New lease of life for Martin Luther

ALTHOUGH not as visible from the road as it used to be, Swakopmund’s famous Martin Luther landmark was given official status again yesterday.

Four years after the ramshackle steam engine was taken away on a truck to undergo extensive restoration, the almost brand new and gleaming 111-year-old monument is back at its original post at the entrance to the town. But this time a protective “shell”, doubling as a museum to tell the history of the engine, will serve to protect it against the ruthless onslaught of the coastal weather.”The steam engine is back and Swakopmund is on its feet again,” said Gideon Shilongo, Corporate Affairs Manager of Namibia Breweries at the opening yesterday.His company sponsored N$200 000 towards the creation of a museum and park, including 12 stalls and toilets, at the site.The Namib I tourist information office, under the leadership of Almuth Styles, has taken over responsibility for the management of the site.As one of the town’s most famous tourist landmarks, two clerical positions have been created to help keep the facility open seven days a week.In addition, 12 people will be selling arts and crafts at the newly built stalls behind the museum.Styles told The Namibian no entrance fee would be charged, but donations would be asked for to contribute towards the upkeep and running of the facility.Opening hours are 09h00 to 16h00 every day.She will also manage the 12 stalls, rented out on a monthly basis for a small fee to entrepreneurs.She said a wide variety of Namibian souvenirs would be on offer.The Swakopmund and Walvis Bay prisons will sell handwork and woodwork made by prisoners, while other stalls will offer art work, T-shirts, gemstones, makalani carvings, Herero dolls and beadwork.According to Styles, the plan is to erect a high roof to provide shade for the craft sellers, and to attract attention from passers-by, as the Martin Luther is a bit hidden away inside its protective “shell”.The Martin Luther, one of only three steam engines remaining in the world, was saved from rusting away completely when students of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) at Arandis took it on as a special project.It took about 150 boiler-making and welding students almost one year to restore the dilapidated engine, built in 1896, as close as possible to its original design.They worked according to plans of the original engine obtained from Germany.But this time a protective “shell”, doubling as a museum to tell the history of the engine, will serve to protect it against the ruthless onslaught of the coastal weather.”The steam engine is back and Swakopmund is on its feet again,” said Gideon Shilongo, Corporate Affairs Manager of Namibia Breweries at the opening yesterday.His company sponsored N$200 000 towards the creation of a museum and park, including 12 stalls and toilets, at the site.The Namib I tourist information office, under the leadership of Almuth Styles, has taken over responsibility for the management of the site.As one of the town’s most famous tourist landmarks, two clerical positions have been created to help keep the facility open seven days a week.In addition, 12 people will be selling arts and crafts at the newly built stalls behind the museum.Styles told The Namibian no entrance fee would be charged, but donations would be asked for to contribute towards the upkeep and running of the facility.Opening hours are 09h00 to 16h00 every day.She will also manage the 12 stalls, rented out on a monthly basis for a small fee to entrepreneurs.She said a wide variety of Namibian souvenirs would be on offer.The Swakopmund and Walvis Bay prisons will sell handwork and woodwork made by prisoners, while other stalls will offer art work, T-shirts, gemstones, makalani carvings, Herero dolls and beadwork.According to Styles, the plan is to erect a high roof to provide shade for the craft sellers, and to attract attention from passers-by, as the Martin Luther is a bit hidden away inside its protective “shell”.The Martin Luther, one of only three steam engines remaining in the world, was saved from rusting away completely when students of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) at Arandis took it on as a special project.It took about 150 boiler-making and welding students almost one year to restore the dilapidated engine, built in 1896, as close as possible to its original design.They worked according to plans of the original engine obtained from Germany.