Springs was famous on the East Rand for the number of mines, but to residents, it was a close-knit community where neighbours walked everywhere, children played safely in the streets, and families built lifelong memories.

For more than 70 years, Springs-born women Jean Blakemore (89) and Jennifer Furman (78) have witnessed the town grow and change over the generations.

Blakemore and Furman recently reflected on what life was like growing up in Springs decades ago.

Blakemore, who was born in Springs in February 1937, said the town looked vastly different during her childhood years.

She was married for 47 years before her husband died, and had two sons. She shared that she would walk everywhere across Springs.

“We lived in my mother-in-law’s house here on 10th Street, but you could walk across the veld right to Casseldale Road. There was no Laerskool Werda, there was no Springs Technical High School. There was nothing. It was just veld,” she recalled.

She described Springs as a thriving, friendly town where everyone knew one another.

Blakemore said residents enjoyed many community events, including Rose Queen floats and dances at the town hall, while sports clubs and bowling clubs were popular gathering places for families and friends.

She said the town was full of things to do and happy people. Furman also remembered Springs as a town built around walking, buses and community connections.

She attended Springs Central School, situated in The Avenues, before moving on to Girls High, which later moved to Selcourt.

Furman said school life was enjoyable and safe during those years. Furman was married for 38 years before her husband passed, and had two sons who also grew up in Springs and later left the town.

The women recalled how buses transported learners across Springs every afternoon, with routes covering suburbs such as Selection Park, Geduld and Casseldale.

“Six buses were waiting after school to take all the girls home to various areas in Springs.

“On weekends, we would take a train to the Johannesburg CBD, where we would go to the fancy shops and have a day away from Springs, and that was our way of having fun,” Furman said.

Shopping was centred around Third Street long before malls existed. According to Furman, popular stores included OK Bazaars, Woolworths, Greatermans and ABC Shoe Shop.

“Your shopping was all in the town itself, mainly on Third Street,” she said.

The pair also reflected on the role mines and industries played in shaping Springs. Blakemore said the town had numerous operating mines and factories that provided employment to many residents.

“There must have been 10 to 12 mines working here all the time, and unemployment was not an issue back then,” she said.

Industries in New Era and Nuffield, including engineering firms and factories, also contributed to the town’s economy.

While both women cherish their memories of Springs, they expressed sadness over how parts of the town have deteriorated over the years.

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“We used to have a parks department and teams of workers keeping the town clean and tidy. There’s no comparison, unfortunately. Things have gone down badly,” said Blakemore.

Despite the changes, neither could imagine living anywhere else. Blakemore shared that she loves living in Springs, and it has been a lifetime of activity and fun.

When asked what they would bring back from the past, the women agreed that it would be the kindness and friendliness among residents.

“You felt you belonged to a very special town,” Blakemore said.

Furman believes younger generations can still learn important lessons from those years.

“The young generations need to learn how to respect and be kind. You must respect other people’s views and not judge too quickly.

*The women credited their friends for some of the information provided.

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