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                                                                                                           LOCAL Friday 28 June 2024































            Rotary Club of Aruba Beautifies YMCA Dakota with “Hands-On” Project



            Recently,  the  Rotary  Club  from the Rotary Club of Aru-                             with  all  the  members  of  2023-2024.  With  this  sup-
            of  Aruba  joined  hands  in  ba  cut  the  grass,  installed                          the  Rotary  Club  of  Aruba,  port,  the  Rotary  Club  of
            a  “Hands-On”  project  at  ground cover, and placed                                   wishes  to  thank  the  busi-  Aruba  has  provided  finan-
            YMCA  Dakota  to  beautify  gravel.  In  the  back  yard,                              nesses,  commerce,  and  cial assistance to various in-
            the  entrance  and  clean  they cut the grass and did                                  the  community  in  general  stitutions, enabling them to
            the yard. This way, the chil-  a thorough cleaning.                                    for  once  again  contribut-  help the most vulnerable in
            dren who attend this YMCA                                                              ing  during  this  Rotary  year  our community.q
            center can enjoy a cleaner  Together with Rotary mem-
            and more attractive estab-   bers and friends of the Club,
            lishment.  At  the  entrance  the  work  was  completed
            of  the  building,  volunteers  in  record  time,  thus  beau-






                                                                      tifying the entrance of the
                                                                      YMCA.  With  this  “Hands-
                                                                      On”  project,  the  Rotary
                                                                      Club  of  Aruba  concludes
                                                                      another  successful  Rotary
                                                                      year  under  the  leadership
                                                                      of President Luis Oduber.
                                                                      Additionally, outgoing Pres-
                                                                      ident  Luis  Oduber,  along

            The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history


            (Oranjestad)—The  Bushiribana  Gold  Mill  Ruins  Built in 1872 by English company Aruba Island  gold was found. At first, everyone could look for
            is one of the most visited places by tourists on  Gold  Mining  Company  Ltd,  the  gold  mill  at  gold, as long as they sold it to the government.
            the island, as it lies along the northern coast line  Bushiribana was constructed in the area where  However, after some time, the government de-
            near the mini pool and on the way to the Natu-  most gold was found by locals. The story of gold  cided  to  implement  stricter rules  and  banned
            ral Bridge. Despite its seemingly plain appear-  on Aruba actually dates back to 1725, when a  local search parties.
            ance, this ruin represents one of the most im-  first exploration for gold on the island was com-
            portant histories of the island: The Aruban Gold  missioned by the Dutch West India Company.  Over  the  years,  concession-holding  had  seen
            Rush.                                           Under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Paulus  Printz,  a  different  companies  from  around  the  world,
                                                            three-year search was conducted on Aruba, to  all of which used primitive methods to dig and
                                                            no avail. Though they found some gold, it was  carve  out  gold  from  the  rocks.  Aruba  Island
                                                            enough to motivate a further search, and the  Gold Mining Company Ltd. was no different, but
                                                            assignment was discontinued by Printz himself.   used  a unique method that  involved  grinding
                                                                                                            the rocks and letting the dust be blown away
                                                            It wasn’t until 100 years later, in 1824, when a  by  the  strong  northeast  wind,  leaving  clumps
                                                            young boy found a lump of gold while out herd-  of gold behind. The next step was melting the
                                                            ing his father’s sheep. His father took it to a lo-  gold and letting it attach to quicksilver in order
                                                            cal merchant who then sold the lump for $70.  to  obtain  pure  gold.  All  these  processes  were
                                                            Unbeknownst  to  the  boy  and  his  father,  they  done at the Bushiribana Gold Mill.
                                                            quite literally struck gold, and as word got out, a
                                                            gold fever spread among the locals who start-   The gold mill itself had a short life-span: only 10
                                                            ed searching for more gold. About 25 pounds  years in service, but its structure remained rel-
                                                            worth was found.                                atively solid till this day, and is now a historical
                                                                                                            remnant.q
                                                            At the same time, the Aruban government took
                                                            immediate actions, and informed Curacao that           Sources: Etnia Nativa & goldmineranch.com.
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