S1 - Ep 209 - Wepener - A Town Located on the Lesotho Border!

Рет қаралды 24,362

Жыл бұрын

It’s amazing when one enters a town you can immediately sense the vibe and Wepener was no different. The first garage we saw was closed down and then upon entering the main road, the first building we came across, was the absolutely gorgeous Wepener Town Hall, but it was unfortunately completely destroyed. We found out later that there was a fire a few years ago which caused so much damage to this building. It was truly a sad sight to see a spectacular building built in 1927 in this condition! The Wepener Hotel was not in a great condition either and so many other places were just destroyed and abandoned as well. In other parts of the town again the houses looked great and the churches also were in good condition. Not to mention the Lord Fraser Guest House where we spent the night, this place is a true oasis. It was fantastic to stay there and the food was awesome too, we couldn’t have asked for more. Because the town is located on the Lesotho border, we had to go and check out the border crossing at Van Rooyen's Gate and that is exactly what we did! #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #wepener #freestate #lesotho #border
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Пікірлер: 136

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Apologies for the spelling error in WEPENER on our map near the beginning of the episode! 😏

@hilkar5343 Жыл бұрын

Hi there, somebody sent me this video of Wepener today. I was born in the Frontier Hotel, which I see is practically burnt down, and the Wepener Hotel in such a state of disrepair, also owned by my parents. My mother ran the one hotel, my father ran the other hotel, and such was life in Wepener. The City hall was used as the local cinema. My 3 brothers and I attended the local school. I was so grateful to have seen this video. Enjoy travelling these dorpies which bring back so many wonderful memories. I am writing from Israel and feel very nostalgic. Sincerely, Hilary

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Greetings to you in Israel! Wow, it was so interesting, albeit a little sad, to read about your memories of your birthplace. 😥 That Town Hall still gives us nightmares to be honest, that hit us both really, really hard. We've seen many derelict and abandoned buildings on our travels, but this one for some reason was different. It must've been a magnificent building in its heyday. In fact, it still is today. 🏤😍 We're glad you got to see our video of present-day Wepener and we hope that you'll visit all the other small towns with us too. We visited 21 of them in the southern Free State during this trip. 😁🚗

@hilkar5343 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel I would love to send you the photos of the hotels in their former glory as soon as I find them.. I've travelled to many of these little towns, and appreciate all these videos. Alles van die beste!!!

@vkaitakirwa Жыл бұрын

I remember Wepener from the 90’s.Sad to see the deterioration.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

I fully agree, it was really sad to see so many buildings in a state of disrepair. 😢 I can only imagine what it must've looked like when you were there last, the difference must be quite remarkable. 🤔🏤

@annawitter5161 Жыл бұрын

Aha! Another train-watching mecca from my childhood. Also the name of two of my most hated primary school teachers. That poor beautiful town hall should be restored! That looked like real good old boerekos! Lovely place you stayed in. The birdsong is so beautiful. The front door is a work of art.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

The Town Hall broke our hearts! 💔 I bet one of those two teachers named Wepener taught Maths, it just sounds like it has to be! Our guesthouse has been beautifully-restored and is such an authentic place. It was a fantastic oasis in Wepener and the food was spectacular. It was the perfect end to a busy travelling day in the Free State. 🚗😁

@annawitter5161 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel The male Wepener taught maths! The female taught PT and revelled in humiliating clumsy klutzes like me! GGRRRRR!!! I was only 9 years and in std2

@simonemason5352 Жыл бұрын

What a tragedy! The decay and lack of care for precious old buildings and history is very worrisome. It just breaks my heart. Fortunately for the guest house sanity stepped in. It's gorgeous, the furniture and woodwork a feast for the eyes. Thanks lovely people ❤️

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We agree, our hearts were broken too. 💔 Sonia couldn't get the image of that gorgeous Town Hall building out of her head for the remainder of our trip. That guesthouse was on another level! We felt super spoilt and just had the most relaxing time, it's truly an oasis in town. The care and detail with which the entire property was restored, demonstrates the faith that some folks still have in our small towns and in our country. It has to be commended. 😍🇿🇦 Thank you for joining us in Wepener.

@CarlaSwart-ln2li 3 ай бұрын

Where's the history of the floods? And where is the swimming pool at Lord Frazer???

@gerhardlandman9440 Жыл бұрын

I grew up in the southern Free State and know how all these dorpies used to look. The neglect and decay are depressing!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We can only imagine how different they must look to how you remember. It was our first time visiting most of them and we were also saddened by the neglect we saw. 😢🏤

@danielprinsloo2917 Жыл бұрын

Thank heavens the municipality sold the guest house to private people - otherwise it might have also been burnt to the ground. Its sad how the present government was given a functional country with all SOE's operational. Most of the towns you have visited the railway is no longer. Very sad . Thank you both for bring these videos to us. God bless and be safe

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

So true! That guesthouse is an oasis and certainly flies the Wepener flag very high! 😍🚗 We're always happy to hear you're still travelling along, thank you.

@andrewwilson3054 Жыл бұрын

South African towns have a really great vibe, even if the roads and buildings are falling apart, they have a fantastic peacefulness that cannot be found anywhere other than in our small towns. Great video!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, glad to hear you enjoyed our video! Your comment expresses exactly how we feel and we choose to look past the decay and decline and to focus on the vibe and what actually remains. We appreciate you watching. 😁🚗

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

What a lovely, positive comment!

@baldwintheanchorite Жыл бұрын

Such a tranquil place and that food looked epic!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

The food was indeed epic! 🥘 Our guesthouse was such a cool place with an oldwordly vibe, it almost felt like we were chilling in the 1920's. 👌🏻😁

@inavanstaden2601 Жыл бұрын

I love geskiedenis. Om terug te gaan na vanstadensrus. Daai wit kerkie waarin jul was, was die eerste NG kerk. Word vandag gebruik vir sendingbyeenkomste. Toe bou hul n groter kerk in 1974. Die hotel het gefloreer toe die damwal gebou was. Die mense het met fietse na die damwal gery van die dorp af om te gaan werk. Dankie vir jul stunning videos.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We so appreciate you watching our videos, thank you. What you described about townsfolk riding on their bicycles to the dam wall, was fascinating to us and we could actually imagine seeing them next to the roads. Thank you for the interesting info about the churches too, we loved both the ones we saw in Vanstadensrus! 🤩🚴🏻‍♀️

@neelskoegelenberg6697 Жыл бұрын

Neeee, nou's my hart sommer baie seer het daar gebly 1975-1983, dankie vir julle

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It must look drastically different from what you remember it looking like in the 70's and 80's. Hopefully you were still able to recognise some places that hold good and special memories for you. 😊🚗

@frederikbrits9559 Жыл бұрын

Such a sad state our towns and roads. According genealogy in the pioneer years was 5 x Fraser men. Colin (Beaufort West/Philippolis/Bloemfontein. The two brothers William and Hugh. The Wepener one was Douglas Henry and Donald.... both well-known business men in Free State, Basotho Land and East London. Wepener was also the district for Josias Philippus Hoffman, first OFS president in 1854. Second president of RSA, JJ (oom Jim) Fouche was born in Wepener 6 June 1889

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Some parts of town did indeed make us sad. 😢 But in other parts again we met and saw people who happily call Wepener home and have done so for a long time already. 😊 Thank you for the interesting historical info. 👌🏻

@samanthashepheard 3 ай бұрын

It really is so sad to see such beautiful buildings and houses falling apart. They hold so many memories and each building /house have their own special stories to tell. Loved the accommodation esp with those lovely wooden furnishings

@graemekruger5039 Жыл бұрын

Love the guesthouse

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It is truly a beautiful place! 🤩🌳

@RyanDH Жыл бұрын

There's also a monument to Louw Wepener about 10KM outside of Bethulie. It's signposted en-route to Springfontein on the R715

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the info. 🙂

@elrico8806 Жыл бұрын

Hello julle....I never pictured this place to look like this...shocking...i heard of it but never imagined it looking like this. wow

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It was a rather sad experience to be honest, especially seeing that fantastic Town Hall building in such a state. That really shook us. 💔

@Afriqueleblanq Жыл бұрын

Lived nearby, but never been. It was so much more convenient to visit Montagu, Gouda, Moorreesburg - if your parents grew up there. I really need to go discover rural Free State east of the N1.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

If you have the opportunity to do so, you should. You will love it and it will be a thought-provoking experience for you, as I'm sure most experiences are for you. It was good for my soul to be back in the Free State. 😊🚗

@benitastruwig Жыл бұрын

What an interesting and cute little town! 🤩 So sad that the town hall has deteriorated though 😥 Looks as if it was a magnificent building. I really hope there are plans to fix it up and restore it. The place you guys stayed at looks so beautiful! Love the wooden accents all over 🤩 And of course the dogs! 😍 Loved this video! ❤️

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for exploring Wepener with us! It was a great experience overall. We were rather saddened by the state of many of the buildings and especially that stately Town Hall building. That was heartbreaking to see! 💔 Our guesthouse was absolutely amazing and we had a fantastic time from check-in until we drove out the gates the following morning. The boisterous dogs made it feel all the more homely and relaxed. 😍🐶 We appreciate you watching our videos as we made our way across the Southern Free State! 😁🚗

@santaferr61 Жыл бұрын

Wepener is my childhood town where I grew up and still visit on a regular basis. The decay of Wepener was not only due to neglection of properties, but a huge part was after the flood of 1988. The houses next to the Sandrivier, which was flooded, was expropriated by the government, and declared flood line area. This was nearly half the town, and the street outskirts can still be seen on Google earth. Businesses, houses and families left - and added to the sad story. But Wepener is still near to my heart and will always be. I also wrote a short summary of the history of the man, Kmndt Louw Wepener.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the interesting info. 👌🏻 We had no idea about the flood of 1988, that sounds like quite a big disaster. I can only imagine how fond you must be of Wepener, we met some lovely people who are still very happy to live there. 😊🏡 The little bit we know of Commandant Louw Wepener, is very inspiring. As we understand, he was a true leader.

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

Yes, thank you @ Santa Ferreira for your enlightening explanation as to why this little town appears to be worse off in terms of care and maintenance, than so many others Sonia and Curtis have visited. I, too, was not aware of the significant flood to which you refer. I can certainly believe that your return visits to your hometown stir happy memories and it does appear to be a lovely, peaceful place in spite of the visible decay of so many buildings.

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel I love learning along with you, Curtis and Sonia! So much history, so many personal stories of triumphs and tribulations - again, I thank you both for what I can only describe as these wonderfully enriching experiences you are sharing so warmly with us!

@lionelmallach7328 Жыл бұрын

I was born and bred in Wepener. Leftin 1954 but often visited my family there till 1983 Most of town i knew is no longer there I have been back a few times to visit graves of my father and grandparents But as I now live outside SA this is very seldom I am now very old and sadly Don't think I will get there again Massive emotional memories

@hilkar5343 Жыл бұрын

I never knew about the flood.

@TsePoHope Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video. I grew up here and still visit from time to time. Thanks for shining light on this beautiful town I have the pleasure of calling home.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed our video of your hometown. It's important to us to travel to and explore these smaller towns. We believe that every town has special places and people and is worth visiting and sharing. 😁🚗

@SirLesMeyer Жыл бұрын

I just love those floor boards at the Lord Fraser Guest House. But then I am biased towards all things timber.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

And we completely understand why. Few things give a home (or guesthouse) as much character as the warmth of wood. 🪵 Our guesthouse had that in abundance and it was all so beautifully done.

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

The Church with its well maintained garden and “the breath of fresh air house” with its lush garden certainly belie much of Wepener - so sad to see such decay 😢 but nevertheless, there is always beauty to behold - I’m so glad you took us there, because I don’t envisage I’d be seeing it anytime in my future. The Guesthouse you stayed at was wonderful - beautiful wooden accents in the furnishings, doors, windows, mantels, flooring - WOW! to quote you 😁 and your dinner looked delicious! Thank you for sharing it with us, Curtis 😄 so enjoyed your taste test!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

The first few minutes of our visit to Wepener will forever be marked with us driving up to that beautiful Town Hall building or what's left of it. That almost literally broke our hearts and had a profound impact on both of us. 💔 There is no denying that there is unfortunately many other buildings too in a state of disrepair, but we were happy to see yet others who were a feast for the eyes. The church buildings we saw were fantastic and there were a good few neat and well-kept houses in town also. 😍🏡 As for our guesthouse, it was a fantastic experience to dine and overnight there. The attention to detail is so authentic and really wonderful. It was a relaxing experience after the day's travelling. The food, including the pumpkin, was absolutely delicious! Thank you for joining us on this visit to the town of Wepener. 👌🏻🚗

@flodillon991 Жыл бұрын

How sad that the town hall burnt down its a very beautiful place. You derserved a salute from the little green man!!! Loved the Fraser guest house amazing place. Your aerial footage was very besutiful .

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

The little green man was so cute! 🌳💚 We had no words as we just sat staring at that beautiful Town Hall for a few minutes. 😢🏤 Our guesthouse was absolutely amazing and we really spent a relaxing evening after a wonderful meal. 🥘🤩

@nikkiviviers7978 Жыл бұрын

Baie dankie dat ek saam met julle deur die dorp kon ry. My hart is egter baie seer om die verwaarlosing te aanskou. Kommandant Louw Wepener was my Oupa Grootjie en ek is een van sy trotse afstammelinge. My Broer, Pa en Oupa was ook Louw Wepener. My Broer se kleinseun is 'n paar maande oud en ook Louw Wepener gedoop. Baie trots. En wou dit net graag met julle deel.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

And we're so happy that you shared that long line of Louw Wepeners with us, how special! 😍 And to hear that the bloodline is continuing is amazing. It was indeed sad to watch so much of the town in disrepair. 😢 We appreciate you visiting the town of Wepener with us. 🚗

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

@ Nikki Viviers What an amazing connection you have shared with us! It just “blows my mind” to quote Curtis 😉 when others - who view this delightful channel - share their personal stories, giving us all an even more enlightening glimpse into the histories of these little towns.

@susannaemmerich1166 Жыл бұрын

And so nature will take over, after we are gone!!🙃👍🙏

@aubreysmith4702 Жыл бұрын

Nature???? Whose nature????"

@derrickknight6828 Жыл бұрын

I remember those "little wagons" from the mine dumps on the Witwatersrand. They were called koekepans.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Yes, thank you! 👌🏻 We've heard that name before, but not in a very long time and had completely forgotten about it. 😁 We asked the locals what they were mining with in the area and we were told that there are four sand mines around town. I just checked and Google pointed us to a site that says the koekepanne was used to transport sand, amongst other materials like iron ore, coal and gravel, so I suppose they were indeed used in this area. We live and we learn! 😎🚗

@hannahperlotto139 Жыл бұрын

Oh man what a SAD town. But maybe one day who knows. City dwellers wants to have peace and quite and these little towns have just that. Holy moly that bathroom is just (how do u say) next level!! And the old toilet that has a chain!!! I just LOVE!! The overnite place was the cherry on a very squashed cake! Sorry😖 Gosh the food looked delicious 🤤🤤🤤🤤.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It was sad to see some of the buildings which must obviously have been very beautiful at one point! 😢 It will take a mammoth effort and a whole lof of funding to rebuild the town to what it once must've been. That bathroom was indeed next level, especially the toilet cistern that was almost against the ceiling! 😁 We had a very comfortable stay. The food was indeed delicious, we devoured every little morsel and they were big plates! 🥘😍

@CarlaSwart-ln2li 3 ай бұрын

Where is the swimmimg pool??? I burned blisters in that swimming pool... I went to that church... i walked to that school... where's the history? My grandfather is buried in that graveyard. This for me is very sad to see. The town hall... Mr Weppener we walked past every day. Where's the doctor's office? Is it still there... the pharmacy... this is where i grew up... up until 2001. It was a beautiful town to grow up in. Now... some places unrecognizable... very rich history... very good people... the mountains... exept for the name makes me sad.. its all modernised... its not the same. The food there is incomparable. My grandma's recipes I still use today. Thank you for this wonderfull reminder that my little town still exist... but the ghosts will always haunt me.

@DustBugsTravel 3 ай бұрын

I understand your sadness at seeing present-day Wepener. 😢 It was a first visit for the both of us and we'll never forget how shocked and saddened we were when we saw that majestic Town Hall, now only a shell of a building. 🏛😭 I'm almost convinced that not many, if any, of the places you ask about, are still around. At least the rich history will always remain. 🚙😍

@AnnieHyams-uo9pm Жыл бұрын

Hi Everyone @ Dustbugs Travel Thank You So Much For Sharing Your Beautiful Video @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️

@zharkleroux387 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, God bless

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for visiting Dewetsdorp with us! 😎🚗

@christaelindsay Жыл бұрын

Dankie vir Wepener ook! My Pa was 'n Vrystater gebore en getoë. Hulle het daar gebly van 1972 tot 1976.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for visiting Wepener with us! It must look very different from the 1970's, but I still hope our video brought back some good memories of times in the town. 😊🚗

@nomatolo4814 Жыл бұрын

The guest house looks stunning and peaceful too .Wepener is kinda old now but love for the area is still the same .Probably the Mayor will eventually do something after this

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It sounds like you know the town well, we're so happy that you watched our video! We were saddened by the destruction of some of the buildings in town, but the guesthouse was a welcome oasis after a long day's travelling. We appreciate you joining us. 😊🚗

@nomatolo4814 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel You remind us of great time we usually have when we go back to EC, Keep up the great job you are doing ,it really brings all good memories when traveling and passing the areas through .Well done

@CarlaSwart-ln2li 3 ай бұрын

You said old... keep it old. Original, i pray that they dont mordernise it.. what would be the purpose? Taking away history.. authenticity? This town is very close to my heart. It was beatiful... everyone knew everyone. People care more about each other than money.

@zinimountglobal Жыл бұрын

I would like to see you travel to Dordrecht.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We will definitely look at including Dordrecht in a return trip to the Eastern Cape. Thank you for the suggestion. 😁🚗

@CheGypsyWay Жыл бұрын

Stunning little town.. gosh that town hall was magnificent, can just imagine how glorious it must have been in its day . Also very green there.. Thank you once again for a great video.. Happy Travels 🚗✨💖

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

That Town Hall still haunts us. 💔 If it looks this beautiful in its current, destroyed state, one can only imagine what it must've been like before. Stately and magnificent, towering over the town. 🏤 It was overall a good visit to Wepener with still-beautiful churches and some pretty neat houses and gardens, which was encouraging to see. Thank you for joining us once again as we explored another small town, we're always happy when you come along! 😁🚗

@CheGypsyWay Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel absolute pleasure cruising along with you two . It's my morning pleasure..coffee and DustBugs, beats coffee and doughnuts hands down 😄 I'm trying not to comment on every single one, don't want you to think I'm some kinda groupie 😂 which I secretly am.. love your videos.. take care 🚗✨💖☕

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

@@CheGypsyWay 😂 I have to restrain myself, too - but have thrown off the shackles this time! I have watched just about every video from the very first - always hit the thumbs up, but haven’t commented on every one.

@CheGypsyWay Жыл бұрын

@@desh7120 😄👍🏼

@ruperteachells2355 Жыл бұрын

The Lord Fraser Guest House Looks very,” inviting 👍” Thanks Dust Bugs !! 35:22 Greetings from Perth WA!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Greetings to you in Perth! 🙋🏼‍♂️ The guesthouse was indeed an absolute oasis in the area. We loved staying there and can recommend it to anyone who visits the town. We appreciate you watching! 🚗😁

@1812nico Жыл бұрын

Hi you two! Thanks again for an interesting and historical trip. I think the rest of the town nearly makes up for the delapidated part, as appears from the aerial view. Maybe if the 1927 town council was still in charge, the town hall would have been repaired. (NB this is not a political statement!). A a sad but fascinating building anyway I have to congratulate you again on your aerial photography and the accompanying music - and to see the cuppas back! Keep safe!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Oh, yes! We had an especially tough time waking up that morning, so the cuppas were an absolute necessity! 😁☕ That gorgeous Town Hall touched us deeply and it's still so beautiful, despite being almost completely ruined. 😢💒 I'm always happy to hear that you enjoy the drone footage and music, that means a lot to me. The wind was picking up somewhat, so I had to cut the flying short, but was happy to get a few good shots of the town from above. Thank you for coming to Wepener with us! 😁🚗

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

Yes, please keep up with the drone footage! I, too, love the inclusion of these aerial views and music selections - really adds something extra special to your videos and the resulting depth of experience we get as viewers.

@antlermcl4588 9 ай бұрын

My grandparents were from around there, Gert and Anna Maria Smith... my father was baptised in 1937... dont think they lived in town, but it was the nearest place to register births...

@AfricanTravelCrew Жыл бұрын

Fascinating. Keep it up guys ❤️

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Yup, Wepener is a place of many facets. 👌 We appreciate you exploring the town with us! 😁🚗

@charlietreston4035 Жыл бұрын

Hi guys amazing video sad to see wepaner in disrepair towm Hall etc but the Lord Fraser hotel a step back in time even the light switches and the oldstile flush in the loo floors immaculate and old furniture front door the old station must have been great in the day then on to the border post reminds me of hitching to Swaziland managed to go the wrong way ending up in a town called Amsterdam we got to the border post south African side spotless the other an old man sitting on a tin can with an official looking hat and a Indian trading store a real adventure thanks for showing us the wonderful free state nb the Prince of Wales feathers are at the top of the church cheerio till next time

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We appreciate the two of you hopping in the car again and driving through Wepener with us! Our guest house was a shining light in this town. I was also fascinated by the authentic light switches and the toilet cistern almost against the ceiling! We were very sad to see the gorgeous Town Hall building in such a state though. 😢💔 The drive to the station was interesting and it's quite clear that a train hasn't come through there in a good couple of years. The Lesotho border post certainly looked more organised than the one you described, that sounds like a rather eventful experience, I must say. 😁 The church was a very beautiful and well-maintained building which was great to see. I think we eventually managed to spot the feathers at the top of the steeple. 🤔⛪

@onceinafricatravel 10 ай бұрын

Cool Town

@mariusroos4146 Жыл бұрын

Very nice. Sad about the town hall.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

That Town Hall had us deep in thought for a while. So sad. 💔

@fromrags2nba235 Жыл бұрын

Wepener My home, where I was born, but am currently staying in Durban.... It's so sad to see the state the town is in..

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Greetings to you in Durban!Thank you for watching our video of your birthplace. 😊 We were also saddened by the decay we saw in town. That Town Hall still haunts us. 😥🏛️

@davidwilliamson2115 6 күн бұрын

John Mellenkamp's song Little Pink Houses

@FrankLowe1949 Жыл бұрын

Wat n Sad plek.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We were very saddened by some of the decline we saw. People still live happily there though, so it was good to visit the town and meet some of them. 👌🏻🚗

@billharding8151 Жыл бұрын

This is very sad. My great great grandfather, the Rev Edmund William Stenson, was the first Anglican missionary in southern Lesotho at Mohales Hoek (1875-1881) and then moved to and ministered in Wepener from the time of the Gun War in Bastutoland - during which time his church and home in Mohales Hoek were destroyed. I think the church he ministered at in Wepener is St Johns (which I have not been able to locate on a map and was hoping it might appear in the video. Sadly not). I have not yet been able to visit Wepener to see the church and try to find where Edmund lived in the years he was there - having seen the Town Hall I wonder if any historical records still exist?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We were also saddened by some of the decay we saw in town. 😢 Thank you for sharing the story of your great-grandfather with us and what a story that is! I thought we covered the town pretty well during our visit and we love stopping at churches, but we didn't notice the St Johns Church and I am also not able to locate it on a map. It is indeed very possible we could've missed it, but I have no idea where it is. The closest we could find with a similar name is the St John the Evangelist Church in the Morojaneng area of Dewetsdorp, which is a Catholic Church. ⛪ Having seen that the Town Hall in Wepener is merely a shell of a building and given that it was destroyed by fire, I hate to say that I doubt there would be any historical records which remained intact, but again I don't know this for a fact. Perhaps if you get in touch with the Naledi Local Municipality, they may be able to assist you and provide you with information which will assist you in your search and research. I do hope you get to visit the town yourself one day. Thank you for watching our video in the meantime. 😊🚗

@billharding8151 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel Thanks for your response! St Johns is still listed in the Bloemfontein diocese as one of 69 in-place churches - Zastron's St Athanasius is also on my 'to do' list, as is an elusive one in Modderpoort - where I believe my great great grandmother was buried in 1888.

@hanchenmeyer3069 Жыл бұрын

Wow...... So sad. Once again I say again... What a sad tragedy our once prosperous County has become 😔

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We were also saddened by the destruction of some of the buildings in town. 😢🏤

@davidwilliamson2115 6 күн бұрын

some unmentionable burnt it down

@davidwilliamson2115 6 күн бұрын

the holes in those stones could be for drainage

@mariadebruyn2791 9 ай бұрын

THANKS FOR SHARING,,MY PARENTS,,GRANDPARENTS, AND FRASERS ,LORD WEPENER WAS THE PIONEERS IN 1800,,THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH ,MY GRANDFATHER WAS MINISTER,,THEIR MUST BE ROBERTS AS WELL ??

@DustBugsTravel 9 ай бұрын

I'm really not sure. It's a gorgeous church! 💒

@rsatrendz5036 Жыл бұрын

Old buildings in Ladybrand still on good conditions

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for letting us know, that's great to hear! We haven't been there before, but will certainly look at including Ladybrand in a future trip to the Free State. 👌🏻🚗

@inavanstaden2601 Жыл бұрын

Dustbags. As jul graag die geskiedenis van die NG kerke op elke dorp wil lees kyk in wikipedia onder NG kerk en dan die dorp se naam. Party het baie interresante oorlog geskiedenis.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the info. We often look up facts on Wikipedia and other sites while we travel, but lately we don't always have cellphone signal when in the smaller towns. We then chat to the locals to fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces. 😊⛪

@mgregory3470 Жыл бұрын

Dit was in die nuus toe die stadsaal tydens 'n betoging afgebrand is.

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We had no idea, that makes it even more sad! It's such a gorgeous building! 😢🏤

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel I read that the fire was due to “a suspected electrical fault” as a result of “poor maintenance”?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

There seem to be conflicting reports online. Another reason we don't do too much research before or during a trip. 🤷🏼‍♂️ After a little digging, I read on the website of OFM that an electrical fault was initially suspected, but it was later confirmed that a vagrant who lived on the premises was suspected for setting the building alight. How incredibly sad that a building of this stature is only a skeleton now, whatever the real cause of the fire. 💔🏤

@desh7120 Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel 😢

@ingridschmidt2360 Жыл бұрын

I started my teaching career in Wepener in 1984 . This is VERY SAD.

@billharding8151 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your prompt response. I wanted to send the picture of the church but that does not seem to be possible via the Comments link?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome to email it to dustbugs1@gmail.com. I would love to see it. 👍🏻

@Jonathan_and_Tammie Жыл бұрын

Great little town! Thanks for sharing. What month was this video taken? How was the weather?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

We visited the town in October 2022. It was sunny for the most part and hot, so we were grateful for the aircons in both our vehicle and our accommodation. 😁 Thank you for exploring Wepener with us! 👌🚗

@Jonathan_and_Tammie Жыл бұрын

@@DustBugsTravel thank you! Happy Travels! Check us out for our experiences in the P N W !

@billharding8151 Жыл бұрын

The church I was looking for in Wepener is St Peters - I came across a photo taken in 1969(!). On an unrelated note, did you need to apply for any sort of permit to use the drone or is the usage for your channel purely 'recreational'?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

That's fantastic news, I'm so happy that your perseverance paid off and you found some info you were after. Thank you for letting us know! 👌⛪ My drone is not used commercially, so I don't require a permit.

@dudleymakeche7842 Жыл бұрын

Why are these beautiful small and villages dying in decay? Employment, crime or pipo just feel new fashioned?

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

As in most small towns, employment opportunities declined over time and they were depopulated as people moved away to the bigger centres and cities in order to earn a living. There are always unfortunately those who feel the need to destroy buildings and of course the history associated with them, which seems to be a sad culture in our country nowadays and something we sadly observe in almost every place we visit. 😢 Yet there are very warm and friendly folks who still live in all these towns and who still call them home. And as long as that is the case, the towns will survive, albeit on a much smaller scale than before. It all comes down to basic respect for one's own environment in our opinion. 🤷🏼‍♂️🇿🇦

@kaptein_chez 11 ай бұрын

hello sir,you gained yourself a subsciber so please make a tour to Ladybrand

@oldtighthead2459 Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately this little town is slowly dying...

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It was a good experience to visit Wepener, but very sad to see all the destroyed buildings. 😢 The town still has many residents who still live there happily though, which is always great to see! 😁🚗

@davidwilliamson2115 6 күн бұрын

that was an outside looi tittifeited up

@magdapienaar1993 Жыл бұрын

We visited the place in 2014 and saw how it was rioted by small young blacks breaking down the woodwork. When the saw us they ran. Most of all the town halls in small towns have the same fate - in KZN , MP etc. We are also doing roadtrips every second year. I am always sad and angry to see these deterioting of old buildings that's why I will never be part of the rainbow nation! No respect of values for anything. Also the sport facilities/ swimming pools/ camping places a mess. They riot everything for money and money is the beginning of all evil!

@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын

It was a very sad experience for us to see this beautiful Town Hall building virtually in ruins. 😢🏤

@CheGypsyWay Жыл бұрын

Yeah they burned down our town hall last year.. very sad.. it wasn't as magnificent as this one..but it was still part of the history of the town. So sad.