Genadedal
The village of Baviaanskloof was founded by Georg Schmidt in 1737 as a station of the Moravian Missionary Society. It was the first mission station to be established in South Africa, and for many years remained the model upon which many subsequent mission settlements were based. The mission did not prove popular with local farmers, who perceived education to be a threat to their supply of cheap Khoikhoi labour, and Schmidt was forced to return to Europe in 1744. The mission was re-established by the Moravians in 1791, and in 1803 its name was changed to Genadendal, which in Dutch means "dale of mercy". John Campbell visited here on 30 December 1812 and wrote this report:
"Genadendal was full in view before us. Their large church was very conspicuous at a distance. The settlement lies at the end of a valley, closely surrounded, except in one direction, with great mountains. At a distance it has more the appearance of a garden than a town. As we passed the houses, we were gratified by the civilized appearance of many of the (residents) ... A more pleasant spot than that in which they dwell can hardly be imagined ..."
In about 1833 Eugene Casalis was shown around Genadendal and was most impressed:
"I found myself in a kind of square, all the buildings of which were occupied by the families of the missionaries, except the schools and depots containing the products of the common industry. These houses,painted yellow, to modify the effect of the sun, were surrounded with trees of dense foliage. In the middle of the square was a fine church, seating nearly 2000 people, and surmounted by a light spire. In passing out of the central square the splash of a fountain attracted my attention. It fellp into a reservoir, where women were busy washing linen ... A little further on some immense wheels, placed under the weir, furnished motive power for the corn and cutlery mills ... To these industries are added a sawmill, and the works where are constructed those heavy rolling structures so often described under the name of Cape wagons. In all these workshops the sole artisans are (Khoikhoi), directed by the missionaries."
The 1875 census indicated that Genadendal mission station had a population of 2,524.
