The small town of Kimberley in South Africa is steeped in history, and the McGregor Museum is preserving it for future generations. Their collection includes a photo of the shop of Pen Yong at 34 Lennox Street, taken between 1904 and 1907. The photo provides a fascinating glimpse into the past, showing the signs advertising Nestles Milk, Callard and Bowser’s butterscotch sweets, and Sunlight soap.
The Chinese people of Kimberley have been present since the early days of the Diamond Fields. Most were shopkeepers and laundrymen, living in the Malay Camp on the outskirts of town. The shops, mostly made of corrugated iron, sold a variety of items, from vegetables and groceries to certain essential items and sweets. Customers could purchase products in small quantities, such as a penny’s worth of sugar or coffee, half a candle, and a portion of a pumpkin or cabbage.
The McGregor Museum has done an excellent job of preserving the history of Kimberley’s Malay Camp, bringing us a snapshot of life in the early twentieth century. It’s important that we continue to preserve the past, and the McGregor Museum is playing an integral role in doing just that. Their collection reminds us of how far we’ve come, and where we’ve been.
This article was written by Jurno. Photo of the shop kept in a collection by the McGregor Museum reference: mmkp 6771-108, Information provided by Robert Hart.