PRINCE
ALBERT
– Kweekvallei
Published by: Prince Albert Writers’ Guild
November 2005
The
Karoo town of
Prince Albert
sits comfortably at the foot of the Swartberg and provides an important the
gateway to the Great Karoo. First settled in 1792 by Zacharias de Beer who was
granted a loan farm for grazing purposes, it grew to become the town known today
for its singular lifestyle. From the rock art of the Khoisan people to the
unique architectural legacy in its furrow-lined streets, history shows that the
indigenous people, medical men, unique and eccentric characters,
parliamentarians, bounty hunters and church leaders have all grafted their
intellectual and creative synergy onto the town.
The
inspiration continues: ‘Prince Albert – Kweekvallei’ has just been published by the
Prince Albert Writers’ Guild, a membership of ten, all lovers of the written
word and experts in their own particular fields, who have sourced material from
their own libraries, and that of the local Fransie Pienaar Museum. Comprising
126 pages, the well-researched text is liberally illustrated with old
photographs, maps and drawings to entertain the reader. An unusual photograph of
the main street from the late 1800s appears on the cover.
Dr
Luttig's Ford
The subtitle 'Kweekvallei' means roughly a 'valley of cultivation' but implies 'valley of plenty', and shows how deeply the cultural history of the town is
rooted in its environment. Two factors which have had the strongest influence on
the town's character are its life-giving water and awesome natural beauty. Both
are handled with insight and are easily accessible in the readable chapters
on the natural environment and
the geotectonic formation of the majestic Swartberg.
Copies
of the book are sold at the
Fransie Pienaar Museum, Tel. 023 5411172
e-mail: fransiepmuseum@lantic.net
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PRINCE
ALBERT - Kweekvallei
Gepubliseer
deur die Prince Albert Skrywersgilde
November
2005
Die
Karoodorp Prince Albert, gesellig aangeleun teen die voetbrug van die die
imponerende Swartbergpas, het sy oorsprong by Zacharias de Beer, die
uitsonderlike leenboer wat sy weidingsplaas in 1762 hier kom vestig. Hy is die
suksesvolle spilpunt waarom die dorp bly groei - tot vandag toe nog bied dit 'n
hoogs individualistiese leefstyl.
Die
geskiedenis van Prince Albert, ook bekend is as 'n belangrike poort tot die
Groot Karoo, spreek vanuit die kosbare rotskuns wat hier behoue gebly het tot by
die unieke argitektoniese nalatenskap langs die leiwatervore. En uit die
eenmalige karakters wat hier tuis was: die Khoisan, die boere en jagters, die
dokters en politici, die kerkleiers en onderwysers, die eksentriekes en die
lewensgenieters - almal het bygedra tot die intellektuele en kulturele sinergie
wat die dorp steeds kenmerk.
Aan
inspirasie kan dit niemand hier ontbreek nie! Die tien lede van die Prince
Albert Skrywersgilde - almal energieke liefhebbers van die geskrewe woord en
bekwaam uit eie reg - het pas 'n nuwe boek, "Prince Albert -
Kweekvallei", gepubliseer. Materiaal is gevorder uit eie biblioteke,
persoonlike vertellings, die uitmuntende plaaslike Fransie Pienaar Museum, eie
navorsing en ervaring. Die boek van 126 bladsye bied nie net interessante,
behoorlik nagevorsde teks nie, maar ook die wonderlikste ou foto's, tekeninge en
kaarte. Veral
veelseggend is die wonderlike foto op die buiteblad wat die dorp se hoofstraat
toon gedurende die laat jare 1800.
Die
subtitel 'Kweekvallei' toon hoe wyd die ryk kulturele geskiedenis is wat
aangebied word. Die twee faktore wat die sterkste inspeel op die dorp se
karakter, is sy lewegewende water en wonderbaarlike natuurskoon. Beide is
insiggewend en lees-gemaklik opgeteken in die opgawes wat handel oor die
natuurlike omgewing en die geografiese formasie van die majestueuse Swartberge.
"Prince
Albert - Kweekvallei" is te koop by die Fransie Pienaar Museum, tel 023
5411172 e-pos: fransiepmuseum@lantic.net
Asja
Murphy
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PRINCE
ALBERT
– Kweekvallei
Published by: Prince Albert Writers’ Guild
is
sold at the Fransie Pienaar Museum
phone:
023 5411 172
e-mail:
fransiepmuseum@lantic.net
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