OPENING OF FRESHFORD HOUSE
MUSEUM BLOEMFONTEIN
Freshford, firs t d w e llin g of the a rch ite ct J.E. Harrison, situated at 31 Kellner Street, B loem fontein, w as restored by the N ational M useum and w as opened as a satellite house m useum on 26 November 1986 at a w ell-attended public fu n c tio n . The house w as b u ilt in 1 897.
Dr. C M . Engelbrecht, D ire cto r o f the N a tio n a l M useum , received the guests.
The house w as unlocked fo r view ing by
M rs B Bladen, youngest daug h te r o f the late M r J.E. Harrison.
The guests o f h o n o u r a rrive d in a procession o f veteran cars fro m Oliewenhuis.
A brass ensem ble led by a s ta ff m em ber o f the M useum , M r B u rk h a rd von S ch lich tin g . e n te rta in e d the guests.
A ty p ic a l H igh Tea was served in the garden by ladies fro m the s ta ff o f the N a tio n a l M u se u m w ho were dressed in se rva n ts' garb fro m the period.
Prof. R. van Pletzen, C hairm an o f the C o u n cil o f the M useum , in h is w e lco m in g address thanked the s ta ff m em bers o f the M u se u m who, under the leadership o f M is s E!sab6 du Toil, were involved w ith the restoration.
The opening address was delivered by Prof. J.C M oll, Dean o f the fa c u lty o f Lite ra tu re a n d P hilosophy at the U 0F5. He also gave a s h o rt b ack-ground h is to ry o f the house, the p e rio d and the restoration-process.
