I was at the school today to collect Cameron's glowing report card.... Glancing up, in the hot afternoon sun, I could'nt help but notice the clocktower, it's four clocks broadcasting the time to the four corners of the schoolgrounds..... Wondering to myself.... that the clocktower should be about 50 years old by now, or fast approaching...... kinda thought an evening event of sorts by candlelight could be held around it's base on the 50th anniversary.....
So does anyone out there, remember or know when exactly the clocktower at OPS came into operation?
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Good one yes ,, the history of the clock ... it was there when i started . 62 .... so yes its a part of history .. the story of it coming from Kolmanskop ???
Perhaps it's time to drop old Zandy an email again?
:emot19_2:
Me thinks Ricky would know....
...or Leila Creedy?
JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An excerpt from One of the history lessons: By 1950 the school had 80 pupils (not bad for the number of permanent employees), with two teachers, Mrs.Revington (I recall one of the contributors in "Mike's e-mails" mentioning her) and Mr. van der Westhuizen and the principal, Mr. Anderson. By 1952 the new school was ready to rock and roll once the clock tower had been brought down from Kolmanskop. It consisted of eight classrooms, a kindergarten section, a woodwork room, a library and a "hall". (By now there were 90!) The other important happening of that year was, as reported in the area press; "A son was born to the house of Barron"!
Nevertheless, the parents helped in selecting a school song and badge, while the first prize giving was held in 1956 (and a daughter was born to the house of Boehme!).
And a son to the house of Buchanan
Thanks Ricky, I was kinda hoping it was only going to be 50 this year....could have organised a function in honour...... the town needs a few community events at the moment....all 34 of us are getting bored..... image201
Apologies Sandy, I should have checked up on ALL of the important historic events of the time!
@ Mike, I started my schooling at the august institution of the OPS in 1959 if that helps........?
Leila may know this - who wrote and composed the OPS school song then? Mrs Revington was our teacher in sub A when I went to school ther in 1954.
Mrs Revington was my teacher in 1953
I've just visited your "The Other Oranjemund Site" and there its said that the clock tower was moved in1938. idontknow
the tower was there in 1964
I noted in the other web site that the tower was moved from Kolmans in the 30's, but I think that should have been 50's.
Whe I started school there was no clock tower, I don't know where it was. Our School was an old metal hall (that was later moved further North to the old pigsty and became the MOTH hall) and a small brick building with one classroom and an office.
As far as I recall, the new school was built in 1953/54 and the tower was erected at the same time.
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on April 27, 2009, 10:33:42 AM
I've just visited your "The Other Oranjemund Site" and there its said that the clock tower was moved in1938. idontknow
I also read that.
The Other Oranjemund Website was the forerunner to this site.... I was still young and green when I put it up...... I learned a lot since those days..... in essence, don't believe everything you read on the net!
ape
This is killing me. In the 1930's, only tick was discovered. Many years after that came tock..I went to school in 1954. The school was built then so John Haycox beats us all. He must have switched off the lights in the pondok of the old school.
I remember the person selected by the school board to wind the clock up every week. So it must be between 1953 and 1954. As mike says, don't believe everything on the net. Thanks for that anyway John H. It was a great topic.
The clock tower was in place when I started school at OPS in Jan 1954. That's also when the oak trees were planted up the drive way. Do John & Leila remember that?
Know nothing about oak trees being planted.
I did not personally switch off the lights in the old school, but I was certainly nearby.
The lovely oak trees leading up to the clocktower ... mm a memory ...
mmmm I to remember that Sandy, and the music rooms to the left.
the music rooms and my dear old music teacher who hid vodka in a 4711 cologne bottle .. caught her taking a swig as I entered my class early ...
I've just been paging through Diamnond Beaches and the clock tower was moved from Kolmanskop to the "New" school in 1952. The same year as it was opened to 90 children with 8 classrooms,a kindergarten section,woodwork room, library, washrooms and a concert hall. Prior to that there was another school, that started with 12 children, then grew to 80 (it doesn't say where it was) 2 teachers...Mrs Revington and Mr Anderson. The school that we know was then built on a new site.
Mrs Revington was my first teacher at Oranjemund. I loved her.
I think the Moth hall was part of the old school or the whole school....
That would be interesting to know Mike....all it says here that the Moth hall was a mess back in the 30's. Was it always a mess hall untill the Moths formed in 1956 or was the school actualy there inbetween? I realy wasn't aware that there was a school anywhere else other than where it stands to-day. But apparently not, according to Diamond Beaches. Must say its a nice book to have I must stop paging and picking up bits,should just read it cover to cover. Then when I get to the end I'll have forgotten what I read at the beginning. :-)
@Diana who was the author of the book Diamond Beaches x
Alison Corbett!
are-you-there
Thanks Michael x
She was my std 5 (grade 7) English teacher back in '85.
Miss Corbett ,, she was passionate about teaching .,, and if she got irritated we used to jokingly say Miss Corbett has gone into Orbit ...
I don't remember her Sandy......what Std ?????
Std 4/5 ..
Sandy, I doubt we have the same person here... She was Allison Manning before she married Dr Ian Corbett in 1985, he is a geoligist, if I have it right, my old man remembers him from those years in the survey dept. I guess that is who she got a lot of background from for the book.
There was another Corbett in the 60"s , unless my memory has fried itself ,,,
Hi all
The primary school clock tower has just turned 100 years old. Kolmanskuppe was started in 1908 and the post office with the clock tower must have been built around 1913.
Leon, thanks for that, do you have the month by any chance..... We more than likely missed an opportunity to raise a glass at it's base...
Unfortunately I do not have the month and the year 1913 is guesswork. August Stauch built his office and a few wooden buildings/huts in 1908 at Kolmanskuppe. The Sentralwasche (Central Scrubbing plant) was built circa 1913 so the post office with its clocktower must have been built around 1912/1913. By 1913 Kolmankuppe had most of its buildings except the artisan single quarters and of course the big recreation club (built in 1927). The clocktower was moved to OM in 1952.