Blue Plaque unveiled at former residence of Kruger’s coachmen
Unveiling of the latest blue plaque in Fenter Street.
Tony Burisch unveiled the latest blue plaque for heritage at 5 Fenter Street on November 25.
It is a possibility that the property was built around 1890. The rumours were that the house was bought by President Paul Kruger for his coachmen.
Fenter Street was named after the son-in-law of Mr DJJ Strydom. Strydom was the original owner of the farm Langlaagte.
Mr JL Fenter and Mr OA Strydom inherited the farm Langlaagte, which later became Heidelberg.
It is understood that the British were reportedly not happy that the street name originated from a boer surname and changed Venter Street to Fenter.
Fenter Street was a sought-after place for gatherings in the Old Transvaal. It was the location for official festivities, also part of the official celebrations of the Union on May 31, 1910, from which date Heidelberg become a political seat in parliament.
At one stage the property ran from Jordaan Street to Marais.
Previous owners of the property as can be established were JM Strydom (1866), MPJ Lindeque (1960), WG Jordaan (1964), Ernest James Belling (1973), C van Niewkerk (1988), R Dickson (2003) and Juan and Ziona Ferreira. Ferreira sold the property to Theodor and Carla le Roux in 2018.
The plaque was sponsored by the current owners.
