ATHLONE: Aden Avenue & The Neighbourhood

Our family household had seven occupants. Well almost, for mother, maybe it was because she was orphaned so early, (at the age of four) always had sympathy and empathy for the homeless. By homeless I mean working young spinsters and batchelors who seeked board and lodging. Some were from the countryside, others left their homes because there parents would not allow them to marry those whom they loved etc. 'Ways and strays we called them'. Many boarders married out of our house and looked upon my parents as their parents. We also had an uncle and aunt who always somehow found a place of there own but always returned to us. So they; this was my mother's youngest brother, his wife and two daughters lived with us for most of their early lives! So much so that some people believed we lived with them! 'Our' family only really consisted of my parents, eldest sister Ruth, brother Edwin, sister Maureen, (her baptised name was actually Marina) youngest sister Brenda and then me who came much later. - A real 'laatlammer' (late lamb - last born) (after father returned from serving in WorldWar 2.) It was not easy being the last born with such a huge gap as one was always lonely because the rest of the family were adults/adolescents/teenagers.

We lived at no. 40 Aden Avenue, Athlone a semi-detached cottage that consisted of a stoep, two bedrooms, lounge/diningroom, kitchen, outside toilet and a wood and iron garden shed. In those days no numbers were allocated to houses in that street and father named it 'Ruwimor' ( a combination of some of the letters of the first three children's names.) I was born in this house. The Midwife was Athlone's well known Nurse KLeinschmidt. Hundreds must have passed through her capable hands.
Our immediate neighbours (the other semi) were the Petersen family whose father was a mechanic at the Golden Arrow Bus Company situated in Blackriver. The Petersens later moved and the Arieff family moved in next door. (The son of the owner of the of semi-detached houses.) The bus company's buildings were demolished and replaced by 'Sportsmans Warehouse' a retail sports equipment/clothing outlet, Hi-Fi Corporation and opposite them Mr Price Home.

Other neighbours to the right of us in the other semi-detached were the Jacobs's/Kriel's and Ma Rachel Africa. The house to the left of us was occupied by an Indian shopkeeper by the name of Bandeker. They had a huge orchard of quince trees and other fruit. - More of that later :-) Next to Ma Rachel was a family in a wood and iron shack by the name of Mr & Mrs Dick and there son. On that same plot was Gamatdien (a strange man always dressed up in Islamic wear, a turban and on occasions a red fez.) His home was built of wood and corrugated iron and was approximately one metre high and three metres long! Only sleeping place really. He used to enter this tiny place on one and slide a corrugated 'door' close. This structure was built against a thick shrub. We suspected that he was from East Africa as he spoke Swahili and only a bit of english and afrikaans. He lived like that for years. We used to annoy him at times by bombarding his structure with pebbles at night and then swiftly run away. He never caught us or knew who it really was.

On the other side of the shrub in the biggest wood and iron corrugated house on the plot painted a reddish colour was a house occupied by an old lady by the name of Dawn and her children. The house's corrugated iron roof in addition to being nailed down, was held in place by huge cement blocks and rocks to counter the fierce north west wind in winter and the south-easter in summer. This particular structure was situated on the corner of Grasmere Street and Aden Avenue. Further to that we had the Abrahams Family consisting of one daughter, several sons and their widowed father. The Abrahams's were a musical family and played in bands. The youngest son Paul was a fine bass player. Opposite them was all the finely built houses of the white Athlone Police Station's force. Opposite us was a dull red coloured wood and iron house and a big grassy area that was thickly covered with huge fennel plants. (Seeds from a plant that just went wild it seems.) Dividing this area which consisted of a field with a row of wood and iron houses (with a shebeen or two - this area was also known by us as 'Droeriviertjie' - english: dry river) was a narrow concrete canal (which still exists today). This canal is actually right under Grasmere Street and extends right up to Crawford. In winter, after heavy rain, we used to lower ourselves into the canal and collect all the wooden playing tops, tennis balls and other useful items that came floating down the fast flowing swollen canal. We really looked forward to this experience every winter! Behind the wood and iron houses and the police houses was the police vegetable garden which was cultivated and worked on by convicts. The bushy fennel area with its pungent sweet smell was a fantastic playing ground. Excellent for cowboys and crooks - Our favourite game! :-)

The row of wooden houses was later demolished and replaced by the Kismet Cinema. The cinema (which was owned by the Patels and managed by Mr Regal) also had a cafe managed by a character known as Billy. The Kismet Cinema was later converted into a little mall (as it is now) with a smaller cinema included therein. The police vegetable garden has since long gone; replaced by the current Athlone Magistrates Courts. The delightful bushy fennel area with its strong herb aroma and the red wood and iron house is now the present Aden Service Station.

Directly opposite us were semi-detached houses its front actually faced Findon Street. Some of my childhood friends lived there being; Nazier Harneker, next to them the Roman family and next the Rajie family whose daughters all became dressmakers and the sons barbers. Mr Rajie owned the original Empire Barber Shop in Athlone. Next to the Rajie family was the owner of Jacob's Trading Store (Jakob as he was known then) at that time a brown wood and iron building which also housed Mr Arieff's Photographic Studio. This last named building was on the corner of Findon Street and the main road. (Klipfontein Road) It was demolished years ago and replaced by a more modern brick/concrete building which still stands today. The shop is now owned by the eldest son of 'Jakob'.

At the back of us was the Solomons family. They sold firewood. There were always two trucks and huge heaps of firewood in their large grounds. Their youngest daughter Clara and I attended the same school. Opposite them was a teacher; Mr Loff who had a cow and sold fresh milk. He was the vice-principal of our school. (Athlone Methodist Primary) Mr Loff was also our music teacher and one stayed far away from him during lessons as he would strike the nearest head with his tuning fork for a note! Next to Mr loff was the Bailey family. (when my brother Edwin married he rented a room from them and lived there untill he bought his own house.) Next to the Solomons's was a man with the name of Alec and his family. He had a smallholding and grew the freshest vegetables and the best Koljaner (Dhania) money could buy. A street was later built between their houses and named: Hendricks Street.

LIFE IN ATHLONE PAST

Athlone my old home town situated in the Western Cape of South Africa has changed dramatically over the years. My first awareness of Athlone and its surroundings was approximately at the age of four. My father was employed by the Municipality (City Council Corporation) and was stationed at the Disposal Works (nice words for sewerage) :-) in Athlone. He worked there for a period of 15 years. His famous quote whenever someone lied to him was to say: Don't talk sh*t to me as I worked with it for 15 years!

I remember this place very well. The first time I saw it was when I accompanied one of my sisters who had to take my father's lunchbox to him. The Disposal Works was situated on a hill with steps leading up to it. There were three wide circular concrete tanks filled with black water. My father always became saddened when he recalled how much human foetus (some far advanced) that had to be removed from the tanks. This unwanted was obviously flushed down toilets by mothers to be or abortionists (mainly woman that one could approach at that time - for a fee no doubt!) Father showed me a white dog (a bitch that was advanced in pregnancy) but how was I supposed to know that at that young age! She was a stray who had taken up home there and had settled herself in between two of the tanks.

Imagine my surprise some weeks later when he brought me a beautiful pup. This whelp resembled a wolf cub - colour and all. Rusty, for that was the name we gave him proved to be one of the most loyal, brave and trusted dogs we ever had! He was part of the family for 14 years. A high age for a dog.

Years later, the Disposal Works in Athlone was decommissioned; as a more modern one was built in Kewtown (a suburb of Athlone). This Disposal Works is still in operation today. My father later found employment as a Journeyman Ruler at a Stationery Printing Works where he also served as the Father of the Chapel. He retired from there after 25 years.

The photographs featured here ( From top to bottom) are the present day Church of Nativity (which in those years was an open space), Hazendal Community Hall (which once housed the offices/laboratory - one other building constructed of timber was demolished some years back), Church Hall and part of Spes Bona Secondary (where the actual three tanks were situated) and the Rectory of the Church of Nativity (which also housed a laboratory.

More to follow :-)