Page 17 - AB

a7
local Friday 28 March 2025
Adriaan Laclé

One of Aruba’s richest men in the twentieth century

he commissioned the construction
of the famous La Quinta Carmen
manor—now a restaurant. Though
he himself never lived in the beau-
tiful manor, his own house also
reflected his success and good
taste. Today his house still stands in
good condition and can be found
in the back streets of main street
Oranjestad.
Regarding his personal life, it has
been said that he was married
twice during his lifetime. He had his
first daughter during his first mar-
riage but lost his wife soon after her
birth. During his second marriage,
he fathered 16 children. However, tions as a townhall, used to host
it has been said that only 11 of civil marriages, while Maximilian
those 17 made it past 18 years of and Maria Veneranda’s house
(Oranjestad)—The name Adriaan Adriaan was born in 1866 and was age. Perhaps two of his most well- stands on the opposite side of the
Laclé may ring a bell to locals as the eldest of six children. Not much known daughters are Maria Mon- road to them—though currently
one of the bigger roads on the is- is known about his childhood up- ica Laclé and Maria Veneranda under renovation after years left in
land, but about a century ago, bringing or any of his earlier busi- Laclé, who went on to marry suc- ruin.q
Adriaan Laclé was a rich business- ness ordeals, but during his hay day cessful brothers Eloy Arends and
man, well-known for his generosity, he often helped people get loans, Maximilian Arends, respectively. Source: De Kolibrie op de Rots (en
wealth, and taste. was a well-established trader, and Their houses are still standing; Eloy meer over de geschiedenis van Aru-
owned several plots of land. In fact, and Maria Monica’s mansion func- ba) by Evert Bongers.

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

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