Rick’s Oranjemund history lesson

[Michael Alexander]

THIS IS ACTUALLY RICK's Topic:

Once upon a time.......1779 actually, a Scottish Dutchman (I kid you not), Robert Jacob Gordon, a commander of the garrison at the Cape, after having visited the area two years earlier, decided to rename what was then called the Gariep (which simply translated means "River"). He named it the Orange River in honour of Prince William V of Orange. This saved thousands of people the indignity of growing up in Gariepmund! (This will probably be the curse of the next generation, as I believe that the river is reverting to its original name)

Fast forward.......In 1920 Ernest Oppenheimer initiated Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM) in which Anglo American, a new organisation of which Sir Ernest was chairman, held the controlling interest.

Fast forward......While there had been much excitement regarding diamonds on the Southern side of the mouth (Alexander Bay), it was approximately 1928 that prospecting got under way north of the river, and in January 1935 operations, on a minor scale, began in "G" area. By 1936 rough buildings had been established and marked the inauspicious beginnings of a settlement called Orange River Mouth (actually references to this name date back to 1930). In 1940 the "River" was dropped and it became affectionately known as "Orange Mouth"
Question: When (month and year, please) did the name Oranjemund become official?

More next week..........

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Well, I see my (with thanks to Alison Corbett) attempt to educate ex and present O'munders as to the history of "onse dorpie" has pretty much fallen on deaf ears, what with the "topic" being hijacked by a Celtic catfight and Robert Zimmerman quotes.......However I would like to thank Rhona and Diana most sincerely for at least attempting to answer the first question! The town was, in fact, officially named Oranjemund in April 1951.

Part 2 – Babes and/or booze:

Life for our forebears in the 20s and 30s was seriously harsh in the "oasis" we called home in the 50s and beyond. Living in very basic 'pondoks', with no running water or electricity, and the East wind that still gets angry today (remembering that they had absolutely no trees or other windbreaks), social activities were also non existent. Until the mid 30s no women were allowed south of Bogenfels, but far more alarming was the fact that alcohol was strictly "verboten"! (would you have survived those days Michael?) Every week the men would pack their dirty laundry, clothes to be repaired and other personal items in "wash-boxes" (about the size of large suitcases) and these would be transported to their wives in Elizabeth Bay or Kolmanskop, and later to Pomona. (they had to keep their wives busy you see!). The boxes would be returned full of exciting things and perhaps a well hidden bottle of "booze" to add some cheer!

In 1937 the first "married accommodation/ dwellings were shipped out from Germany and erected on site. The houses were brightly painted, but did this cheer the men up?

By 1942 an "Appie" was earning 2 shillings and sixpence (about 50c) for an 8 hour shift, and after 1 year of uninterrupted employment, was entitled to 5 days annual leave. The employees and their families were given 1 free trip to Luderitz every 3 months, but I quote; "The workmen shall not be entitled to the free conveyance of alcoholic liquor" Legend has it that because of the shortage of women and recreational facilities, alcoholism was obviously a problem the "Company" had to deal with. And they took it seriously! "Any form of drunkenness will give the Company the right to discharge a workman immediately without first giving notice".

You can breathe easier Mike, as soon after the situation normalized, and drinking was allowed "in moderation". Finally a red letter day occurred when, to the satisfaction of most (men that is), the veritable institution of "Caseys Bar" a males only bar, was opened in 1957!!! (A parrot, also named Casey , I believe, was the only "bird" allowed through its portals!)

Question 2: After whom was "Caseys Bar" named?

Next week: The ghost of Hohenfels!

p.s. Apologies for mentioning you in my ramblings Michael, but from your good wife's comments on this august site, it seems that you enjoy a cold one now and then, and then. (sic)

p.s.s. Could you change the name of the topic to "Rick's Oranjemund history lesson"? (Not that I have anything against Bob Dylan, I grew up with his music)!

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Enjoyable reading Ricky. Geez I was only wrong by one year exactly. Good guess I thought. I would have thought that the bar was named after the parrot . 1957...parrots can live up to 5oyrs so this could be possible?????????

[Michael Alexander]

.... Greta Bowes was the first lady allowed into Casey's...... prior to 1972.....

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Hi Diana, I guess it's just you and I playing! As I said, I believe the Parrot's name was Casey, but I'm not sure. The person after whom the bar was named was born in 1875 and died in 1957, the year "Caseys" opened. There are in fact hundreds of Caseys Pubs (and Grills) around the world, but there is no connection. I'm sure Rhona must have encountered a Caseys, as there are apparently many on the Emerald Isle!

[Clive Symes]

I also beleived that Caseys was named after the Parrot of the same name.
However when checking Ali Corbetts rendition, I was amazed to see that its supposedly named after St Casey, patron saint of bootleggers.Checking

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I'm waiting..........

[Clive Symes]

its the bloody internet Up & down like a yo-yo

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

So its not just mine   

[SandyB]

Mine like a .. hey !1  wheres the sportscar  smiley with topless insert ? superfast

[Michael Alexander]

Well? WHat is the answer? My Dad and I have been discussing the Casey's QUestion over the electric telephone , yes Electric.... for the last 2 days... he was rambling on about some guy called Casey that planed in a war movie from the 40's...... then we found out about a famous priest that died in Michigan in 1957..... man all these questions could drive a man to drink in his bright wooden german shed when the east wind blows..... well whats the answer?

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

We have a winner! St Clive! According to dispatches the bar was named after St. Casey (patron saint of love and humility) who was very active during the prohibition era (the time that bootlegging became rampant), but who suggested this name for "our" bar is a mystery to me!

The Ghost of Hohenfels!

As mentioned earlier, prior to 1935 it was decreed that no women should be allowed south of Bogenfels. The chronicles of the time tell us "The section Manager and his assistant had obtained permission for their wives to live at Hohenfels which was the nearest point any woman was allowed to Oranjemund. Hohenfels, which was situated some twenty kms up the river, was built by the German military authorities in 1908. It was a stately castle like building with a beautiful garden and lovely trees. However, no-one would live in it!
The Section Manager soon found out why! The wives complained of opening and shutting of doors and weird noises at night. Workmen were sent out to secure the locks and doors but could find nothing wrong. Matters continued to get worse until the men received an ultimatum from their wives; either they provide transport to return them to Luderitz, or the gallant ladies would walk (the tannies were tough in them days)! The house was obviously haunted!

Other stories substantiated the wives fears. The surrounding Namaqualanders (some of whom had tried living in the house) had apparently spotted a headless female apparition flitting about on moonlit nights. Apparently Martha van Zyl, while ironing one day, saw a uniformed rider on his way up to the house. She called to her mother, who had not heard the approaching horse, and on entering the room, the mother found Martha in a faint on the floor. After questioning her daughter the mother heard that Martha had looked up from her ironing and seen the "hideously mutilated face of a coloured woman peering at her through the window" On investigation, no trace or spoor could be found.

The ghost did not appear to be discriminatory in her choice of victims as testified by Petrus Julius, a new recruit, who, huddled by the fire, related that he had seen a headless woman walking on air about the house.
Thirty odd years earlier, as the story goes, after the completion of the building in 1908, a Wachtmeister and a corporal were stationed there to patrol the area between Hohenfels and the "Orange River Mouth". The wife of the Wachtmeister and his seven year old daughter came out to join him. Apart from the monthly camel patrol they saw no other people and it must have been an awfully lonely life for them. The wife was extremely lonely and died in childbirth the year after she arrived. The father sent his daughter to school in Namaqualand and then on to a convent in the Cape.

On her return trip home in 1914, the fifteen year old daughter realized that all was not as it should be at home. The Hottentot housekeeper had 'obviously risen above the call of duty", and was more than a housekeeper to her father! So, while the Wachtmeister was out one day, the housekeeper and the daughter had a difference of opinion. The daughter, not being able to stand the fact that her authority had been usurped, went into her father's study removed his revolver and killed the rival of her father's affection. Although the corpse was buried, the spirit stayed, and was still haunting decades later! Thus it is not surprising that the Company (CDM) hurried to provide married accommodation in Qranjemund!"

Now if somebody would kindly spend a weekend at the site (I would hope it's still there), and report back as to the veracity of this story, it would be much appreciated!

Question: Until 1944, all houses (pondoks) were of the "corrugated iron and wood" varieties. What was the address (no and avenue) of the first brick house built in Oranjemund?

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Michael,
Bernard "Barney" Casey, later Solanus Casey, later Brother Solanus, and finally Father Solanus was indeed an American, and did pass on in 1957. It's possible that with the stringent alcohol "laws" in Oranjemund at the time, bootlegging was thriving in the Sperrgebiet, and St. Casey had been sympathetic to their plight!
The speed of his beatification is also a bit of a mystery.
I hope this keeps you out of the "bright wooden German shed"!

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

 Not even one attempt or guess?!?

Some of the folks I spoke to believed that the first brick house was that of the General Manager, but apparently.....In 1945 there were 55 houses in "Orange Mouth" and only 12 permanents were employed in town, and in November 1947 three men from Pretoria landed on "an airstrip in Oranjemund", with a contract to build 18 brick houses. Building operations were severely hampered with post war shortages, difficulties in transporting of material and labour problems. Eventually the first brick house was completed at 24/4th Avenue (at the time the houses were not built in avenues, but rather in a rather "find a flat section and build" approach). On arrival in Oranjemund in 1951, my parents occupied a wooden house and only moved into a brick house a few years later!

"What ho Sport!"

Once the mine office moved from Luderitz to Oranjemund in the early 1940's community life started to take shape. The first sports club to be established was the tennis club (one court!) in 1943. A library was opened in 1944 and the cricket club was founded in 1946 with W. Anderson and "Vennie" Venske at the helm. Anderson was known as the father of sport in Oranjemund, and the first "grass" rugby field was named after him. No rugby teams were allowed to visit Oranjemund (and there was no bridge) so all the games were played at Alex Bay. The rugby team would meet at the x-ray and would strip to undergo the necessary security checks. Climbing into a lorry, they headed off to where the pump station is at Swartkops. After offloading all their kit, they clambered onto a donkey wagon which would transport them to the river's edge. They would jump onto the barge (which had been in use for a few years and was the only means of crossing) and would pray for good weather or else they would get soaked! After the game each man had to pay 2/6d (about 50c), which was a day's wages for some, to Pop Anderson, who would provide brandy and beer.

The Cricket club started with borrowed gear and a sandy pitch where the dry cleaning depot now stands. Its chequered history continued in the 1950s, until they moved to the river bank where they had a pitch parallel to the river. The pitch was washed away, and finally moved to its present site, using a matting wicket. Many was the match that had to be called off when the sand and dust got too severe. In the early 70s, the turf pitch was laid (the first in the Namaqualand area I believe)

The first ever all grass nine-hole Golf course was opened in O'mund in 1953, only to be swamped by floods on numerous occasions.

The Soccer and Boxing clubs were started in 1947, and any travelling that was done went via Luderitz. I guess one had to play some sort of sport, as the scribes of the time tell us that in 1942 there were only TWO single girls on the property and they were obviously hugely popular! (Facts and figures from May Barron, Nancy Stocken and Alison Corbett's "History of Oranjemund").

Question: Who was the first "Oranjemunder" to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games?

[Michael Alexander]

Coreen Swanepoel?