Pilgrims Rest (Transvaal), W Stein, European Hotel Token (Circa 1890-1911)
Hern number 578a. Scarce.
Probably one of the most well known towns in South Africa with a lot of history.
Pilgrim’s Rest (Afrikaans: Pelgrimsrus) is a small museum town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is protected as a provincial heritage site. It was the second of the Transvaal gold fields, attracting a rush of prospectors in 1873, soon after the MacMac diggings started some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Alluvial panning eventually gave way to deeper ore mining. In the 1970s the town, not greatly changed, became a tourist destination.
Stein was the younger son of a German baron and came to South Africa as a soldier. He met his wife, Jentine Schröder, the daughter of a missionary, in Natal. The couple had one son and one daughter. (Editors Note: Assuming a soldier for the Boer Republics as it is well known that Germany supported them)
In 1897 a 77 year lease for this stand was transferred into the name of Wilhelm Ferdinand Phillip Alexander Stein and he became the owner of the European Hotel. He owned the business until 1912 when he sold it to MacIntyre and the name of the business was changed to The Pilgrim’s Hotel. Today is used as an annex to the now famous Pilgrims Rest Royal Hotel.
There is quite a few Stein graves in Pilgrims Rest ... - Stein Wilhelm Ferdinand Philip Alexander 1854-1939 (died Vaalhoek) - Stein Jentine Fredericke Elizabeth Amalia 1863-1947 - Stein Elma 1891-1968 - Stein Bronel Raoul 1923-1999
The foundation stone for this building was laid by Frederick Gibson on 7 February 1884. This is the oldest existing hotel building in Pilgrim’s Rest and was originally named The European Hotel.
By 1875 there were 21 stores, 18 canteens and 3 bakeries.
George Roy, who built the Royal Hotel. Proprietor from 1894 - 1898
From 1913 to 1922 Wilhelm owned Stein’s General Dealer Store, which was situated between the Pilgrim’s Hotel and the Royal Hotel Bottle Store.
The First World War had a major impact on Pilgrim’s Rest and a few days after the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915, riots broke out in Pilgrim's Rest.
Targets were German owned shops of which many were sacked and burnt during the uprising. Stein was one of these local German business men in Pilgrim’s Rest that suffered during the 1st World War, later he was also interned by the government. At the time the Stein family were living in what is known as Royal Cottage. Family lore had it that Stein wanted to hide some valuables and jewellery in one of the pillars of the house, but his wife persuaded him to rather give these items to the local Commandant for safekeeping. Stein’s one grandson also mentioned how sad it was for his grandfather that all his friends turned against him during the war, just because he was German. Worst of all, after the war the Commandant denied ever receiving these valuables and the Stein family was financially ruined and had to start all over again.
Richard Barry, the TGME mine manager, then organised Stein a job at the Frankfort Mine as the mine was then owned by a German Company. Stein died in 1939 near Vaalhoek. (Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery Booklet, Reinders & Mason)
Few Interesting facts : - It was in the European Hotel that the twenty year old Jesse Farndon (Born in Redvasgris? Bedworth, Warwickshire, England. Died 17-06-1890.) Aged 21 years was murdered on 17 June 1890. He was shot in his room, presumably during a robbery.
- Pilgrim's Rest was southern Africa's second town with street electricity, the first being Kimberley, also a mining town.
- Pilgrim’s Rest was the location of an emergency mint during the Second Boer War. This mint struck the famous and extremely rare Veld Pond.
- At the graveyard, every single grave was laid facing in the same direction, except for the traditional Robber’s Grave which is laid at right angles to the rest, not facing the rising sun, and emblazoned simply with a cross and the large type words of "Robbers Grave". One legend attributes it to a robber who was shot when he was caught stealing a tent from another miner, while other legends would have it that he instead stole a wheelbarrow, or that the thief died after being lynched.
The most detailed account attributes the grave to a fortune hunter, one Walter Scott, who committed suicide. Scott would have shot his friend Roy Spencer, son of a well-to-do English banker, after they returned drunk from a party. Scott suspected Spencer of stealing his purse of gold. Scott pursued Spencer and shot him near the church, the site of the present graveyard, whereafter Spencer was secretly buried. The sobered-up Scott found his purse in his tent, and committed suicide when he realised what he had done. Scott was then buried in an unmarked grave next to that of his friend, Spencer.
About the Token: Made out of Nickel. 23.3mm diameter and 1.3mm Thick Seen as Scares and in good condition can demand premium.
Sources : Wikipedia
Pilgrim’s Rest Town Booklet, Reinders Rene Reinders ( Thank you )
In the Pilgrims rest Post Office they describe this Token as a Shilling ...
Above might be true but there where also a old gambling machine ...
Big Six Gambling Machine – made in the USA in 1904. This machine was used in Stein’s Hotel and was found abandoned in an empty building in Pilgrim’s Rest in the 1970s – the Stein Tokens were possibly also used in this machine.
Manufacturer: Mills Novelty Co.
Type: Slot Machine
Subtype: Upright
Photo Supplied by Rene Reinders
R432
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