Intersting information on Stellenbosch Village Museum, South Africa
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Some other interesting information on Stellenbosch (Afrikaans and English) ROOKGEWOONTE KOM VAN VER
Die eerste kennismaking van Europeërs met tabak was toe Columbus en sy geselskap die gewoonte by die Indiane in Amerika teëgekom het in die laaste jare van die 15de eeu. Hul gebruik om dié kruid se blare te droog, te rol en te rook, het vinnig deur Europa versprei, veral deur die Spaanse en Engelse handelsvaarders waar hulle by die hawens aangedoen het. Ongeveer 'n eeu na die bekendstelling van die rook van tabak in Europa, het dit veral sterk inslag in Engeland gevind, waar dit hoog geag is as 'n geneesmiddel en stimulant.
Die medium wat gebruik is om die rook van hierdie kruid ten volle in te adem, was die langsteel kleipyp. Reeds gedurende die 16de eeu het dié kleipyp sy verskyning in Engeland gemaak, maar dit was eers met die vestiging van Engelse pypmakersin Holland gedurende die beginjare van die 17de eeu, dat hierdie merkwaardige bedryf in Hollandse sentrums soos Haarlem, Gouda en Rotterdam ongekend toegeneem het.
Met die verstiging van die verversingspos aan die Kaap, het die rookpyp spoedig ook 'n belangrike rol in die Kaapse sosiale lewe gespeel. Hierdie feit word telkens bevestig deur skriftelike bronne sowel as argeologiese opgrawings.
Op Stellenbosch het die histories-argeologiese ondersoek reeds verskeie kleipype, stele en fragmente opgelewer. Hulle word gewoonlik saam met Chinese porselein- en glasfragmente, yster, ens. gevind wat deel van 'n huishouding se vuilgoed gevorm het. Die konteks waarin hierdie artifakte voorkom is hoogs belangrik, veral daar kelipype as 'n belangrike dateringsmiddel aangewend kan word.
Kleipype is van 'n suiwer, harde, roomwit klei met 'n bekopening van 10mm tot 15mm en 'n koplengte van ongeveer 45mm. Die stele is besonder dun en broos met 'n dikte van 5mm. 'n Heel pyp se steel kan enigiets wissel van 200mm tot 'n verbasende 500mm of selfs langer. Dié wat gevind word is egter altyd stukkend, juis die rede waarom hulle oorspronklik op die vuilgiedhoop belang het!
Die klein pypkoppe van die 17de en 1ste helfte van die 18de eeu, is toe te skryf aan die hoë pryse wat vir tabak betaal moes word. Soos tabak egter goedkoper geword het, het die kleipype in grootte toegeneem. Dit blyk dat die meeste vroeë kleipype wat tans op Stellenboch gevind word, van die middelpunt van die kleipypnywerheid, nl. Gouda, afkomstig was.
THE FIRE ENGINS OF STELLENBOSCH
Fire has been one of the main disasters faced by the inhabitants of Stellenbosch during the past 300 years. In December 1710, barely 30 years after the establishment of "de colonie van Stellenbosch" in 1679, the first devastating fire destroyed most of the village.
In December 1803 a second conflagration razed 42 houses in addition to several other buildings and in 1875 many houses were again destroyed. The great number of thatch roofs and a strong South-Easter could turn a small fire into a major disaster within a very short time.
Fire fighting naturally became an important aspect of town life from the earliest years. The minutes of the Council of Landdrost and Heemraden frequently mention the efforts made to organise the volunteer fire fighters effectively. In 1732 the first fire engine was bought for 60 guilders and four years later smoking on the streets of Stellenbosch was forbidden. Heavy penalties were imposed and Company officials found guilty of smoking in the street, were fined two months' salary. In 1780 a second fire engine was acquired and by the middle of the 19th century the town had three. Of these the museum possesses two and it is not known for certain what became of the third. There are indications that it was extremely dilapidated and consequently discarded early in this century. All these early fire engines were drawn by slaves and pumped manually.
In 1875 the first horse-drawn fire engine was bought. Constructed by the firm of Merryweather, the axles bear the date 1868.
Fifty years later the first motor driven fire engine was acquired after it had been demonstrated at the Paarl Show in 1924. Nicknamed Reo, it gave sterling service until 1942.
In 1964 a really professional looking machine joined the ranks of the old-times in the form of the Dennis. However, the fire fighting service remained a voluntary service until 1973 when the first salaried fire chief in the history of Stellenbosch, Mr P.G. Fourie, and 4 firemen were employed by die Municipality. Modern fire fighting equipment, more staff and a new fire station followed soon after. Today our town has an efficient and well-equipped Fire Department.