A little piece of Ladysmith history has made its way back to town and it had residents at Juana Maria Old Age Home turning the pages in amazement.

A visit filled with memories

Lynell Turnbull, originally from Ladysmith and now living in Estcourt, recently visited her brother, Ken Saunders, who lives at Juana Maria Old Age Home.

But Lynell did not arrive empty-handed. Among her belongings was a remarkable piece of local history – a 54-year-old copy of the Ladysmith Gazette, preserved in such good condition that it looked as though it had been printed just last week.

She proudly brought the treasured newspaper along and shared it with the residents at the home.

A glimpse into Ladysmith’s past

The reaction was one of surprise and fascination as residents gathered around to look through the pages.

For many, the old newspaper offered an opportunity to reminisce about a very different Ladysmith and remember how much the town and everyday life have changed over the decades.

The newspaper also holds special meaning for Lynell and her family. She explained that her son had kept the copy because her parents had appeared in the newspaper. Fond of his grandparents, he carefully preserved the old edition over the years.

A family connection

The article that caught the family’s attention was about Lynell’s sister, Coral Saunders, who had performed at the Ladysmith Town Hall.

Coral now lives in England, but her appearance in the newspaper has ensured that a small piece of the family’s history has been preserved for more than five decades.

Prices that tell a story

For the residents, however, the newspaper offered much more than family memories. Its advertisements provided a fascinating glimpse into the prices and lifestyle of Ladysmith more than 50 years ago.

Lynell pointed out several advertisements, including one offering a brand-new Mazda panel van for just R790. A refrigerator could be bought for around R100! Prices that would leave today’s readers shaking their heads in disbelief.

Even the newspaper itself cost just four cents!

“It’s amazing!” Lynell remarked, reflecting on just how much things have changed since the newspaper was printed.

Still keeping up with local news

Although Lynell now lives in Estcourt, she continues to keep up with the news through the Ladysmith Gazette’s sister publication, the Estcourt Midlands News.

Her visit to Ladysmith, however, has renewed her interest in her hometown newspaper. While on holiday, she says she will definitely be getting her hands on a copy of the latest Ladysmith Gazette.

More history to come

There may be more treasures waiting to be discovered.

Lynell believes her son has more old copies of the newspaper safely stored away. She hopes to bring some of them to Juana Maria Old Age Home so residents can once again turn the pages and take a nostalgic journey back in time.

For the residents, these old newspapers are more than simply pieces of paper. They are windows into Ladysmith’s past – preserving memories, people, places and prices from another era.

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