James Barry
Founded in the 1700s by European settlers, Barrydale, formerly known as Kannaland, came to be as a result of intrepid settlers looking for arable land that would support their farming. One outstanding settler, James Barry, left quite a mark on the small town as an acting lawyer, deputy sheriff, tradesman, auctioneer, and a member of the military to name but a few of his roles.
An all-round renaissance man, James Barry’s influence impressed the townspeople so much that the village was soon named after him. Barrydale flourished with its fertile land yielding bountiful crops, which included a host of delicious fruit, and also Sunday Houses, which allowed villagers to observe their religious practices, such as receiving communion. Later this grew to include a church when in 1878, land was dedicated to the development of the town’s first Dutch Reformed Church.
William Sterner
Another notable inhabitant of Barrydale was William Sterner. A trader by occupation, Sterner’s entrepreneurial ability soon took shape with his hotel, gunsmiths, general dealer shop, shoemaker and drapers. It is quite apparent how Barrydale came to be a hub of activity along Route 62. Today the town acts as the reputable base of the Barrydale Cooperative Winery and Distillery.
With all its developments it is hard to believe that the municipality of Barrydale was classified as an official town only in 1921. It just goes to show that hard work and great spirit always pays off in the end.
Barrydale is just one of many unique towns along the popular Route 62, and most travellers remember it for either one of these: great farm s...