Browsing by Author "Vorster, Leon Willem"

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    Die bydrae van Walther Blersch as stadsklerk tot die argitektoniese nalatenskap van Stellenbosch
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1999-03) Vorster, Leon Willem; Burden, Matilda; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Walther Felix Alois Blersch was born in Stellenbosch in 1888. He was the oldest son of Fridolin Blersch ( 1861 - 1897) who was the second head of the first Agricultural School in South Africa. After the early death of his father in 1897, his mother with her family returned in 1901 to Germany where Walther continued his scholastic career. Between 1908 and 1912 he studied at the "Konigliche Technische Hochschule" in Stuttgart except for a short period between 1910 and 1911 when he studied architecture at the "Konigliche Bayerische Technische Hochschule" in München. After obtaining his Engineering Diploma in Stuttgart, he entered the study of Prof. Peter Behrens. Thereafter he joined the "lntendantur XIII. (K. W.) Armeekorps" as an architect. He was interned at Ruhleben at the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914. After his release in 1919 he married Dr. Grete Hohrath (1890 - 1938). As from 1920 he worked as instructor for the "Zentralstelle für Gewerbe und Handel" in Germany; as bank clerk in Utrecht, Netherlands and back to Germany as architect for Rudolf Behr. On being appointed Town Clerk of Stellenbosch in 1924 he returned to his town of birth. After loosing his wife to cancer in 1938, he married Judith Nel. As one of Stellenbosch's most popular and loved Town Clerks he made many friends. Upon Blersch's arrival in Stellenbosch during 1924, most of the existing buildings were Cape Dutch, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian. With his interest in the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Mediterranean, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Styles, he strives for harmony or meaningful contrast and co-existance by searching for the contemporary equivalents of the essential qualities in Stellenbosch's historical architecture. Today it can be seen in various public buildings and structures which were designed by him among which are the boundary walls behind the Seminary and in front and west of the Town Hall, a double arched bell-tower for the Rhenish Church, a school for the Anglican Church in Joubert Street (now demolished), the well-known Rozenhof in Dorp Street, an inspiring gate and pillars in front of the Sanatorium, pergola and public conveniences for the Jan Marais Park and Agricultural Hall as well as furniture for the council-chamber. He is also acknowledged as the architect of his own home at 1 Mankadan Street and those of his various friends and acquaintances. Walther Blersch's term as Town Clerk officially ended in 1956, but for the next 15 years he remained with the Municipality in advisory capacity and attended Board meetings up to his death on 19 August 1971.