What today is a well-known and an established Johannesburg suburb, Linden was founded on the south-western corner of the farm Klipfontein by two Afrikaner farmers: Louw Geldenhuys and Johannes Jacobus van der Linde – both of whom shared the vision of dividing up the farm into portions with a view to selling them off as plots.
The plots did not sell as quickly as was hoped, however, with them being eight kilometers out of town, and with access limited to three dirt tracks. The reluctance of buyers was followed by the breaking out of the Anglo Boer War, and the selling and apportioning of plots was put on hold.It was only in the 1920s, and after a series of further setbacks, that the land was finally sold and consolidated into smallholdings.
Once farmhouses were built, roads to Linden were laid out, and in 1932, a substantial amount of money was put aside to tar Rustenburg Road – a thoroughfare on the border to the “fruit producing area in the vicinity of Linden”.
This was the birth of Linden; a tract of land with fertile soil and acidic clay – perfect for the growing of fruit and in particular, peaches. Before long, Linden was a proliferation of orchards, and an area associated with fruit farming. Water was not a problem – private wells or boreholes supplied good quality, plentiful water. Linden was renowned for the best yellow cling peaches in the world as recorded in the Guinness book of Records.
By 1934, Linden was home to a good 300 to 400 families, living in farmhouses and making their living from fruit farming. The farms gradually disappeared and in the 1950s saw the area becoming home to the Afrikaner elite, resulting in it being referred to as the “Boere Houghton”.By the end of the decade, Linden was a fully developed urban suburb.
Information from the Farmhouse.
Visit their website: http://www.thefarmhousecollection.co.za
We are not the ONLY Linden,
there are several counties and towns in the USA who share the name...
Linden County, Virginia.
Linden, Texas
Linden, New Jersey
Linden, Indiana
Linden, Atlanta.
Take a walk with me through our wonderful suburb...
Where the old Yugos Store was, is now a busy restaurant and cocktail bar.
Most days there are several scooters parked outside.
We do miss Archie though...
This is an update on Archie from his sister:
" Thanks for saying you miss Archie he is my brother, struggling with cancer now prayers for him, my sister Draginja Leonardi passed away 1st may in Ireland from same"
Not a working windmill, but it sort of sets the tone for our suburb.
Two shops and a restaurant in the lower part of 4th Ave, just below 8th Street
If it is Saturday morning, then you HAVE to have a boerrie roll.
Available from Rembrandt Butchery on 4th Ave.
"Our" view of Johannesburg...
Look what I discovered on the roof of one of the homes.
I managed to have a chat to the owner to find out the history of this cow.
It came all the way from Holland and is one of 2000 that can be found world wide.
All the same size, but each one individually hand painted!
Just off the corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue...
How many suburbs can boast one of these?
Four in a row...each serving a different menu.
These can be found off the corner of 7th Street and 4th Ave.
The heart of Linden.
My "branch office"...it serves the best croissants west of Jan Smuts!
On the corner of 4th Ave and 7th Street.
It opens earlier that any other coffee shop/restaurant in Linden.
We even have our own rehab, should things get too tough.
They are on the corner of 1st Ave and 7th Street.
I did not realize that our 'burb had a grooming parlour.
This is on 1st Ave.
And we have some awesome urban wall art!
The following collages just demonstrate how diverse and interesting our suburb is.
Orejen can be found in 5th Street, near the corner with 4th Ave.
This convenience store serves GREAT slap chips.
They can be found on the corner of 6th Street and 3rd Ave,
On the corner of 5th Street and 4th Ave,,,
This little shopping centre is often forgotten about.
It is on the corner of 4th Ave and 5th Street
Some of the businesses that can be found in 4th Ave, between 7th and 8th Streets.
I almost forgot about the Spar centre on the corner of 8th Street and 4th Ave.
This property is on the corner of 4th Ave and 6th Street.
It is the home of the latest addition to Linden, Eskimo Toffee's Ice cream shop.
Some of the businesses that can be found along 7th Street, between 3rd and 4th Ave.
One of my favourite restaurants...great food and awesome staff.
1st Ave the the Eastern boundary of the suburb...
Check out the new pizzeria here.
One the corner of 1st Ave and Standard drive.
Cisco's have just opened a branch here, so we don't have to go all the way to Fordsburg.
Support local, support Linden.
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