WATCH: Springs Mining and Military Museum welcomes new artefacts to its collection
The town of Springs slowly anticipates completion of the museum.
In another milestone for the preservation and making of history, new relics were added to the Springs Mining and Military Museum collection.
The Friday morning haul saw about four ‘new’ artefacts collected from all over Springs and taken to their new home.
The items collected were the tank at Windmill Park, the headgear that once belonged to Grootvlei Mine and the two guns at the Olympia Park swimming pool.
The tank was found with over half a ton of rubble and broken glass in its hull, which took over an hour to remove.
“The tank was placed at Windmill Park about 65 years ago, and it served in Europe and North Africa during WWII.
It was put in the park when the spoils of war were returned to their homes.
“The government received them, and municipalities decided to place them around various parks for the aesthetics,” said the ProSafe CEO and museum founder, Tony da Cruz.
The headgear was used at Grootvlei Mine 80 years ago.
“A headgear is a big wheel used to hold up the rope that takes miners up and down the shaft safely,” he said.
The headgear is about 3.3m long and weighs about eight tons. Mini Maxi Panel Beaters transported it from the mine to the museum.
The last collection was the anti-aircraft guns at the Olympia Park swimming pool.
“These guns could take down the whole aircraft without the lasers the guns have today. The state of these relics is heartbreaking because parts were vandalised, stolen or neglected.
“We hope to give them a better home at the museum where they will serve their historical duty and continue to shine as remnants of a victorious war,” he added.”
The artefacts will be restored and displayed for all at the museum.
