“Hazel was born in Heidelberg and still lives in Fenter Street (2004) on the property she was born and raised. Her father Alexander Gemmell came from Scotland as a young man and after a stint of apprenticeship in Natal he arrived in Heidelberg to open a plumbing business. This was about 1903. His shop was in Jacob Street. Alexander’s brother, John followed him from Scotland and also settled in Heidelberg. In 1910 Alexander’s betrothed came out from Scotland and they married in Durban and settled in Heidelberg. The Gemmell’s had three daughters. Hazel was the youngest. Hazel was confirmed in the Presbyterian Church. There was no Sunday School at the Presbyterian Church, so she and her sisters attended the Methodist Sunday School.” Excerpt from the 13 October 2004, Heidelberg/Nigel Heraut.

According to the book “Die geskiedenis van Heidelberg”, a D. van der Westhuizen was the first owner of Stand 82. On the 20th of June 1871 the title deed of the property was issued to Jan Daniel Otto Landsberg, who subdivided the property. Then after subsequent Deeds of Transfer to other persons the remaining portion of Stand 82 was registered on the 4th of March 1922 to Alexander Gemmell. 

Alexander was born in 1859 in Ayrshire, Scotland and settled in Heidelberg in 1903. Alexander got married to Annie Main. His wife Annie was born on May 23, 1878 in Hardgate Dumbartonshire, Scotland and died on October 22, 1949 (She is buried in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery). Alexander died on July 9, 1931. Alexander started a plumbing business in Jacobs Street, Heidelberg. His daughter Annie Hazel Matthysen Néé Gemmell inherited the property from her father. Annie was one of three daughters. She resided at 26 Fenter Street till her death on November 1, 2004.

Alexander was one of the founding members of Heidelberg Presbyterian Church. The first service was held on the second Sunday October 1904. During the Second World War the congregation was down to five or six families, with a visiting minister only visiting the church every three months. Some time services were held at the house.
(Source: Eugene Viljoen, Heidelberg Heraut)