People in the area realize that establishing a town is a necessity. Neighbouring towns Bultfontein and Hoopstad (both founded in 1874), Bothaville (1891) and Odendaalsrus (1899) were just too far away (with bad dirt roads) making it difficult to buy amenitie and attend a church service.

In 1918 a meeting is held, attended by people interested in founding a town. The Administrator gives his permission to establish the town, if sufficient water can be found. David de Villiers’ farm Zoetvlei, where the borehole is found to sustain water for two days, is chosen. (Streets named after persons in blue)

The next task for the commission was to find a name for the proposed town. There were quite a few suggestions, and some disagreement, regarding the name.

Wesselsbron is named after C.J. Wessels, a 20 year veteran of the House of Assembley for the Hoopstad district, a leader during the Anglo-Boer war, where he served as chief commander, leading the Boers near Kimberley.

Chief commander C. J. Wessels was later deported as prisoner of war to India and returned to his farm, Witpan in the district of Wesselsbron in the year 1902. He and his wife are buried there.

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A surveyor measures out plots, and on 5 December 1920 Wesselsbron is officially founded.

In 1913 the only buildings in town are the game ranger’s clay brick house and the Zoetvlei farm school building. The schoolhouse was a small zinc building, housing 48 learners from farms in the area. In June of 1922, Mr. S.P. Malan is appointed as principal and the school moves to its current location.

Principal Mr. S.P. Malan

On the 1st of February 1924, the first town council meets. The town has 40 white inhabitants.

In 1923, the Circuit of the Dutch Reformed Church refuses a request for secession. This does not deter the townspeople and they start collecting money to build a church hall. The church hall is inaugurated on 12 June 1926.

1929 - 3 Classrooms, 5 teachers and 108 scholars.

Mr. J.P.van Niekerk is appointed as principal in 1930. Brandwag boarding house, providing lodging for farm-kids, allows the school to flourish.

          Below: 1934 Mr. van Niekerk and 6 teachers.

Rapid expansion takes place during the late twenties and early thirties.

Main roads are connected to the town, and the completion of the railroad and the railroad bridge across the Vet River at Tierfontein in 1929 really gets things going.

A doctor’s practice and several shops are opened in town. Remarkably, the first two doctors; Dr. Schulgässer, and later Dr. Cahl, and the first few shop owners; Grossman, Cheville, Swerdlow, Shear, Dorfin and Gerber were all Jewish. Another Jew, Mr. Arthur Levitte, opened a hotel.

The police station >>>

Photo 1955, c/n President Steyn - and Bredenkamp street.

Gradually things change. The first mills belongs to Boet du Toit, Hennie Welman and Coen Grobbelaar. The first two cafes are opened by Lilly Ferreira and Mary Wessels.

Fancy dress party at the hotel with the second hotel owner. Left: Mr. Chris Ross & Hannetjie. In front is Piet & Olga du Plessis, owners of a garage and Lady’s Outfitter.

Boet du Toit’s Garage

The town council is replaced by a Municipality in 1936, with Mr. Jim Muller serving as the first town mayor (front left) and Mr. Hennie Bredenkamp (front right) serving as the first town clerk. At the back the other council members from the left: Mr. Jan Bredenkamp,

Mr. Willem Nel and Ref. B.A. Muller.

In 1938, the building of the church, designed by Gerard Moerdijk, finally commences. He is also the architect of the Voortrekker monument in Pretoria.             Photo below.

A great milestown for the town, is the inauguration of the edifying church building on 28 January 1939.

The £10,775 church building was completed debt free!

1938 is the centenary of the Great Trek, and Church street is renamed Voortrekker street. The photographs below were taken from the church tower.

By 1945, the town has 1190 inhabitants: 555 whites and 645 non-whites. In 1955 the water storage dam,  in 1959 the magistrates building, in 1960 the new police station and a tared road to Odendaalsrus are inaugurated.

Photo: 2019

Photo: 2019

By 1961, the congregation of the Dutch Reformed church had grown so much that the 500-seat building became too small. The Wesselsbron-North congregation secedes from the mother congregation and initially the school hall is used for services. On 17 June 1967, the new church building is inaugurated.

Although dust storms are a common occurrence during summer, 7 November 1983 is known as the longest day in the town’s history. By three in the afternoon it was completely dark and businesses had to close down.

At 13h00

Snow falls on 7 June 1996, the second time in the town’s history.

Wesselsbron has never stagnated. The town boasts more than one supermarkets, two large co-ops and several hardware and parts’ stores. FNB, Standard Bank and Absa have branches and ATM’s in town and chain-stores like Pep, Jet, Ackermans and Tekkie Town have shops here. Van Tonder’s is one of the oldest shops in town, specializing in high-end clothing and shoes. The town is geared to accomodate the needs of all inhabitants and visitors.

Photo: Chips Botha

Photo: Wimpie le Roux

The school

At a butchery in town visitors may watch how tons of Boerewors and cold meat are being prepared per week. Cold meat, polony and viennas are distributed to supermarkets in Vryburg, Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kroonstad and Klerksdorp. During December 2022 they produced 10 ton Boerewors!!

Sport facilities including Tennis, Squash, Netball, Bowls, Cricket, Soccer and Rugby which all situated at the Frikkie Cronjé Park.

The landing strip at the airfield is tarred.

Frikkie Cronjé Park > > >

< < < Golf Club

Many activities happen at Silwerbron, the centrum for retired people. The VVA entertains the lodgers once a term. The lodgers have a committee that plans many different activities like Jukskei, carpet bowls, Bingo and others. The highlights of the year are the “Kieriekaskenades” in Bloemfontein and the year - end function.

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X = WESSELSBRON

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Below: The “Gewel” during summer with the Pride of India in bloom.