Charles Paul Leonard was die seun van Louis Nel en Ann Charlotte Leonard.
Foto Christa Nel
Charles Paul Leonard Nel was born on 3 Oct 1878 in Bruintjies-hoogte in the Somerset East district. With three more brothers and two sisters, his family moved to Oudtshoorn in 1884 where his father, Louis, practiced as a law agent. After the death of his mother Annie (née Leonard) shortly thereafter, his father remarried. Little is known about Charlie’s school career, except that from 1888-90 he was a pupil at the Boys’ School. Since his youth, Charlie Nel also distinguished himself in the military field. In 1892, at the age of 14, he joined the Oudtshoorn Volunteer Rifles as a brass player. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
At the age of 16, he began working at the post office as a postman; after his father’s death in 1894, he boarded for years with his brother Louis. When his application to the Municipality as Junior Clerk failed in 1896, he turned to business. In 1898 he bought a bicycle shop with his savings under the name C.P. Nel & Co. and called it “The Cycle Depot”. Cycling was a popular sport in those years, and his business did well. He and his brother Horace participated in numerous cycling competitions and won medals. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
When the Oudtshoorn Volunteer Rifles disbanded in 1912, he was transferred to the “5th Dismounted Rifles.” For outstanding service during the war years (including the Bechuanaland Campaign of 1897, the 1899-1902 Anglo-Boer War, and the 1914-18 wars), he was appointed in June 1919 as a member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), for which he received a medal. In 1913, together with Captain Rogers, he assisted in the reorganization and establishment of a training base for the Dept. of Defense in Oudtshoorn. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
Over the years he also sold firearms, ammunition, musical instruments and sports equipment and therefore had to move to larger premises from time to time. From 1920 he started selling motorcycles and became an agent for the sale of Dodge and Chevrolet cars. Later he also sold Pontiac, Tourers and Sedans. Considering that there were 25 cars in Oudtshoorn and district in 1910, and by the end of 1927 already 560, it is almost self-evident that he later focused on the sale and repair of cars and motorcycles. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
He belonged to the Golf Club of Oudtshoorn, and was a joint honorary secretary of the “Oudtshoorn Amateur Athletic Club” which was founded in 1907. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
In 1930, in partnership with Messrs. G.W. Good and H. Whiting, he formed a Real Estate company. In 1933 he moved to Beaufort West to establish a branch there as well, and he remained there until his retirement in 1936. His partnership with Mr. Good dissolved in 1934, after which Mr. Good further expanded the Oudtshoorn business with branches in George, Victoria West, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Swellendam and Mossel Bay. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
It was undoubtedly Charlie Nel’s collection of medals and war regiment signs as a hobby through his military involvement since his youth, which eventually led to the establishment of a museum after his retirement. The addition of rifles, bicycles and old vehicles over the years was representative of his career and sports choices, with antiques of historical value as additional interest. As a bachelor, he traveled the country on holidays, and after his retirement he collected and bought antiques. He exhibited it in a room at his married brother Louis’ house in 123 Queen Street, where he lived for years. Later, he even exhibited antiques in his business’ showcase. He also donated a number of historical photos and trophies to the Oudtshoorn City Council before 1936 for safekeeping. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
Early in 1936, by letter to the City Council, he presented several antiquities for exhibition and viewing, suggesting that they could form the core of a museum. When the response was not as desired, he rented a double room from the Publicity Bureau in the Municipal Buildings in St. John Street, rented and furnished as a museum. On Wednesday, December 1, 1937, the doors were officially opened to the public for Wednesdays and Saturdays. His friend, Mr Charlie Honeyborne, was the first caretaker. Charlie Nel’s enthusiasm knew no bounds. Newspaper articles of his collections and historical research appeared regularly in the local newspaper (Oudtshoorn Courant), and donations poured in. In November 1938, the Historical Monuments Commission gave this collection official recognition as a museum. At the suggestion of the then mayor, Mr H.H. Bridgman, the rooms were rented to him free of charge on request. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
In 1938 he was appointed honorary colonel of the Oudtshoorn Commando on the recommendation of Major BE Butler, and in 1946 he was chairman of the BESL (“British Empire Service League”). Through it all, he was an avid target shooting enthusiast and participated in numerous Bisley competitions for which he won a large number of medals and trophies . (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
Very soon his museum burst its seams. After several failed plans and requests to the city council, he bought at his own expense in February 1940 a building in 140 High Street, which was known as the “Van Vuurens Annex.” It was the first girls’ school in Oudtshoorn and later the private hospital of Dr Raubenheimer. With so much more space available, he particularly strove to set up part of it as an art gallery. From then on, the museum was able to open its doors every day for visits, as well as some evenings. [8] (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
His application the same year to the City Council for a monthly contribution to help pay the caretaker, taxes and lights, was granted at the urging of Mr Bridgman. Among other things, he said: “… it was a deserving object, and the museum was a great asset to the town.” (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
As an avid historian, he also did research on the history of Oudtshoorn with the aim of including it in the 1947 centenary celebrations. It was unfortunately never published, and only a few manuscripts in his own handwriting are in the possession of the museum today. An article by him in 1947 on the history of the Oudtshoorn Volunteer Corps was published in 1963 in a military magazine entitled: “Defunct Colonial Units in South Africa.”(https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
Because Charlie Nel had no heirs, the future of the museum after his death was a major source of concern for him. After many possibilities, he decided in consultation with the city council to, according to Museum Ordinance 6 of 1944, transfer the museum to a governing body. It could then also claim an annual subsidy from the Provincial Administration. To reach the decision, he drafted some conditions, including that the property should be used exclusively for a museum and art gallery, and that it should be called the “C.P. Nel Museum”. The proposals were accepted, and on February 10, 1950, a governing body was officially established and proclaimed. Two members were nominated by the Administrator, two by the City Council, and two by museum subscribers of which he was a member. Mr P.J. van der Westhuizen, Mayor of Oudtshoorn, was the first chairman, and for years thereafter. The necessary documents and Deed of Transfer were signed by Charlie Nel on 20 November 1950, just a day before his sudden death on 21 November. He was buried in Oudtshoorn. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
CP SK: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91S-T9FF-9?i=360&cc=2517051
In his will, it is clear that he had a big heart for charity. In addition to family and friends, he also left bequests to ex-soldiers, hospitals, child welfare organizations and the poor. (https://pickingupthetabb.wordpress.com/the-feather-palaces-of-the-klein-karoo/the-c-p-nel-museum-of-oudtshoorn/)
