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BRANCH POST OFFICES OF PORT ELIZABETH, 1822-1910Franco Frescura INTRODUCTIONThis article is based upon information gathered during the course of a research project conducted upon the history of the Cape Colonial Post Office up to 1910. Because this survey covered over 2500 different post offices, it follows that research of a more detailed nature was impossible in many cases. Consequently I hope that local historians having further information of an archival or anecdotal nature will consider making some of this data available for publication. In addition to the main post office in Market Square, the following post and telegraph offices were listed for Port Elizabeth: Adderley Street. Adderley Street was named in honour of Charles B Adderley, a British member of Parliament who supported the Colony's successful campaign against British plans to turn the Cape into a convict station. Two post offices are known to have been opened in Adderley Street. The first was opened on 1 February 1882, and in May1893 it was moved to Queen Street and renamed accordingly (see QUEEN STREET). In March 1903 a new post office was opened in Adderley Street to meet the needs of a growing population in the industrial suburbs of North End and Sydenham. It remained open until 7 July 1928 when it was abolished. On 1 February 1909 Miss ML Altensted was appointed as its postmaster. In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s members of the public living in or near Adderley Street could also purchase stamps from John Monk, and J Schorn. Agricultural Show. A temporary telegraph office was opened at the Port Elizabeth Showgrounds in 1896. Amsterdam Flats. The name commemorates the loss of the Amsterdam, a ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company which arrived in Algoa Bay on 15 December 1817 in a heavy storm. In an effort to save the lives of those aboard, her captain beached her between the Swartkops and Coega rivers. The post office of Amsterdam Flats was opened in the division of Port Elizabeth on 23 December 1854 with Mr W Adcock as its postmaster. On 11 January 1855 its establishment was transferred, together with its postmaster, to Zwarte Koppen, in the division of Uitenhage, and its name was changed to Zwarte Koppen (Amsterdam Flats). Bird Island. Bird Island is the largest of a group of small rocky outcrops located about 64km east of Port Elizabeth, and probably derived its name from the large number of seagulls which nest there. The first lighthouse was commissioned in 1852 and consisted of a pyramidal timber structure some 13m high. In 1872 work was begun on a permanent structure built in stone imported from the mainland. The project was supervised by Joseph Flack, and was completed in May 1873. A post office was opened on Bird Island on 1 May 1872. Mr J Reid, the lighthouse keeper, was appointed its postmaster and rendered this service gratis. Given its brief existence, it seems probable that his post office was only opened to service the needs of its construction crew. Cape Receife. Work on the lighthouse on Cape Receife was begun in about 1848 and completed the following year. The octagonal stone structure was designed by Col Charles Mitchell, Surveyor General of the Cape 1828-48, and stood 24m in height. It overlooked the approaches to Port Elizabeth, most particularly the treacherous Thunderbolt Reef and Roman Rock, both of which had proven, over the years, to be particularly dangerous to coastal shipping. The telegraph office at Cape Receiffe was opened in about 1885. East Walmer. The post office at East Walmer was only open for about six months, from April through to September 1907. Greenbushes. The post office at Greenbushes was first listed in 1877, and although it drops out of official records until 1882, it seems likely that it was open throughout this time. It was abolished in January 1888 but was reopened again on 5 March 1923. Humewood. The post office at Humewood was open from February 1894 through to October 1896. It was reopened on 1 January 1913. The suburb of Humewood was established in 1860, and was named in honour of an early land developer, called Hume, who had been instrumental in the reclamation of drift-sands on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. This had been achieved by the planting Port Jackson willows imported from Australia. The railway line from Port Elizabeth was extended to Humewood on 1 April 1906. Humewood Station. A telegraph office was opened at Humewood Station on 1 January 1910. Korsten. The suburb of Korsten was named after Frederick Korsten, one of the first traders to settle at Algoa Bay. It was established in 1896, but only began to develop after 1902 when, following an outbreak of bubonic plague in PortElizabeth, the town's Black population was forcibly resettled in nearby New Brighton. Many families chose to live in Kirsten instead, not only because it was closer to town, but also because it had a more relaxed attitude towards the illegal brewing of maize beer. The post office at Korsten was opened in August 1904. Lawrence Street. The post office at Lawrence Street was opened on 1 February 1882, and a telegraph office was opened in 1894. In 1896 it was refitted and transferred to new premises. However its work grew rapidly, and in 1898 it was extended to incorporate an adjoining room. In 1906 burglars entered its offices but failed to break open its safe and nothing of value was taken. The following postal officials are recorded to have been employed there:
New Brighton Location. During the South African War the British military authorities imported a large number of horses from Argentina. Unfortunately their fodder was infested with vermin which carried Bubonic plague and, between 1901 and 1903, most of South Africa's major towns recorded outbreaks of this disease. The plague reached Port Elizabeth in 1901, and although its spread affected all sectors of the population, it was the black community who bore the brunt of the Plague Health Regulations. In 1902 most of Port Elizabeth's black suburbs were demolished, the personal belongings of their residents were arbitrarily destroyed, and restrictions were imposed upon inter-town travel. The racially segregated suburb of New Brighton was established in 1902 on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, some 8km north of the city centre, to house families who had been displaced during the plague outbreak. By 1911 its population had grown to 3,650 persons, almost all of them black. In August 1903 a post office, operated by the Assistant Resident Magistrate, was established on an experimental basis. It was proposed, in due course, to provide it with premises in the new public buildings then in the planning process. This project appears to have been completed in 1907. In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s the residents of New Brighton Location could also purchase stamps from J Rogers. New Brighton Station. The post office at New Brighton Station was opened in about October 1903, and in 1909 it was provided with telegraph facilities. North End. North End developed as a mixed land-use suburb immediately north of the Port Elizabeth town centre. In 1861 a Receiving Office was established in the shop of Anne Rich, opposite the North End Jail. The railway line from Port Elizabeth Station was extended to North End on 26 July 1875, and a post office was opened at North End Station on 1 April 1876. In 1894 it was provided with telegraph facilities, and 1895 its offices were refitted. However it was apparent that the amount of space which the Railway Department was prepared to give over to the post office was limited, and although plans for new facilities were put forward, it soon became obvious that the funds necessary for the project would not become available in the foreseeable future. Consequently, in about April 1903, the post office moved its business to premises off the station's property and, at the same time, abridged its name to North End. According to records the following officials were employed there as postmaster:
In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s members of the public living near North End, Port Elizabeth, could also purchase stamps from W Armstrong, Distributor of Native Letters. On 21 May 1901 burglars broke into the office and made off with about 5 pounds in stamps. Another forced entry took place in 1905, but the culprits failed to breakopen the safe and nothing of value was taken. Queen Street. The post office in Adderley Street was opened on 1 February1882. In May 1893 it was moved to new premises in Queen Street and was renamed accordingly. It was closed down in June 1894, and was reopened in January 1896. This, however, was of brief duration, and it was closed down again in May 1896, probably for want of suitable premises. It was only reopened three years later, in May 1899, as a branch post and telegraph office, once suitable accomodation in Queen Street had again become available. The following officials were employed there as postmaster:
In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s members of the public living in or near Queen Street, Port Elizabeth, could also purchase stamps from the following licensed stamp vendors: WA Howard (Grocer), Jos Johns (11 Queen Street), James Naylor, W Singson (92 Queen Street), JO Walker & Co, and E Walsh. Race Course. A temporary telegraph office was opened at the Port Elizabeth race course on 15 October 1898. Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill was a residential suburb of Port Elizabeth. A post office serving the area, including money order and savings bank facilities, was opened 15 June 1896. On 21 December 1903 its premises were completely gutted by fire. All post office stores, as well as about 2 pounds in cash and stamps, were destroyed. The following officials were employed there as postmaster:
In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s members of the public living near Richmond Hill could also purchase stamps from AR Cooke. St George’s Park. A temporary telegraph office was opened at St George's Park in 1888. South End. South End was a suburb of Port Elizabeth located south of its commercial centre, and was originally considered by local citizens to be "over the river". Settlement began in the 1860s when a few fine houses were erected in the area. After the stabilisation of sand dunes began in the 1870s, there was a marked increase in residential development, and when the Railways began to take over land immediately to its north in the 1880s, the Malay community which occupied that area was resettled in South End. Thereafter the suburb began to develop a racially-mixed working class character which it retained until the 1960s when residents who did not qualify as "White" under South Africa's Apartheid laws were forcibly removed to specially designated areas north of the city. The post office at South End was opened in August 1894 and closed in November 1895. It was reopened in July 1901 and closed down again in June 1902. It was reopened soon thereafter in August 1902. In 1903 its establishment was removed to a larger and more convenient building. The following officials were employed there as postmaster:
South Union Street. The post office at South Union Street was opened on 1 February 1882 and closed in April 1884. It may have been reopened in 1900. In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s members of the public living near South Union Street could also purchase stamps from the following licensed stamp vendors: DD Blend, and HC Gibb. Walmer. Walmer was established in 1857 on the farm Welbedacht, and was named after Walmer Castle, the family seat of the Duke of Welligton. After the stabilisation of the sand dunes south of Port Elizabeth, it became popular as a residential area for the town's merchant classes and was granted separate municipal status in 1899. The 1891 census indicated that it had a population of 527. By 1904 this number had risen to 1,928. The post office at Walmer was opened in December1891, and was provided with telegraph facilities in 1901. The railway line from Valley Junction reached the suburb on 15 December 1906. The following officials were employed there as postmaster:
Zwartkops Station. The railway line from Port Elizabeth reached Zwartkops on 26 July 1875, and a post office was opened at Zwartkops Station on 1 September 1875. In about 1885 it was provided with telegraph facilities. The following officials were employed there as postmaster:
In addition to their local post office, during the 1890s the residents of Zwartkops could also purchase stamps from E Alcock. Zwartkops Sorting Tender. The Zwartkops Sorting Tender was a travelling post office which ran on a daily basis between Zwartkops and Uitenhage. It was opened in August 1883 but was abandoned early in 1898 as a result of changes in local train schedules. At its onset the GPO also considered the possibility of extending its range to Grahamstown, but it is not known whether this was ever implemented. POSTSCRIPTResearchers seeking additional information on the above are referred to FRESCURA, Franco. 2002. The Post Offices of the Cape of Good Hope, 1792-1910. Johannesburg: Archetype Press.
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