The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Early Architecture

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 22 February 2018 3 Comments

For the purposes of this blog, the architectural styles from the Late Georgian, in which No 7 Castle Hill was constructed, to the Edwardian Style which predominated from 1890 to 1914, will be covered. Unfortunately, many of these structures are being demolished, altered or “renovated” in such a way that their original character is lost. Perhaps, in a small measure, one’s understanding of the various styles will culminate in their appreciation and hence a desire to preserve them.

Also briefly discussed is the step-change in the architectural elegance of the second generation of commercial buildings constructed in Main Street.

Main picture: Fleming House at 20 Bird Street is a good example of architecture in the Regency Style

Schoenmakerskop: A Murder Most Heinous

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 24 January 2018 2 Comments

Noted more for its solitude and friendly demeanour and none of the city’s hustle and bustle and other vices, yet this quaint village has suffered its fair share of the most heinous crime over the course of its existence.

This blog deals with the second of them; the murder of Mr JJ Janssen. Like the first murder in Schoenmakerskop, it was committed in the residence of the local tearoom. However, unlike the first slaying in which the motive was purely robbery with murder as a consequence, in stark contrast, this one bore the hallmarks of baser emotions: a premeditated vicious murder.

Main picture: Johannes Jacobus Jansen

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Baakens from Pristine Lagoon to Industrial Epicentre

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 18 January 2018 3 Comments

From a pristine lagoon in 1820 to an industtrial area in forty years, is how long it took to destroy this once virgin wilderness. Unlike the Settlers, the previous inhabitants of this area, the Khoisan, without any discernible desire at building permanent structures, left no detectable evidence of their presence in the area over eons.

As my blog entitled “Port Elizabeth of Yore: What Happened to the Baakens Lagoon? deals with the why and how the lagoon was reclaimed, instead this blog will focus on the conversion of this normally placid waterway and bush covered hill into the epicentre of industrial development within the restricted confines of the valley floor.

Main picture: The bridge across the Baakens in 1866 before the flood showing the lagoon [Redgrave]

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Market

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 12 January 2018 1 Comment

Now considered an anachronism, but in the 19^th century, the market was a millennia old method of connecting buyers and seller without the intermediation of shops. It occupied a pivotal place in the towns of yore, culturally and economically, normally being located at the centre of the town. So it was in the case of Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: Market Square with bullock carts

Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: The Bathing House at Humewood Beach

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 10 January 2018 3 Comments

Tempis fugit – Time flies. I am unsure whether one would refer to the 50^th anniversary of this building’s demolition as its golden anniversary, but I can vividly recall the floods of 1968 and this building even though I never once used the facilities.

Probably one of the only elegant buildings constructed in Humewood during the turn of the century, it evinced an era of formality in beach attire more akin for modern day formal attire.

Main picture: Humewood Bathing House in the background

Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: Union Castle Corner

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 8 January 2018 3 Comments

The building located on the corner of Main and Jetty Streets, once formed a prominent part not only of the history of Port Elizabeth, but also the elegance of Market Square.

In 1978, was demolished to make way for a bus station.

Main picture: Market Square in 1882

Trump: Is his Incompetence an Open Secret?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 5 January 2018 1 Comment

In today’s edition of the American Journal, The Atlantic, James Fallows’ article “It’s Been an Open Secret All Along” raises the preternatural possibility that Trump was voted in as President in spite of it being an open secret that Trump was not only unqualified to perform the job but also rank incompetent.

What warning indicators were blinking ominously and why do intelligent commentators ignore those signals?

Main picture: Donald Trump with former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon in more amicable times

Trump: What his speech tells one about him

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 4 January 2018 0 Comment

In many ways, Donald Trump has the dubious distinction of being the alter ego of Il Duce, Benito Mussolini. Typifying his approach is to declare that he is the greatest, the smartest and the best at everything. Such as bombastic, narcissistic, bragging and bullying demeanour is a divisive technique for a leader. At best he was suppress dissent but will never win an argument through cogent reasoning.

Much more troubling is what his speech indicates about his neurological condition with its emotional equivalent of a five-year-old.

Main picture: A smirking Donald Trump

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Postal Service – Part 4

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 January 2018 0 Comment

After much confusion and loss of mail, the Post Office had been relocated to the double storey house of the Harbour Engineer, Mr. Woodifield, adjacent to the Phoenix Hotel in Market Square.

The first innovation, the use of prepaid stamps, had by now been accepted then the second radical change was proposed.

Main picture: Corner of Main & Jetty Street in 1876. Originally the London and SA Bank occupied this site and then it was taken over by the Post Office. Later the then Union Castle Mail Steamship Company took it over. The little building two buildings on the left was the original building of T. Birch and Co.

Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: The Cleghorn’s Building

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 31 December 2017 0 Comment

Among the pantheon of buildings arranged around the Town Hall during the “classical” period of the town, was the Cleghorn’s Building. It is important not to forget that this building had a much more illustrious past as it initially served as the Herald’s offices after it relocated here from Titterton Lane just off Main Street.

Main picture: The original building at the foot of White’s Road, then occupied by the Eastern Province Herald