Waterford Village

The farm Waterford was owned by two Irish Immigrant brothers, John and Thomas Rafferty, who realized the potential of the erf; which although it was situated on the banks of the Sundays River, had a number of 'fountains' and rarely suffered from droughts. 

The village of Waterford lies on both sides of the Sundays River. When it was proclaimed, 142 erfs (plots) were laid out with numbers 1 to 103 on the north side and from 104 to 133 on the southern side.

Two long streets further divided the town - Mark Street and Piet Fourie Street, whilst other streets were named High Street, John West Street and Thomas Dennis Street.

The activity centred around the church, when on 4 February 1855 the new congregation of Jansenville of which Waterford was part, was established.

During its prosperity as a small village, Waterford was a hive of activity with a school, a church, a mill, a zoo, and a thriving community which was reliant on the surrounding farming populace for its survival. Over the decades, with the advent of the motor car and mechanization; families and their descendants searched for the 'brighter lights' of city life - the village gradually fell by the way.

Dutch Reformed Church Hall

First Dutch Reformed Church built around 1850.

Only grave in the yard of the Dutch Reformed Church Carl W. Huebsch. (Photo from EGGSA website)

Grave of Carl Huebsch (Photo from EGGSA website)

The last operational shop in Waterford.

Ruins of an old stone building presumably used as hospital or clinic.

Dutch Reformed Rectory - largest house in Waterford.

Ruins of possibly the school

The ruins of the old Court House.

The new Community Hall

Waterford Main Street

Dutch Reformed Church built in 1960

A deteriorating example of a Victorian house.

With its demise went the history of this small community. In 2009, a handful of residents are left, none of whom have lived in the village for longer than 10 years.

It is regrettable that the village and its history will shortly pass into obscurity.