Top trending story: How Parkhurst got its name
PARKHURST – A unique idea to market a new suburb resulted in over 12 000 people submitting entries to the suburb now known as Parkhurst.
The idyllic suburb of Parkhurst, which celebrated its centenary in 2003, has come a long way since the relatively small portion of land was purchased by Isidore William Schlesinger.
Schlesinger, an American male who was an influential businessman in Johannesburg, bought a portion of the Braamfontein farm on 11 September 1903. The farm was a less than perfect piece of land as it was the most remote area and located on a slope.
Schlesinger, however, was undeterred as he took on the challenge of making the farm his first property development project. At the time, Parkhurst was only the 67th suburb officially registered in Johannesburg.
Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck majored in history while studying at university. His passion for local history was piqued when he moved to Parkhurst in 1997 and discovered there was very little history recorded from the area.
Truluck has, since then, worked diligently to learn more about the history of Parkhurst. One of the interesting titbits Truluck discovered during his research is how Parkhurst got its name.
Schlesinger, talented in the art of creating a buzz, decided to host a competition for the naming of the suburb. The lucky winner would be given £100, an additional £100 if they visited the suburb and another £100 if they purchased a piece of land on the property.
“After the Boer War, in about 1903 there was a huge number of suburbs and there was a big rush to name the streets, which is why all the streets are now 1st Avenue, 2nd Avenue etcetera. They had to market the suburb and so he came up with the idea for a naming competition.
Truluck added that the completion received about 12 000 entries, making it a huge success. Following a month of consideration by three city councillors, it was decided that after 49 entries for the name Parkhurst that it would be the winner. The three councillors, JW Quinn, A Rogaly and D Holt also had streets in Parkhurst named after them to honour their contribution.
A reader, who was particularly interested in the naming competition composed a poem which was featured in an October edition of the Rand Daily Mail.
The poem appeared as follows:
Three judges on the country called,
To help them name a valley;
But when they chose we stood appalled,
At Holt, Quinn and Rogaly.
The name too surely showed no wit,
And wasn’t here invented.
‘Twas one that seemed to better fit
A place for men demented.
Twelve thousand Scribes suggestions sent;
But some were plainly jesters,
Who seemed on pun and mischief meant
While teasing tired testers.
A month was spent ere judgement came;
Whatever did beguile ’em,
To hit on Parkhurst – just the same
As Isle of Wight’s asylum?
How pleased the folk who here reside
Will feel at the nomenclature.
All “Parkhurstites” will swell with pride;
‘Tis only human nature!
In ages hence when Jo’burg grows,
And strangers ask the story,
The answer’ll come – “We’re, we suppose
A famed reformatory!”
If wit has weight it seems the plea,
That they have half an ounce’ll
Be recognised in all the three
Who grace the City Council.
And when the streets have grown apace,
And houses high have risen,
They’ll p’r’aps forget they named the place
The same as Parkhurst prison!
