Street names reflect history 16 – The lost street names of Potchefstroom
Changing street names has always been a contentious issue. After the Anglo-Boer War – and with a new political dispensation – the town council of Potchefstroom had long discussions on the changing of certain street names. The one that lasted was King Edward Street,...
Street names reflect history 15 – W & Z
Do the residents of Zeederberg Street know that their street was named after a now extinct form of travel? Or that the Weeks family, after whom that street was named, suffered a terrible tragedy? Or that Rev Wynne, after whom that street was named revolutionised...
Street names reflect history 14 – V
A street not named after a rector and one named after another rector, one named after a musician, the town furrow and a battle are included in these street names. Van Alphen Street (Baillie Park) was named after one of the early teachers of Potchefstroom. JN van...
Street names reflect history 13 – T
Not many street names in Potchefstroom begin with a “T”. One, however, represents one of the most widely-known residents of Potchefstroom, the poet Totius. Gardens and a fertilizer plant also gave their names to these streets. Theron Street (South) Mr CP (Charles)...
FW de Klerk – the golden boy of Potch
He never permanently lived in Potchefstroom, wasn’t even born here, but through most of his life FW de Klerk was intrinsically linked to Potchefstroom, especially with the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE). With his passing at the...
Street names reflect history 12 – S
A flag designer, two pioneer merchant brothers, a writer of youth literature and a flamboyant minister are immortalised in these streets named after them. Scheepers Lane (Central) was named after Mr Fred Scheepers, mayor in 1944. He was a staff member at the...
Street names reflect history 11 – R
A prominent businessman with assumed super powers, the man who was in charge of the town’s first power supply, the first English minister and first English teacher, amongst others, gave their names to these streets. Reitz Street (Bult) The street was named after...
Magdalena Retief – memorable tragic Voortrekker woman
Retief Street (Central) was named after, Magdalena Retief, the wife of the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief. Retief. She resided on the north-eastern corner of Retief and Berg Streets (later Van Riebeeck, now Peter Mokaba). In 1994, shortly after a memorial in the...
Street names reflect history 10 – P
A man who became emotional about a pipe organ, a doctor concerned about the human consumption of patent medicine (including wolf poison) and the owner of one of the first shops of Potchefstroom all gave their names to these street names. Paul Schutte Street...
Street names reflect history 9 – O
A descendant of Swedish immigrants, a doctor – who was also a magistrate – and a blacksmith have been honoured by the town in these street names. Ockerse Lane (Central), also spelled Ocherse and Orcherse was named after Mr WC (Cookie) Ockerse, for many years...