THE HISTORY OF CRAB-APPLE COTTAGE AND THE GOODWIN BARN

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ARCHITECTURAL ORIGINS AND HISTORIC OVERVIEW

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Crab-Apple Cottage stands as a unique monument to architectural preservation in Heidelberg, tracing its physical lineage directly to the late 19th-century estate of the pioneer Goodwin family. The structure was originally built as a functional stone barn and coach house for the family, who arrived in Heidelberg in 1881 and established their primary residence at No. 1 Van Der Westhuizen Street. The Goodwins originally owned the vast majority of the town block, and their auxiliary barn structure was situated three stands away from the main homestead, close to the intersection of Du Preez Street.

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The property underwent a significant transition when Johannesburg businessman Mr Hilton acquired the estate. Finding the property derelict and unkempt, Hilton chose to subdivide and develop the land directly fronting the historic main house. He constructed a modest, compact residence at the lower corner of Jordaan Street and subsequently sold off the remaining vacant plots to private developers over the years.

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The original stone barn was saved from certain demolition by Audrey Elizabeth Postma, an avid collector of antiques and historic structures whose passion had originally inspired the family's relocation to Heidelberg. Audrey negotiated with Mr Hilton, who formally gifted the dilapidated barn to her for a sum of R50. She then spent months persuading her husband to relocate the building onto their retained portion of the property.

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PHASE I: THE PARCEL RELOCATION AND STONE JIGSAW (1980s)

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The rescue operation was executed in two distinct operational phases, managed meticulously by the Postma family. Juan Postma, who was approximately nine years old at the time of the relocation, documented the grueling project. Phase 1 focused entirely on the systematic dismantling and structural relocation of the historic sandstone building.

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To contain expenses and preserve the building's absolute historical integrity, every original component was salvaged. The dismantling process began at the roofline and advanced downward block by block. Because each sandstone block had been hand-crafted to fit a specific structural coordinate, the family devised a precise cataloging system.

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They methodically mapped the entire building out on their lawn like an unrolled cardboard box, placing each stone face down in an exact row-for-row sequence mirroring how it sat in the original wall. This process created a massive, sprawling jigsaw puzzle of rock across the garden landscape.

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During the week, while her husband was away at work, Audrey hand-scraped the historic mud mortar from between the sandstone blocks using flat-nosed screwdrivers. The loosened blocks were carefully pried loose and dropped onto old rubber tyres placed below to prevent the stone from fracturing upon impact. After school each afternoon, young Juan utilized a wheelbarrow to transport the salvaged stones onto their property, packing them in tight sequence.

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If a block proved too heavy for the youth, he left an empty space in the sequence so his father could assist him with loading and moving it after work. The colossal undertaking required the absolute participation of the entire family.

When the sandstone walls were re-erected, the family introduced minimal structural modifications to the original blueprint. The single large opening that originally faced the main house on the shorter side of the building was sealed. In its place, two garage door entrances were cut into the longer side facing the street, and custom dormer windows were built into the roofline to provide interior illumination.

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The attic space of the newly rebuilt structure initially served as a private den for the children. During the reconstruction, the family also worked to eliminate a severe safety hazard: a massive, bottomless water well situated to the left of the barn's original location, which featured crumbling earth borders and was systematically filled using construction rubble and debris.

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PHASE II: COVERT TRANSFORMATION TO CRAB-APPLE COTTAGE

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Phase 2 marked the formal conversion of the reconstructed double garage into a fully functional residential home, which Audrey and her husband intended to serve as their permanent retirement cottage. The family successfully funded the subdivision and conversion projects using the financial proceeds from the eventual sale of the main Goodwin House, effectively establishing the historic property as their personal retirement pension.

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The structural conversion was characterized by resourceful, self-reliant labor, with the family rarely outsourcing work to specialist contractors. Audrey directed the interior layout to the last detail. A new main entrance was cut into the rear elevation of the building, and a stone veranda was added utilizing the excess sandstone blocks salvaged during the garage door modifications.

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The interior was extensively reinforced; heavy floorboards were laid upstairs, a custom stairwell was constructed, and the original ceiling joists were permanently stabilized using a massive steel I-beam spanning the entire length of the building. The former ground-floor workshop was converted into a modern kitchen, complete with underlying plumbing infrastructure, while a full bathroom and toilet facility was installed on the upper level.

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The family effectively squatted within the changing structure, expanding and refining the living spaces around them as they worked. The final subdivision barrier—a long precast boundary wall separating the cottage from the main estate—was hand-built by Juan and his wife, marking the culmination of a lifetime spent preserving local history.

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Notably, local genealogical records link the family to South Africa's broader ecclesiastical history; Juan Postma is a direct descendant of the Reverend Dirk Postma, the historic theologian who founded the Reformed Churches in South Africa (commonly known as the Dopper Church).

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Source: Derived from edited correspondence and oral history records received from Juan Postma, integrated with the property records of the Heidelberg Heritage Association.