Your guide to Heidelberg Gauteng
#Magistrate Maré's House
Heritage Blue Plaque #Nr 52
MAGISTRATE MARE'S HOUSE - 72 Strydom Street
What is the story here?
Seeing that Mr Maré owned stands 160, 161 and 174, it is assumed that he moved here from No. 60 Strydom Street, when he rented that building to the Standard Bank of British South Africa in August of 1879. Mr. Danie Steenkamp, a descendant of Mr Maré, disagrees with my assumption, stating that his grandmother stayed at No 60 Strydom Street and that the Maré family moved back into that house in November of 1881, after the bank had moved out of the house and after the 1st Anglo-Boer War.
At the back of 72 Strydom Street, is still the original cow shed, that has been turned into a garage. Note the feeding troughs and rings where the cows were fed and tied up while being milked in the pictures.
(Comments by Tony Burisch)
Here under is the article in the 25th May 2022 edition of the Heidelberg / Nigel Heraut, by Eugene Viljoen.
HEIDELBERG – Maré Residence a Heritage site.
On May 20, Tony Burisch of the Heidelberg Heritage Association awarded the latest blue plaque for Heritage to Magistrate Frederik Korsten Maré’s residence to Hermias Nieuwoudt.
The blue plaque is no: 52 in Heidelberg.
Magistrate Frederik Korsten Maré (1821 – 1895) was appointed as the first magistrate of Heidelberg on July 10, 1866. Frederik Maré was born on the farm Zwartkopsrivier, Uitenhage, on November 27, 1821. His parents had 17 children of which he was the second to last of the offspring.
In +-1838 Maré moved from the Cape Colony to Pietermaritzburg and there he married Johanna Helena Jesina van Niekerk in 1845.
There were ten children were born from the marriage. During 1859 the Maré’s moved to the Old Transvaal where he was appointed as the magistrate in Pretoria in 1861. On June 10, 1866, Maré was appointed as the first magistrate in Heidelberg.
When Britain annexed the Transvaal Republic in 1877, Maré refused to sign the oath of loyalty and resigned as magistrate. After the first Anglo Boer War Maré was reappointed as magistrate of Heidelberg.
Apart from his official obligations he had strong religious convictions. As an active member of the then Dutch Reformed Church, he was one of the obstinate. He refused to become part of the United Church and stood by his conservative principles. He was actively part of the church struggle of the grieved delegation in Rensburg who chose to rise up the Dutch Reformed Church from the ashes, after which a bitter struggle was led about church property.
It was so fierce that even the then President Paul Kruger could not successfully mediate between the parties. Years later and also after his death, the fraternal quarrel would finally be settled in the High Court. Maré died on January 5, 1895. Maré together with his wife Johanna are both buried in the Kloof Cemetery.
Sponsor Hermias and Elzabé Nieuwoudt
