October 25, 2005
By Lucille Davie
THE Fairview Fire Station Tower in Jeppestown is 100 years old and, like any person of that age, was in need of attention. So repairs were carried out and the restored tower was unveiled last weekend.
"Fears for the future of the historic Fairview Tower will soon be a thing of the past," said Irene Mafune, the projects manager of immovable heritage in the City's arts, culture and heritage services unit.
Arts and culture and the City's emergency management services (EMS) unit pooled their resources to restore the 35m tower, sections of which were crumbling and falling to the ground. This posed a danger to passers-by. Each department contributed R300 000 to the restoration.
In a ceremony on Saturday, councillor Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, Speaker of the City, reminded the 100-strong audience of how, when the tower was being built, Mahatma Gandhi lived nearby in Albermarle Street, in Troyeville.
"He would have had a good view of the tower from his house," she said.
She described the tower as unique and its restoration as a symbol of inner city renewal. And, it still had a use - pilots using the Rand Airport on the East Rand use the tower for navigation purposes.
School children from Fairview Primary School performed a fire drama and children from the Jules High School choir sang heartily. A high school girl recounted how she had lost her parents when their home caught alight.
Councillor Christine Walters, mayoral committee member for community development, roads and parks, gave the vote of thanks, saying that partnerships were essential to reclaiming heritage. She encouraged teachers to inform their pupils of the city's rich heritage, and to protect it.
Mayathula-Khoza then unveiled the new blue plaque on the tower.
Officers from EMS did a rescue demonstration, lifting several children and adults from the first floor of the fire station, showing the meticulous attention to detail that is needed for such an operation.
Built in 1905
The original fire station, built with the tower in 1905, was demolished in the mid-1970s. It had become inadequate for the demands being placed on it. In 1983 a modern fire station was completed, slightly back from the tower, giving it more prominence.
The site was chosen because of its far-reaching view over the town. Built with a Neo Baroque cupola, it was Joburg's first formal fire station and it is the only remaining fire tower in the city.
Originally built with red brick, the tower was later plastered, with a dressed sandstone base. Its foundation stone was laid by Sir Julius Jeppe, a property developer who lived in Jeppestown, which was named after him. That stone had become worn and illegible, and has been replaced with a granite stone.
The tower was used as a look-out for fires before telephones were invented. The town's early buildings were built of wood and iron and were flammable. Because Johannesburg had very scarce water supplies, buildings burnt down very quickly.
Yet the tower had another function: it was used as a washing line for the early canvas fire hoses, which were hooked from wrought iron clamps attached to the timber handrail at the top of the tower.
Damage
Over the last 20 years the upper sections of the tower had deteriorated because of damage from thunderstorms and lightning - copings had cracked, drainage problems had caused dampness in the walls, and mouldings had been attacked by mould and paint separation.
Reinforcing bars had been exposed and were rusting, causing further damage to the concrete. The original lightning conductor had been displaced.
"The tower, being an integral historical part of the fire station, should be well preserved, as are all other assets of a fire station. And we believe that the proposed renovations will enhance the tower's 100-year history as a significant city landmark of early Johannesburg," said Henry Paine, the architect who restored the tower, before he began work.
The interior of the tower had also been subject to the ravages of the weather - many of the cast iron and steel fittings had rusted. The spiral stair inside the tower was damaged by rust and will be restored at a later stage.
A cast iron platform remained intact despite the exposure to weather.
This interior deterioration was exacerbated by bird droppings, making the walls very dirty. It has now been painted, and made bird proof with mesh.
New lighting has been installed inside the tower, as have exterior lights. Two new rainwater drainage pipes have been installed.
"It must be emphasised that the restoration of the tower is not intended to make it look like a 'new' tower. Its charm, and indeed its value is in its age and it is that which should be celebrated," Payne said.
He explained that the additions should be seen as new items that enhanced the structure but that natural weathering would soon make the repairs to the plaster mouldings and the lower plaster levels invisible.
"I believe that the value of our public landmarks is linked to the perception that they do not change and remain recognisable in all their details from one generation to the next."
Mafune added, "As the tower looks towards its second century, the view from the lookout post seems bright once again."
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