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, which continued to house the Home’s administrative offices.
According to the minutes of the AGM of 133, the building, which would contain three bedrooms, two sitting rooms, linen rooms, bathrooms, etc., was the first section of what was envisaged as three separate blocks. On 5 May 1934, Morris Alexander laid the cornerstone. Four months later, on 28 October, Councillor Louis Gardner, Cape Town’s second Jewish mayor, opened the building, after which a reception was held in the Zionist Hall.
The only jarring note in the proceedings was the reminder of the wave of antisemitism that was currently bestting South Africa. Speaking of the Gre-Shirts, gradner said: “Let the government take immediate steps to stamp out this and every movement which is causing racial disturbances, and peace will reign in South Africa.”
Withe the enlargement of the Home, admissions rose sharply, including men and women from other parts of South Africa, to be followed in the next few years by refugees from Nai Germany. By 20 June 1937, the number of residents had reached 64, the oldest being 91, and 17 were too infirm to take their meals in the dining room. In the 1936-1937 annual report, the Honorary Medical Officer reported that:
“There are at present 58 inmates, 34 men and 24 women. The average age of the men is 72.75 years, and the average age of the women is 74.5 years, the youngest being 60, and the older 9 years. There were 16 deaths during the period under review, most dying from causes connected with their age. The number of helpless people in the institution is gradually increasing. The reason is that the Institution, on account of the p[people admitted, is assuming the function of a home for chronic sickness and incurables. The following figures are of interest: About 17 of the old people cannot come to the dining room for their meals and must be served in the bedroom, the majority cannot be left alone in the bathroom whilst taking a bath. Seven can be classified as mentally defective, and two are confined to invalid chairs. Three suffer from paralysis agitans, six from diseases of the chest, two from blood pressure, six from sugar sickness, whilst one is deaf and dumb. One suffers from an inoperable growth, and three require the support of crutches.”
In 1936, there was little understanding of the condition of dementia or memory loss in the aged. When, in July, it was suggested that a separate block was required for them as they might get up and wander around at night, some felt that they should rather be certified and placed in an insane asylum. This view was even echoed by Reverend Kibel. A resolution was passed, saying that no more ‘mental patients’ were to be accepted in the future!
Between 1937 and 21939k, the average number of residents was 60, with men generally outnumbering women.
Thus, within only three years, in 1937, it had become apparent that numbers in the Aged Home had become too large to rely merely on acquiring adjacent buildings for expansion. A proposed plan entailed using the existing land to erect three separate blocks totalling 95 bedrooms – 27 on the Hope Street side, 42 rooms in the centre Block and another 26 in the old building Wandel Street. The Centre Block would also contain two storerooms, sculleries and kitchens, a dining room, pantry, office and board room, Matron’s quarters, a Doctor’s room and additional conveniences. In addition, an option was obtained to acquire a nearby plot in Schoonder Street, however, only half of the plot could be built upon. Arguments raged against these ideas, and it was suggested that it would be preferable to acquire a few acres of land in a suitable vicinity where expansion would be possible at a future date, and in the meantime, they should ascertain what could be realised for the present properties. This proposal, put forward by R. Oblowitz, was endorsed by the President, Harry Rosen.
Acknowledgement
We profoundly thank Veronica Penkin Belling, who meticulously compiled most of our historical archives into a Centennial Volume published in 2016, ISBN 0780620718110. Her work is a testament to the importance of preserving our past and the invaluable insights it provides into the Jewish history of the Western Cape.