Our History

Op 01 Julie 1858 is die plaas “Krapfontein” (1400 morg) per grondbrief wat deur President JN Boshof van die Vrystaatse Republiek onderteken is, aan Esias Renier Blignaut toegeken. ‘n Hartbeeshuis is op die plaas opgerig en dit het volgens oorlewering ook as een van die eerste skole in die Vrystaat gedien. Sarel Johannes Lodewicus Marais, gebore 20 Augustus 1845, het die plaas op ‘n latere stadium gekoop en die bestaande “stoepkamerhuis” is in 1888 opgerig. Die oorspronklike hartbeeshuis is vervolgens as bywonershuis aangewend. Sarel Marais en sy eggenote, Adriana Petronella Marais, gebore 15 April 1849, het 12 kinders gehad, waarvan die derde seun, ook Sarel Johannes Lodewicus Marais, die plaas op 16 Junie 1916 na die afsterwe van sy ouers, geërf het. Op 15 Mei 1945 is die plaas aan Stephanus Joubert verkoop. Sy dogter, Hester Sophia Helena en haar eggenoot, Claude William Tasmer het dit op hul beurt in 1974 bekom en het toe van uit Johannesburg hierheen verhuis. Die huis en opstal was in daardie stadium in ‘n uiters verwaarloosde en selfs vervalle toestand deurdat dit vir nagenoeg 25 jaar onbewoon was en deur ‘n huurder selfs as ‘n skuur aangewend is om sy skape in te laat oornag. Claude Tasmer het die huis herstel en ook aandag aan die infrastruktuur op die plaas gegee. Hierna is Krapfontein aan Johannes Josias (John) de Wet, ‘n afgetrede Landmeter, verkoop. John de Wet en sy eggenote, Lente, het vir sowat sewe jaar op Krapfontein gewoon en ook hier geboer, waarna hulle die plaas op 05 September 1997 aan die huidige eienaars, Paul en Henriëtte Wessels verkoop het. Aanvanklik is die opstal slegs as ‘n naweekhuis gebruik maar in 2004 is besluit om die opstal tot sy oorspronklike glorie te herstel. Die hulp van kundiges van die Departement Argitektuur aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat is ingeroep ten einde hierdie enorme taak sover as moontlik op die beste en korrekte wyse uit te voer. ‘n Son en windkragstelsel is geïnstalleer ten einde die plaas en die hele boerdery onafhanklik te maak sover dit elektristiteitsbehoeftes betref. Sedert September 2004 woon die Wesselse voltyds op Krapfontein…

On 01 July 1858 the farm “Krapfontein” (1400 morgen) was assigned to Esias Renier Blignaut by Pres JN Boshof, president of the Orange River Colony. A cottage was built on the farm and according to legend it was also used as one of the first schools in the Free State. Sarel Johannes Lodewicus Marais, born on 20 Augustus 1845, at a later stage bought the farm and the current homestead was built in 1888. The original cottage then became a pheasant’s house. Sarel Marais and his wife, Adriana Petronella Marais, born on 15 April 1849, had 12 children of whom their third son, also Sarel Johannes Lodewicus Marais, inherited the farm on 16 June 1916 after the death of his parents. On 15 May 1945 the farm was sold to Stephanus Joubert. His daughter, Hester Sophia Helena and her husband, Claude William Tasmer took it over in 1974 following which they moved from Johannesburg to Krapfontein. The house was run down because it stood empty for about 25 years and was even used as shed for sheep  by a tenant. Claude Tasmer renovated the house and also paid much attention to the infrastructure on the farm. Thereafter the farm was sold to Johannes Josias (John) de Wet, a retired land surveyer. John and his wife, Lente, lived and farmed on Krapfontein for about seven years before they sold it to the current owners Paul and Henriëtte Wessels, on 05 September 1997. Initially they used the house only as a weekend home but in 2004 they decided to renovate it to its initial glory. Assistance from knowledgable people from the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State was requested in an attempt to achieve this enormous task. A Solar and wind energy system was installed and it supplies the whole farm with electricity, making it totally independent as far as electricity is concerned. The Wessels’ moved to Krapfontein in September 2004 and lives there since then…