A good few months back somebody asked the Question if there was ever a church or tree's at Kolmanskuppe, I asked Anita Reschke the question, seeing that she actually lived at Luderitz and went to Kolmanskuppe in the day's when it was not a ghost town..... No Tree's and No church, people from Luderitz would have to travel to Kolmanskuppe to see the Doctor as The hospital there was one of the best in SOuthern Africa in it's time....
Pic's of Kolmanskuppe
and more
Alfred dearsest did you take these photo's?
Beautifull house's, sad to see them with no life.
They must have been built well to stand so long. I'm sure only the germans could have built something of such good quality
I'm sure... there was a wee Scotsman helping the Germans to build those houses.....
Dear Sister yes I did take these pic's a couple of years ago when I had to go to E/bay to do some work
Old Kolmanskop photo
Is That the same CLocktower that is now in Omund?
Does look the same Micheal idontknow would be interesting to know. I have tons of those old type photo's of the area from my Grandfathers time.
Post 'em.....
I am not quite sure that area is now the road to ebay,only the building to the left which is the power station is still there
Sorry the building to the right is the old power station,
Clint, I suppose that would depend if you were coming or going......
iknow
Quite right Mike I have got plenty of old photo of Luderitz and surrounding areas
Hi there Clint you must get those pic's posted good stuf
Alfred
Quote from: Michael Alexander on February 15, 2008, 01:06:03 PM
Is That the same CLocktower that is now in Omund?
Well it says on the Old Oranjemund Site that this clock was moved to the school in O'mund in 1938.
Yep! Yep! Everybody "says" so...... but where is the actual old timer who can say, "yes! I remember when they did that!"
Anita Reschke would probably be the person who'd know
iknow I'm still young
mmmm I mite have the hair but not the years
Well, ...... I won't be able to tell either, cos I don't think I was even part of my parents family plan when it was done. Remember - I'm still a baby - have not even grown taller than 159cm yet, so there's no way I could be old enough to have memories so far back. Maybe when I grow to be 169cm then I will be old enough....
These are some of my Oupa's photo's taken back in 1924.Not exactly sure where this is,it IS Namibia.Could very well be this area. If they not of interest please feel free to delete them. I asume the ship is the one they came over from Germany on.
@ Alfred that is your Oupa on the right in the top picture
Ok messed up the top 2 idontknow
I vaguely recall that Garub was near Aus where the wild horses roam(ed)
@ Diana.. this exactly what we are looking for.... It was not just about Omund, but why Omund was established here...Kolmakuppe, E Bay...Pomomna,,,, were all part of this town being here, the Photo's you post imight have been lost to history, but no more..... the world now has them.... Thank you for posting them...
thnx
Hey Diana like the photo`s how about some higher resolution copys for me
Got loads of these photo's Clint,3 albums in fact.All around 1924, this was when my "oupa" was still single. I am not so bright when it comes to computers so what on earth is higher resolution. Sure we can make some sort of plan if you interested. Where about are you living? Not Cape Town perhaps?
I think Clint lives in Lüderitz. There's a link to his homepage in his profile.
Thanx my boy will check it out.
Hey Diana , I live in Luderitz, I have started collecting old photo`s of Luderitz and taking photos of the old plants and connecting then to a google earth images but the old photos are scarce. What I mean by higher resolution is when you scan then in there is a dpi value to the scan the higher the dpi the better the scan,which means the picture can then be blown up to A4 and look like something.
Clint are you Mel's brother? If so, how is he and please send my regards, we were in class together.
Clint is Mel's Brother, Gary also... Mel lives in Australia now.... I think Clint Talks to him on Skype!
Thanks Mike. Clint please post some photos of you and your brothers in OPS days. I know I know you all but can't get the picture in my head.
All I remember about them Ebstein boys is that they were a mischievious bunch (not in a bad way).... Why do I still want to think it was one of them who had his ear pierced in the 1st ave bushes by a branch?
Clint - shine some light on this in that topic pls
I am waiting for responses from my brother to find out which one had his ear pierced, I don`t remember so far back and we were good sweet boys
My memory of Mel was that he looked like a choir boy. Always neat and very quiet, a real goody, goody.
Clint,this dpi thing means absolutely nothing to me.I will ask Richard to help me sort something for you when I see him.
Hmmm, here I go dating myself badly; I remember the "naughty" Ebsten boy - yes you Clint - that I supervised at cubs! Little devil!
I concur about the Ebstein boys...after the Buchanan boys' they were the next bad boys on the block!
And at the other end was those angel Alexander boys!!!
Well, we were known to go to church now and again!
Hey..... Who is spreading all these slanderous rumours???????????????????
Hey.... don't deny it, else I'll phone your dad....
No rumours as far as I can gather - seems like a few true facts from the past........ :sorriso2:
Good to see the Ebstein topic is closed, There was no church at Kolmanskuppe
Old pic of Luderitz
Check the pic above
Fantastic look on town. Thanks Clint!
This was the doctors house at Pomona. These photo`s were taken 91 years apart, the top one in 1917 and the bottom one I took recently
Very simple kind of housing. Nobody would build anything of the kind nowadays. At least not a doc with lot's of money.
nice of you to document the town scenery. I'm always enjoying your post Clint.
Dianne you posted the top image ,I give you +- the same position and angle in 2007
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on February 26, 2008, 05:59:37 AM
Clint,this dpi thing means absolutely nothing to me.I will ask Richard to help me sort something for you when I see him.
Its the dots per inch DIP on a picture, general we do 72 Dpi to post pics in the net since the monitor is limited to that, but to make a print pic , the higher the DPI the better
I like the comparison. Thanks Clint.
Kolmanskop
Some memories as it was told by Mrs.Coleman
Kolmanskuppe had a very splendid hospital , and some wonderfull doctors. One of the best loved was the late dr Kraenzle who believed that all recuperating patients should have a small bottle of wine every night together with nice sandwiches . It must have been the only hospital in the world to have had wine cellars built beneath it .
The other doctor was dr von Lossow .A unique personality who believed that eating a raw onion each day would ensure good health .never mind public relations .
It was a common sight to see him walking along , balanced on a railway line , eating raw onions and whisteling madly in between bites . he was a bachelor until late in life , and died on his honeymoon. I don't know if there is a lesson here or not !
Somewher some one must have the originals of the photos. What I have is photocopies that Martiens Schoeman- office equip tech at the time - made for me on the best photocpier that was available
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on February 23, 2008, 11:55:54 AM
@ Alfred that is your Oupa on the right in the top picture
Diana can you resent the top pic of our oupa I mite heve a photo of the house that I took and I want to compare
Hi Alfred.
This is the photo you are looking for.
Thanks Leon
Got lots of photo's and if they are not of the correct angle I will go again and try to get the same
angle
Leon there are 3 houses next to the rec club do you have any idea if the photo of my oupap is see side, middle or east
Alfred
Hi Alfred
The houses are positioned in an "L" shape arrangement. Looking at the Rec club and the loco shed to the right of the house I would say that your Grandpa's house must have been the one on the "corner" of the "L", i.e the house closest to the coast line.Look at a "Google" earth picture of E-Bay and take a line from the right hand edge of the house cutting through the rec club and loco shed to follow my reasoning.
"Kolmanskop
Some memories as it was told by Mrs.Coleman......."
Hennie pray tell us who this Mrs Coleman lady is and where are you getting this information from. I am intensely interested in this.
Leon : - Memories of kolmanskop:- Mrs Marianne Coleman . She was the daughter of the workshop foreman " Ou Kat " Coleman. So named because he walked fast and very quietly . The personnel never knew when and where he would turn up next .
Leon , Uncle Frantz Schneider , the foreman of the rubber , or was it the tyre shop at Uubvlei was very interested in the history of the regeon , and keen to write it down . I copied some of the comments re what Mrs Marianne Coleman remembered about the early days of Kolmans .
The photostats of the early photos , I got from Martinus Schoeman
About the original topic . Look at the house of the manager 1909 ,in font and next to it is something that might have become trees later on . I believe that residents had to go to Luderitz to attend a church service.
Thanks Hennie.
I thought for a moment that Mrs. Coleman may have been related to the early trader after which Kolmanskop is named.
Anymore recollections of people about Kolmanskop would be very much appreciated by most folk on this site.
I worked at Uubvley for quite a few years +/- 1974 to 1989 and I remember the name Franz Schneider. Glen Hackart also worked at the Uubvley tyre shop before he changed career to Personal Admin.
Yes looking at the old Kolmans photo's it seem that some of the more senior management may have had some sort of gardens with perhaps a few trees.
As we all know the Kolmans environment is essentially desert and water was a scarce commodity in Kolmans.
Michael should possibly consider placing these type of "historical" threads in a special "Historical" folder on the website.
I found another photograph of Kolmans . Can anybody name the people ? August Stauch centre , and a mr Weiss on the right , but who is the others ?
The name Kolmanskuppe [ Kollmanskuppe ] is believed to have originated from the transporter John Kolman . he transported goods from Keetmanshoop to Luderitz , and it was his custom to outspan at his camp in the vicinity of the low lying gneis kopje [ kuppe ]. during 1905 he abandoned a broken down wagon there , where it remained for many years .
Yes it appears that Kolmanskuppe was named after Johnny Kolman the trader.
The others in the photograph are probably members of the Landesrat (Legislative Council) of which Stauch was a member and Mr Carl Weiss as well. This Council represented the needs of the Luderitzbuchters.
Marianne remember: Kolmans had a school with clases up to std 4 . a very active gymnastic club , a theatre which sponsored visits of shows and operettas from overseas and a 8 piece orchestra that played for all the formal dances as welll as tea dances on Saturday and Sunday afternoons . All the ladies turned up in the latest fashions . the club served tea , coffee , beer and spirits while the orchestra played sweet music . some couples did the tango or one step . the brave ones tried the charleston . At a later stage Marianne played the piano in this orchestra , after she had lessons from a mr Felix de Cola
the ladies ran a very effective club , funds being collected for various charities .
Hi Hennie
What era is Marianne referring to here?
Find some more info on Kolmans in the attachment. Marianne might want to read this.
This was mentioned before, but what the heck!
There is but only a handful of Kolmanskuppers left alive, they are all leaving, I still maintain that somebody from the history or discovery channel should interview these few before their tales are lost forever...
abouttime
I think Marianne dates to the beginning of the last century
Quote : I remember the mules , lovely fat and strong animals that pulled the "violet wagon " and also the smart rail coach to Charlottenthal , Idastahl , hexenkessel ,and Mariannesthal . [ named after August's sweetheart & eldest daughter ]
All the ladies as well as myself were dressed in parasols and tremendous ostrich feather hats -[ this gives you a clue to the period , and , I guess she was 18 - 19 years old then.]
That was before the rec club was built at Kolmans. in 1927
every easter , the manager arranged an easter egg hunt and the families who lived at Kilo 20 on the way to E bay , hid hundreds of easter goodies amongst the rocks . afterwards very nice tea and cookies were served- and lomonades provided as well.
Hennie this is really great stuff. I am still a bit confused about Marianne. You say she was the daughter of " Ou Kat " Coleman the foreman. Was Ou Kat Coleman a foreman at the early Kolmanskop mine then? Has Marianne written a book/memoirs from which you are getting this fantastic information?
Leon: thankyou very much for the history that you have posted- I spent a joyfull and happy time reading it
re your question about Marianne - No book - sorry . Info from or via Frantz , who must have known her. I will add another paragraph tomorrow from my notes
Yes please do Hennie. I am 'pasting' this into the 'Kolmanskop file' so that we end up with a fairly comprehensive document.
Marianne :- Once my father and the owner of the hotel discussed church matters , and they agreed on how nice it was for the Kayser to donate a very nice stained glass window , and how kind it was that the kayser's wife donated the altar Bible.
Most probably not to be outdone , Mr Stauch imported a large Steinway grand piano , but the church did not have suffiecient room to house it , so it ended up in the gymnasium.
The owner of the hotel then said that a upright piano similar to the one in the bar would have been much more appropriate. But unfortunataly that one has been shot at so many times that it stopped working , otherwise he would have given it to the church.
Marianne: -We did not have refrigirators but cooler chests . I remember the ice man doing his rounds , delivering ice blocks from the ice factory . He then put the ice blocks into the cooler chests at every home.
Sometimes a childs priorities were different from his mothers , and it often happened that a child would take the butter or eggs out of the cooler, to make space for their lomonade . Very nice soda water and lemonade were made at the ice factory as well . It was bottled in the old fasioned bottles with the glass marble on the top to prevent the gas escaping .
The Butcher was mr Zirkler , and the baker was mr Brechlin. Every morning on his way to work , farther would drop off his daily order at the store , bakery , or butcher . Fresh bread or rolls , meat and other groceries were delivered before noon. mr Zirkler made the best smoked viennas you can imagine . In the store one could buy home made fudge and toffees . Behind the store was a playground for the children , with a merry go round and a giant wheel , and other entertainments offered for children from todlers to teenagers.
Great stuff Hennie. Keep it coming.
Agree with you there Leon, great stuff...
If one looks how the company treated the Kolmanskop employees back in the day, one can understand why Oranjemund back in the the 69's and 70's inherited the system in the manner in which we had a cooldrink factory and the way meat and bread was subsidised....
This comment by Marianne leaves me wondering - and certainly leaves much questions . Who - what - when - why : -
" And then came the day when the first aeroplane was braught out to Kolmanskop to be housed in a shed. This aeroplane most probably had a wooden frame that was covered with painted fabric . And the people realy celebrated that night - and then , the very same night the plane caught fire and burned to ashes "
Mike I suppose Kolmanskop and then later Oranjemund were regarded as harsh environments (which of course they were) to live in so one would imagine that the employer would want to make up in what ever way they could for the uncomfortable (windy, hot and sandy) our forebearers faced in Kolmans and Oranjemund. I am not sure if this is an urban myth but I believe that some folk destined for employment in OMD took one look at Alexander Bay airport surroundings when disembarking and then got straight back onto the plane. I was always a bit skeptical about this story.
Enjoying this topic...keep it up.
I have fond memories of taking part as a young girl, in Christmas and Easter plays . The workshop was decorated for these special days - it was the days before we had the corrugated iron "Casino " or the recreation club . After the celebrations we all went home with oily feet , dispite all the cleaning of the floors . My farthers office was in the middle of the workshop with glass all around - so he had a good view of what was going on . There was also a carpenter shop that was not only doing timber things for the mine , but also made all the furniture for the houses . I dont think there is much of those pieces of furniture left , but the dining room suit in the house used by the GM when he visits Luderitz is still there .We had a painter from Germany who painted the insides of the houses with fabulous paterns and designs .
The rec club was built in 1927. So this account is prior 1927.
I was born in Pomona ,SWA. My Mother was a German and my farther Danish / German. He was in charge of the engineering section . Everybody worked for "The company " . One of my early childhood memories is of labourers being sent out with a jam jar , a small spade and a handbroom. returning later the day with jars blasing with diamonds . The most beautiful gems were found at Pomona. Our house was built high on the hill where the sandstorms swept past it. I am still facinated by the sound of howling winds . The house was so solid that the elements did very little harm to it , dispite the fact that it is standing there with no maintenance being done to it for many years . We had a post office there , and that was our link to the outside world - post was delivered on late Friday afternoons . that meant that everybody went to the post office , waiting for the mail to be sorted . in its heyday Pomona was alive with people , it even had a skittle alley . remember , the Germans always built a skittle aley before anything else , because it was their favourite sport and it was also a social meeting place
Hi Henniek
Here is a photo's of the skittle alley and I think the post office?
This fascinating. So Marianne was actually born in Pomona and the family must have moved to Kolmanskop at some later stage. I wonder if her family's Pomona house still exists (on the hill)
Alfred thanks for the Pomona pics.
Maybe Henniek can spot the house on the hill
a few more hoto's
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Amazing pics Alfred. It seems that all the houses were built on high ground.
Thanks a milion Alfred for sharing these valuable photos with us -- You made my day. re the house- take a look at pic 22 and pic 51 . Marianne mentions that her mother was fond of potted plants , and they had what she called "an indoor garden " sort of a enclosed sun room / porch that her husband added for her plants .
i add an old photo of what i think is the same house as in your collection
And look . There is a TREE in front of the house . OK .. not realy a tree ?
Kolmans bakery
Hi Henniek
Alf and I took a tour of Pomona in Nov last year and this is a picture taken of the house with the tree. It's still there and looks exaclty the same. Thats one tough tree.
Malcolm
Thanks Malcolm . Agree . it is one tough tree . It looks like a quivertree. You can see by the discolouration of my old pic , that it was taken a long time ago . 1980 .
this could well be Marianne's childhood home. It seems as if the house was repaired between 1980 and the present. Did'nt our CDM geologists sometimes sleep over in these old Pomona houses when out on prospecting trips.
Look at the bottom pic in the book is this the same house and who are the people?
looks like the same house indeed. The existing tree is one of the original four. Must be the Coleman family in the picture.
an amazing photo of a Pomona family - thanks alfred . but I do not recognise any of them , cross rev to other photos.
The ladies had a very active social club , funds were collected for various charities. they organised wonderful parties . for one such fund raising party they organised a ship's dance . The stage of the rec club was converted to the kaptains cabin . the orchestra sat there playing a variety of lively music . In the middle of the hall was the bridge and the champagne and wine bar . along the sides the hall there were cubicles used as cabins and saloons with all the necessary decoration trimmings and eats or drinks . On the one side were the delicatessen , sweets , fishcakes , port , etc , and along the oposite wall there was the " sailors " food. Pork , Saurkraut , patatoes, and pea soup. The main floor was for dancing , every now and again the dance was interupted for the can-can , or other dancing girls to come out to give a cabaret show . This womans club made a fortune for charity , and these events usually lasted two days . There was a bachalor , Arnold - whatever eats were left over was taken to his place , and who ever wanted to join in was welcome to dance to the music from a wind up gramophone . That particular day , when the men had to report for work on Monday morning , some of them turned up still dressed in their sailor outfits and caps !
Pomona was originally called "Pomonaforte" as it was located on the entrance to many other valeys , eg Idastahl- named after Agust Stauch' s wife , Marianne & Katie tahl - his two daugters . Stauch lager , Hexenkessel and Scheibestahl. I think there must have been about 300 germans working there and about the same number of migrants. Work hours on the mine was 9 hours every day for six days a week , with only special days like easter - christmas , new year etc off . In the early days Church services was held in the school building . we even had a house specially reserved for officials when they visit . it was called the hotel !
..
Well there you have it Michael - At Pomona: -so far we managed to see proof of a tree and also found out that church services were held . But what about Kolmans ? trees and chuches ?
Collection of Kolmanskop photo's enjoy
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Nice...love this. :emot112_2:
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Wonderful pics and history .......
Alfred - nice photo's of kolmans - ref to your picture named POMONA BOEK 99. Any chance of getting a clearer scan ?
Two years ago we visited the old EBay houses, the ones right on the sea. There was a house with a beautiful mural painted on the wall of one the houses, with palm trees, coconuts, flowers and sea scenes. Apparently the young single men would have their photos taken in front of the mural, send the picture to a proaspective bride and show what a beautiful area that they live in. This would entice the young german woman to come out to Luderitz then get married. Once they arrived on the ship in their heavy wollen clothes and trunks, they could not go back as the ship had sailed and the next one was in 3 months or so. Apparently many a single bride was fooled by the mural. Don't know if it was true, but the story is a good one and sounds very plausable.
Quote from: Skinny on January 12, 2012, 12:11:49 PM
Two years ago we visited the old EBay houses, the ones right on the sea. There was a house with a beautiful mural painted on the wall of one the houses, with palm trees, coconuts, flowers and sea scenes. Apparently the young single men would have their photos taken in front of the mural, send the picture to a proaspective bride and show what a beautiful area that they live in. This would entice the young german woman to come out to Luderitz then get married. Once they arrived on the ship in their heavy wollen clothes and trunks, they could not go back as the ship had sailed and the next one was in 3 months or so. Apparently many a single bride was fooled by the mural. Don't know if it was true, but the story is a good one and sounds very plausable.
I have heard the same story and here is a photo of the house you refering to
you rock Thank you for the photo. Although faded, you can see why they could attract the young bride.
Marianne mentions that her mother was fond of potted plants , and they had what she called "an indoor garden " sort of a enclosed sun room / porch that her husband added for her plants .
Hi Hennie. I think you have left this section out in your comments by Marianne.
Does Marianne mention anywhere if and when her family moved from Pomona to Kolmanskop?
Sorry - I have been offline for a few days , due to Telkom problems. Just been restored late afternoon . Leon , I will cary on with my comments re Marianne tomorrow .
To add to the names... 2nd from left, Dr Paul Range, the Colonial Administration Geologist.
Skinny , My version of the palm trees story . I heard from a certain Mr Ziegried Mans. Apparantly the husband to be had a good idea to convince his fiance in Germany that E bay was not a bad place to live in . All she knew about Africa was what the misionarries had to say - And that was all stories about big rivers invested with crocodiles and woods where canibals lived . the other bit she knew is that E bay was close to the sea. And according to her knowledge , there were always palm trees near the seaside. But the idea of living in savage Africa scared her . The husband to be , who then already secured a house for them to live in , had the mural painted , took a photograph and sent it off - saying to her that it is the view from the bed ! according to Zieggie , they were one happy couple
Hennie check this article with photos. It must be Mariannes Pomona home with some visitors in a car. http://www.namibianresources.com/history.html
Marianne:- " The powerstation , as far as I knew , was the biggest in both SWA and South Africa. Appart from feeding Luderitz , and Kolmans the current was also fed to all the other mining plants further away . as well as the electric railway cars. This powerstation was also one of only two in the world that distiled water from the sea . the other powerstation was in Aden Germany . We also used fresh water which was braught in torpedo tankers from Garub about a 100 km away . This water was stored in tanks beneath the floor of the mine magazine . from there it was pumped into tanks on the hill, from wich it flowed downhill to the houses . We had a seawater swimmingpool . the water was pumped from Elizabeth bay . It was just a square dam of even depth . over this 2 meters deep pool , across this pool we had ropes strung , where people could hold on to. the overflow water was used on the plant and for cleaning purposes . there were bathing huts around the pool , birthday parties were held there , and on sundays , wheather permitting , the band played and we all had a jolly time ."
Leon .. Remarkable ! - it is the same house with the quiver trees - Take a look at this Photo about 1920 , and my blue photo - 30 years ago and the recent one of Malcolm . note how little the tree has grown over the approx 90 years
Definitely the same identical house. The gable is identical, the front enclosed stoep is identical. The quiver tree (one of 4 originally) is still there to this day. The article mistakenly quotes the house as being in Luderitz. Strange that only one of the original four Quiver trees has survived for almost 90 years. This must be Marianne Coleman's childhood house. There are no other houses like this in Pomona.All the facts seem to indicate this.
The power station that Marianne speaks about. Is this the power station that was in Kolmans. Does the building still exist in KM?
Tell by the way is there a map of Kolmans that identifies all the various buildings?
You can actually see Marianne's mother's potplants on the shelf in the left section of the stoep. That small girl standing next to the car may even be Marianne.
it seems that there was small garden either side of the enclosed stoep. The original pillars are still on the right side. The remains of one of the pillars on the left side can still be seen.
Guys thanks for this great info next time I get out there going to study that house more thourghly and get photo's of all angles
Alfred
Hey guys
Would be good if Alf and I got back up there again. Would be a good excuse to come back again . . .
To think we were there a few months back and at the very same house with the same tree. What are the chances of that?
Malcolm
It was ddifficult to keep a pet , but we had an ostrich which pulled a little slaigh over the sand . An ostrich is not a docile beast and I rember the terror and loating looks from housewifes as we careerd along . The ostrich stopping every now and again to pinch and eat anything that it could find . Nevertheless , the ostrich and sleigh was used at christmass time to bring father christmass and some presents. The manager told us that reindeer were unable to cross the desert - so He had to resort first to mountain goats as replacements for his reindeer , and when they encounter the sandy stretches , the goats were replced with our ostrich .
When we moved to Kolmanskop , we took the ostrich with
Yes Alf and Malcom please get up there again and take some good closeups of what appears to be Marianne's old house.
Well we now know that the house was accessable by car (seems to be a circa 1915 Chev).
Hennie does Marianne give any dates when the family moved from Pomona to Kolmans? Must have been around 1915/1916 surely (when mining stopped at Pomona). I like this story about the ostrich....cute.
I like the power of this site. I nearly threw my 30 + years old notes away , thinking ... who on earth will be interested in the memories of a person born appoximately a 100 years ago , and who grew up in a desolate desert !
When I read her cute stories , I find it facinating , it enablles one to make pictures of the scenes discribed by her , in one's mind . And just see the very interesting bits and pieces added . Great stuff
Glad you did not throw these notes away Hennie. Some of us find this fascinating. Here we have the true life experiences of a person and we are able to relive her experiences and not only that we are still able to see the old ghost towns where she spent her youth. Fascinating stuff this. Hennie keep it coming. I am pasting it into the Kolmanskop file as I receive it from you. 15 or 16 pages thus far with lots of photos. I am thinking of giving a copy to Gunther Machts and maybe he might be prepared to share his memories of Kolmans with us too.
Wonderful , get Gunther to tell us something . Tis pic. a certificate stating the number of Diamonds and the weight in grams from work area Stauchlager , sections Hexenkessel and Idastahl 1920
Hennie, keep 'em coming..... fascinating stuff....
When Pomona was closed , it became a halfway station for transport an passenger bus between Oranjemund an Luderitz . Everybody had to be X rayed to make shure that they do not smuggle diamonds out . That meant that everybody had to strip totally naked ,then cover themselves with a sheet , then you were left alone until it was your turn to walk over and lie down on the cold marble slab to be X - rayed. Still it was fun to us , and when the wind played havoc with the sheets , all looked politely the other way , and no one complained . We moved to Kolmans during 1923 . The whole company was run by Germans with only two English speaking persons working at Kolmans.
... Leon here you have a date - possibly indicating closure of Pomona workings , and Michael about the solid houses that Dianna mentioned - I think it might just be possible that one of those Englishmen was a WEE Scottsman who advised the Germans on how to build a house !!! Now put that in your pipe and smoke it !
Yes need to get to Gunther after we have all Marianne's memoirs.
Fantastic we now have a date.
Quote from: Leon Sumter on January 17, 2012, 03:22:57 PM
Yes need to get to Gunther after we have all Marianne's memoirs.
Fantastic we now have a date.
To get Günther now will be difficult
I had sugested that some few years back that someone should visit him and record all he could say.
He lives now in Bloemfontain near his son Ingo whou has internet.
I wrote to Ingo on Xmas, never had a reply
Maybe you guys have more luck
Georg
Thanks George for the info . I often wonder , Is Gunthers wife still alive ?
Then a Apollogy : Diana , I misspelled your name .
and last : Clint , wont you please be so kind as to .. the next time you visit Kolmanskop - take a good look around in the museum . In the back of my head - the little part that still remembers - I think there was a sleigh or a little wagon - the one that was pulled by the ostrich of the Coleman family . and please take a photo of it and post it for us please ? Or it may even be in the Luderitz museum where I saw it .
George thanks for the update. George when you are able to make contact with Ingo please ask him very nicely to try and get a tape recording of his dad's memories of Kolmans if Gunther is agreeable. We must make an effort to get this valuable information.
Quote from: Leon Sumter on January 17, 2012, 07:48:22 PM
George thanks for the update. George when you are able to make contact with Ingo please ask him very nicely to try and get a tape recording of his dad's memories of Kolmans if Gunther is agreeable. We must make an effort to get this valuable information.
That is the problem, Ingo does not answer my mails
Somebody here asked about his wife Helga. Last year she was ill when i phoned, i guess if she gets worse, Ingo will drop me a line
I read all the posts on Kolmanns, interesting and entertaining
Video from one of my visits to the Machts, Hermanus Wildflowers
http://www.livevideo.com/media/tag/hermanus.aspx
http://www.livevideo.com/video/3743071AEB74404483CFBBD21B5BE966/wildflowers-south-africa.aspx?lastvcid=720424
Hi George. I know might sound like a stupid question but do you have his correct e-mail address?
Hi George , it was me enquiring about Helga - I heard that Ron Whiteley and Gunther both moved to ?? was it George ? , and the person then remarked that Helga's health was a concern .
ref to the photo of GARUP , posted by Diana , and yes Cherry - Garub was a railway station about a 100 km from Kolmanskop , Kolmanskop got their water from there by rail in what was called Torpedo Tankers .about 30 km further on , you get to Aus.
I attach the photo again- thanks Diana for posting it previously , otherwise it would have been lost for us who is intensely interested in these things
When I last visited our old house , it was still good to live in , with just a window pane missing here and there , but standing there deserted , sand sifted in over the years , still solid -with nothing more serious needed than a good cleanup , and one could move in . because I were much older then , I realised how increddibly much was achieved under the curcimstances . In my time the sand was gathered and removed by the cleaning gang , who carried the sand off and just dump it on the Northern border of the town . I once was a flowergirl for a wedding at Pomona , my farther added a big red geranium to my shoulder bouquet - I was totally overdressed in German style despite the desert climate . the reception was held in a corrugated iron shed . All the eats were prepared by the women , assisted by the butcher end the baker and the men donated all the champagne , beer and cooldrinks
Quote from: henniek on January 18, 2012, 04:43:15 PM
Hi George , it was me enquiring about Helga - I heard that Ron Whiteley and Gunther both moved to ?? was it George ? , and the person then remarked that Helga's health was a concern .
I only know that the Reschkes are in George
Mike will have details
Have no idea where Ron is
I have no adress of Günter and Helga but the Cell phone Numbers, i had no reply there.
Write to me normal mail and i give you the details
Georg
Mail to: ageorgruf AT aol.com ( change the AT to "@" )
Is there not any other way we can track Ingo down?
Hennie, the power station that Marianne refers to I assume was in Kolmans. Am I correct?
how many of these buildings still exist in Kolmans? Is that the original clocktower that ended up on the OMD primary school?
@Leon, it is indeed, but mistakenly most people thought it came from the old school in Kolmanskop. In actual fact the tower came from the Admin building in Kolmanskop. What I am looking for, is the date that the clock was built in Kolmanskop, because you can add those years to the clocks 50 odd years in Oranjemund to get the real age of the clock/tower...
interesting I thought....
Leon , Yes . Marianne was refering to the Kolmanskop Powerstation
After the recreation club was built in Kolmans , the mine sponsored and braught out from Europe ,opera , theatre groups and orchestras for entertainment . and every sophisticated taste was catered for . Peole came from Luderitz to attend . these events were always in aid of charity . While the wind whipped sand across the windows , we enjoyed the perfect aoustics of the hall - There was about 25 - 30 children attanding school . boys and girls , more or less equal in number - and as it goes the older boys and girls each had a shy but secret admiration for a special friend . Our teacher was mrs Hussmann
The hospital and the two doctors stands out in my memory . Dr Kraenzle & Dr von Lossow . he was a bone specialist , but it was a assault to the senes to be examined by him unless , in self defence , one ate raw onions or garlic beforehand . The hospital had the finest X ray machine . When kolmanskop was closed down , the macine was sent as a present Owamboland . Although the swimmingpool was soon half filled with sand after closure of the town , you could still see the beautiful Italian Terrazzo tiles .Although we were in the desert we had a school up to st 4 . There is a picture of me all dressed up for school . We did not have school uniforms as it was not German custom. But there I am dressed in Dirndl dress and long thick woolen stockings to protect ones legs from the stinging sand ........... Ladies come to the rescue please - As I understand it Dirndl dress is peasant dress - or half dress or skirt ?? . and I suppose that she refer to a photo in the Kolmans school or museum
....so Mike you're saying that the building with the clocktower in the old Kolmans photograph was the Kolmans admin building?? Yes that clocktower now on the OMD primary school must be approximately 80 years or so old. I wonder OPS has the original four Kolmans clocks. When you go past the OPS again Mike check the clocks out carefully to see if they have original German/Roman numbers.
one of my visits to fam Machts in Kleinmond
spoke to Helga this morning - Gunther was at a mens breakfast
What';s the story behind the skulls then?
As in the pic , it must have been mid 1930's The days when camel patrol was the only way to protect the area. It is clear that who ever took te picture was the leader , and the ather holding the skulls was the assistant security officer .looking at the background , it looks similar to the hummocks of plants on the plains in the area inland from E Bay
The skeletons were found close to each other -
It might be that these two died of hunger and thirst . Who will ever know the circumstances of their death . Like the epitaph that I remember on a Pomona headstone
"Died of hunger and thirst "
remember that Marianne mentioned that mules pulled a rail wagon , - she called one of those "The Violet Wagon " used for passengers , and that water came from Garub in rail tankers . Well Thanks to Diana - we have pictures of that - I post her pics here for interest sake
Looking at Kolmans and the other towns , after the desert has taken over , it is difficult to believe that these places were alive with people , and that some of them had beautifull indoor gardens . Like in Pomona , we had a indoor garden and a small lawn - big enough for a small table and two chairs . Farther said living in a desert does not mean your place must look like a desert - therefor just as in Pomona , where we had four trees ,and red geraniums , in Kolmans my farther planted four eucalyptus trees , a small lawn , a rosebush and geraniums . Every morning and evening farther measured on cup of water for each geranium and the rose bush . a little for the lawn and about two liters for each tree . Of all those , only the stumps of the trees remains . Mothers potted plants were her pride an joy . her handpainted designs on the the potplant holders were very elegand Bauern Malerei [Duitse boere verf kuns ] a Art that she learned from the painter who came from Germany to pain the houses and later on also the club . her favourite potted plant that she kept in their bedroom was a " lilly of the valey " with its racemes of white bell shaped fragrant flowers -
[I add a picture - notice the dead tree next to the building . ]
Next time we speak to Anita Reschke, I'll ask her if she remembers much about Kolmanskop as she was born there in the mid twenties. On her next visit (later on in the year), I'll get her to read through these stories and get her comments
Hennie
Can you identify these buildings. Is the right end of this row of buildings not the Kolmans primary school.
Hi Hennie
When next you speak to Helga please mention that there is a whole bunch of us that would dearly love to hear some Gunther's memories of Kolmanskop. Pehaps Ingo can record his dad's reminiscences on tape recorder.
Mike writes "Next time we speak to Anita Reschke, I'll ask her if she remembers much about Kolmanskop as she was born there in the mid twenties. On her next visit (later on in the year), I'll get her to read through these stories and get her comments."
Yes Pleeeeeeeeeeeeez Mike,.... try and get Aunt Anita's comments and stories on Kolmans. This is such a valuable and interesting topic. can you imagine...Kolmans in the mid twenties,...fascinating.
Marianne writes "therefore just as in Pomona , where we had four trees , and red geraniums....."
Here we have proof now that the Pomona 'house on the hill' with the indoor stoep pot plant garden and the 4 eucalyptus trees (see attached pic) is definitely Marianne's house.
Mike , talking to old Kolmans folk will be just great. please add all comments to this great topic started by Michael
. Leon about the pic of the dead tree - I really do not know if the building is the Kolmans school .
Clint please advise ? and it seems to be a problem making contact with Ingo Machts
Quote from: henniek on January 24, 2012, 08:47:39 AM
Looking at Kolmans and the other towns , after the desert has taken over , it is difficult to believe that these places were alive with people , and that some of them had beautifull indoor gardens . Like in Pomona , we had a indoor garden and a small lawn - big enough for a small table and two chairs . Farther said living in a desert does not mean your place must look like a desert - therefor just as in Pomona , where we had four trees ,and red geraniums , in Kolmans my farther planted four eucalyptus trees , a small lawn , a rosebush and geraniums . Every morning and evening farther measured on cup of water for each geranium and the rose bush . a little for the lawn and about two liters for each tree . Of all those , only the stumps of the trees remains . Mothers potted plants were her pride an joy . her handpainted designs on the the potplant holders were very elegand Bauern Malerei [Duitse boere verf kuns ] a Art that she learned from the painter who came from Germany to pain the houses and later on also the club . her favourite potted plant that she kept in their bedroom was a " lilly of the valey " with its racemes of white bell shaped fragrant flowers -
[I add a picture - notice the dead tree next to the building . ]
Hennie, the building in this photo is still in good way today, I don't think it's open to the tour groups I've seen it many times as we drive past Kolmans on our way to E-Bay I will get a updated photo next trip out.
I cropped and edited photo posted earlier
great job Alf.
Wonder what the number on the gable is,.... 2312?
Lady in white must be Marianne's mother ?
Lady in white seems to be holding a small dog (or a baby?)
Two african (Owambo) gents.
Two hens as well.
Double hammer symbol above front door opening.
Thanks Alred for the Photo ! -
Marianne : " One of the town's people was a real jolly fellow , and on his door he had a little notice that read - In Diesen Pondok Wohnen Jacob und Elizabeth mit kindern und thomas der kater. Unser Dach . Mitte Strasse " as there were no street names , He chose his own name , and decided that they live in middle street !
interesting . Notice the word PONDOK . And it is sometimes difficult to know if she is refering to Kolmans or Pomona. H
Marianne mentioned that she wore a Dirndl dress to school . My wife told me what a DIRNDL dress is , and showed me a picture of such a peasant outfit as well . Im proud of her - she knows evrything !
On the railway line between Kolmans and Pomona , sand was always a problem , causing long delays . The train was always accompanied by cleaners with shovels to clear the tracks
[I got this picture from the late Felix Nieuwoud - music teacher at OPS . H ]
@Hennie
Yes Marianne seems to flit back between Pomona and Kolmanskop. Did Pomona actually have any streets to speak of really. It seems to me to be a hodge podge of dwellings perched on little hilltops here an there.
Kolmans could probably have had a "middle street" i.e between the rec club and the bakery/butchery complex. There must have been quite a few wooden type houses in Kolmans when it was at its peak. Some of these wooden houses ended up in OMD right?
My grandfather built those railways or rather had something to do with the construction of them. He lived in Elizabethbay at the time. I have loads of photo's of his time in the area of which Leon has already picked out the relevent ones. Just realized......"You know you getting old when your grandparents become part of history". Once again I'm enjoying this topic.
I think it is beacause of the harships of life on the bleak windswept desert , that the little towns were such havens in the early years . People realy cared for each other . All sorts of commodities were developed to suit cultural requirements e.g. the recreation hall in Kolmans was the centre of entertainment for the whole area , including Luderitz. We had houses that was built in the German tradition , with steep roofs [ to shed snow or.. sand ? ] There were numorous shops in Luderitz. Woerman & Brock stated by selling dynamite , and later on prefabricated wooden houses . Hermann Metje the builder of the solid German houses , and the architect mr Ziegler opened a hardware shop > Later on they imported & stocked just about everything one can think of . My mother baught a very nice Dresden dinner set from them.
[ re Woerman - I wonder if there is a lesson to be learned here , When you mess about with dynamite , make sure you live in a thin walled wooden dwelling ?? .H]
I vaguely remember the earlier years when supplies were braught by a camel supply train to Pomona . bringing mostly dry rantions and things like bullybeef , tinned fish and the like . Also dry forage and other feedstuff for the animals and poultry . Fragile items or fresh produce could not be transported over the long distance , as it were almost always broken or spoiled . Later on when the railway line was completed - things got better .
Fascinating Hennie. Please continue with this. I am pasting it all into the Kolmanskop file. You do not mind me correcting the few typos here and there do you?
Leon , please correct as you think best - Here we can make a few deductions . We know for instance trhat Marianne was born in Pomona , living in a house high on the hill. They had a small outside garden , trees [ Quivers ] , and a lot of potted plants indoor . Vitually everybody in Pomona had chickens . They were Germans - Her farther was " Ou Kat " Coleman in charge of the engineering section. They moved to Kolmans 1923. They had a pet ostrich . At Kolmans her farther planted four Bluegum trees . and purely by guess work we might estimate Maruianne born approx 1910. - 1912. Camels were usaed at first to transport supplies - later on trains , mechanical or pulled by mules . It is a good guess that the house as in the photo supplied by Alfred might have been their house . and thanks to Diana and het grandpa's photos , we have proof of many little things that Marianne said .
I am nearly finished with the notes that I wrote lang ago , in longhand with a scheaffer fountain ink pen - today they are smudged and fishmoth eaten ,. but still usable. I will follow your example and copy and paste everything , and just dump the old yellowed scraps
Not quite relevent to the story of this topic...but ...talking about the Dresden Dinner set (Dresden China) I still have the Dresden China set that my these same grandparents of mine got as a wedding gift in 1928. Its still in perfect condition and absolutely beautifull.
Diana , Please take a photo of a plate , side plate , a cup etc and post it on the site .. please ? .
I stand to correction . Mr Eberlans a Luderitz resident , And The farther of the man Hans , who drowned in The Oange river , at the mouth - Oranjemund - [ And I might still have the page somwhere ] where Mr Eberlans snr. discribed how he found pieces of Dresden plates in the desert - as well as shoes .
Hennie please keep Maranne's memoirs coming. When you have put all her memoirs on this topic I shall tidy up the Kolmanskop story and then perhaps post sections at a time onto this site. I am sure that the Pomona "house on the hill" must be Marianne's childhood home. All the facts seem to prove this.
Hi Hennie
Is this Eberlanz of Luderitz, Friederich Eberlanz (1879-1966), who started the Eberlanz Museum in Luderitz - now called the Luderitz Museum? Friedrich was an amateur botonist and archeologist. The timeframe seems about right. I always wondered if the Kurt Eberlanz, whose name is on the plaque, was related. Perhaps you can solve the mystery.
Malcolm
@Malcolm, that spelling was along the lines I was thinking about... Eberlanz with a Z.... quite a common name with the South West Germans!
:ciupa1:
Apparently approximately 700 families lived in Kolmanskop. This has always puzzled me. Where on earth were all these 700 houses situated? I believe (maybe incorrectly) that some of these original wooden houses found their way to Oranjemund eventually. 700 families ??.
On google earth one can just make out what seems to be a long row of huts or houses along the railway line south of Kolmanskop. These may have been huts for the migrants maybe.
Leon- Im looking forward to the tiedied up version - Not much of a writer or speller I am !
Diana- thanks so much for your pic's of the dresden tea set
Malcolm - Yes F Eberlanz was the farther of the man who drowned at O mund river mouth
Michael - About the camel and sculls - actually it was posted in the wrong topic , but I do not know how to recall or move an item posted
Leon- a lot of wooden houses were moved to O mund during the 1940 's 1950 's
and I have no record of the number of families living at Kolmans at the time
to everybody who contibuted , text or Photos , every bit of info adds to the interesting story of the people who were living there - the love and heartache , joy and sorrow , because in most books , it seems that only the mining activities were of importance . The other day I saw SARS . Nobody were interested in my name -" What is your number "they asked
But Leon , maybe a piece of info that you may include in your much apreciated additions , is
Speaking for myself : For me the winds of the diamond coast were the dominant element of nature - and the second to that was the fog . just try to get your washing dry in a misty day ???" . South westerly winds during most of the year . Usualley strongest during the afternoons . And these strong winds are responsible for sand movement and rock scouring .. or is it grinding . And .. POMONA has the distiction of having the highest average wind speeds in the whole of southeren Africa . especially during the summer munths , with wind speed between 35 and 85 km / hr. (as per RSA Navy / Airforce and weather beuro data [ 1990 ] over the previous 70 years ) this brings us to the Question - Germans .. fond of writing everything down , did they have a wind speed meter at Kolmans to provide early 1920 ' s data ?
I would like to know roughly how many Kolman's houses were moved to OMD. Life must have been tough for those Pomoners. Imagine trying to get from your house to the local shop or the skittle alley or the post office or the doctor or the electric train when the wind was howling and you were being sandblasted with sand. Probably could not even see where you were going. I suppose most folk just stayed indoors when the wind was blowing and only ventured outside when the wind stopped howling. These must have been really tough people.
Hennie let me know when you have posted the last of Marianne's memoirs.
Thanks for clearing up the Eberlanz plaque mystery Hennie.
Some stuff about Kolmans:
Evidently there were two resident doctors: Dr Kraenzle who gave the patients wine for medicinal purposes - the hospital even had a wine cellar! The other doctor was a Dr von Lossow who encouraged his patients to eat a raw onion each day.
A popular outing on weekends for the people of Kolmans was to Elizabeth Bay; to a hotel called Wusten Konig (Desert King) where hot meals could be bought.
There was an engineer Hans Horlein who worked for Stauch and later for CDM when they took over in 1920 - he travelled by horse to Oranjemund every month. Must have been a big trip. I wonder how long it would have taken. He was also responsible for the planning of the Elizabeth Bay township.
Just for interest: the first weather station was started at Warmbad by the Rhenish missionaries in 1885.
Fascinating stuff. Keep it coming.
Malcolm
Some photos taken on my last visit to Oranjemund - we were fortunate to be taken up to Pomona on a trip at the time (December 1999). There has obviously been a tremendous amount of work that has gone into cleaning/restoring pomona since then.
@Malcome
"A popular outing on weekends for the people of Kolmans was to Elizabeth Bay; to a hotel called Wusten Konig (Desert King) where hot meals could be bought."
I wonder which of these two e/bay buildings was the Wusten Konig hotel.
@Uwe
Thanks for those pics. Shame not exactly 5 star accommodation for the migrant workers.
@Dianne
Dianne your grandfather was probably a diesel mechanic judging from his photos of E/bay. That's probably why you father also became a diesel (a very good one at that I might add) mechanic. Perhaps Alf can confirm this.
I have an idea that your grandfather's e/bay house in the one on the extreme left.
Uwe , thanks for the pictures- re your one with the bed - I must just find the one I took about 32 years ago. It will be good to compare how slow disintegration was over time.
Malcolm . Kurt Eberlanz . He was a keen sportsman who encouraged Oranjemund residents to participate . He also trained people to swim - On 14 February 1937 the 30 year old Kurt took his pupils down to the river for a training session . When one got in difficulty , he went to assist . The pupil was saved thanks to the help of others - but the fast flowing river swept Kurt out to sea , and he was not seen again .
@Hennie, The Eberlanz Memorial Stone can be seen on the following link:
LINK: http://www.oranjemundonline.com/Jasper.html
Kolmanskop and all the other little mining havens were staffed almost exclusively by Germans and when war broke out , they were all interned and the mines closed down untill such time when replacement staff were recruited or transfered from the mines at Kimberley an Cullinan . I can very well remember the bitter tears when the men left and the woman and children were left behind . Suddenly we were all part of a war we had nothing to do with , and that was taking place thousands of miles away from where we were living in peace .
I can better remeber that my farther remarked that at least two Germans were glad to see the South African troops , and they were the owner of a pleasure house and her accomplice – they were jailed for illicit diamond dealings , and when the SA troops arrived in Luderitz , they just opened the jaildoors and set them free.
The owner got the diamonds for services and drinks when the client's money ran out . She hid her diamonds in the false bottom of the kennel of her fierce dog
My parents were disgusted about this place right next to the church on Diamant berg . The hill so named because of all the broken bottles that were littering the hill . All of them being thrown out through the windows . In the sunlight , These broken bottles glittered like huge diamond . hence the name Diamant berg .
But what I can remeber even better , is the wonderfull times we had , The freedom , the joys and the pleasures . The mutual coherent way of living , a special quality in the caracter of an Spergebiett sibling
Leon - this is more or less everything I have about the memories Of Marianne - only a last bit that she said about August Stauch . I will post it Tomorrow.
another angle of pomona house tree sticking out
A few more photo's of Kolmans and E-Bay
more
more
more
last few found these on a lost CD
Wow fascinating , huge houses ,, even a hotel built in the middle of nowhere ..
"Kolmanskop and all the other little mining havens were staffed almost exclusively by Germans and when war broke out , they were all interned and the mines closed down untill such time when replacement staff were recruited or transfered from the mines at Kimberley an Cullinan . I can very well remember the bitter tears when the men left and the woman and children were left behind . Suddenly we were all part of a war we had nothing to do with , and that was taking place thousands of miles away from where we were living in peace .
I can better remeber that my farther remarked that at least two Germans were glad to see the South African troops , and they were the owner of a pleasure house and her accomplice – they were jailed for illicit diamond dealings , and when the SA troops arrived in Luderitz , they just opened the jaildoors and set them free.
The owner got the diamonds for services and drinks when the client's money ran out . She hid her diamonds in the false bottom of the kennel of her fierce dog
My parents were disgusted about this place right next to the church on Diamant berg . The hill so named because of all the broken bottles that were littering the hill . All of them being thrown out through the windows . In the sunlight , These broken bottles glittered like huge diamond . hence the name Diamant berg ."
Hennie here is the actual record of the Green House and Mrs Zimmer
Leon , after reading this lot about the green house , I laughed out so loud that my wife thought I was going beserk ??!! well I thoroughly enjoyed it . Green House and all
Wonderful pictures Alf. Is picture 154 the rear of Marianne's house. I thought this house was the Pomona doctor's house, unless I am getting confused here. Perhaps the doctor moved in when Marianne and her family moved to Kolmans in 1923.
Marianne must have been very young indeed in 1914 when the 1st World War broke out. Amazing that she remembers " the bitter tears when the men left and the woman and children were left behind". Production only started in 1912 in Pomona and Marianne says she was born in Pomona. She must have been about 2 years old at the most.
I think that this part of her story is about 1939 ??
Of all the hotels in Luderitz , the Rösemann And the Kapps were the best . Mr Rümmler a former employee of the Woermann shiping line , baught the hotel and renamed it the Rümmler . He married an orphaned girl Elsa . Just like her husband , She was very competant and a very good cook.
It were these Woemann ships that brought the potted plants from Europe or from Cape town , as per order - ordered by the women of Kolmans . Mr Woerman 's shop acted as a casual agent for the women , just out of goodwill . The plants always arrived in good condition and watered . Mr Woermann would let the women know about the arrival of a ship . The next day the women would gather , dress up in Sunday best outfits , and make a special day long outing to fetch their ordered goods.
August Stauch insisted to seperate bussiness and his private time. He and his wife would always stay over in the Rümmler hotel , chatting with friends relaxing and play knobel . But when he met with bussinessmen , they would meet in the Kapps hotel
Sadly when the war broke out , August was then trapped in Germany , and as a result seperated from his family . while he was in Hospital , his house was broken into and everything was stolen. He died of cancer in Eisenach , and we were told that despite all his assets in SWA , he had no cash other than a few marks in his purse. Only his daughter Käthe and a few relatives & friends were at his memorial service
His body was cremated and the ashes sent to Windhoek . but the urn got lost , fotunately rediscovered many months later . His ashes was layed to rest in the Windhoek cemetry .
Leon this more or less wrapes it up
Thanks for an awesome topic..... once again, there could be a book in all this....
I reckon there must be a handful of folk in Luderitz still hanging onto more tales...
On another point, I wonder how many people can claim to have been born in Pomona, SPerrgebiedt
Oh! Something else, I forgot.... whilst reading the book by Gabbi Schnieder about the history of Diamond Mining in Namibia, reference is made to a missionary, Herr Kreft , that actually picked up sparkling crystals at the coast as far back as 1855 .... Some camps claim that he was the first to discover diamonds in the territory....
Added to this, one wonders how things might have differed , had the diamond rush started 50 years earlier.....
bit of history. During the 1930's the company adopted the name "Orange river mouth" . This lead to confusion and consternation for many years . Mail and goods by rail were more than often sent to "Orange river " station in the Northern Cape . The Company then decided to drop " RIVER " from the name , but to no avail - confusion was still carried on . 1951 and the SWA administration very politely asked the company to revert back to the name ORANJEMUND . and the company obliged . The river named ORANJE in honour of prince William of Oranje , by a soldier Rob Gordon [+/- 1770]. The Germans then named the area Oranje mund .
About the original question asked by Michael : Yes there were trees . No there was no church
look in the picture attached - I added a arow. On the other side of the building , one can make out treetops Port Jacksons . Small but .. And I remember a figtree , also on the downwind side of a building - just under the overhang of the roof. Nightly condensation on the roof drips right on the tree . If it is still there is another question . Then look at Alfreds picture. to the left of the chimney building - two trees . when they were planted is a question
Mike says" I reckon there must be a handful of folk in Luderitz still hanging onto more tales...
On another point, I wonder how many people can claim to have been born in Pomona, SPerrgebiedt.
You may even find a few old folk in Luderitz who were born in Kolmans and even worked there. Is there an old age home in Luderitz I wonder?
Leon
Kolmanns
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3A6_PY3VfgI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Very nice Georg
Really enjoyed that.
I am sure Dianne and Alf will also.
thanx georg. I enjoyed every second of it
Stunning .....
Wow thanks perfect
woo_hoo congrats
If anyone wants a copy of the latest Kolmans story incorporating Marianne's memoirs drop me an e-mail. The file is over 6megs.
leonsumter@mweb.co.za
My visit to Kolmanns in Youtube.
If you have a slow system, halt the video after you started, wait some minutes while your system loads that video
Georg
http://youtu.be/GIXxvjdVwVU
Agust Stauch who started it all , and one more re trees in Kolmans - and some old Luderitz activities
Just to add to the topic
Toy Dorfling thank you for the photo's
more
Nice ones Alfie!
I will post these few together on this topic Centralwasche was arround the corner
Nice pics Alf ..
Fantastic pics Alf. Please post more if you have.
Here we go, a copy of Leon's notes on the above topic....
LINK: www.oranjemundonline.com/Forum/Newsletters/Kolmanskop.doc
Size: 7.17 megs
Thanks Leon.
Hi there,
Not sure if this is the right topic to write in. If I am wrong, please feel free to (re)move my post.
I'm doing some research on Kolmanskop and I came across different tellings from different sources. Maybe some of you guys can lead me into the right direction?
Let's take this picture from the attachment. Some say, the building on the left hand side is the house of the bookkeeper, some says it is the house of the architekt, some say it is the house of Hans Hörlein.
The building on the right hand side might be the house of Leonhard Kolle or Hans Hörlein - it differs from source to source.
Does someone know what is correct or how and why there are different stories from different sources?
Micha, interesting question, it's a pity you did'nt post it 3 weeks ago, Anita Reschke was staying with my in laws and she use to live in Kolmanskuppe..... nevertheless , I am sure we will find reference to the house from other members....
allgood
Oh noo :( It is really a pity. It would be so interesting to talk to someone who used to live there.
From what I've read on the internet and have been told this was an architect's house. I'm not so clever on here but will try and work out how to send the links. I must have a look through some more photo's there may even be one of it in its Hey Day. Can you remember if there was Leon ?
According to Zigfried Mans - a guide at Kolman's early 1980's . it was the Architect's house
I have a few other interesting facts given to me by Anita Reschke whilst she stayed with us recently, will add these in the near future........... She was very impressed with this subject, and brought back some good memories
Hey Mike,
Glad to hear! Can't wait to read more :)
Here are just a few items that Anita can remember from her time in Luderitz and Kolmanskuppe, although reading the entries in this subject, she said it brought back some good memories of her time spent there.
She remembers that what is now the OPS Clock Tower was in fact from the old Post Office building, not the Admin building as stated.
There is mention of a "Marianne", now Anita remembers a person of this name whose first husband was Wolff. She thinks Wolff's mother's maiden name was Pieterson. This Marianne's second husband was Coleman but Anita cannot remember if it was spelt with a "C" or a "K". She is also not sure if there is any connection to the Kolman's mentioned elsewhere
Anita remembers that many of the old Kolmanskop wooden houses were dismantled and transported to Oranjemund, where they still stand today.
There is an old age home in Ring Strasse, Luderitz which was run by a Mrs Shmidt, also from Kolmankop
Anita's late husband Mickey can be seen in photo 0317 on page 15, posted by Alfie Boehme. He is on the very top of the stairs on the left hand side looking at the Photo. Anita always laughs at this photo as she remembers that Mickey's shirt collar was half in, half out. Typical of him as a youngster she said to me, always looking slightly scruffy.........
Well, that is all the info I have at the moment but next time we meet, I'll try and get some more about the area from Anita.
aafter a bit of research : Correct Mike V . Sorry , my mistake. Mariannes surname was Pederson - Danish. Her mother was German . Her farther was old Kat Pederson. Marianne's husband was ? . Coleman .. with a C . he worked at the fishery. in the canning department Luderitz .
found the pic in my reject box
I found this story in an old book in my Garage ackn. W Maritz who compiled stories in one book : -
Lovely tale, nice bit of the history,
Two things come to mind, I have attached a recent photo of what remains of the line to Pomona, piles of metal stacked , that were meant to be shipped to Germany to help with the war effort.....
I have also attached a 2nd pic, that faces north and shows the raised ground along which ran the line between Pomona and Kolmanskuppe..
Secondly, by reading that tale, I just remembered seeing large hessian bags filled with compost scattered around the town in the 70's..... wonder where that manure was sourced from?
Mike the last bit of rail line steel sleepers - they where all removed and gathered together to be used at the steel factories at the out break of the war the story I've heard
Mike,
The bags of compost were ordered by the Oranjemund Garden Club and delivered at intervals of several months. Each member bought one or more bags as required. Can't recall the exact cost but it was minimal. The bags came from Beauvallon Farm.
Thanks for that Bob, often saw these rather large brown bags around the various parks.
For what it's worth, the public lawns around the town are starting to look a lot sharper than they did!
Thumbs up to Hugo!
allgood
The houses from left to right looking at the hill from the Recreation Club.
Mine Manager's (Han Horlein) house (restored for tourism)
Bookeeper's House (Dorma window in roof)
Architect's house (Herr Ziegler) (has open verandah with flag pole)
Teacher's house.
Quartermaster's house (similar in style to architect's house except no open verandah)
Mine Engineer's (Leonard Kolle) house. Has remains off pillars supporting what was once a fully enclosed verandah running the entire length of the house)
The engineer Leonard Kolle's house in its heyday. Note trees.
Leonard Kolle's house these days, so sad !
For Malcolm : I eventually found some scraps I kept for nearly 45 Years . Auther = unknown . Quote re Hans Eberlanz. " .. And so I leave this quaint little place .... [Luderitz ] I salute my absent friends and return to our little town at the mouth of the mighty orange , where Fritz Nieswant's craft still rust away amid the dumps , where a memorial marks the spot where Herr Eberlanz's son was drowned and where no man knows or tell just how and why Adolf Luderitz met his death in those lawless days , somewhere between Angwigarub and the Delta "
Hi Henniek
Thanks for that info.
Interesting - seems that old Eberlanz thought that Adolf Luderitz died upstream of the river as Angwigarub is about 12 km from the river mouth (half way between Swartkops and Hohenfels).
Malcolm
I was always under the impression that he drowned just off the beach opposite where the Yacht Club is today.
Trying to recall where I read that...
So did I. Luderitz was supposed to have drowned in the sea.
Perhaps old Eberlantz knew something . . .
Also, if he was in the river, how did he get the boat upstream, the mouth is difficult to navigate at the bast of times...
Who on earth was Fritz Nieswant .. ???
Something that might interest Malcolm. Quote " one of the earliest coal burning condensers stood on the shores of Radford bay about a mile beyond Buhrenkamp . this Radford was one of the earliest settlers in luderitz area he lived with his wife on the southern sheltered side of the little bay . He was buried among the rocks near his home / Buhrenkamp - today a residential area
I eventually found out who Fritz Nieswandt was. He was a powerful & commanding bachelor who built fishing boats amongst other things. [more than a 100 years ago]
Thanks for that information Hennie.
Fascinating stuff.
There is a very good book called "Murder at Angra Pequena" which describes the murder of First Officer Griffith from the Confederation ship 'Saxon' which was captured by the 'USS Vanderbilt', which also fought the Confederation ship 'CSS Alabama' during the American Civil War.
The Alabama used Angra Pequena as a base. Griffith became friends with David Radford and lived with him for a while. Griffith was shot and killed by an officer from the 'Vanderbilt' during the battle - although there is some controversy whether this is what actually happened. Radford buried Griffith at todays Griffith Bay, directly opposite Luderitz, which is now named after him.
Malcolm
I passed through Luderitz around 1987 and found a German book in one of the bookshops that had a fascinating collection of methods used in the "olden" days for smuggling diamonds out of the Sperrgebiet. I am not sure whether I still have it, but will have a look around next month when back home again.
anxious for the info ! please post it asap
The book mentioned earlier is "Die Macht der Diamanten" by Lisa Kuntze (1983).
http://www.amazon.de/Macht-Diamanten-Sechsundsechzig-Diamantengeschichten-S%C3%BCdwestafrika/dp/B002LP37RU (http://www.amazon.de/Macht-Diamanten-Sechsundsechzig-Diamantengeschichten-S%C3%BCdwestafrika/dp/B002LP37RU)
http://www.namibiana.de/de/die-macht-der-diamanten-sechsundsechzig-ernste-heitere-und-tragische-diamantengeschichten-aus-suedwestafrika.html (http://www.namibiana.de/de/die-macht-der-diamanten-sechsundsechzig-ernste-heitere-und-tragische-diamantengeschichten-aus-suedwestafrika.html)
ek verstaan niks
I tried to get an English translation of the book, but had no luck.
The author, Lisa Kuntze, died in 2001 in Otjiwarongo.
Malcolm Bertoni. at last I found some more i9nf re mr Luderitz.
Question . Did Adolf Luderitz drown , or was he muredered . : In short , Adolf and traveling companion mr Joseph Steingrover , an experienced seaman, convince Adolf that they could sail to Ludertz in their frail craft. while the workmen traveld back overland . so they headed for the open sea. But a storm arose and the two were presumed drowned. Now - however Mrs Schamscore of Walvis baai relate that in 1909 , an Bushman told a german officer Major Muller - Wichardt , that several years previously, two white men swam out of the sea. but that having survived this ordeal, they were subsequently murdered by a party of bushman , some distance upstream from the river mouth . On August 1933 , the major conveyed this story to mr Carl Luderiz . the youngest child of Adolf.. His daughter miss Ingebord Luderitz confirmed the story in a letter to mrs Schoschor , and that they presumed the two muredered men have been her grandfarther and mr Steingrover . but one thing bothers me. Why major Muller took so long before he traced Charl. .. Did it take him many years perhaps - to find a relative ? .. Or is this just another mystery of the Spergebiet that will never been resolved . e.g. what realy happened to Adolf luderitz en mr Steingrover , remains a mystery
grave at Angwigarub
Hi Hennie
Fascinating stuff. Another mystery of the Sperrgebiet. I guess we'll never know the real truth.
What is interesting is how many Bushmen lived in the Sperrgebiet - and without anyone really knowing they were there . . .
Thanks for all the info.
Malcolm