Barbertonians travel back in time to explore history
Everyone who Barberton Times spoke to enjoyed the night immensely and it was good to see young people also take an interest in the history of the town.
The Night at the Museum tour last week, proved to be a huge success.
People arrived just after 17:00 and were greeted by cultural groups performing traditional dances. The attendees were divided into three groups that left the museum on foot in succession to pay a visit to some of the heritage sites. At these locations characters from a bygone era welcomed them and provided a glimpse into life in Barberton during the 1800s and early 1900s.
Their first stop was Belhaven House which was built by Scottish businessman, George Nesbitt in 1904. There the tour groups received a warm welcome from the owner of this beautiful house, Kathleen Maud Nesbitt (Marlies Liebenberg).
Nesbitt spoke of her life, loves and the history of the house and managed to weave some humour into it. She took the groups from room to room, explaining the function of many nowadays unknown contraptions and also the why, what and how thereof. The house, furnished in late Victorian/early Edwardian style, portrays the way of life of an affluent, middle-class family.
The next stop on the route was Stopforth House. Once again the tour groups were received by the lady of the manor, a young Sarah Ellen Stopforth (Susan van Engelenhoven), looking the part with her Victorian dress and parasol.
This beautiful dwelling was built by James Stopforth in 1886. The house was occupied by the Stopforths until 1983, when one of their children, Beulah (88 at the time), donated it to the municipality.
The house is still furnished with the original furniture which belonged to the Stopforth family.
From there the groups left for the Red Light Canteen where Cockney Liz (Xandri Coetzee) awaited them on the veranda.
Cockney gave a descriptive dialogue about why she came to Barberton, her much-discussed life that raised many an eyebrow and the questions which she took with her to the grave.
At the Lewis & Marks building, Samuel (Sammy) Marks (Chris Rippon) eagerly waited for his guests on the stoep of the building.
He spoke extensively of how he and his cousin, Isaac Lewis, built the first double-storey building in Barberton and how it was inaugurated during in 1887. It also housed the Bank of Africa. As the last group left the Lewis & Marks building, making their way to the museum, a severe thunderstorm broke out, which was a perfect end to the evening as Barberton was in dire need of rain.
Everyone who Barberton Times spoke to enjoyed the night immensely and it was good to see young people also take an interest in the history of the town. Close to 150 arrived for the tour and this was way more than what was expected. Congratulations to everyone who was involved with the museum who made this evening one which won’t be forgotten soon. We can’t wait for next year!
