Rick’s Oranjemund history lesson

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

Thanks Rick, now I remember the name LOL. You quite right, attractive woman with blonde hair LOL.

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Hi all,
Barb and Clive have it pretty much on the money! It was officially opened in Feb of 1951, and was the longest privately owned (and built) bridge in the Southern hemisphere. Two months later the town's name was formally changed from Orange Mouth to Oranjemund, although it took a while before everybody accepted it. I can recall my parents still referring to Orange Mouth in the late fifties!
As for our place of birth, my birth certificate (02/12/1952) tells me that I was born in Oranjemund - District of Luderitz.
Pepe, you knucklehead, Marianne had dark hair, Elsabe (Elsa) had blonde hair!

[Bertie Horak]

@ Rick - thanx for the lesson!
My birth certificate (1965) also says Oranjemund - District Lüderitz.

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Camels, Trucks, Barges, Busses and Bicycles built for three........

Until the mid sixties transport was a particular problem for the hardy folk that populated Oranjemund. Until the late forties the DDD (security) had the luxury of riding camels on their patrols, which on occasion could have been up to ten days at a time! To shelter the animals from the heavy mists, and with corrugated iron and timber being very rare, a plan had to be made. Wild tobacco trees growing along the river bank were harvested, and together with baling wire from lucerne bales, frameworks were made. Flattened out cement drums with punched holes were laced on to the frameworks and the shelters were serviceable. Unfortunately by 1949 the camels were no longer considered practical so they were shot and their humps used for soap! (Nothing went to waste in them days).

To cross the river, the good people of the village were transported to the river by truck, and then ferried across by barge. Animals, materials and humans were thus able to cross the river while Owambos were stationed at each side to carry the men women and children to and from the barge without them wetting their feet wet!

To go north, after originally using lorries, which could take a couple of days to get to Kolmanskop, a rudimentary road was established and hardy busses would transport the womenfolk, and their young offspring, to the shopping "Mecca" of Luderitz (Barb and Clive might have been on these trips as toddlers). Although the Oranjemund store was established, things like curtain material, tablecloths and the like had to be purchased in Luderitz. This was an absolute mission as meals had to be packed and everything had to pass through the x-ray department. After an afternoon of shopping a night would be spent in a hotel, and the following day they would return home.

Throughout the forties and early fifties the transport system in Oranjemund was extremely basic. High school pupils went on a long overnight bus trip to Bitterfontein where they would board a train to their various destinations. Besides the transportation to the mines and a few Land Rovers, the townsfolk walked to the shops (or sent there "house-boys"). This tended to be an all day affair as there was no self service! Once one had been to the "Store" and sat on a bench until one's name would be called, it would be the same at the Butchery and the Market (self-service was only introduced in 1961).

By the fifties bicycles made a huge difference in the lives of the townsfolk! Legend has it that; "It was not unusual to see a couple arriving at a dance disheveled and sandy, having fallen off their "bike" on the way"! Many of the roads had been tarred so it was not necessary to own a "dikwiel" bike, and the ability to get around was infinitely easier. Most bikes had carriers onto which you could hook your "basket on wheels" and complete the shopping in half the time. Some still carried the normal wicker baskets (These were pre Spar plastic bag days remember)!

Our family had the transport problem waxed! Dad would cycle to the swimming pool at about 5h30am to catch the bus to Uubvley. Abraham would walk from the compound to the pool and cycle to our house, from whence I would cycle to school. After school it was back home, Abraham would cycle back to the swimming pool on his way back, and Dad would pick up the bike and cycle home....A bicycle built for three!

How many of you remember the annual "Bicycle fancy-dress"? Every year, on a specific Saturday (I think) all the pupils would "dress their bicycles up" before cycling through town and then have a competition to find the best dressed or most original "bike costume".

In the mid sixties Vespa scooters were allowed into town and a fleet of 17 cars (Anglias, I believe) for hire were introduced for recreational purposes. The cars could be hired for anything up to thirty days at a time for about R1.00 per day or R20.00 a month! You had to pay for petrol, but considering the lack of long distance routes one could travel, it was not an issue....At least you had "wheels"....Now if there were only enough Babes to impress!

Question: The first ever airlift for high school pupils to Cape Town occurred in which year?
Clue: Bertie wasn't born yet!..Neither was Michael.

[barb (Fry)]

I didn't know the answer off the top of my head but I have looked up the answer and can add that I wasn't born yet either.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

eerrrr mmmm was I ???????

[SandyB]

Interesting reading ..

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

I believe you were Diana....

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Any chance one of you moderator type boffins could put Rick's history lessons in one place for people to read the chapters?

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Hi Cherry,
Our meticulous methodical moderator types are indeed on the ball as all the "chapters" are on this very site/topic. The opening chapter was on another site but that became a Celtic playground, so Michael very kindly moved it to this spot!

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I believe you were Diana....

OK then eerr I was born Nov 1956. Sooo .... How does Dec 1956 sound.

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Interesting deduction Diana......
My research corroborates that date, however I wonder if the "airlift" actually went to Cape Town in December, as the school term normally started well into January!

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Perhaps the first flight brought them home.

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Education, Population, and Edification.

As mentioned in a previous "lesson", women were only officially welcomed into Oranjemund in 1937 when suitable accommodation (dwellings that had been shipped out from Germany and erected on site) was supplied. This of course meant the first children moved in as well. A year later a small school, with 12 pupils, was established in a pondok, but because of their differing ages, teaching was a real challenge! Now the townsfolf had a duty to populate the school..........

Breeding became a popular pastime for the previously bored married mine employees, while the single guys had a choice of playing sport or playing with themselves. In fact the first primitive hospital was established in 1943, prior to which all medical problems or births meant another bus or truck trip to Luderitz. The first child known to be born in Oranjemund (Orange Mouth at the time) was to Dr. Behne, the first Doctor in town. One of his first permanent nursing sisters, Hilda Stark, married Fritz Heiser (family of Dieter perhaps?). One recurring situation throughout the development of Oranjemund was the ferocious wind, and with very few windbreaks of any sort, being outside was a genuine hazard to ones health. Many were the perambulators stuck in the sand when a mother innocently went to visit or to shop (tarred roads were still many years hence)! The wind also had another side effect in that the women complained of developing wrinkles way before their time because of the heat and attempts to keep the sand out of their eyes. The above topics remind me of a story of a young Afrikaans child who, when asked to explain the word "plooi" explained to her teacher; "my ma het soveel plooie dat as sy glimlag lyk sy nes n opgevoude pram"!

Further to assist in the "upliftment" of the village, a library was opened in 1944, and with very rudimentary wireless availability (approximately 3 hours per day), this move proved very popular. It also gave the single guys another option as to how to occupy their off duty hours (what would they have given for Oranjemundonline?).

As far as edification of the townsfolk was concerned, a community hall was built and the different church denominations took turns to "book the hall" for their services, while others gathere in private homes. On occasions when visiting priests came to town the mess hall was used. Reverend Wratten became the first resident minister, while Dominee P.A.M. Brink ministered to the Dutch reformed Church (under the Luderitz Diocese), and Mr. Percy Green catered for the Methodist community. A church for the Owambo and Kavango people was established in the town compound.

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!).

As we enter the times when some of the present contributors to this site  were starting off (those born in Oranjemund) I clearly remember attending the first "play school" which was started in 6th Avenue, by Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Brinton, and where 25 tots were given an idea of what was to come. The aptness of Mrs. Snows name was evident in her pure white hair!

Oranjemund was on the move..........

Question: In what year was the Oranjemund Newsletter inaugurated?

[mavis(smith)]

I do not know.but my first teacher(sab:a)was Mrs Revington she was lovely(1953)