Page 15 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Friday 25 July 2025

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

northeast wind, leaving
clumps of gold behind. The The gold mill itself had a
next step was melting the short life-span: only 10 years
gold and letting it attach in service, but its structure
to quicksilver in order to remained relatively solid till
obtain pure gold. All these this day, and is now a his- Sources: Etnia Nativa & gold-
processes were done at torical remnant. q mineranch.com.
the Bushiribana Gold Mill.

(Oranjestad)—The Bushiri- while out herding his fa-
bana Gold Mill Ruins is one ther’s sheep. His father took
of the most visited places it to a local merchant who
by tourists on the island, then sold the lump for $70.
as it lies along the north- Unbeknownst to the boy
ern coast line near the mini and his father, they quite
pool and on the way to the literally struck gold, and
Natural Bridge. Despite its as word got out, a gold
seemingly plain appear- fever spread among the
ance, this ruin represents locals who started search-
one of the most important ing for more gold. About 25
histories of the island: The pounds worth was found.
Aruban Gold Rush.
At the same time, the Aru-
Built in 1872 by English com- ban government took im-
pany Aruba Island Gold mediate actions, and in-
Mining Company Ltd, the formed Curacao that gold
gold mill at Bushiribana was found. At first, every-
was constructed in the one could look for gold,
area where most gold was as long as they sold it to
found by locals. The story the government. However,
of gold on Aruba actually after some time, the gov-
dates back to 1725, when ernment decided to im-
a first exploration for gold plement stricter rules and
on the island was commis- banned local search par-
sioned by the Dutch West ties.
India Company. Under the
leadership of Mr. Paulus Over the years, concession-
Printz, a three-year search holding had seen different
was conducted on Aruba, companies from around
to no avail. Though they the world, all of which used
found some gold, it was primitive methods to dig
enough to motivate a fur- and carve out gold from
ther search, and the as- the rocks. Aruba Island
signment was discontinued Gold Mining Company Ltd.
by Printz himself. was no different, but used
a unique method that in-
It wasn’t until 100 years lat- volved grinding the rocks
er, in 1824, when a young and letting the dust be
boy found a lump of gold blown away by the strong