Union High School, Graaff-Reinet

Union High School was established in 1919 with money guaranteed by local residents, in the church hall of St James' Church in an effort to ensure an English language education for their children. Classes started on 2 February 1920. The School became a state school on 1 April 1922, when A.E.Puttick arrived as the first Department-appointed Headmaster. Presumably the School name was taken from the fact that at the South Africa was known as the Union of South Africa. The School took possession of the old Glebe lands ('Naboth's Vineyard') early in 1926 amid much controversy among local residents. After a tremendous fight, the Administrator, Sir Frederick de Waal, had settled the problem in November after the Mayor Mr H. Urquhart, had granted this beautiful estate for the erection of the School. The foundation stone was laid on 27 October 1926. Although not fully completed it was decided that the new school should be opened, unofficially, by holding a "Children's Day" to celebrate the occasion. The scholars, together with the teachers and members of the School Committee, then marched up from their old premises to the new site. The Children were addressed by Rev. A. Wellington, Mr Puttick and the Chairman. It was at this ceremony that Olga Maasdorp, the first Head Girl of the School, was asked to put the following documents into a glass jar: the names of all the scholars, the names of guarantors, the names of the School Committee, the names of the staff, a copy of the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser dated 4 November 1921, containing the report of the Education Commission and the Charter of the Union High School. This jar was then placed behind the corner stone which was laid by Mr W. Lawrie, who was presented with a suitable engraved silver trowel by the builder, Mr A.H. Clark. The architect was Mr Bridgman, of Simpson and Bridgman, of Oudtshoorn.