Page 17 - AHATA

a8 local
Wednesday 14 May 2025
The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

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