In 1982, ICOMOS established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites. This year the theme was Rural Landscapes. Monumentsfund aruba (MFA) made use of this opportunity to announce the purchase of a monument at Pos Abou 19. This house known by the name ‘Cas Tan Tin’ (House of Aunt Tin) now belongs to the collection of monuments owned by MFA. Currently the Monumentsbureau which is the governmental department in charge of the protection of monuments is working on the legal protection of this beautiful house.
Last year a letter of intent was signed between MFA and the government of Aruba to purchase this house. Finally after just a few months everything was ready to announce that the house has been purchased by MFA and the keys were officially handed to the Minister of Culture who will be the tenants and Mi Cutisa Foundation will be the users of this beautiful cunucu house. Mi Cutisa Foundation will make sure to keep the history of this house alive and make it accessible to the public.
The Tan Tin House was built by Mario and Johanna Tromp. Here they raised their nine children. The father also planted fruits and vegetables like okra, cucumber and pumpkin for their own consumption.
Typical Cunucuhouses obtained their name because most of them where in rural (‘Cunucu’ ) areas.
The houses in the form like the Tan Tin House were constructed in the period after the ‘Torto Houses’ made of loam which also form part of our rural heritage. Most of these houses were surrounded by a large tract of land often used for cultivation.
Due to the changes and developments on the island, these houses have become part of more inhabited areas. But they are still there to remind us of Aruba’s rural heritage.
Monumentsfund Aruba is proud of this acquisition which is also a contribution to preserve this beautiful cunucuhouse for future generations. q
