It was here in Montagu that my Du Preez roots have found me and it has been very exciting to discover that I am now walking in the areas where my forefathers lived and it feels as if I have come home to where I belong.
Pietersfontein is a small farming community situated in a valley on the outskirts of Montagu. One of the early families to settle in this area was the Kriel’s. Mr. JFD Kriel a resident and farmer of Pietersfontein wrote the extremely comprehensive manuscript on how he saw Pietersfontein.
The Abramowitz family were one of the early Jewish pioneers to settle in Montagu. The Abramowitz family ran the local supply store situated in Bath Street Montagu for at least two generations. The audio tape was discovered by Clive Kirkwood Special Collections Department University of Cape Town. It has not been possible to ascertain why the tape was made.
Montagu West, also called the Oudam and historically “Vrystaat”, was settled in the 1850’s. Being geographically located beyond the Bath (Keisie) River, it was often referred to as being the poorer part of town. Originally, the community mainly consisted of farm labourers who worked in the vineyards of the village. From 1900 to 1930, the area was subdivided and drew residents from various cultures, professions, and racial groups.