Celebrate Sammy Marks’ 171st birthday on 11 July. The Sammy Marks Museum is hosting a huge birthday bash with music, song, dance, whiskey tasting, traditional Victorian games and house tours.

Sammy Marks was a pioneer in the steel and coal mine industry in the Transvaal, and the financer behind Eerste Fabrieken, Hatherley Distillery, which was opened by President Paul Kruger.

Sammy Marks and his family in 1903. From left to right are Girlie, Joe, Dolly, Sammy, Louis, Bertha and Phil. Ted is absent

If you would like to learn more about Sammy or if you are just intrigued by the Victorian era, you should not miss the celebration at his former mansion, the Sammy Marks Museum on the Old Bronkhorstspruit Road (R104).

Trevor Nasser will perform and a short dramatization of the life and times of Sammy Marks will be presented. For whiskey lovers there is the opportunity to taste whiskey from Drayman’s Distillery. This was specially blended to replicate the whiskey description of the original, manufactured at Eerste Fabrieken.

Sammy Marks

The tasting will cost you R40 but if you buy the package, you will get a numbered limited edition bottle of this whiskey and glasses with a label that represents the nostalgia of the 1800’s. This is a collectors dream, as only 100 bottles will be released.

The event is from 9 am to 3 pm. Full contact medieval sword fighting will be displayed between 11 am and 1 pm. You can enjoy the beautiful garden, see exquisite crafts such as handmade lace, embroidery, wood carving and knife making and have a family picture taken in period costumes. 

The Sammy Marks Museum

There is a Victorian tea garden with tea, coffee and delectable treats. Other food on offer will include traditional “pap en kaiings”, chipstix, Chinese food, burgers and pancakes.

Entrance is R10 per person. For more information, contact the museum at 012-755-9542 or the Friends of the Museum at 082-908-2295.