HEIDELBERG KLOOF CEMETERY

In 1849 Heinrich came to South Africa and opened a cooper’s business in Pietermaritzburg, where he married Elizabeth Mason in 1851. After the birth of his first son in 1852, Mr. Ueckermann set off by ox-wagon for the interior, with his wife and infant son. They travelled via Harrismith, and visited Pretoria, Marabastad, Schoemansdal, Ohrigstad and Lydenburg.

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While at Zoutpansberg in 1854 his daughter Elizabeth was born. It was a most adventurous trip and on one occasion one of his wagons loaded with elephant tusks, was seized by Zebedeila’s natives, but, with the help of a party of Boers he succeeded in recovering the stolen property.

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Returning to Pietermaritzburg for a while, he remained there until after the birth of his second son (Charlie). The call of the North, however, was too strong, and before long he “hit the trail” again. It was on this trip – in 1858 – that his third son (Robert) was born in a “little mud hut” at Eendracht, on the northern slope of the Suikerbosrand.

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While waiting here Heinrich wandered over the hills in search of game, and down on to the adjoining farm “Langlaagte”, where he found a small group of emigrants, from Uitenhage, had settled on the banks of the Blesbok Spruit. This farm was a popular rendezvous of smousers and transport riders, as not only was there abundance of wood and water, but the two arterial roads of the country – from Potchefstroom to Durban, and from Pretoria to the Cape – crossed here. It was therefore regarded as the natural exchange for news from all over the country.

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In addition to the Uitenhage settlers, a number of Beaufort West families, as we have already seen, had occupied farms in the neighbourhood, many of whom were quite “old residents”, since they had been living here for the past twenty years.

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The information he gleaned during this visit made a deep impression on Ueckermann’s mind. Burdened by a sense of responsibility for his growing family, and influenced no doubt by the mother of his children, he was coming to the conclusion that it was time he gave up his roving life and settled down. Surely here was the opportunity. The cross-roads on Langlaagte would be an ideal site for a trading store. He therefore obtained permission from the owners of the farm – Mr. D.J. Strydom – to open a “Boere Winkel” by the crossroads.

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Moving down from Eendracht, he erected a small temporary dwelling to shelter his family, (Note by Tony: where the old post office / home affairs is.) (In later years this building was used as a prison “lock-up”. On one occasion when it was needed for this purpose, no key could be found for the door, and, as there was no bolt on the outside, the door was barred by the simple expedient of rolling a wagon up against it to keep it closed: Weakley) and then set to work building a store on the opposite side of the road – on the corner of what are now Church (HF Verwoerd) and Ueckermann Streets. (The Old Landbank) When this was done, a more commodious home was added, adjoining the store on the North side of Church (HF Verwoerd) Street.

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His next business was to lay in a stock of trade-goods. So off he set once more on the long journey to Pietermaritzburg. He went with a load of skins, ostrich feathers and ivory, and returned with wagons laden with merchandise. He also brought with him a young lady, whose services he had secured as governess of his children. She did not stay long, however, as she soon became engaged to be married. There was neither parson nor magistrate here in those days, so Mr. Ueckermann transported the bridal party to Potchefstroom where the wedding ceremony was performed by the Landdrost.

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The farm Langlaagte at this time belonged to Mr. B.J. Strydom, but after his death it passed to his son and daughter – Okker Strydom and Mrs JL Venter – on June 26 1859. Eight months later (28 February 1860) the ground was sold to Mr. Ueckermann for about £25. On August 27th of the same year he presented a Petition to the Volksraad, supported by the previous owners, asking for the proclamation of establishing a town. The Petition was not successful as the town had not been surveyed. Nothing further was heard of the matter until six years later.

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In the meanwhile life in the hospitable Ueckermann home was full of interest, since everyone of note – Government officials, hunters, traders and explorers – naturally called “en passant”. Many were struck with the natural beauty of the surroundings, and many, no doubt, expressed the opinion that they would like to live here. So things went on until one day in 1865, an Irishman, arrived at the Outspan and walked into the store. He was Mr. T.W. Fannin, a surveyor, from Dargle, Natal, who had trekked up into the Transvaal looking for work. Ueckermann made the most of this opportunity, and Fannin was commissioned to survey and lay out the ground round the store as a township.

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Unfortunately, however, Fannin had contracted malaria in the Nylstroom district, and hardly had the pegs of the survey been driven in before he succumbed to a severe attack. The Ueckermanns showed great kindness to the sick man and took him into their own home and nursed him. But all to no avail and on Dec. 19th 1865 he passed away.

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On the 28th of March 1866, the newly-surveyed township was proclaimed, being given the name of “Heidelberg” after the city in which Mr. Ueckermann had been educated. In the following year (1887), Mr. Ueckermann was chosen to represent the town in the Volksraad, and for a time was a member of the Uitvoerende Raad.

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Mr. Ueckermann now set himself the task of developing the town he had founded, and to encourage new-comers to come and settle here. To this end he employed a large number of natives in making bricks, and erected a number of houses, which he placed at the disposal of incoming residents, until they could build houses of their own. The first of these was on the corner occupied by the Royal Hotel. (Note by Tony: It was demolished to make way for the Old Mutual Building, on the corner of Ueckermann and Jacob Streets) Another was the house now occupied by Mr. Pagan. (Note by Tony: I am not really sure where it was, but it could be where the old Ok Bazaars Building is in Voortrekker Street).

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The first of the new settlers was Mr. Thomas Smith, who built himself a small house alongside the original Ueckermann homestead, but later moved to a larger house at what was then the Southern end of Ueckermann Street, opposite the Wesleyan Methodist Church. (This house was subsequently removed to make way for the extension of Ueckermann Street to Merz Street.)

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When the first of his new houses had been completed, Mr. Ueckermann sent a wagon and fetched his step-brother Carl from Philippolis to come and live in it. Carl Ueckermann settled down and later became Magistrate’s Clerk, and subsequently State Solicitor of the Transvaal.

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The death of Heinrich Ueckermann on July 24th 1883 brings this chapter of our history to a close. He was buried in the cemetery, he had laid out at the entrance to the “Kloof”, where his grave is marked by an obelisk erected in his memory by his sons.

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Source: Unpublished “Story of Heidelberg” by Rev. Noel Roberts. Noel was the Minister of the Anglican Church in 1938. He interviewed Mr. Robert Ueckermann for the information. 

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association Facebook Page Article (Click to visit website)