by leaps and bounds. The first to make its mark was the telegraph in 1861 which enabled long distance communication for the first time albeit in written form. Nonetheless the telegraph reduced the speed of transmission of a message to Cape Town from a week to several minutes. The introduction of the telephone in 1882 to the residents of Port Elizabeth would initially only benefit the local residents but that drawback too would be overcome when inter town telephone lines were laid.

Main picture: South Africa’s first telephone exchange switchboard was installed in Port Elizabeth during 1882. The telephone exchange was later transferred to Queenstown in the 1920s or ’30s, and was in use there until 1979.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Gas Works

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 May 2018 0 Comment

The history of gaseous fuel, important for lighting, heating, and cooking purposes throughout most of the 19th century, and the first half of the 20th century, began with the development of analytical and pneumatic chemistry in the 18th century.

Port Elizabeth took advantage of these developments when on the 1^st September 1862 the Port Elizabeth Gas Company was formed. Initially gas was to be used for lighting.

Main picture: The gas works in North End prior to 1914