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| Home Life in Old South End |
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Diversity defined the old South End culture. Blacks, whites, Indians, coloureds, Malays all lived side by side and shared the sense of community that ran strong in the neighbourhoods, streets and homes of South End. While cultures differed among the locals, the mutual respect as well as the core values and priorities enabled a harmonious community. One of the principle values of South Enders was their family and their homes. They were and continue to be a social group of people, always welcoming, always hospitable and always prepared. The home of a typical family in South End portrayed this in its neat, clean appearance. Furniture, although inexpensive, was plentiful to allow room for large families as well as visitors. While not usually a costly investment, furniture was made out of hard, durable woods, and was often in excellent condition due to this. For this reason, many tables, lounge suites and cupboards were passed down to the next generation. Designs in the wood were ornate and the time that went into creating these pieces was evident. The kitchen was the hub of most families’ lives as this was the epicentre of all food preparation and consumption. Families usually ate their meals in the kitchen, unless they had guests. The stove, which was often a coal burning one, was always home to a kettle, an iron, a pot of hot water (for dishes or bathing) and some delicious treat for unannounced guests. It also served to warm the houses during chilly winters on the coast. Because space in the kitchen was often limited, one free-standing cupboard was usually sufficient for all groceries, crockery and cutlery. Some homes were fortunate enough to be equipped with a refrigerator, but this was the exception rather than the rule. The lounge and dining room was always kept clean and neat in anticipation of unexpected guests. These visitors would always be welcomed and treated to a cake or even just a small biscuit of some sort. This area was used to display wedding photographs of the parents and grandparents, indicating that the sense of family and the sanctity of marriage were of utmost importance to this community. Along with family photos came religious symbols such as crosses, wall hangings of verses from the Koran or pictures of some well-known religious leaders. The original people of this suburb were a very religious society,  evident by the fact that the South End suburb alone had 12 churches of Christian, Muslim or Hindu denominations. Also on display would be heirlooms, such as ornate tea sets and vases.The bath and toilet were typically outside the house, so the bedroom was equipped with a wash basin and jug. This is where each member of the family would freshen up morning and evening with water heated on the stove top. The sleeping quarters were also outfitted with stand-alone cupboards and chests of drawers with at least four drawers – one for each of the parents, one for the girls and one for the boys. Because of a restricted amount of space, family members rarely got their own bedrooms. While this may sometimes not have been the optimal situation, it reinforced the sense of family ties, as members of the unit were in close contact and shared good communication channels. Neighbourhoods in South End were characterised by the rainbow of colourful houses with corrugated tin roofs. These colours proved to be symbolic of the equally diverse and enchanting personalities of the residents within each home, the residents who fought, worked and lived to define South End. |
