NIEU-BETHESDA BUSINESS NEWS — Nieu-Bethesda is a beautifully preserved historic town nestled in a lush valley in the Sneeuberg Mountains.
The hamlet was founded in 1875 as a church town when homes and small businesses were built around the Dutch Reformed Church in the centre of the village.
There are many historical buildings in the village that have stood the test of time. Much of the charm of Nieu-Bethesda lies in the fact that these old buildings are preserved in their original form.
The Old Mill in Pienaar Street, St David’s Anglican Church in Pienaarsig, the Owl House and the Bethesda Trading Store are all examples of buildings that maintain historic authenticity.
Up until recent years, Bethesda Trading Store still functioned as a general dealer. Oom Stirling and Tannie Rien Retief kept the shelves well stocked behind the counter and children delighted in buying sweets wrapped into useful cones that were wound into shape by Oom Stirling’s huge hands. It is said that during the Anglo-Boer war, the Trading Store was stormed by soldiers who threw sweets into the streets to the delight of local children!
Bethesda Trading Store has watched many a cameo unfold over time– from the days of the ostrich boom when a top-hat and tails could be bought in Martin Street to Tannie Rien placing plates of food on the wall behind the store for Helen Martins, while she created her Owl House as a priority to eating. In recent times the Trading Store became a book shop; it has been the venue for hilarious village plays; seen anti-fracking festivals, cutting-edge exhibitions, Khoi-san dances and millennium parties.
Bethesda Trading Store is now owned by Dirkje Louw who uses the beautiful, light-filled space as an art studio. In a bid to maintain the character of the building, renovations are taking place to bring back a sparkle to the old store’s eye.
The shutters have been sanded down, the shop whitewashed and the original flagstones which were buried by decades of dust, have lovingly been brought to the surface again. A row of almond trees is to be planted on the Northern face of the village, where the iconic painted ‘Bethesda Trading’ sign is visible.
Dirkje Louw employed local artist Jacques Muller to repaint the faded writing, using old techniques and maintaining the exact, slightly ‘handwritten’ font, that makes the store so unique.
Muller says that it was essential that the exact lines be imitated, even though they were not perfect, to maintain the authenticity of the wall. It is encouraging to see signage being worked on that respects and maintains the beauty, ethos and heritage of the village, and helps keep it the charming little place that so many people are attracted to.
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