Lavish history of Haga Haga

Cottage stories dating back a century

asked property owners to send their contributions about the history of their cottages to him.

“About 90% of cottage owners responded and their stories were fascinating, with some going back to the early 1900s.”

Thompson said farmers living in inland settlements like Stutterheim and Cathcart would bring their livestock to graze at Haga Haga in the winter months.

“It took two or three days to get there and they would outspan their wagons overnight and when they got to Haga Haga they would sleep in their wagons or tents.”

Over the years, permanent residences began popping up and fourth and fifth generations still own the cottages – some live in them permanently, while others are holiday homes with charming names like Sea Belle, The Shack and Welcome Dover.

A scan through some of the sentimental stories offers glimpses of beachy family histories of zinc baths, dances in the village hall – now a museum – morning sea swims, jars filled with collected fireflies and grazing cows which kept the grass trimmed.

“As teenagers we always brought our wind-up gramophone and records to the cottage,” wrote Carmen Willows, whose grandfather erected a wood and iron cottage imported from England after the Anglo-Boer War.

The book includes a history of the Haga Haga Hotel penned by current owner Neil Chemaly.

“The book costs R885 due to all the colour pictures and I already have 120 orders.”

Haga Haga: Jewel of the East Coast can be ordered by e-mailing Thompson at mathaga@tlantic.net. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za