Foundation delves into the origins of Boksburg’s street names

The Boksburg Historical Association (BHA) hosted an informative meeting on February 3 at Alan Woodrow Park Retirement Village with the topic of discussion being the origin of Boksburg’s street names.

Information shared was researched by the late Walter Uren between 1992 and 1998.

He was a resident of the town from 1928 until 1954 and attended both St Dominic’s and CBC schools and worked at ERPM until 1964.

Uren was a founding member of BHA.

Street names history
• Commissioner Street: The street was named after the mining commissioner, who was a key figure in the allocation of registration and prospecting licenses and whose office was on the main road. The section west of the lake, which was on the original farm Vogelfontein was called Union Road.

• Market Street: The market square was on the site now occupied by the old Town Hall. It is wide to allow ox-wagons to turn easily. The market gates are at Boksburg High School. The market was moved to the site of the present magistrate’s court.

•Trichardt Road: This road was once called Hoofdweg. The name is said to have changed when the centenary celebrations of the Great Trek were held and an ox-wagon train went through town on a route close to that taken by Louis Trichardt on his way north. The section in Boksburg North, previously known as 6th Avenue was also changed.

• Comet Road – Direction to the Comet Shaft: It had booms which were closed to allow trains to pass. On the north side of this road, there were many magnificent oak trees, many of which were removed to build the K90 Centre. Only a few remain.

• Montagu Street: Montagu White was an American Boer sympathiser and Boksburg’s first mining commissioner. The Lake was his idea. It was often referred to as White’s folly (because it initially stayed dry). He also had 40 000 trees planted in the Plantation area.

• Champion Street: The street was named after Clr R A Champion who was mayor three times between 1916 and 1920.

• Krynauw Street was named after A H Krynauw, the mine manager of ERPM from 1926 to 1946. He also served on the governing body of Boksburg High School.

• Campbell Street was named after Clr J D Campbell who was mayor twice between 1918 and 1923. He was also involved in the establishment of the St Dominic’s Convent school.

Other interesting information
• Boksburg extends approximately 27.5 km north to south and only 9.5 km at its widest, going east to west.
• There are over 1200 streets in Boksburg.

The association meets every first Saturday of the month at 14: 30 at the Alan Woodrow.

For more information or to become involved with BHA, contact Tess at 083 701 9074