GEORGE NEWS - There was an air of excitement as participants in the George Heritage Challenge set off on Heritage Day, Thursday 24 September, to find the right answers in the treasure hunt, which involved a number of activities.
They had a lot of fun dashing in and out of historic buildings to find clues. Families entered as teams and the hunt for clues led along a scenic route from Pacaltsdorp to Fancourt and Blanco with visits to landmarks like the George Museum, the George Arts Theatre and the Garden Route Botanical Garden.
At the start of the treasure hunt, eager competitors who dashed up the stairs into the Dutch Reformed Mother Church's bell tower had somehow triggered the alarm system while counting the steps, but that was the only mishap in an otherwise perfect day of sunny weather and scenic drives.
Along the way they learnt from the fact sheet, compiled by the Friends of the Toll House, that the Dutch Reformed Church was consecrated in 1842 after taking 12 years to build with a 23m dome tower and 1m thick wall. St Mark's Cathedral, designed by Sophie Gray and built in 1850, attained cathedral status in 1911.
It was the smallest cathedral in the Southern Hemisphere until 1924 when extensions were built. Among others they had to pick up trees at the Outeniqua Tree farm in Blanco and bring it with to the Old Toll House.
The event ended at the Old Toll House, which now boasts furniture and may well open as a tea garden in November this year if permission is granted by CapeNature. Most of the adventurous tried their hand at jukskei, enjoyed roosterbrood with mince, koeksisters and moer coffee.
Click here for photo galleries of the event:
At the Old Toll House in the Montagu Pass a game of jukskei added to the jolly atmosphere with the Eden Minstrels providing music while roosterkoek was served. Photos: Pauline Lourens
Deon and Annemarie van Eck with Beth Liebenberg at the start of the treasure hunt on Heritage Day, which began with a dash up the steps to the bell tower of the Dutch Reformed Mother Church in Courtenay Street, George.
Ethan Lezar was thrilled when he was sent to receive the winning prize on behalf of his family. On the left are Friends of the Old Toll House committee members - Anneke Oosthuysen, Sinéad Hattingh and Gerda Stols.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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