Page 14 - aruba-today-20190330

A14 LOCAL
Saturday 30 March 2019

The National Archives of Aruba receives a painting of Garibaldi Helder

April 9, 1939 almost 80 years ago, when a truck
hit him while he was taking a nap ‘siesta’on a
square in the neighborhood of Rancho, where
nowadays the Aruba Trading Company is lo-
cated in Weststraat.

In 2008 during the exhibition “Exposicion Heren-
cia di Sclavitud Aruba” (Exhibition Heritage of
the Slaves in Aruba), two paintings of Garibaldi
Helder were exibited. These paintings were in-
spired by the only known picture of Ba. These
paintings were from Roy Richardson, who was
a greatgrandson of Garibaldi Helder. His last
painting that he painted before he died in
2006, he gave to mrs. Ruby Wilson Lyskowinsky
(q.e.p.d.) on the March 12, 2006. Ruby is the
daughter of Margot Helder Wilson Kelkboom
and also granddaughter of Garibaldi Helder,
that lived in United States of America.

This painting that was presented today at the
ORANJESTAD —The National Archives of Aru- and punctual, hereby making sure that the mail Archivo Nacional Aruba was also in the exibi-
ba had the pleasure and honor of receiving was delivered on time to its destiny. The Gov- tion in 2008. The painting returned briefly to
a painting of Garibaldi Cephas Helder (r.i.p). ernment paid him a small salary for this work. Ba Aruba to be part of the exhibition and returned
Garibaldi a wellknown ‘icon’ during his years was also present at the dock when the boats back to the United States to Ruby. One of the
from “Rancho”and “Playa” (areas known in arrived or departed, in this manner he helped wishes of Ruby was that after her death the
Oranjestad). out with the transportation of freight etc. on his painting return to Aruba and to be gifted to the
wheelbarrow. people of Aruba. Her last wish became a reality
Garibaldi Helder, better known as “Ba”, and on March 25, 2019. Her daughter, mrs. Deabora
was born on September 18, 1861, at his birth he In other documents from the archives we came Reynolds, and the siblings of Ruby, mr. Ronald
was still a slave. Two years later, on July 1, 1863, across a testimony of mr. Dooi Dañe (r.i.p.) who Wilson y Ronald Kelkboom, gifted this painting
when the slavery was abolished in the entire mentions that during the heavy rain season to the director of the National Archives of Aru-
Dutch territory, Garibaldi was one of the young- Ba Helder stood on the side of Rooi ‘Stream’ ba, mr. Raymond Hernandez.
est slaves who was freed. Garibaldi was born Manonchi, on the road from Playa to Santa
and raised in the neighborhood of “Rancho” in Cruz, especially to carry the women who need- Mr. Raymond Hernandez, gave the family pres-
Oranjestad also reffered to as “Playa”. The au- ed to cross the stream to get on the other side. ent a short summary of who Ba Helder was
tor Wim Lampe, describes Garibaldi is his book Ba Helder was known for his tall posture, and and also acknowledged that this is the second
as a well-known figure in “Playa”. Ba Helder was according to the notes of mr. Roy Richardson piece of heritage of the Helder family that is
considered as a ‘Chief’ of Rancho. Ba was also (r.i.p.) on the donated painting, he had a hight given to the National Archives of Aruba. The
known as a announcer. He went around with of 2.05 meters. From another source it looks like first one was a ‘freedom letter’that belonged to
a bell in the streets of Oranjestad to anounce Ba was indeed a tall and strong man, but who mrs. Anna Stacia Helder (r.i.p) which received
the auction of the donkeys, which were confis- was also one of the most appreciated and her freedom on June 1, 1863 when the slavery
cated by the police and which the owners did loved persons in Playa. So much that the dentist was abolished in the Dutch Kingdom. This is the
not claim back. He was also a mailman, who mr. Dolfi Oduber (r.i.p.) had a painting of Ba in only freedom letter that Aruba has. Anna Stacia
delivered the mail in Oranjestad. According to his house, hereby demonstrating his apprecia- Helder was the aunt of Garibaldi Ba Helder and
Wim Lampe, he was a person who was reliable tion for this character. Garibaldi Helder died on was a little girl of 11 years when she received her
freedom from slavery in Aruba. The ‘freedom
letter’ from Anna Stacia Helder is a gift that mrs.
Benita Davelaar-Helder gave to the National
Archives of Aruba a few years ago. Mrs. Helder
inherited this very valuable document from her
father Rafael Helder (1911-1997). Rafael Helder
inherited this document from his father Nicasio
Helder (1879-1967), a nephew from Anna Sta-
cia Helder.

Archivo Nacional Aruba sends a heartfelt thank
you in name of the people of Aruba to the fam-
ily of mrs. Ruby Lyskowinsky for this nice gesture
and also to the entire descendants of Garibaldi
Ba Helder for their presence during this special
moment.

Archivo Nacional Aruba wants to remind ev-
eryone that may have any valuable document
and or other type of material such as photos
etc. that have a relation with our families and or
the history of our island that they are more than
welcome to give them or atleast make a digital
copy of them for their collection. q