Die geskiedenis van Humansdorp

Diek van Wyk

Junie se spreker was Bartle Logie, skrywer van 7 boeke oor die Oos-Kaapse geskiedenis, een daarvan in samewerking met sy vrou Caryl, ‘n plantkunde-entoesias. Bart het sy praatjie toegelig met foto’s en genealogiese gegewens van die hooffigure in sy verhaal, of liewer verhale, rondom die ontstaan van Humansdorp. 

Toe ek hom vir ‘n opsomming  van sy praatjie gevra het, het vir my hierdie “snippet” gestuur: 

“While Humansdorp is always associated with a grant of land by 19^th century farmer, Matthys Human, he was not the only one to make an input towards the establishment of the new town. A secure water supply was essential which involved local farmers Jacobus du Plessis and Christian Wagner.

The founders of the new town appear to have been a somewhat contentious lot and the first minister of the new congregation, the Reverend William Heugh, often had to smooth ruffled feathers. He named his retirement home “Paradise” because, according to his wife, 'Compared with Humansdorp, anywhere is paradise'.

Nou ja, dit is die essensie van sy praatjie. Dit gee egter nie die weelde aan besonderhede van die drie boere, hulle herkoms en voorgeslagte, die onderhandelinge rondom waterregte, die boeiende staaltjies oor die struwelinge wat deur die lank­moe­dige ds. Heugh besleg moes word en die heel vroeë geskiedenis van Humansdorp weer nie. Geen wonder die dominee se vrou het hul aftreeplekkie by Kabeljous paradyslik gevind nie. Dit was ‘n boeiende praatjie.

‘n Internetsoektog (klik hier om toegang tot die webtuiste te verkry) het die ondervermelde aanvullende inligting bevat. Logie het die meeste daarvan in sy praatjie behandel. 

“On the 9 March 1849 M.G Human gave part of his farm Rheboksfontein to the Dutch Reformed Church.

It was decided that on 12 April 1849 the first plots would be sold and that the town would be named after M.G. Human who donated the land.

Die huidige kerkgebou. Is dit op die oorsponklike terrein gebou?

Plots were then measured out and were separated by Human, Heugh, Buro, Kerk, Alexander and Du Plessis streets.  The central part of the land was kept for the Dutch Reformed Church.  The rest of the land was then sold at public auction.

On 10 September 1849, Robert Archibald was appointed as the builder for the Dutch Reformed Church and M.G. Human was appointed as the Building or Construction Supervisor.  Once the building was completed, the residents of Humansdorp attended the first Church service on 31 August 1851.

On the 11th September 1851 the first teacher in Humandorp was appointed, Jan Gerritz Bantjies.  Classes were held on Welbedacht farm.

In February 1883 a Third Class Public School was opened with Miss Meyer as Principal and in February 1885. The Humansdorp High School was opened with Mr T.F. De La Mare as principal.

Even after the plots were sold in Humansdorp, the town had a struggle for a while. It was only in the 1870’s that things took a turn for the better especially with ostrich farming.  The ostrich (Spelling) farming even attracted people from other countries.  Things went so well that in as early as 1878 Humansdorp got its first newspaper.”

'n Verdere soektog het nóg 'n webtuiste met Humansdorp as tema, opgelewer. Klik hier om toegang te verkry.