STEYTLERVILLE NEWS - Tammy Southby, acclaimed tourist and blog owner of Sunshine Simplicities, recently visited Steytlerville, and she raved about 'the little gem' to the Advertiser. "I believe Steytlerville will soon be the next semigration hotspot - well, this and another three which are on my shortlist."
"Steytlerville was established in 1876 with a ridiculously wide main street," she says. "Either someone was super positive about the future growth of this town, or it really was to allow for ox wagons to be able to turn around at both ends." Nowadays, this extra-wide road is divided by a bougainvillea-adorned island with flag poles, each bearing the family crests of the town residents. Families who did not have traditional crests designed their own.
The houses in Steytlerville are either from the Edwardian or Victorian era, with tin roofs, long stoeps, sash windows, stained glass, and broekie lace. One of these houses was the home of poet and medical doctor Dr AG Visser from 1906 to 1916. His house is now for sale. Double doors lead from every bedroom out onto the wrap-around stoep.
Well-known rugby legend Danie Craven proposed to his wife and eventually married her in the town hall of Steytlerville. As with many remote small towns, Steytlerville had its origins as a parish. The farm, Doorspoort, was purchased by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1875 as a central point to serve the spiritual needs of local farmers; soon after in 1876, the town was established.
And then the reverend refused to christen the eldest son of one of the town's founding fathers, John Hayward, without interviewing his mother, who had stayed at home with a baby since it was too cold to go out. Hayward marched out muttering, "in that case I will build my own church". And so, he did. It took five years, but the Methodist Church was finally completed in 1886.
"Steytlerville lies at the north-eastern gateway to the Baviaanskloof with endless plains and starry nights, blazing hot summers, and icy winters. Besides The Verandah Coffee Shop & Pegasus Early Motoring Museum and Wildlife Rescue Centre, there is also an animal charity book store (filled with incredibly old books) and a vintage store with that will have you browsing to your heart's content, small collectables, many with interesting stories behind them.
"The Wildlife Rescue Centre is not only rehabilitating small game, either injured or orphaned, but also educating the community on animal care. This is not a 'touch farm' but a place to appreciate and observe these beautiful creatures.
"If ever you are in Steytlerville, pop by for a visit, add your name to the 'wall of fame' and indulge in a space of happiness. It's not about the coffee and muffin here, it's about the people and these beautiful animals."
On a sweltering hot afternoon in Steytlerville, Tammy decided to take a walk from the Karoo Theatrical Hotel to the Lady de Waal bridge. "I headed to the Lady de Waal bridge, built in 1911 and inaugurated in 1913 by the first administrator of the Union, Sir Frederick de Waal, who then named it after his wife.
This bridge washed away in the 1916 floods and again in the floods of 1921, after which it was built nine feet higher as a single lane steel-girder bridge. It was the last time the Grootrivier would wield its might against Lady de Waal. When a new double carriage concrete bridge was built in 1974, residents requested that the old bridge remain," says Tammy.
"Get some vellies at Charming Shoes and walk the streets of Steytlerville. This is a genuine Karoo Gem!"
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