S1 - Ep 170 - Mount Stewart - Ghost Town is the Correct Term!

On the road to Mount Stewart we were extremely lucky to have met Michael who let us visit the old magistracy and lockup on the farm Hardwood. What a fascinating treat! Then we were off again, to find Mount Stewart. The term 'ghost town' is the correct one to describe Mount Stewart. We have never experienced anything like this before. The church actually brought a lump to my throat as I walked into it. I could not believe that everything, even the old organ was still there! If it weren't for the bird droppings and the evident lack of maintenance, we would've thought the minister and congregation just left the church a short time ago. A question which comes to my mind is what happened that made them just leave everything in the church and not return for it? Absolutely mind-blowing and a sacred experience! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #mountstewart #ghosttown #church #abandoned
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[@rorysullivan4913]

As kids we used to travel to Mount Stewart from Jansenville on an annual basis in late fifties and sixties - and made some many good friends. My folks were very good friends with the Cawoods and I had the privilege of being a a teacher to the last two generations of Cawoods at Union High School, Graaff Reinet. Loved the Cawood sense of humour. So pleased discovered this as it just floods one with all these wonderful memories. Thank you

[@DustBugsTravel]

Happy to hear that Mount Stewart brought back good memories for you. 😊 It's very interesting that you actually taught some of the Cawoods, who were obviously deeply-rooted in this village. Thank you for sharing, as always. 👌🏻

[@DavidNWalker]

My late dad was the Methodist Minister in Jansenville in the early 1960's and conducted services at that very same church. The Cawoods were members there.

[@jakobusstoffels5975]

Lot of people doesn't know how beautiful Is South Africa I thank you guys to shoulder That's where I'm from Now I am in Australia I'm more a what's your show I wanna To go back home👌👌👌😪

[@DustBugsTravel]

Greetings! So happy to hear you're watching our videos from afar. South Africa is indeed a spectacularly beautiful country. Hopefully you get an opportunity to visit again one of these fine days. Until then, our videos will keep you going. 😁🇿🇦

[@annawitter5161]

So interesting to find out the history of such places. Sad, though. To see the buildings in ruins. Makes one want to buy them and restore them as museum pieces.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I agree with you, I would restore that entire church if I could. I can only imagine what it would look like afterwards. 💒

[@munesumangava9751]

Oh my, beautiful little church!!! What a find!

[@nonibbs]

A really interesting video - thought provoking of course too - so I went looking for more information, but I didn't find much. But the first church at Mt Stewart, you went into was still up and running in 2017 - because there are photographs of it, still in use and ready for communion - I suspect it was Methodist, because of the plaque about Mr Cawood, and I found this:" the Cawood Store was named after one William George Cawood who as a "strong Methodist was interested in and largely responsible for the Wesleyan Church at Mt Stewart" (as mentioned in his death notice*). He passed away from pneumonia after a bout of flu in 1935." I found info about another Cawood:"When Wilfred Wasley Nothard was born on 3 September 1892, in Mount Stewart, Jansenville, Cape Province, South Africa, his father, Alfred Ernest Nothard, was 30 and his mother, Mary Caroline Cawood, was 35" on a geneology site, and the 3rd person who had his roots there was also a Cawood and it appears was a cricketer - William Arthur Cawood BORN January 29, 1907, Mount Stewart, Cape Province DIED July 04, 1976, Storms River Bridge, Cape Province, (aged 69y).... The Obituary for WG Cawood adds information to the dynamic lives people lived: His Obituary was published in the Eastern Cape Herald as follows:[4] "There passed away at Minnawill Farm, District Steytlerville, on Sunday morning July 21st, one of the most prominent and respected farmers in the district, Mr W.G. Cawood. Deceased was taken ill with "flu", but recovered sufficiently to attend a meeting of farmers at Steytlerville on the 15th instant, in connection with the forthcoming sheep show. A few days after he had again taken to bed and passed away unexpectedly from pneumonia. The late Mr Cawood was well known as one of the leading Angora farmers of South Africa, and took may prizes at the principal shows. In late years, he has acted regularly as judge of angoras at Port Elizabeth. he was a shrewd business man, hard working and progressive, and leaves a farm developed and improved, and an asset to the country. The slump in mohair caused him to turn to sheep, and in a few years he succeeded in producing a clip of wool ranking as one of the best in the district. Always fond of sport, he was recognised in his younger days as a first-class tennis player and runner. On one occasion he reached the final in the men's Eastern Province Championship at Port Elizabeth and only lost after a great struggle. As a runner none could compare with him at the hurdles race, either in this or surrounding districts. But it was the other side of his nature that appealed to those who knew him best. A Christian gentleman, with a kind heart and a kind word for everybody, he was a man all could trust and rely on. A strong Methodist he was interested in and largely responsible for the Wesleyan Church at Mt Stewart. The large gathering of relations and friends at the graveside testified to the high esteem in which the deceased was held."

[@DustBugsTravel]

This is one of the reasons we do minimal research on a place before we visit. Firstly to discover and explore with fresh and unjaded eyes and minds and secondly so that those who watch our videos can fill in the blanks and colour in the stories. Thank you for the very interesting info. Visiting the church was a rather emotional experience for us and it literally felt like the congregation was just there last Sunday, of course looking past the bird droppings. 💒 The Cawoods were and clearly still are very much part of Mount Stewart as the working farm just outside the village and all the gravestones in the cemetery attest to.

[@zharkleroux387]

Great research, love it!

[@stuff0music]

Slowly working my way through your videos I’ve come to realize you are recording a special time in South Africa’s history. Thank you for that. Keep it up and it could turn into a great documentary.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you very much, your comment means a lot. 😊 We're just too happy when people like yourself enjoy watching our videos. There are still so many places we haven't been to yet and you're always welcome to join us. 😁🚗

[@flodillon991]

Wow so desolate makes one very heartsore to see everything just going to dust. There was once a thriving and loving family there and now just nothing. Interesting the magistrates rooms and place for stock thives. Thank you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was rather sad to see all those abandoned buildings in the village, especially the church. 💒😢 And, in contrast, how well-preserved the buildings on the farm were, they were so interesting! 🛖

[@hanspisa]

Lovely little church and the very thing you mentioned struck me as well. Why is everything still there? Incredible! Loved this video and you are inspiring me to do the same.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this video. This is one visit which will stay with me forever. 💒 I can't even explain to you the feeling when I walked through that little church. Happy travels! 🚗😁

[@jcr_jcr]

It could be that the Cawood family are respected in the area.

[@jasonsmuts3022]

My Dad is so happy that you showed the video of Aberdeen Road.He worked there in 1975 as a Grade 1 clerk

[@DustBugsTravel]

How amazing! Please tell your Dad that it was our pleasure and pass on our very best regards. 😊 I could tell for sure that it must've been quite a major station at some point. We hope it brought back fond memories of the start of his career. 🚆

[@richardbrunt7180]

Hi Guys........In my humble opinion, this destination is the very BEST on youtube . Just love the visitations to " die klein dorpies " please, please give us more. My best wishes to the two DustBugs. Richard.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hello to you! Thank you for your very kind compliment. 🤩 We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed our video of Mount Stewart. That visit to the little village, and especially the church, had such a profound impact on the two of us and we still often think back to that day. 💒 I hope you've seen all our other videos as well and you can rest assured we will take you along to many more small towns and other lesser-known places. 🚗😁

[@franspistorius1886]

Could not agree more, well done you two are amazing

[@zharkleroux387]

Thanks

[@DustBugsTravel]

We appreciate your support, thank you so much. 😊

[@deonzar]

Thanx for this...I have never heard of Mount Stewart. It just amazes me that such a lot is intact.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Anytime, we're happy to be able to give you a glimpse into this village which obviously must've been a very special place at one point in time. 👌🏻

[@hilberryable]

Love the big skies in the Karoo. A place one can breathe. Loving your fascinating journey.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, a place one can breathe! That is so true. 😊 We love having you along for the ride, thank you so much for watching. 😎🚗

[@noizey34]

Great video, took me down memory lane. I grew up at Hardwood. The farm was owned by my family for over 100 years. I can tell you that who ever told you the story about that one rondavel being a magistrate is incorrect. That was build by my grandfather in the 60’ or 70’s 😂

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, so happy to hear you enjoyed our video. 😊 We loved our visit to Hardwood too, the entire area is fascinating! 😁🚗 We got our info about the magistracy at www.jansenville.co.za/listing/klipplaat_near_jansenville.

[@vaughangarrick]

The sight of this church at 8:30 made me so emotional. It reminds me of that song Heimwee

[@nickyhandcock1454]

I started school at a little farm school in Mount Stewart in 1961. During the week I stayed in the boarding house next to Cawoods General Dealer, also owned by the Cawood family. I am still friends and in contact with the daughter of the then owner of the boarding house and boarding house.

[@shadowyt8572]

Sorry meant the owner of the boarding house and also of the Cawoods general dealer

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wow, you have a history with Mount Stewart that goes way back! Thank you so much for sharing that with us. 😊 We absolutely loved visiting the remnants of the village, it certainly told a story of times that were. It's fantastic that you're still in contact with a friend of so long ago, those friendships are special. 👌🏻

[@DustBugsTravel]

No worries, we knew what you meant. 😁

[@munesumangava9751]

Just looks like a beautiful day !!!

[@seanchallenge]

Wow interesting to see an abandoned village. The Churches and store. I wonder if the Actress Elize Cawood would be related to this farm. And we look forward to watching the next video with Saturday Coffee 😊☕ thank you always for your time to find amazing hidden discoveries

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're glad that you find Mount Stewart interesting, it was an emotional, but fantastic experience for us. 😊 It would be interesting to know if Elize Cawood was related to the Cawoods of Mount Stewart. She was one of our favourite South African actresses, we loved that nasal tone in her voice. 🤩 We'll see you on Saturday, cuppa in hand! ☕😁

[@jpkruger]

Great video. Enjoyed it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 👍🏻

[@johannaslabbert7738]

Ja ken dit. Peter Cawood en famielie daar gebly. Ons in Klipplaat gebly my man slaghuis daar gehad

[@DustBugsTravel]

It must've been a fantastic little village at one time. We still felt the very special vibe there. 😊 We hope you've seen our video of our visit to Klipplaat and Hotel Charles in Episode 169. We loved visiting your old hometown just as much! 😁🚗

[@johannaslabbert7738]

38jaar in Klipplaat gebly. Ek boerdery gedoen my man slaghuis. Toe was dit nog klipplaat. Ons 2006 daar weg.

[@Kookwater]

Wow! Mount Stewart! We too, my wife and I, like to travel the road less well know, and so it was that we happened upon Mount Stewart on our way to Wheatlands Guest Farm, in the district, twenty three years ago! I so wanted to get out of the car to explore a little, but alas, I am a quadriplegic confined to a motorised wheelchair, so you can well imagine that it is quite a task to get me out of the car, into my chair and then only to be partly able to explore because of the terrain which has to be pretty firm, not rocky etc. Anyway, enough of that. Mount Stewart had a profound effect, I remembered the Church perched up on top of the hill and I soo wanted to find out what it looked like inside! Thank you for taking us with you, in spirit, with this excellent footage which you have presented in this episode. My expression on entering the Church was, to gasp and to stammer out an amazed, 'Oh, my word!' You certainly found a gem there! I remember that Cawood's shop had the ubiquitous tin advertising boards! One of them, probably on that patch to the left of the main door, proudly stated that 'NOTHING SUCKS LIKE ELECTROLUX'! The shop, back then, was boarded-up and there was not a soul to be seen anywhere! Nothing has changed, the dorp back then was also pretty desolate, but I have to contradict myself as it were, when I say that the old Mount has aged well, compared to so many of the other little places which have just, quite simply, disappeared!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for sharing your special story. We fully agree that Mount Stewart is a place that makes a deep impact on one's soul. It was the same for us. We're happy to have taken you inside the church with us. 💒 You're very welcome to accompany us everywhere else we go too! 😊🚗 Super interesting information you shared about Cawood's. In my mind's eye, I can imagine it being a functional general dealer.

[@pieterswarts2830]

If the right persons could buy the place and upgrade it to be even better than before completely with a Gautrain Idea it could become a real tourist attraction

[@DustBugsTravel]

This place had a major impact on us and it still sometimes bothers me when I think back to especially that church just being left that way. 😥💒

[@ExpressionsPhotoSA]

Wow guys! We’ve really enjoyed both Klipplaat & Mount Stewart! Love abandoned places!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thanks you guys! Both places were really eye-opening, we loved it. The visit to the first church in Mount Stewart was quite emotional though. 😢💒 You should make a plan one day to get there, I can only imagine what you would do there with your photographic talents! 🤩📸

[@rorysullivan4913]

Looking through these clips again I can't help but think somebody has to restore the church building. Nice to see the plaque honouring Bill Cawood and the Cawood family. The grandchildren and great grandchildren were in my class as teacher at some time or another

[@DustBugsTravel]

I remember you telling us before about you teaching the Cawood young ones at some point, very interesting. Until today, my visit to that church was one of the most impactful on any of our trips. 💒

[@graemekruger5039]

Very sad to see it all gone

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, we felt the same way. 😢

[@vry3555]

Makes one realise that with the collapse of train services the little towns suffered the most. All it took was 20 years of mismanagement to destroy was was built up over 200 plus

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was indeed very sad to watch towns which once thrived mainly because of the railway line, now suffering such economic hardship. 😢

[@debbiekruger9414]

I'm amazed that the properties have not been stripped. But not a sole in sight anymore. So so sad

[@DustBugsTravel]

I was blown away by the fact that the church was still completely intact. It was quite an emotional experience for me, I must admit. 💒 If those pews could talk.

[@davidgoliath8398]

Im enjoying this im learning so much through your journey....

[@DustBugsTravel]

This was one of our most memorable visits to date, it had a profound impact on both of us. That little church was just wow in so many ways. 💒 We're so glad you're enjoying our travels. 🚗😁

[@dankscriptsyt2012]

Hey guys guess what my grandparents own that farm 🥹

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting! Our visit to Mount Stewart remains one of our most special visits to date. 🚗💒

[@pepeugene]

All very interesting but why not try and find people in the district and engage them for the history of the community that lived there?

[@DustBugsTravel]

That's a fair question which we're happy to answer. 👌🏻 To do in-depth research of the history of every single place we visit, is not the goal of our travels. We enjoy planning a route and happening upon places we find interesting and sharing it with those who may find them interesting as well. As you will see from all the comments on this video, there are always those who watch our videos who know the particular area we visited very well and are happy to add the history and their own stories to fill in the missing pieces. We don't believe in too much research when visiting a place, we prefer enjoying it in the moment and through fresh and unjaded eyes. 🤩

[@rorysullivan4913]

Used to travel there for annual tennis tournament

[@DustBugsTravel]

Tennis certainly took you to the most interesting places in the Karoo. 🎾 We hope to visit a few more of them in the area on a future trip.

[@louisavermeulen4309]

Ek reis nog saam met jul twee. Moontlik het die huise aan die vorige generasie behoort. Jonger generasie verkies die stede ipv die platteland.Deesdae gaan ons prt van mega cities.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Glad you're still on board! 😁 This was so very sad for us to see. We often think back fondly to Mount Stewart and of course that amazing church. 💒🚗

[@timmiebuchner9283]

This is a very interesting series. Not for the younger generation, but for a very special kind of person (onder generation). Is there any way that we can meet, I would like to discuss and see if I can't make the next trip with you. Please let me know.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, we're so happy to hear that you're enjoying our videos. 😊 We still work full-time and don't get to spend much quality time together when we're not on the road. When we do get away, we get to catch up on that. We also rent very small vehicles and literally don't have space for a third person. We hope you understand. 😏🚗

[@Cape_Town_7655]

round building for theft no coner to hide can run in circles all the time but think dark

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hopefully they mended their ways after all that thinking in the dark. 😇🔒

[@MrsMax2009]

Sad to see the church in such a condition...

[@DustBugsTravel]

I know, I feel the same way! 💒 And with everything still inside, it had a profound impact on me. ✝️

[@tokkieandrews9988]

Since 1994 all the small towns went to wreck and ruin ,it was thriving when the railway still worked properly ,but what can you expect from greedy leaders .

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's amazing how the railway lines kept these communities prosperous. Sad to see them all defunct now. 🚂