Port Elizabeth Archives - Page 9 of 14

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Effect of the Krakatoa Explosion on the Tides

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 25 February 2017 0 Comment

If Krakatoa was not amongst the top three greatest volcanic explosions of all time, I do not know what could have been. On a pure loss of life comparison basis, Krakatoa only resulted in 36,000 deaths versus 230,000 for the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26^th December 2004. Certainly, the effect of Krakatoa was felt was as far afield as Port Elizabeth and South America.

Even though its effect on Port Elizabeth was not very significant, in one person’s life it was very important but not life threatening.

Main picture: Contemporary map of Krakatoa

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Palmerston, its predecessors and successors

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 25 February 2017 1 Comment

As any Realtor will attest, location is the ultimate arbiter of value. In an era when long distance travel, especially international travel, was the preserve of ships, the prime locations were always adjacent to the entrance to a harbour. In Port Elizabeth’s case, it was only when a jetty was envisioned to be erected at the end of Jetty Street, did this site become valuable.

This is the chronicle of that establishment.

Main picture: The Palmerston Hotel after 1880 when James Raymond Rumsey added a third storey and a verandah in Strand Street. The architect was George Dix-Peek

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Paddle Steamer Phoenix-Transition from Sail to Steam

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 21 February 2017 0 Comment

By any measure, sea travel in the age of sail was tedious being of long duration and of indeterminate time span. Furthermore it was dangerous. Relying on a variable sporadic factor such as wind would forever impede progress. For instance, the travelling time from Britain to the Cape by sailing ship varied between 65 and 85 days. The development of steam power in the early eighteenth century would take over a century before it was utilised for the propulsion of ships. Initially the propulsion was by means of side paddles and later on rear paddles and finally screw propulsion.

Ushering in the age of steam for Port Elizabeth would be the steamer named “Hope” which was not noted for its longevity. Two years after being commissioned, it was wrecked in heavy fog at Cape St. Francis. A replacement was urgently required. This would be the 240 ton paddle steamer, the “Phoenix”.

Main picture: The paddle steamer Phoenix

Port Elizabeth of Yore: A Port without a Harbour

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 February 2017 1 Comment

Needless to say, but when the 1820 Settlers arrived at Port Elizabeth, there was nothing awaiting them, not even a harbour. In fact, the sum total of the population of Port Elizabeth in 1819 was 35 souls, mainly men. Yet despite exponential growth in population and port activities, Port Elizabeth did not possess a proper harbour for the first 110 years of its existence.

How did the town handle the veritable flood of imports and exports until the first permanent jetty was constructed in 1870 and the first quay in the 1930s?

Main picture: Settlers landing in unstable flat bottomed boats

Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: Octagon Café & the Bathing Pavilion

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces 14 February 2017 0 Comment

Many of the buildings constructed nowadays have little to recommend them. Being merely rectangular blocks, they do not enhance life through their aesthetic appeal. Maybe this is acceptable for industrial buildings but for structures along a beachfront, the bar needs to be set higher. Two buildings of yore met that criterion: the Octagon Café and the Bathing Pavillion. Sadly both are no more.

Main picture: The Octagon Cafe on the Elizabeth Promenade

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Donkin Lighthouse – The Light on the Hill

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 13 February 2017 3 Comments

Because they are in such close proximity to one another, I have often considered this lighthouse and the adjacent pyramid as being contemporary structures. Nothing could be further from the truth. This blog, largely based on the 1986 thesis by Jon Inggs, provides the historical detail from the conceptualisation to the erection of the Donkin Lighthouse.

The combination of the pyramid and the lighthouse symbolises Port Elizabeth and is so integral to Port Elizabeth that it could be considered as its trademark. The unique combination very nearly never came into existence as the Harbour Master, Mr H.G. Simpson favoured dismantling the pyramid and using its stone to construct the lighthouse.

Main picture: Signal Ball at Donkin Lighthouse in the 1860s

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Swimming Practices and Locations

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 8 February 2017 1 Comment

Swimming in the 19^th century must be understood against the backdrop of the conservative mores of that era. This resulted in a flurry of rules to prevent men and women swimming together. By the end of the century, attitudes towards “mixed swimming” were more relaxed.

This blog chronicles the saga of sea swimming in Port Elizabeth from its first attempt at the breakwater in 1866, the construction of the first swimming pool in Port Elizabeth and finally to swimming at Humewood.

Main picture: Swimming facilities just north of the mouth of the Baakens River

Lost Artefacts of Port Elizabeth: Mutual Arcade

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 February 2017 3 Comments

More modern does not necessarily equate with better. In this regard, the Mutual Arcade in Main Street, Port Elizabeth comes to mind. From 1900 to 1958, it graced Main Street to be replaced with an insipid rectangular building.

Main picture: The Mutual Arcade circa 1904 showing shops at ground level in Main Street

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Elegant St Augustine’s Cathedral

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 February 2017 3 Comments

From the Donkin, one has spectacular views of not only the harbour but all the way from Summerstrand to the shore at Deal Party. Amongst one of the exquisite views of Port Elizabeth, is that of an old gem, St Augustine’s Cathedral.

Reverend Francis McCleland: A Life in Port Elizabeth 1825 – 1853

By Dean McCleland in McClelands, Port Elizabeth of Yore 9 January 2017 3 Comments

At best the Irish 1820 Settlers in Clanwilliam eked out a precarious existence. The settlement could not have been called a resounding success either by the settlers generally or the McCleland household in particular. After a number of unseemly quarrels, Francis was granted a transfer to the newly created hamlet of Port Elizabeth which was meant to have been their original disembarkation point.

It was here that Francis and Elizabeth would spend the rest of their lives. This chronicles the lives of my great-great-grandparents in Port Elizabeth.

Main picture: Castle Hill in 1851 painted by engineer Henry Fancourt White of White’s Road fame. Number 7 Castle Hill is the commodious double storey house on the right on top of the hill

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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