Page 8 - AHATA

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local Tuesday 3 december 2024
Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

According to Etnia Nativa, of work they found the old
in the 18th century most of foundations of the Church
the inhabitants of Aruba of the Queen of the Holiest
were indigenous who lived Rosary to build a new cha-
on the north coast, one of the pel on the same place. The
largest communities lived in entire surrounding area was
Alto Vista. empty and desolated, mak-
ing it hard to imagine that
As they were very religious, Alto Vista was a town at all.
they had a chief with the A hundred years later, peo-
name of Antonio Silvester ple can see the remains of
who guided them in the vester, one of Antonio’s sons around twenty houses, some
Christian life and it was he with his wife Anna Cathalina made of stone and others of
who decided to build a Tromp, “neighbors and natu- clay. Nowadays, only around
stone chapel with a roof rals of the island Aruba” and six of these houses remain.
of corn rods, which would thus they became natives. still the markings of an old The chapel can be viewed
serve as a place of prayer. South of the chapel in the house, where Antonio and from basically any point in
In 1750 it was blessed by At the end of the eighteen yard two graves can be ob- Bernardino Silvester would the north side, even from
Father Algamesi who came century many inhabitants the served, there was the cem- have lived. About 200 me- Paradera and Sero Plat. All
from Coro-Venezuela and island died as a result of the etery which father Pablo de ters from the chapel there the historical remains around
appointed Domingo Anto- black fever epidemic and Algemesi blessed. It is not is a water tank which the lo- the chapel provide us with
nio Silvester as the island’s since people believed that certain, but it is believed cals call Tanki Cacique. In an idea on how the old peo-
first prosecutor in the name the Alto Vista area was the that the two graves belong the past this tank was closed. ple of Alto Vista used to live.
of the Spanish crown and most infected, they began to Antonio Silvester and But mostly water was brought Don’t miss the opportunity to
Rome. In 1752 the prosecu- to build their homes further Miguel Alvares, according out from the Poz di Noord, a visit a place of historical sig-
tion passed into the hands of south within the Noord area, to Nooyen. About 50 meters well dug in the sand. nificance with a window to
Antonio Silvester’s son-in-law, so the town of Noord began near the chapel there are Aruba’s past.q
Miguel Álvarez, who contin- to grow into a community
ued to guide the parishioners till getting its own Church.
in their prayers. However religious festivals
continued to be celebrated
According to the book, The at this sacred native place,
History of Alto Vista by R.H. with the custom of arriving
Nooyen, it is not known when in procession to Alto Vista.
Domingo Antonio Silvester
came to Aruba from Venezu- Two-hundred years after the
ela. The elders believe Anto- beautiful time of Alto Vista,
nio was a Spaniard. In 1780, people can no longer see
father Joseph Antonio de la much of the town of Alto
Vegal called Bernardino Sil- Vista from 1750. With a lot

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