Page 241 - Bulletin 8 2004

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confusing place. The open centres of the hexagons were designated for recreational
purposes. The one bounded by Central Circle contained sports fields and a bowling

green, and in 1933 the Recreation Hall was built next to the sports fields. This became
the centre of social life in the village hosting plays, films, dances, parties, and visiting

teams. In 1960 the Municipality decided to build a new Civic Centre at the centre of the

hexagon and the sports fields were relocated to the next hexagon – until 1974 when the
Fish Hoek Senior High School was built there, and they were moved yet again farther

out. The MOTHS are now trying to maintain the old Rec. Hall.

In the 1960s Fish Hoek hillside was described as “a monument to mediocrity”. But, at
least on this north side of Elsie’s Peak, there has been some control over how high up the

mountainside people can build, whereas on the Glencairn side they are nearly up to the

top.

The Main Road and Early Businesses

The laying out of the town was accompanied by the relocation of both the railway station

and the main road. The first station had stood farther south, opposite what is now
Windsor Lodge in what was thought to be a sheltered spot. In 1919 it was moved to its

present site in order to be more convenient for commuters as the village developed. The
present station buildings were erected in 1927. At the same time it was decided to move

the Main Road further inland. Running along the back of the beach it was always

covered in sand and the increased number of private cars were finding that Fish Hoek
was where they got bogged down. The oldest building still on Main Road is a wood and

iron house dating from the 1920s that is now the Victorian Times pub.

The first shops were conveniently sited on street corners and it was only in the 1930s that
the Main Road became commercialised. Two of the original businesses are still

operating: Wakefords and A. P. Jones. In 1920 Albert Wakeford came to Fish Hoek on