150.The Chemist’s of Montagu
Updated: 19/05/2026
The first chemist in Montagu.
Balthazar Desvages
Picture: Montagu Museum
According to the above information which was found with Balthazar’s picture his chemist shop was in Bath Street. The reference made to Wahl’s above refers to a Montagu family who ran a business in a building which today houses PEP (66 Bath Street 2025). The Wahl family business was a typical general merchant of yesteryear. Catering for groceries and clothes, furniture to TVs, radios, cassette and record players. Somewhere in the mix was more kitchenware, not to mention a bicycle or three. Only for what there was demand and room on the floor.
The letter that follows was a response to an enquiry from the then Montagu Museum archivist Mrs. Bee Jordaan
His licence to operate as a Chemist and druggist (issued in April 1880) was under the name of Balthazar Desvages
Documents and photo: Montagu Museum
The second chemist in Montagu.
P.L. Looch
The above document was found in the Montagu Museum. The document was written by Mrs. Bee Jordaan who was the Montagu Museum archivist at the time. It states that Montagu was without a chemist for a number of years which would then suggest that Mr. Jack Plax started up his chemist from scratch.
The Knysna pharmacy of Mr. P.L. Looch. Could Mr. Looch be the one dressed in white?
Picture: Knysna Historical Society
The above plaque was found on the Knysna Historical Societies website and shows that Mr P.L. Looch operated his chemist in Knysna from 1924 to 1927 where after it is assumed he moved to Montagu.
P.L. Looch had his shop at 37 Bath Street.
Picture: Google Streetview 2010
Mnr. Nolte Die Burger-korrespondent vir Montagu berig
22 September 1939 – Mnr Looch se apteek brand
‘n Rampspoedige brand het vroeg vanoggend in die apteek van mnr. P. L. Looch uitgebreek en binne ‘n paar uur is alles in as gelê. Nie ‘n enkele dingetjie is uit sy groot voorraad gered nie. Gelukkig is met die hulp van baie gewillige helpers is die brand verhoed om te versprei na die vasaangrensende geboue.
Die bakery wat in dieselfde gebou was is ook vernietig. Die skade is gedeeltelik deur assuransie gedek.
Die oorsaak van die brand is nog nie vasgestel nie.
1 Desember 1939 – Die apteek van mnr Looch heropen
Mnr P L Looch wat onlangs sy apteek met hele voorraad deur ‘n brand verloor het en wat ‘n geruime ongesteld was, is nou soveel beter dat hy sy besigheid kon heropen in die kamers nasaan die kafee van mnr. H. Stemmet. Hierdie kamers wat maar gedeeltelik verniel deur die brand was en is intussen herstel. Baie van mnr. Looch se ondersteuners, wat innig saam met hom gevoel het in sy swaar verlies was bly om hom terug in sy besigheid te sien.
The third chemist in Montagu.
Jack Plax
Jack Plax with his daughter Breda and wife Toeks
Picture: Tali
L/R: Jack Plax’s three children Harvey, Brenda and Julian picture taken in September 2024
A W/A message from Harvey in 2025: We left Montagu around January of ‘65. I had just finished sub A and going on 7 years of age. So my memories are vague. The only two recollections I have was walking with dad to work in the mornings then heading up the road to school and probably stopping in on the way home. The other is the smell of perfume when entering the chemist. Back in those days the chemist is where the ladies bought their makeup and perfume. There was an attractive blonde lady, Mrs Stock, who worked behind the counter.
FYI – I was in CT recently for a month and visited Montagu. Got to see Ernie Oosthuizen and Elmari (nee) Knipe. Unfortunately Richard Knipe and his wife Crystelle were out of town at the time. Really hasn’t changed. Around 28 years ago my wife and I bought a vacation home located similarly in a valley surround with mountains. Similar climate too. This is my Montagu. My kids had the opportunity to experience country life – not just City life for which I am grateful.
If you get a chance, use google earth to take a look at Kernville California.
Thanks for keeping mom and dads’ name alive. Dad always said his best years were in Montagu. I’m sure mom would have agreed.
All of the best, Harvey
The last pic. I have with mom and dad. It was mom’s 90th. She passed away 22 months later.
Jack operated his chemist from a property across the road from the Montagu Country Hotel in Bath Street. The building was at that time known as Goldblatt’s Corner. The owner of the building was Herman Goldblatt.
Picture: Kierie Van Deventer Collection
The fourth chemist in Montagu.
Günther Leidig
Günther with staff member Anita
Günther and Pat bought their business from Jack Plax in 1964 and stayed in the same premises as Jack Plax until 1976. Gűnther then purchased 57 Bath street on the corner of Bath and Mark Streets. The building needed to be renovated.The pharmacy moved in November 1976. He stayed in this building until his retirement in 2000. He sold the pharmacy to Alda Burger and Lisa Scholtz.
Evidence of Günther Leidig presence in Bath Street can still be seen on the door frame of the shop he occupied in Goldblatt’s Corner 48 Bath Street (2025).
The old shop on the corner of Kohler and Bath streets
Bath Street with the three wheeler chemist delivery bikes in the background
Staff at old shop L/R: Toekie, Günther, Alberti, Hettie, Marietha and Mr. Vaicis
Mr Vaicis in the old shop with the Montagu Country Hotel visible across the road
Delivery staff L/R: Johannes, Not available and Jannie
Die ‘Specials’ lys in 1976
RETIRED AT LAST
Pat and Günther Leidig have been living in Montagu for the past 36 years, running the well- known Montagu Pharmacy, until their retirement earlier this year.
This charming couple have made an impact on many people’s lives.
Come down with the flu or a tummy bug? Often the recommendation
from those in the know was “Go and get one of Günther Leidig’s remedies – that’ll cure you!” And sure enough, it more often than not did the trick.
They met when they were both studying and working at different pharmacies in East London. Günther had to visit the one where Pat was working and immediately spotted this attractive blonde in a white coat. “I was lucky enough to get a date with her. We have now been married for 37 years and the rest, as they say, is history!” laughs Günther.
They came to Montagu in 1964 after they’d decided they wanted to move to “somewhere in the Boland/Karoo”. The only two conditions as to where it would be were that the town had to have at least one tarred road, and the house an indooor toilet!
Montagu Pharmacy started off where Tickled Pink is now and moved to its current premises 25 years ago. At the time, the building had no windows or electricity. People told them they were crazy to move to the corner of Bath and Market Streets as it was too far for people to walk! As it turned out, it was one of the best moves they could have made
Certain facts about Pat and Günther would make one wonder how they manage to be so compatible: one is Catholic, the other Lutheran; one German, one English. They don’t agree about politics either, but they have so many other things in common. Many couples would find working together quite difficult, but not these two.
“Oh, we have our disagreements, just like any other couple. But if we spend time apart we lie awake at night discussing what happened that day,” says Pat.
Their many fond, and sometimes amusing memories of their Pharmacy days will always remain with them, but their greatest pleasure came from the numerous times customers would return to say thank you for a particular remedy that worked.
These two are great lovers of ballroom dancing and have fond memories of the old Avalon Hotel with its wonderful sprung wooden dance floor. They intend taking lessons again once they’ve settled into retirement.
“It takes some getting used to,” smiles Pat. “I have to stop myself from rushing and remind myself that I don’t have to go to work!”
They hope to do some travelling in the future but will not be leaving Montagu.
We wish them all the best for a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Günther (back left) as part of the Montagu business community
Photo: Montagu Museum
1931 – 2006
Article: Montagu Mail February 2006
A well–attended funeral service was held in the Dutch Reformed Church on Friday 20 January for Günther Leidig, who died on 16 January, He practised as a pharmacist in Montagu for 39 years until 2003 – the ‘medicine man’ as he was called by ds. Japie Weideman, former NGK dominee at Montagu, who conducted the service.
Because of his long association with Montagu, he got to know the townspeople well and it was evident from the response during and after the service that he was a greatly respected Montaguer.
Günther Leidig attended the German school in Paarl and afterwards Paarl Boys’ High School. After studying pharmacy at the University of Cape Town he worked in a pharmacy in East London and moved to Montagu in 1964.
He was known locally as a meticulous man, as a pharmacist is required to be: always on time, always precise in what he did, always polite in his dealings with clients, always dependable. He was the perfect gentleman. He spoke three languages fluently: English, Afrikaans and German, although he identified with the Afrikaans community and regularly attended the Dutch Reformed Church.
Apart from typical German food he loved South African dishes such as bobotie. He was very fond of music – he played the piano, the violin and the accordion. He and his wife Patricia had a large circle of friends who often visited them at the end of Ebden Street off Long Street, and many a conversation on a wide range of subjects, from history to politics and sport, took place there, often next to the pool.
Günther enjoyed his retirement enormously, often travelling with Patricia and becoming very relaxed. The two of them had a wonderful relationship, being not only husband and wife but also best friends. They loved to dance and made a lovely couple on the dance floor.
Pat, as she is affectionately known, assisted him in the pharmacy for over 30 years. Together, they also served the community through their membership of various organisations and charities.
Günther and Pat were proud of their daughters, Ingrid, Nicolene and Renate. Ingrid van der Merwe practises as a physiotherapist in Robertson, Nicolene as lawyer with the firm Falck Muller Baard in the same town, and Renate is married to Peter Sinovich, owner of the Montagu Nursery’.
L/R: Nicolene, Renate, Pat and Ingrid
As Peter said in his eulogy during the service, Günther lived life to the full. And as I jogged down Long Street past Ebden Street with my dog in the late afternoon after the funeral service, I thought to myself: Gűnther would have approved!
The Leidig Gallery
Günther and wife Patricia celebrating the first birthday of the business
The Leidig’s also found time for relaxation and socialising
The building on the corner of Bath and Du Toit Streets before it was renovated
The building at 57 Bath Street after renovations. The current (2025) Montagu Pharmacy still operates from this building
Güther outside his new pharmacy
And then another landmark building disappears in Montagu (2026)
On Duty
Ansie Fourie, Lisa Terblanche (Scholtz) (student)
Marieta, Toekie, Alberti, Günther, Mr Vaicis, Ansie, Hettie (57 Bath Street)
All pictures unless otherwise stated: Renate Sinovich
MONTAGU APTEEK
What I can remember by Renate Sinovich (Daughter)
Ek wil net ’n vinnige geskiedenis gee. Die eerste rekord van ’n Apeek in Montagu was in 1880. Ons verstaan Mnr Looch het in 1927 sy Apteek oopgemaak by 37 Badstraat. Sy Apteek het in 1939 afgebrand. Die volgende jaar 1940 het Mnr Jack Plax Montagu Apteek oopgemaak in die gebou Crockers Corner. My pa het in 1964 Montagu Apteek by Jack Plax gekoop. My pa se naam bortjie is nog steeds bo die deur.
My ouers het in Augustus 1964 Montagu toe getrek vanaf Oos Londen en my suster Ingrid was 5 maande oud. Op 27 Januarie 1965 het my pa Montagu Apteek offisieel by die Aptekers Raad geregistreer. Die Maandag is Montagu Apteek offisieel 60 jaar oud.
Daar was geen huise beskikbaar nie en my ouers en Ingrid het vir 11 maande oorkant die pad in Montagu Hotel gebly. Ingrid was nog ’n baba.
Na die 11 maande kon hulle in hulle eie huis in Montagu Suid intrek wat hulle laat bou het. My Ma vertel dat die Apteek se voorraad met ’n trein tot op Ashton gekom het en vandaar per pad tot by Montagu stasie. Montagu stasie was net om die hoek van die Apteek. Montagu Apteek het medisyne pakkies met die Brood Lorry Barrydale toe gestuur.
In daai dae het die Apteek drie aflewerings manne op fietse gehad.
My ouers was baie hardwerkend. My pa het die Apteek met ’n lening gekoop en het dit wonderbaarlik in 2 of 3 jaar terug betaal.
In 1972 het my pa ’n Apteker mnr. Vaicis van Latvia aangestel. Hy en sy vrou het deel van ons familie en die Apteek familie geword. Die kinders het altyd vir hom in die dispensary kom soek want hy het sjokolade vir hulle in sy sak gehad.
Die perseel het te klein geraak en my pa het die huidige gebou 57 Bad straat in 1976 gekoop by mnr. Wahl. Dit was ’n stoor en Oom Eddie Stemmet het dit omskep in wat dit is vandag (2025). Die skuif van Montagu Apteek het veroorsaak dat die besigheid centre in daai deel begin ontwikkel het.
My pa en ma is “legends” diens op ’n ander vlak. Hy het mense gehelp na ure (selfs vir ʼn baba se dummy) en het nooit ’n na ure fooi gevra nie. Hy het geglo dat die armste van die arm moet medisyne kan bekostig en alles wat hulle benodig moet nie meer as tien rand kos. Baie mense het hom Dr. Leidig genoem en ds. Weideman het hom Medicine Man genoem.
Mense het van heide en ver gekom vir sy eie mengsels, Maag, lewer griep ens. Sy Griep mengsel was ‘Famous’.
My pa het nooit kos gemaak nie, hy konnie eers ʼn eier kook nie. Een dag kom Peter (skoon seun) in die kombuis en my pa was besig om die bestanddele uit te meet en te kook. Toe sê Peter vir hom as jy dit kan doen dan kan jy mos kos ook maak en toe sê hy sjoe.
Die van ons wat kan onthou my pa het elke dag werk toe gestap in sy kort broek wit, safari suit met sy geliefde Nyxie hond. Op ’n koue dag het hy handskoene gedra. Ma het elke dag werk toe gery met die Geel VW Beetle en baie keer tee tyd vir Nyxie terug huis toe geneem.
My ma het op ’n gereelde basis Kaap toe gegaan en geskenk aankope gedoen. As jy iets spesifiek gesoek het het my ma moeite gedoen om dit te kry. Sy was uitstekend.
Montagu Apteek het oor die jare baie winkel assistente gehad. Ek het ook vir 6 jaar daar gewerk. Ek en Suria het die toedraai van geskenke in ’n kuns omskep. Keersfees was almal se gunsteling tyd in die Apteek.
Daar was heelwat Aptekers wat hulle vakleerlingskap by die Apteek kom doen het.
Alda Burger was een van hulle. En pa was so bly toe sy met ‘n plaaslike man trou en hy haar as ‘n Locum kon gebruik.
Günther and his Locum Alda Burger
My ouers was nog meer bly toe Alda en Lisa Scholtz die Apteek in Augustus 2000 by hom gekoop het en dit na ’n nuwe vlak geneem het.
Anelma Ooshuizen: Ek onthou mnr. en mev. Plax..sy was so ‘n mooi vrou. Altyd deel van modeparades ens. Gereël deur Justine Basson..ek onthou ook die Leidig gesin en apteek..van die personeel ook bv. Alberti en Hettie..ek onthou goed hoe die 2 genoemde aptekers hier se apteke van binne gelyk het..mnr. Vaicus het gewoon op hoek van Joubert en Bloemstr. M.a.w. regoor my ma se huis se westekant..mnr. Vaicus het soms spesiale middel aangemaak vir my ma se hande want hy het gesien hoe sy in die tuin werk..sy vrou was kunsskilder..van haar werk het in die personeelkamer van die laerskool gehang. Dis nou die mun. gebou en bib..mnr. en mev. Vaicus was opera liefhebbers..hul plate versameling was groot..sy het vir my ma gesê hul het plate van al die operas. Na hul dood het Kramer musiekwinkel in Kaapstad al die opera plate kom haal op Montagu.
The fifth generation team
Lisa Scholtz(L) en Alda Burger
Ek wil net vir Alda al die beste toewens vir die toekoms soos sy voortgaan om Montagu te dien.
Moving on: 2021
In 2021 het Lisa Scholtz haar aandele aan Martin Coetzer verkoop. Hy en Alda het die apteek se branding in the Local Choice verander. In 2023 het Alda Martin Coetzer se aandele gekoop en is nou alleen eienaar van Montagu The Local Choice.
The old disappears
The Local Choice Montagu Bekendstelling 5 November 2021
Contributions
Irma Jordaan for the major documentation find in the archive
Renate Sinovich for making your father’s story come alive with the photo’s
