KRAPFONTEIN OPSTAL

Die hoofopstal op Krapfontein is in 1888 gebou; dit val dus mooi in die “Middelrepublikeinse Tydperk” (1870-1890) van die Vrystaatse Republiek. Dit is ‘n tipiese Stoepkamerhuis wat volgens Karel Schoeman in sy boek “Vrystaatse Erfenis” reeds vanaf ongeveer 1860 hier en daar in die Vrystaat opgerig is. Aan weerskante van die fasade is kamers gebou en die ruimte tussen hierdie kamers is oordek en die vloer geplavei ten einde ‘n stoep of veranda te vorm. Vanhier die benaming: Stoepkamerhuis. Hierdie huise het, soos Krapfontein se woning, meer as een skoorsteen gehad waarvan sommige bloot dekoratief was. In Krapfontein se geval is al drie die skoorstene funksioneel en bedien stowe en kaggels in die huis. Versierings is aan die stoep aangebring in die vorm van houtpilare en traliewerk tussen die pilare. Ander voorbeelde van soortgelyke Stoepkamerhuise is die “Niemeyerhuis” op Boshof en die plaashuis van President JP Hoffman, die eerste Staatspresident van die Oranje Vrystaatse Republiek, op sy plaas Hoffmansrust / Jammerbergdrif wat hy van Moshweshoe bekom het, in die Wepener distrik. 

Die oorspronklike hartbeeshuis wat waarskynlik in die omgewing van 1857  opgerig is, is sowat 70 meter suid van die hoof-opstal te sien. Dit bestaan uit vier vertrekke met ‘n hout plafon en ‘n solder daarbo, asook ‘n waenhuis met geelhout balke maar sonder ‘n plafon of ‘n solder. Hierdie gebou het volgens oorlewering as een van die eerste openbare skole in die Suid-Vrystaat diens gedoen. Dit is gerestoureer en dien tans as waenhuis.

KRAPFONTEIN HOMESTEAD

The main house on Krapfontein was built in 1888. This was in the middle of the “Middle Republican Period” (1870-1890) of the Free State Republic. It is a typical “Stoepkamer” House, which means that it has a wide veranda with a room on each side thereof and a door opening from each of these rooms onto the veranda. According to Karel Schoeman in his book “Vrystaatse Erfenis” these houses were erected in the Free State from about 1860. These houses had, like Krapfontein’s house, multiple chimneys of which some were purely decorative. In Krapfontein’s case, all three the chimneys are functional, serving as chimney for the stove in the kitchen as well as a fire place in the family room (“Voorkamer”) and the main bedroom. Decorations were erected on the veranda in the form of wooden pillars and trellice work. Other examples of similar “Stoepkamer” houses are the “Niemeyer” house in Boshof and the farm house of President JP Hoffman, the first State President of the Free State Republic, on his farm Hoffmansrust / Jammerbergdrif in the Wepener district, which he received from Moshweshoe.

The original cottage (“Hartbeest-house”) which was probably built around 1857, is about 70 meters to the south of the main house. It consists of four rooms with a wooden ceiling and an attic under the roof, as well as a garage without a ceiling and attic but with Yellow wood beams.  Tale has it that this building served as one of the first public schools in the Southern Free State. It was restored as well and currently serves as ga