JJ Erasmus - Marketer and Entrepreneur of Margate

Today we spent an enlightening morning with the grandchildren of the very first marketer and entrepreneur of Margate, the late Mr John James Erasmus (known fondly to his friends and family as Jack).

(L – R) Diane Duncan Margate Centenary Committee, Deputy Mayor Johnny De Wet, Maureen Sharpe Granddaughter the Late JJ Erasmus, Des Erasmus Grandson the Late JJ Erasmus and Angela Erasmus at the grave sight and memorial to John James Erasmus.

Mr Des Erasmus (Grandson), who currently resides in Southbroom and Mrs Maureen Sharpe (Granddaughter), who lives in England agreed to meet with the Margate Centenary Committee and share their memories of Margate.

Mr Des Erasmus, Maureen Sharpe, Diane Duncan and Deputy Mayor Johnny De Wet met at the gravesite and memorial to Mr John James Erasmus. This land was donated, to the people of Margate, by the family of Mr John James Erasmus and is still registered as community land with no possibility of development.

Originally of Scottish descent, Mr John James Erasmus moved to South Africa from New Zealand. He was a respected journalist and history has shown an accomplished businessman.

He married Enid Lucretia Ueckermann. Enid Lucretia came from a well to do family and her father was the State Attorney for the Kruger Republic. Daily Mail archives reflected on a society wedding of very high fashion, and a highlight of the year.

In 1922, during the Flu Pandemic after World War 1, Mr John James Erasmus moved to the South Coast with his wife Enid and two oldest children Jean ( Maureen’ mum) and Carl ( Des’s Dad). Upon relocating to the Coast John James Erasmus, bought up a large portion of Margate Estate for what was said to be “a bag of peanuts.”(and maybe the forefront to our macadamia trade!).

John James Erasmus and his wife Enid Lucretia Erasmus had five children. Jean, Carl, Jaqueline, Angus and Patrice.

Maureen recalls her mother Jean’s recollection of relocating to the South Coast at the age of 12. She remembers following a path down to the beach only to be amazed by its’ beauty.

Mr Carl Erasmus the son of Mr John James Erasmus and father of Mr Des Erasmus was largely accountable for some of the many landmarks we all fondly know today. Mr Carl Erasmus, alongside his father personally laid the bricks of the Margate Hotel and also worked alongside his father building the first holiday homes in Margate. Mr Ronald Norris, Jean Morris’s husband was a keen photographer and they owned a photographic shop called The Margate Art Studio.

The Post Office, the green grocer, the hotel, the aerodrome, cinema were only a few of the businesses owned and operated by the Erasmus family. According to local knowledge “No competitive business was permitted a license to trade”.

Even more surprising was the history behind another prestigious landmark of Margate, “Faerie Glen” which was bought and given to Jean (Maureen’s Mum) as a wedding gift. Jean was also a founding Beauty Queen in Margate.

Carl Erasmus interestingly was the founding President of the Margate Bowls Club and was known to land his light aircraft on Margate Beach.

You may wonder why Margate Drive has a diversion.

The story goes, that John James Erasmus was a man of puritanical morals. He received a knock on the door at the Margate Estate office where a man presented himself as the State Surveyor. He was planning the road going down the South Coast and asked John James Erasmus what it would be worth. John James Erasmus was highly incensed by the thought of a bribe and proceeded to chase him off the property with a sjambok. It is also recorded that this road was built during the Depression and was in fact constructed by unemployed white men. Interestingly the employment requisite was that these men had to be married.

Sadly John James Erasmus died at the early age of 54. Enid Lucretia went on to live well into her 80’s. We are sure all will agree, that John James Erasmus and his family deserve a special place in the Margate Centenary Wall of Fame.