What is the story here?

According to the book “Die geskiedenis van Heidelberg” this property belonged to Mr William St Clair McLaren (1843-1889). He came to Heidelberg in 1871, opening a shop with Mr John Pagan (1844-1917), in opposition to Mr Heinrich Ueckermann (1827-1883). He also speculated on buying and selling of property. This property must be one of the properties he speculated on. His house and shop was situated behind the Klipkerk on the corner of Ueckermann and Begeman Streets.

This property went all the way to Merz Street and has been sub-divided. According to Herbert Prins there used to be a Mortuary on the corner. It was to be declared a National Monument, but has been demolished.
According to Govindrajh (Paddy) Padiachy from Paddy’s Upholstery, as a young boy went to a school on the corner of Merz and Van Der Westhuizen Streets, when the area was occupied by Indians. The school has also since been demolished. Mr Jurie Erasmus is the current owner, who runs the business "Performatec" on the premises.
 

William St Clair McLaren
In 1871William St Clair McLaren, 28, came to live with the Ueckermanns, helping in the store. After a short time McLaren and a friend, John Pagan, opened a store in competition to Ueckermann on the north side of Church Square. T.F. Carter describes McLaren’s house and grounds which occupied the whole of one side of Church Square as, “of no mean order of design, indeed constructed with skill and taste”.
During the first Anglo Boer War Mr McLaren is said to have “made himself conspicuous above all others by his kindness to the officers and others taken prisoner during the war”. 

One of the first prisoners to be brought to Heidelberg was Mr Rudolph, the Magistrate of Utrecht. He was kept in the prison for 26 days when his health began to fail. McLaren stepped in to obtain Mr Rudolph’s release from “such close confinement” and had him brought to his house. Later, when officers came from Laings Nek and it was proposed to incarcerate them in the common gaol, McLaren again used his influence with the authorities. As a result they allowed him to take them as his guests.

McLaren and pagan became surety for the prisoners to the extent of several thousand pounds. When the suggestion was made by the authorities, that sentries be placed at McLaren’s front and back gates, it received such indignant protest from McLaren, that the authorities withdrew the suggestion. Each officer was, however, made to sign a “parole” form, and was not allowed to leave McLaren’s grounds. It was also forbidden to converse with any of the townsfolk.

McLaren died a wealthy man in 1889 at the age of 46. His son, William, born in Heidelberg in 1877 became one of the few Heidelbergers to fight for the British during the Second Anglo-Boer War. He served with the Kimberley Relief Force as a second lieutenant, dying of heart failure on 26th July 1900, near Balmoral. His body was returned to Heidelberg to be buried next to his father in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.

(Source: Tour Guide of Heidelberg by Lynn Fordred)

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