THE FOUNDING OF WINTERTON AND HISTORY

The area around Winterton attracted people because of the Little Tugela River which runs through it.  Winterton was first called Springfield, and it had only one small shop owned by Mr Beyers.  Sir Winston Churchill was one of Mr Beyers' first customers.  In 1905 the actual town of Winterton was founded.  It was named after the Minister of Agriculture in Natal, Daniel Winter.  At First, Winterton had a blacksmith shop, post office hotel and police station.

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THE SCHOOL

The first school in Winterton was opened on 1905, and it was called Morea.  There were 15 learners.  The first learner was Hilda Guldenpfenning.

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The school moved to the Farmers Hall in 1908 and there were 13 learners.  Some children had left, saying that the hall was too far away, but when the principal visited the learners he found that they couldn't afford the school fees.  He said that they didn't have to pay for their education on the condition that they attend school.

Many children could not come to school as they had no transport.  One pupil, William Stratford, did not return after an easter holiday.  His father said that the horse had died and it was too far for his son to walk to school.

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In 1913 there were heavy rains.  In March and October of that year, less than half the children attended school due to rain.

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The new government school opened in 1914.  There were 45 pupils.  In October 1918 the whole school closed for a term because of the Influenza epidemic.

A borehole had to be dug so that the school could have its own water.  Water was struck at 52 feet on 19 February 1925.