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Can you answer these questions about old Port Elizabeth?

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Hi Alan,

Many thanks for sending MyPE news.

If you have a free moment I wonder if you have answers to some questions.

Perhaps some “oldies” (like myself!) could confirm dates.

1) When was the present Target Kloof road and the old Five Ways roundabout built ?
2) When did the Park Hotel (off Park Drive) become a nursing home ?
3) When did the St. George’s Tennis Club close ( because of the Crusader Grounds enlargement ) ?
4) When did the Davies Tennis Stadium (Humewood/Summerstrand) open ; and close ?
5) Last one ! About Grahamstown: the old National Road (N2) from PE to Grahamstown (the old Bay Road) entered Grahamstown past the Prince Alfred Hospital and The Leather Institute. When was this road replaced by the modern N2 ?

Sorry to take up your time. I’ll buy you several beers If I re-visit my old home !

Kind regards,

Dick

Answers and clarifications in the comments section below please or if you are a mate you cam email Alan with your wise words.

Some Answers Here:

1. When was the present Target Kloof road and the old Five Ways roundabout built?

Walmer formed part of the farm Welbedacht and the pioneer resident of Walmer was Mr John Geard who, after marrying Miss Ford – the daughter of the wealth John Ford in Grahamstown – purchased in Walmer one hundred acres of the estate known as ‘Walmer Heights’ in the 1860’s. The village of Walmer only started up in 1887 when plots were sold for building purposes. A Village Management Board was appointed in 1881 and in April 1899 Walmer was incorporated as a Municipality with a Mayor & a Council. In 1967 Walmer was incorporated into the Port Elizabeth Municipality.

Approval to build a road through Target Kloof to Walmer was granted in 1896.

Target Kloof – The derivation of the name “Target Kloof” is interesting. Apparently there used to be a shooting range on the Port Elizabeth side of the valley near the then Gubb’s Location (Mill Park area) and the locals started to refer to it as Target Kloof.

The present bridge over the Baakens River is dated 1951.

Warwick Owen thinks the 5 Ways Roundabout was replaced in the late 1960’s.

When did the Park Hotel (off Park Drive) become a nursing home?

The house “Sunridge” (Architect G W Smith) was built in 1897 for AE Allen Smith and his wife Emily (born Savage) in the Art Nouveau style. In 1929 Herman Sammel converted it into the very modern Park Hotel by adding a large bedroom wing and later, a ballroom. It was converted into the Sharley Cribb Nursing College in 1949 and the house restored. Sharley Cribb is remembered by her outstanding services in the cause of nursing reform. The Eastern Cape Department of Health launched the refurbished Lilitha Nursing College (Sharley Cribb) on 8 April 2014.

2. When did the St. George’s Tennis Club close (because of the Crusader Grounds enlargement)?

Some confusion here – are you referring to the tennis club between the cricket oval and the Art Museum (old King George)? If that one then it was broken down around the time of the Cricket World Cup in 2003 OR around the time of some major upgrades to the Duck Pond Pavilion in the mid to late 1990’s.

The Lawn Tennis club, established on 1 September 1879 is still in existence. The PELTC boasts of four Springbok players: Ivie Richardson – Davis Cup 1924; Owen Williams was selected to play in a team representing South Africa in Australia in 1954; Cliff Drysdale was a Davis Cup player in 1964 and Greta Delport played in the Federation Cup in 1967.

3. When did the Davies Tennis Stadium (Humewood/Summerstrand) open and close?

The Davies Tennis Stadium was moved to an open area near Algoa Park when the new Boardwalk complex was built in 2009. The Boardwalk is owned by Emfuleni Resorts and Sun International. Part of the land was a caravan park owned by Rick McIvor – an ex councilor (mayor?) of Port Elizabeth.

4. Last one! About Grahamstown: the old National Road (N2) from PE to Grahamstown (the old Bay Road) entered Grahamstown past the Prince Alfred Hospital and The Leather Institute. When was this road replaced by the modern N2?

It was in 1980’s – I recall driving between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth on bar jarring roads that used to shake my carburettor to bits between 1982 and 1985.

Mike writes:

My recollection of where the Boardwalk is today is that it was in the 1950’s, 1960’s and beyond a popular municipal camping ground and caravan site. The entrance was opposite the Red Windmill.
Some Buffalo rallies were held there.
The Davies Stadium site I thought was closer to Happy Valley more or less where the present Lodge Hotel and the one adjacent to it is.
Playland was on the open piece of ground to the right of the road that goes to the Driftsands military base.

Sources: Dean McCleland, Warwick Owen, Port Elizabeth in Bygone Days (out of print)

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