The New Building

Highlands House history The New Building When South Africa abandoned the Gold Standard in December 1932, the country’s financial situation dramatically improved, enabling the Home to embark on an extensive extension to the original building. This took the form of a handsome new building, built at GBP 4,408, erected directly adjacent to the original building, […]

Early Beginnings: The Jewish Content of the Home

Highlands House history Early Beginnings: The Jewish Content of the Home The Home was originally chosen because it was on the level and equidistant from both synagogues—the Gardens Synagogue on Hatfield Street and the Vredehoek Hebrew Congregation on Vredehoek Avenue—so that the residents could choose between the more anglicised services at the Gardens Synagogue and […]

Early Beginnings: Entertainments

Highlands House history Early Beginnings: Entertainments In February 1926, for the first time, a picnic was organised. Several proud owners – Gus Woolf, John Brown, Harry Stodel and Maruce Eilberg lent their motor cars for the occasion. In 1926, the Home acquired a piano from funds collected by Mrs Rosen and the matron, Mrs S […]

Early Beginnings: Criteria for Admission

Highlands House history Early Beginnings: Criteria for Admission Admissions during this period reflect the fact that during the peak migration years, men outnumbered women, and it was only at the end of 1937 that the numbers of men and women started evening out. The chief criteria for admission were that the applicant was of the […]

Early Beginnings: Residents

Highlands House history Early Beginnings: Residents Unfortunately, no list of the first residents has survived, but on 21 February 1920, the first formal application for admission was received. It was sent in by R Clouts, an auctioneer, on behalf of Mr Waxman. The first recorded inmate appears to be Mrs Barnett, who “had already come […]

The Home at Incholm Place

Highlands House history The Home at Incholm Place The original building was single-storeyed with some garden at the back and a Victorian-style front veranda directly onto the street. Its address was given as Incholm Place, facing Wandel and Hope Streets. Once it was renovated, it acquired a second storey. It could house between 14 and […]

Administration of the Home

Highlands House history Administration of the Home From a practical point of view, the Home was diligently run by a team of paid staff, including a matron, nurse, and domestic worker. The Honorary Committee, with their unwavering dedication, controlled all policy decisions and financial matters. The first Honorary Secretary, N Wittenberg, a former Honorary Secretary […]

Search For the First Home

Highlands House history Search For the First Home The search for a suitable property for the Aged Home was challenging and lengthy, unlike the relatively swift acquisition of a building for the Cape Jewish Orphanage. In 1911, the Orphanage Committee quickly settled on a building owned by its president, Joseph Kadish, which was ready for […]

Early Beginnings (1916-1937)

“All the inmates have at one time been active and independent members of the Community, but in the evening of their lives, they have found themselves destitute…” -Harry Rosen, Former Highlands House President Historical Background The Eastern Europeans began to flood into South Africa in the 1880s and 1890s. Part of the great outpouring of […]