Kameel Stoepstorie: Wanneer 'n lokomotief 'n hulproep gee

So op ‘n snikhete dag hoor ons ‘n trein aankom. Dis ‘n vriendelike treindrywer, want soos hy aankom word die toeter (of is dit nou ‘n fluit) geblaas. Niks ernstig, so ‘n versigtige toet toet. Dit het my nogal aan die tjoetjoe laat dink.

Ons nuuskierigheid kry die oorhand, want alhoewel ons langs ‘n spoorlyn woon is treine nogal skaars. Soms twee per dag. Anderdae minder.

Die trein kom so stadig nader. Kan ek maar sê hy bekruip ons huis, so amper hinkepink kom hy nader. Dis net die twee lokomotiewe. Die een aan die voorkant is blou en die ander ene is oranje. Julle weet amper soos die ou landsvlag.

Die engineer en sy assistent het omtrent uitgebraai in die kajuit so in die hitte van die stryd. Geen instrument werk nie. Hennie lag, want toe hulle vra vir water gaan haal hy ‘n bottel koue water met glase uit die yskas. Dis toe dat hulle van hul delema vertel.

Nee hulle soek meer water – vir die lokomotief. Die lokomotief het hulp nodig. Die dieselengin kook – julle weet soos wanneer ‘n kar se waterverkoeler lek en die motorengin te warm word. Die vrag met die mielietrokke is afgehak duskant die kruising. Die dieselperde het baie water nodig.

Die tuinslang word nader gesleep en op die drukpomp gekoppel. Hennie raak bekommerd en wil weet hoeveel water die kragtige masjien nou nodig sal hê? Daar word geskert en gelag stastieke word uitgeruil. Die drywer vertel dat die vrag agtergelaat is en hulle dit weer gaan hak wanneer die lokomotief ‘n bietjie gelawe is.

Deure soos groot soos hekke word oop gemaak. Die lokomotief sluk lustig aan die koel boorgatwater. Dan word die engin aan geskakel en die aarde maak so ‘n trilling onder ons voete. Nog water word gesluk deur die blou monster.
 
 Dan kom die teken dat daar nou genoeg water in die tenk is. Die tuinslang word weer terug tuin toe gestuur. Die pomp word afgeskakel en die dag se opwinding is verby.
 

Die trein het sy vrag gaan hak en met die tweede verbykom slag het dit vriendelik gefluit en verby gegalop.

Groetnis tot volgende keer.

Sandra en Hennie

Kameel Stoepstorie: Lonely Hill and the Salt Pans at Stella

 

The Salt pans at Stella 

Thanks to the Tammy and Liz from Lucky Star Ranch 

 

 

To start the Lonely Hill Stoepstorie I have to go back to an extract from the book

MEN OF THE TIMES.

. . . . Alfred Ernest Fincham is yet another of the sons of South African soil of whom we have the pleasure in writing this small sketch. He was born in the year 1869 at the Grange in the Herbert District and is a son of the late Mr. John Thornton Fincham, framer and general merchant of the district. Mr. A E Fincham's education as principally conducted in Herbert and at the finish of his curriculum he commenced business in one of his father’s branch stores, which he ultimately managed. In 1870 he gave up the business in those parts and proceeding northwards to Vryburg. Bechuanaland where he assisted in establishing the firm of Fincham and Sons being a partner in same until 1899, when he sold out his interest to take up farming in the Mafeking District, purchasing a block of farms of at Ramathlabama. Mr. Fincham was one of the defenders in the siege of Mafeking, belonging to the Town Guard, manning De Kock’s Corner Fort through the siege. When the siege was raised he returned to farm life, and subsequently commence business again, establishing the firm of A W and A E Fincham, general merchants, Mafeking, which he now controls, at the same time looking after his farming interests, giving attention chiefly to raising both large and small stock. Mr. Fincham has been a member of the Mafeking Divisional Council since 1899, and in 1900 was elected a member of the Town Council, serving as such through 1902 – 1903 and re-elected in 1905, being a Councilor at present. As may be understood he takes a keen and energetic interest in the welfare of the town, and for his sympathetic personality and public services, he has earned the highest esteem of his fellow townsmen. He married Elizabeth Ellen West, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth West of Beaconsfield and had four children . . .

Alfred and Elizabeth Ellen four children:

Louisa Elizabeth Smith (nee Fincham) married to Tom Smith

Mary Amelia Webster (nee Fincham) married to Albert Earnest Webster

Ada Ethel Rex (nee Fincham) married to George Henry

Victor Baden Fincham (my grandfather) married to Hester Cecilia Gauche.

Victor was born on 6 June 1900 during the Siege of Mafeking (Anglo Boer War) in an underground tunnel.

The Siege lasted for 217 days. 

Alfred Ernest and Elizabeth Ellen

The cattle on the farm in Ramathlabama contracted foot-and-mouth diseases. Alfred and Elizabeth moved to a new location - to the farm known as Biesiebult. Biesiesbult is now known as the town of Stella. As they reached the end of the road, Mary made commented, such a lonely hill. The part of the farm at the foot of the hill was then named Lonely Hill. 

This farm was situated next to the Salt pan. The salt pan was mentioned by David Livingston and Robert Moffat in their memories from the area. 

Hennie and Heather on the walk to the salt pan

 You can read more on Heather's visit here 10SouthAfricanTown

Great-grandfather then started the mining of salt. To get the salt to the customers they need for transportation was urgently required. The railroad at Kameelbult was the obvious choice.  

 

Thanks to Tammy and Liz for the beautiful photos of the Salt Pan at Stella 

 

 The railroad between Vryburg and Mafeking was first built in 1894, part of Cecil John Rhodes dream to build a railway from the Cape to Cairo. This project would run through my great-grandfathers' farm known as Kameelbult. The stop was named Kameel. Salt was brought in, with donkey wagons to Kameel where it was then loaded onto the railroad tracks. In those years it was a wooden and pole building. Later on, a corrugated iron building was put up. Only in the early 1930’s was a permanent building built. 

The following extract from the book:

Gun and camera in Southern Africa; a year of wanderings in Bechuanaland, the Kalahari Desert, and the Lake River country, Ngamiland.

By Bryden, H. A. (Henry Anderson), 1854-1937

There had been heavy summer rains for some days, during which Vryburg had become a quagmire, and the inhabitants waded forlornly about, as is their custom, in “field” boots, top Idiots, mackintoshes, and any other gear calculated to withstand the swamps, holes, and " sluits," that everywhere abounded. We waited till 3.30 p.m. and then set forth in a Cape cart under a lowering, stormy sky. Two hours and a half of heavy travelling brought us to Fincham's, a farm and accommodation house fifty miles out, where we out spanned.  Our horses were put up and we were offered such shelter as could they have given us for the night.

Lonely Hill's house is still there today. It has known better day but it was with a feeling longs that we stood on the land known as Lonely Hill at the foot of the little hill next to the salt pan.

The door leading to the Salt pan.  You can see the stone that was used to build the house. This stone was hauled from the banks of the salt pan

Hennie is taking a look out of the window to the porch

The out-building built from the same stone that was hauled in from the salt pan.

A lot of nostalgics when visiting Lonely Hill

There is still some of the ruins of stone building from the salt pan's stone in the town known as Stella

The old church that is now the workshop of the municipality

Till next time

Sandra

Please note that Lonely Hill is situated on private land and is not open to the public. 

  

Kameel Stoepstorie: De Oude Huize at Kameel

 We, Hennie and Sandra invite you to visit the village Kameel, on the R377 in the North West Province. Situated between Delareyville and Stella

Kameel is the perfect stop-over for travelers en route to Upington or anywhere else in the top half of the Northern Cape, Namibia or the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

De Oude Huize at Kameel

 

The cottage that, we made available for guest accommodation, is situated in Kameel and was originally built as the Stationmaster house in 1945. It is a two-bedroom one-bathroom cottage fitted with wooden floors. The foyer serves as a photo gallery of the Fincham family that was involved in the lives of Kameel from the early days of the railway station. 

You will find the bedrooms very comfortable. The first bedroom is furnished with a king bed and the second bedroom is fitted with a queen bed. Our bedroom linen is percale and you will love the sheer pleasure of sleeping in cool sheets. We love the handmade quilts that add charm to the beds.

King bedroom 

 

Queen bedroom

 The lounge/dining area is fitted with comfortable vintage and antique furniture. There are railway memorabilia and vintage cameras on display. We have filled the bookcase with old books for reading during your stay. 

The music room will charm you 

The delightful kitchen

 The bathroom is fitted with a bath, basin and toilet. We offer white cotton towels and gowns for your stay.

There are two stoep areas to enjoy the outdoors. The front stoep, with an old church bench, is wonderful to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunsets or spot the occasional freight train going through the village.

The back stoep is ideal for bird watching and early morning coffee with rusks. You will find an antique pair of binocular to watch the birds close up. We have spotted plus-minus 100 species of birds and for your convenience, you will find a bird list in the cottage. Kameel is a wonderful place for star-gazing. 

 The garden is there for you to enjoy. You will find the recliners ideal for an afternoon nap. 

The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge and gas stove.

The little TV/music room is fitted with a piano. There is a very special display of vintage hand planes. 

 We offer a Webber braai should you want to enjoy an outdoor meal. 

There is one shade cover parking area. 

Things to do

Go for a walk and visit the site where the old British Blockhouse used to stand. You will also find the trigonometrical beacons of the area. There are also a lot of veldt plants that you will find on your walk. 

 We can arrange for a little tour to show the Sociable Weaver nest nearby. 

A self-drive outing to the Anglo Boer War site at Kraaipan is an interesting site to visit. You will find a book in the cottage telling you more. 

Please note that you can book for a special dinner at R250 per person. You need to book in advance!

The cottage, sleeping 4, is available at R1300 per night. 

In case you were wondering – yes we are the previous owners of De Oude Huize in Harrismith. 

Directions

We four hours from Johannesburg and 25 minutes of the N14 highway which connects Gauteng with Namibia and the South Africa's west coast.

See you soon 

Hennie and Sandra  

Kameel Stoepstorie: Soetdorings

The Soetdorings are in full bloom. The fresh sweet smell fills the air and the little yellow flowers put colour in our day.

Vachellia karroo, commonly known as the Sweet thorn

Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them.

Till next time

Sandra 

Kameel Stoepstorie: Vryburg Museum

  People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey 

A short, but long overdue, visit the Vryburg Museum. It is situated on the N14 to Kuruman. The original wall of the goal that was built in 1887 is incorporated in the building and the masoned stones from the old demolished Town Hall were used to build the rest of the building which is the entrance to the Leon Taljaard Game Reserve. This building houses a museum and a Bio-museum.

  Vryburg, or “Fort of Freedom”, was established in 1882 as the capital of a short-lived independent republic called Stellaland, established by Boers escaping the clutches of the British in the Cape Colony. Just two years later the Stellaland become part of the Cape Colony. It’s located on the banks of the Huhudi River. The plaque commemorates the Stellaland era. The original flag of the Stellaland Republic is not on display. Van Niekerk’s house was situated on the piece of land where the Pick and Pay parking is now.

I remember preparing food for the thousands of Angolan Portuguese refugees passing through Vryburg in 1974. They were frightened & exhausted. They weren’t walking though but drove trucks carrying their families and possessions from Angola. A transit camp was set up in the veld at the old goal wall. There, the refugees could wash and rest for a while or sleepover. They were given water, food & essentials. Remember that there was a Red Cross tent treating minor injuries and ailments & tending to exhausted mothers with hungry & over-tired babies & toddlers. I remember clearly the pain of exhaustion & anguish and the loss of self-respect in their eyes.

Today there is a small mention of this happening. The memorial seems to be incomplete. 

 Reg van Toegang

 Direito de AdmissiaoVryburg

 03-04-1992

Vryburg was once used as a concentration camp by the British during the Boer War. The gatehouse was built on the former Boer War prison and where prisoners captured by the British forces were incarcerated. 

The plaque that commemorates the prisoners that were executed here should be at the museum but we could not find it due to the long grass that is growing around the building.

Copyright Johan Viktor via eGGSA 

 Google Earth Project Information:-

 GPSID: 4413

 GPS: Not available

We were met by Jennifer Lecholo. An energetic young lady who was giving her best to help us during our visit. There are two exhibit areas a Bio-museum where you will find a lot of stuffed animals that were not up to our alley and the museum. 

We love the rock engravings from Kinderdam the farm where we spend lots of fond memories visiting Uncle Alfie & Aunt Nellie Fincham. There is a small display with no information on the Koi-san.

The museum is small but we were charmed by the displays. Unfortunately, there is no information available and our guide is still new on the premises. It sheds some light on the town’s economic and social history.

 Feeding troughs made at Armoedsvlakte for the experimental on lamsiekte. The cattle have chewed the sides in their need for minerals.

Louis Botha

The silver trowel as bestowed to our family member.

 The bell of the now-demolished townhall

The Townhall now demolished

The old Gentleman’s Club that was later utilized as police quarters.

The Stellaland Flag should be on display in the Townhall is the original flag of the short-lived Stellaland Republic. Its history includes having been presented to Queen Victoria as a gift and hanging in Windsor Castle until 1934 when King George V returned it to Vryburg. The museum curator could not help with the location of the flag.

Till next time

Sandra and Hennie