News

WATCH: Middelburg Observer’s first editor and owner gets his blue plaque

Town’s history preserved by Middelburg Heritage Association.

Oscar Henry Frewin now also has a blue plaque.

The history of the first editor of the Middelburg Observer and Father of the Community Press can be recalled in no time.

The Middelburg Heritage Association chairman, Rudi van Wyk, placed the blue plaque at the front door of the newspaper’s office.

Frewin was not only a legendary journalist but also a master printer.

That is why two plaques were also placed at OH Frewin Printers and Publishers. One at the front door of the printing house and the other in the OH Frewin Museum for Printing and Community Press.

By scanning a QR code on the plaque, Frewin’s life story appears, including photos.

According to Van Wyk, about 60 blue plaques have already been placed around town.

@middelburgobserver

Middelburg’s history is being preserved through the Middelburg Heritage Association’s Blue Plaque Project. Each blue plaque can be scanned with a cellphone, taking visitors to a website with the full historical background of the site or person commemorated. Oscar Henry Frewin has now also been honoured with a blue plaque, allowing the story of the first editor of the Middelburg Observer and the father of community newspapers to be explored in moments. The plaque was installed by Middelburg Heritage Association chairman Rudi van Wyk at the entrance to the newspaper’s offices in Meyer Street where the world’s only printing and community press museum is located. #Middelburg #Mpumalanga

♬ original sound – MiddelburgObserver – MiddelburgObserver

This includes signs for:

Miss Bessie Epstein, the famous owner of the house in the middle of OK Bazaars shopping centre.
Concentration camp monument and cemetery (Mineralia).
Oscar Henry Frewin’s grave.
Pauline Hindon’s grave.
John William Henwoord’s grave (Oaks building).
The grave of Frederik Scheuble Bukes, who jumped from the train bridge to save his little daughter’s life.
Jack Hindon’s grave.
Susara Margaretha Maré.
Susara Margaretha Toerien.
Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Hester Johann Scheepers.
Cornelia Susanna Jacoba Toerien.

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

Support local journalism

Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Middelburg Observer in Google News and Top Stories.

Tobie van den Bergh

Tobie started as a journalist in September 1975. He was appointed editor of the Middelburg Observer in 1982 where he worked until he retired in 2024. He received numerous awards, is a founding member of the Forum for Community Newspapers and has published two books about his work. Although retired, Tobie is still very much involved in community journalism.
Back to top button