THE GRASSLANDS ROUTE OF THE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS OF HARRISMITH

The route takes you past many of the important old buildings of Harrismith. Unless specifically stated, the buildings are not open for public viewing. This is a drive-by route and buildings can be admired from the outside.

Harrismith was founded in 1849 and many of its historical buildings date from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. The influence of the English culture and the Victorian era is clearly reflected in the architecture. The oldest remaining house in the town is located in Warden Street. Many of the old buildings are built of sandstone blocks quarried from the foothills of Platberg that stretches some 19 kilometers next to the town

1. The Town Hall
The third biggest red brick and sand stone building in South Africa, dates from 1908 and the official opening took place on the 7th of September of that year, starting with a Sunday service. The magnificent building was designed by Messrs Price and Agutter. Bricks were made in Pietermaritzburg and transported to Harrismith by ox wagon. Other materials came from 42nd Hill. The footprint of the Town Hall measures 33.6 x 58.2 m and the hall 22.3m x 15.3m. With the balcony the hall can seat 800 people. The building is being refurbished at a cost of R17 million and on the site a 30m fossilized tree can be viewed.

2. The Market Hall
With a need for a proper market hall to replace the outdoor market, the spacious building was erected in 1908 at the rear of the Town Hall. The market at that time usually brought in a profit of nearly 100 pounds per year and market day in those days was held on Sunday mornings. The hall was occasionally used for sit down dinners in the 1930's and also served as a tea room in aid of Prisoners of War fund during the Second World War. July 1980 heralded the end of an era with final closing of the Harrismith Market.

3. Reitz home
Frank Reitz spent years in the Western Cape and his love for Cape Dutch Architecture is clearly reflected in this home built and completed in 1930. Located on the corner of Vowe & Southey Streets it was constructed by Mr Bain, the then owner of the Royal Hotel. The sash and casement windows as well as the heavy doors of solid oak was made by Norwegian cabinet makers. The door handles and escutcheons were made in England from brass and copper. The imposing Town Hall forms the backdrop to this home, which has a surgery on the one corner and the stables and a workshop conveniently adjacent to the surgery. Frank was a son of FW Reitz who became President of the Free State in 1889. Frank was well known as an extraordinary surgeon. Proficient and gifted with his hands, regardless of the challenge, he often designed, engineered and made his own instruments.

4. Cloete & Neveling Building
Dating from 1905 the building is in Southey Street. Standard Bank operated from these premises until May 1984. The Harrismith Branch of this bank is the oldest in the Free State and was opened for business on 1 October 1902. The property was bought from Messrs Steel Murray & Co for 1654 pounds and erecting the building costs a further 3867 pounds. Like all the earlier Standard Bank Buildings Sir Herbert Baker also designed this one. The date 1862 on the façade refers to the founding of the banking group and not to the age of the building.

5. A E Odell & Co
Dating from the 1890's these premises were devoted to the watch making and jewellery trade from 1892 when the business was started by Messrs Myers Bros. It was later taken over by Mr A G Robbins. Mr A E Odell who had been employed in the concern since 1896 bought the business in 1901.

6. Club House On the corner of Stuart and Bester Streets
The club house still stands proud. A hall leads to a writing and reading room on either side, the latter with a corner bay window. A card room, a bar and a billiard room forms part of the rest. The building is of pressed bricks with partial stone dressings. The cost approached 3000 pounds and plans were prepared by Mr W Street of Durban. Lord Selbourne opened the club in 1905. The club house was intended for social and business use by professionals and business men. It soon became the centre of male social life in Harrismith. Many distinguished guests were entertained here and their signatures can be seen in the visitor's book of the club. Many also presented photographs of themselves to the club. Once a year an 'At Home' made it possible for ladies to see where the husbands spent so much time. In later years the building was bought for R10 000 and let as a nursery school and to the OVV for a nominal amount.

7. De Oude Huize Yard
The house was built in 1859 by Mr De Kock. and was recently restored and changed according to the era in which it was originally built. It currently houses a restaurant, guest house and shop.

8. Badenhorst Building
The building used to be known as the Liddell Building and is located on the corner of Warden and Garvock Streets.

 

 

9. Caithness
Caithness was built by James Bain in 1903 at 38a Stuart Street. They needed 15 rooms because he had 9 children. He named Caithness after his birthplace in Scotland. Mrs Bain laid the cornerstone on 27 June 1903.

10. Rose Garden
The building is situated at 40 Biddulph Street.

11. Oldest House
What is probably the oldest house remaining in Harrismith is located at 78 Warden Street. James Wilken sold erf 130 to Dirk Cornelius Uys for 100 pounds on 8 March 1854. The Uys family were farmers and used it as their 'Town House'. It was originally a stone house with a stone wall around it to keep the lions out. This however did not prevent the odd lion to jump over, catching a calf for an easy meal. Apparently the Liddell family had dug a trap for lions on their property and all the children were highly excited whenever a lion was caught in this.

12. L'Abri
Located on the corner of Biddulph & Muarray Streets this home was built in 1900 by Johannes Stephanus Haumann and named after a farm in Franschoek with which the family had a long association. L'Abri is French for shelter or safe place. Haumann started a new law firm in Harrismith and he was elected Mayor of the town in 1921. He was also the first person in Harrismith to own a car which was imported all the way from the USA.

13. Shady Pines
The imposing home was built in 1880 and bought by Koos and Alet de Witt in 1960. During this year fire caused damage to the upstairs area and Koos passed away in 1967. S A Garden & Home featured the home in the magazine in 1976 and as result Mrs Alet Pretorius received a letter from a granddaughter of the original owners. Mr & Mrs Robert Gibson built the house shortly after their wedding in 1880 and lived there throughout the Anglo Boer War.

14. 36 Boys Street
The typical Victorian style house was built around 1916 for Mr Dolph Krogman in red brick and decorated with 'broekie lace'. His widow married Mr Honey and the house was sold to Joe & Martie Maeder who had three children Dick, Theo and Pommie. According to Mrs Pommie Vogel the stables at the back were paved with cobblestones and had space for four horses. The 'spaaider' was parked in one of the outbuildings and the horses feed stored in the attic of the stable.

15. 82 Stuart Street
A good example of the Victorian houses of the era.

16. Blockhouse
The blockhouse forms part of the blockhouse ring that the British erected to try and catch General Christiaan de Wet and President Marthinus Steyn. They were placed in strategic positions by the British Forces to protect roads, bridges and towns during the Anglo Boer War. Over 8000 of these structures were erected before the end of the war and various types were built. The blockhouses stretched from Heilbron past Frankfort to Memel and back to Harrismith. From Harrismith to Bethlehem there were 134 blockhouses and from Harrismith to Olivier's Hoek Pass there were 16. It is the only remaining blockhouse in Harrismith and was declared a National Monument in1938. Erected in 1901 under the command of Captain Hawkins, to this day it stands vigil over the town's water supply.

17. The View
This Edwardian home with solid teak columns supporting the roof of the veranda was built in 1912. The original plans by the architect Edwin A Agutten are dated 23 May 1912. The owner was A W M Duncan. The house is surrounded by Cedar, Pine,Pepper, Birch and Maple trees.

18. Corner of Stuart & Maritz Street
The original plan of this house , done in watercolor, still exists. It was drawn by architect Arthur Fyfe, of Field Street Building, Durban in 1903. The plans were prepared for Mrs A H Forster and sanctioned by the Town Clerk on 12 May 1903. The sandstone home was completed in 1906 and comprised of a front, back and side veranda, porch, a drawing room, dining room, cork room, kitchen, pantry, four bedrooms, a bathroom. alcove and conservancy.

19. Anglican Church
The Anglican church of St John the Baptist on the corner of Steabler and Warden Streets was built over a hundred years ago and the cornerstone of the original building was laid in 1874. Eventually the church became too small for the congregation and the maintenance cost too high. A plan had to be made and an extension was added. The old part was then demolished and rebuilt. The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 9 February 1906 by His Royal Highness Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of Connaught, and son of Queen Victoria. He was in Harrismith at the time to inspect the garrison. A section of the original organ can still be seen in the church. In 1923 the porch and belfry were added to the church.