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Monday 28 april 2025 locAl
A10

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

(Oranjestad)—The Bushiri-
bana Gold Mill Ruins is one
of the most visited places by
tourists on the island, as it lies
along the northern coast line
near the mini pool and on
the way to the Natural Bridge.
Despite its seemingly plain
appearance, this ruin repre-
sents one of the most impor-
tant histories of the island: The
Aruban Gold Rush.

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

Meet Aruba’s biggest hero

Boy Ecury

(Oranjestad)—This past May 4th, ies abroad. This was in 1937, three
Aruba as well as The Netherlands years before WWII broke out.
commemorated those who sadly During the war, he actively partici-
perished during the Second World pated in the rebellion in The Neth-
War. As is known around the globe, erlands against the Nazi regime,
this chapter in world history is one but his rebellious streak and con-
of the most tragic yet, and many stant drive to fight for justice began
soldiers and rebels have died on even before the war broke out. Be-
the frontline during this time. ing a person of color with a Haitian
heritage living in The Netherlands
One of those rebels who have made him vulnerable to discrimi- helped people go into hiding, as was arrested by German soldiers.
fought against the Nazi regime, nation, and this inspired him to be well as opened fire against allies He was placed in the “Oranje-
was an Aruban named Segundo an activist, to stand up and fight of the Nazi regime. In these oper- hotel” prison in Scheveningen, The
Jorge Adelberto “Boy” Ecury. Born against discrimination and op- ations, Boy really stood out for his Hague, where he was questioned.
in Aruba on April 23rd, 1922, Boy pression. After seeing the horrific cold bloodedness. Despite being given away by an
spent his childhood on the island, bombings of Rotterdam first-hand, In 1943, he received a notice to be acquaintance, he himself never
before being sent to The Nether- he decided to join the resistance. placed for work in Germany. This gave away the names of his com-
lands by his father when he was At the same time, he was still study- he refused, of course, and went rades. Famously, he told his cell
15 years old to continue his stud- ing and living with family in Tilburg. into hiding using multiple address- mate: “I will die with a smile on my
It was there where he met people es in multiple cities. Because he face.”
who printed and distributed the was a wanted man, he of course On November 6th, 1944, Ecury was
rebellion newspaper. This would could not continue to be active executed. He was only 22 years
be the first of three rebellion group as a rebel. However, stubborn and old.
that he would join throughout his naturally rebellious as he was, he Ecury was buried with military hon-
4-year service to the resistance. always tried to join in on the opera- or. In 1949, the Aruban Govern-
Boy’s primary task as member of tions regardless. ment erected a monumental bust
the group was to distract the Ger- In 1944, after his friend Luis de Lan- of him in front of what is now the
man soldiers while others ran into noy, a fellow rebel from Curacao, linear park trail, and in 1984 he re-
hiding into alleyways. This he was was arrested and executed, he ceived the Resistance Memorial
able to do because of his skin moved to Delft, where he joined Cross postmortem.
color and confronting demeanor. his third and last group in Rotter- Boy’s life motto was this: “In my fa-
Boy also participated in the multi- dam. During this time, he wrote a ther’s house, there is no place for a
ple sabotaging operations against goodbye letter for his family, pos- traitor.” q
the German military occupying sibly knowing the risks of him being
The Netherlands. These included active again in the big cities. Source: “De Kolibrie op de Rots (en
bombings on German military Eventually, he proved himself right. meer over the geschiedenis van
trucks and trains. The group also On November 5th, 1944, Boy Ecury Aruba)” by Evert Bongers.