The Hotel - Our History
Although sections of the existing building are known to date back to the 18th century - we have been unable to trace any records or photographs of the structure of that time. The only existing drawing is a floor plan (no date shown) - the dimensions still in feet & inches - which was commissioned by a Mr Mendal who purchased the Hotel in 1946. The alterations and additions
depicted on these drawings must have been the last of any major significance as there is very little difference in the floor layout as designed then - compared to what exists to-day (2016). We also have a photo taken in front of the Hotel in 1932. Mr & Mrs Wendal are on the veranda with two associates - Eddie Hart, a traveler for the Company J.W. Jagger - and Mr Lulu Chait, the then owner of the Victoria Hotel in Bredasdorp. Lulu is said to have played rugby for the Town and eventually became a referee. A 1930 photo of the NRFC (Napier Rugby Football Club) - the Town's first rugby team who won the SWD trophy - does not list his name. He could therefor by then already have reached the refereeing age. The little boy in the front is Gerald Wolman - still alive to-day (Feb 2013), the son of the then owner - who supplied the above information. Dr. Wolman is still in business in Cape Town. However - what the 1932 picture clearly shows - is that at the time the front veranda was still a single story with a corrugated iron roof. So the assumption must be that the major change came AFTER Morris Mendal bought the Hotel in 1946. Unfortunately no other factual history in known. The Local Grapevine tells of an original blacksmith shop, hardware store and a plaas winkel. More recently - because of a series of unhappy circumstances - the Hotel became totally inoperative as a business and the beautiful fixtures, fittings, furniture and linen were all sold/stolen/vandalized - brick and mortar left uninhabited - the place became an absolute shambles. Plumbing & Electrical was non-existent - the Municipality, eventually in desperation having to cut off all basic services - a social and aesthetically ugly disgrace to the village of Napier. The status quo (Feb 2013) is certainly not an ultra modern outer & inner restoration - but rather that of a once GRAND OLD LADY who recently suffered a 4 year period of terrible physical & social abuse - but has now undergone major surgery & botox which restored her dignity, social standing and once youthful looks. ALL SHE NEEDS NOW IS YOUR MOST NEEDED SUPPORT!
