What is the story here?

This house was built in 1898. At that time all the wrought iron work and concrete embellishments were imported. The house would of been built by Mr Cornelis Floris Johannes Meyer (1856-1916) who was married to Jacomina  Hendrina Johanna (1861-1927 nee Bezuidenhout). Jacomina was the sister of Frederick Bezuidenhout of “De Rust”.

Cornelis and his brother in-laws, Frederick and Willem, together with their wives, were the main sponsors to the building of the Laer Volkskool in 1907. (Source: Mr Sybrand van der Spuy)
Martha Visser the mother of Dr AG Visser also stayed here at one time. (Source: Mr Sybrand van der Spuy and Herbert Prins)

A rumour has been spread that Paul Kruger’s mother lived here at one time and would sit at the window watching people walk by. Paul Kruger’s mother was not alive in 1898. 

JOSEPTH KALIL (JOE)
Mr Joe Kalil lived here with his family. He had a factory making paint. When he sold his business he helped his son in the paint shop known as “Hot Pot 2” in Smit Street.
Joe had a swimming pool built in the shape of a guitar. (Present owners felt it was too large and made it smaller)

In his younger days he played in a band.
"The Zombies" was the first group Joe sang as lead. When he left, they became the 4 Jacks and a Jill. He then came home to Heidelberg. He formed his own band. He recorded his first single after some gigs in Johannesburg. They were booked to do a month show in Port Alfred. He did some recordings and did two, three month gigs in Rhodesia. 

After some time he and George Hannah composed a musical "Rockwave" which was staged at Sun City. All the songs were recorded there. Now he was registered as Johnny Collini @  One Stage. His agent was Hugo Kaletti. Eve Boswell was his daughter. He wrote a song, “The City Streets”. It was chosen for a song festival in Paris. He sang in an Opera House to a receptive audience. He also sang in Lorenzo Marques. He met many attached venues where they sang on the same show. He married and settled in Heidelberg lived in Nooitgedacht. (Source: Cathy Kallil, the wife of Joe)

Many of his recordings can be listened to on “You Tube” under “Johnny Collini” or “The Zombies”.
https://youtu.be/j2rjJDrAjEY
Sadly he was gunned down in front of his shop in Smit Street. He had withdrawn money from the Standard Bank and was followed to his paint shop, Hot Pot 2.

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association - Article Post (Click to visit website)

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