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Archiver > SA-HISTORY > 2002-12 > 1040055219


From: Doug & Pat Frykberg <>
Subject: Re: [SoAfricaHistory] Josephine Mill,Newlands-a Brief History,home of the Cape Town Hist Society
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 05:13:39 +1300


Kammie, I sent this story to the Karlstad Emigrants Museum in Sweden.
I have sent much of my family stuff there, and they are always happy to have
information about Swedes who went overseas. they have masses about those who
went to USA, but not much about South Africa. So I hope you don't mind and I
hope I have not broken copyright, because I sent it as you did, with all the
details of sources you gave.
Pat
-----Original Message-----
From: Kammie <>
To: <>
Date: Monday, 16 December 2002 02:55 AM
Subject: [SoAfricaHistory] Josephine Mill, Newlands-a Brief History,home of
the Cape Town Hist Society


>Hi SA-HISTORY list participants
>
>FYI : Josephine Mill, Newlands-a Brief History, home of the Cape Town Hist
Society
>
>The Secretary of the Historical Society of Cape Town, Ms Shirley MILSS so
kindly forwarded me this extract for circulation ..........
>
>BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JOSEPHINE MILL, Home of the Cape Town Historical
Society[CTHS]
>
>In 1975, the Josephine Mill was given as a ruin to this Society by Myra
East. The Historical Society [of Cape Town] was instrumental in gaining
generous support from corporate bodies and the University of Cape Town, who
together recreated a working water mill.
>
>The Mill was founded in 1840 by Jacob Letterstedt, a Swede, who named it in
honour of Crown Princess Josephine of Sweden who had granted him an official
audience in 1837. Jacob arrived in Cape Town almost penniless in a party of
1820 Settlers, but he had the good fortune of finding favour with a widow,
Maria Dreyer, owner of two farms in Newlands, Louwvliet and Questenberg.
Maria, though 18 years his senior, offered Jacob marriage, which he
accepted, and they married on 14 August 1822. Jacob unified the farms as
Mariendahl, named after his wife. Though the mill stood alongside the
Liesbeek River, Jacob led the water to the mill race along an aquaduct from
the Newlands Spring near Newlands Avenue. At present, the huge cast-iron
wheel uses water pumped out of the river.
>
>The building housing the milling machinery is the bulk of Jacob's original
mill. The five-storey section attached, with the free-standing chimney, was
added when the mill was converted to steam operation some time between 1860
and 1880. After Jacob died in 1862, his estate passed to his daughter,
Lydia, by a second marriage. The estate was managed as J. Letterstedt & Co.
>
>In 1896 Ohlsson's Cape Breweries purchased Mariendahl from J Letterstedt &
Co. The mill had no importance for the new owner and it slowly degenerated
into ruin. In 1930 the mill was threatened with demolition, a fate from
which it was saved by Kate Amy van der Byl owner of 'Mill House' next door,
who bought it. Kate Amy died in 1962 after which her entire estate was
inherited by her niece, Myra East, her close companion for 33 years of
childless widowhood.
>
>The derelict building was slowly restored thanks to massive fundraising,
considerable research and immense effort and dedication from members of the
Society and others. It was declared a National Monument in 1978. After 13
years restoration was eventually completed in 1987 at a cost of R 1 m.
>
>The Josephine Mill is wholly owned by the Historical Society of Cape Town
which receives no external financial assistance whatsoever.
>
>
>++ Contact Details
>
>Physical Address of the "Historical Society of Cape Town" - [CTHS] :
>
>Cape Town Historical Society [CTHS] headquarters at -
>
>the Josephine Mill,
>
>Boundary Road, Newlands, CAPE TOWN
>
>Postal Address :
>
>P O Box 157, Newlands, 7725
>
>Phone/Fax No. (021) 686-4939
>
>Source :
>
>1] CTHS info & membership brochure
>
>2] There is a comprehensice article : THE GRAND OLD LADY OF CAPE TOWN
>
>[ i.e. the history and workings of the Josephine Mill]
>
>in the Cape Metro tourism magazine, CAPE TOWN DISCOVERED, September 2002,
Issue 8, pp 64-67.
>
>PS. The CTHS retains copyright to the contents of their information
brochure partially reproduced above, info circulated merely in the public
interest....
>
>END_END_END_END
>
>
>
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