(Oranjestad)—Monumentsfund Aruba (SMFA) has recently announced that the restoration of Cas Debrot has now entered its second phase. In 2024, SMFA bought the building from the Debrot family and has since designated it as a protected monument.
Located at Caya Betico Croes 98, the history of Cas Debrot starts with Jose Maria (Boy) Debrot, a merchant from Bonaire who moved to Aruba with his parents after the economic boom brought on by the refinery in the late 1920s. After arriving to Aruba, the family opened a general store in Nassaustraat 94, next to the parcel which soon after housed Cas Debrot. The store operated under the firm E.F. Debrot Sucs Inc.—named after his father Eduard Ferdinand Debrot. The firm was an import and export company and sold alcoholic beverages, jukeboxes and even office furniture and air conditioners.
In 1929, Boy married Elia Capriles and they had their honeymoon in Europe. It’s estimated that during their time abroad the construction of Cas Debrot commenced and was finalized soon after their return. When they moved in, they decorated the house with European furniture.
The Debrot family lived in the house for 10 years after its construction, and in 1941 during the Second World War they moved to Venezuela, where Elia is from.
After the Debrot family vacated the house, the building itself saw a myriad of changes throughout the 20th century and had had an important role in Oranjestad’s business life. The building housed Hollandsche Bank Unie (Dutch Bank Union), Debrot Hardware Store, Nassau Shoe Shop and even housed the Venezuelan consulate.
In 1950, the building was split between Hollandsche Bank Unie N.V. and the Venezuelan consulate until the 1970s. Its current architectural design reflects the Neo-Barok Latin American artistic movement that dominated the 60s and 70s.
Pictures courtesy of Monumentsfund Aruba (SMFA).
