GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In celebration of Museum Month, the Graaff-Reinet Museum proudly unveiled a historic lantern from the Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam on May 15.
The museum's mission is to preserve and conserve the heritage and history of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality - and the addition of this lantern marks a significant milestone.
The lantern, a remarkable piece of history, once formed part of the Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam, now known as the Nqweba Dam.
Originally, fourteen lanterns were mounted on the dam wall's walkway, illuminating the path to allow safe passage at night.
The dam, inaugurated on 16 July 1925, played a crucial role in the town's engineering and water supply history.
However, the dam wall was closed to the public in the 1960s, and the lanterns were subsequently removed.
While some were acquired by community members, others were installed as street lights on Parsonage Street.
The recently unveiled lantern was donated to the museum in 2021 by the family of Dr Johann Human, who had purchased it after the lanterns were removed from the dam.
Human, a long-time resident of Graaff-Reinet, fondly remembered seeing the lights on the dam wall as a child when approaching the town from Middleburg.
The lantern was meticulously restored in 2025 to coincide with the dam's centenary celebration.
Dr Ansizke Kayster, the museum manager, expressed gratitude to the Human family for preserving this important piece of heritage.
Special acknowledgment was also given to Gustav Grassman of Grassie Staal for the intricate steel restoration work, and to Thinus Minnies for the electrical set-up.
Peter Whitlock, the chairperson of the museum board and a historical architect, shared insights into the restoration process.
He emphasised that the lantern is more than just an artifact; it symbolises memory, legacy, and light - a link to the past that continues to shine in the present.
The unveiling also marks the beginning of commemorations for the dam's hundredth anniversary.
The museum will continue its celebratory events on 5 and 6 June, highlighting the life and legacy of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
The historic lantern from the Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam.
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