21 November 2021
I have received a call from Ethne Epstein in Melbourne to tell me that the Harris of the Harris Camp in PE, was her grandfather, I. H. Harris from Johannesburg.
See more about Isadore Harris here:
https://elirab.me/jewish-doornfontein-part-4/
The Jewish Government School
Education Several Jewish schools were built, and one, the Jewish Government School, now the IH Harris Primary School in Davies Street, Doornfontein, still goes strong. Yiddish used to be the only language heard in the playground. (City of Johannesburg – Jews mark 120 years)
From Ethne Epstein:
I don’t have very much information on the camps, but understand they took place in Port Elizabeth in the 1920’s and 1930’s. From what I understand there were no Jewish camps, and because my Grandfather Isadore Harris was the principal of the Jewish Government School in Doornfontein, he arranged camps for Jewish families from Johannesburg during the December holidays. Exactly where in Port Elizabeth I have no idea.
They were all in tents close to the beach.
In 1966 Jewish Government was renamed the I H Harris Primary school.
A photo I have is of my Granny Minnie Harris with two of the sons, Kenny and Denny. My late Dad is on the left.
Alan who is sitting on the car is the an older brother.
I am not sure if this is another photo from camp or when my Dad was in the army. Although some of the guys were smoking it looks similar surroundings
Warm Regards
Ethne
————–
Previously from Gil Friedstein, Israel
Port Elizabeth, South Africa – mid 1920s
Gil Friedstein is happy to share his grandparents’ holiday photos from Port Elizabeth sometime in the mid 1920s.All the photos (exept for the last one) were taken at Harris Camp and Gil will be most thankful for any information referring to this place gil.friedstein@hotmail.comAlan Harris must have been a member of the family that ran the camp, and the two group photos give us a pretty good idea as to the number families who came to the camp.
