Monuments

White Ecury House * 1910

Category: Oranjestad
Address: Schelpstraat 40
Year Built: 1910
Open to Public: No
Status: Government of Aruba

This stately red building in the Schelpstraat has been designated as a monument. It was built in 1910.

It was the home of merchant Segundo Nicasio Ecury, commonly known as Dundun. The trade house S.N. Ecury represented Ford motorcars and Goodrich tires, was agent of several firms in refrigerators and radios and much, much more.

S.N. Ecury was the initiator for building it, however, it is not known who the architect was at the time.

Dundun Ecury had this house built in 1910. The house had just the ground floor when finished in 1911 and got an extra floor in 1918.

Ecury family, early 30s

 

The family was rapidly expanding and counted no less than 13 children. One of them is Boy Ecury, Aruba’s war hero. He went to Holland in 1937 to study, joined the Resistance movement against the German occupation which would cost him his life, fusillated in 1944.

The front of the 1911 house is richly decorated with graceful woodcarvings and Roman-like columns. This mansion in red and white is therefore like a Caribbean City Villa.

The restoration was conducted on the initiative of the Archaeological Museum and ‘Monumentenbureau Aruba’ (Monument Office Aruba) and was funded by the European Union. The restoration architect was Bicharra and ir. B. Kamsteeg BK Consult handled the renovation management.

The property is currently being used as the office and library of the Archaelogical Museum.