Scherpenheuvel

Skèrpènè

It is almost unknown that Scherpenheuvel, alias Skèrpènè, was once a plantation with an accompanying landhuis. The plantation house disappeared in 1936 through the extension of the present imposing seminary, situated on the hill of the same name, north-east of Zuurzak and south-west of Santa Rosa. It not only dominates the surroundings but also the history of this former plantation.

Indians

In the vicinity of Skèrpènè there once lay — as at nearby Zuurzak — a traditional Indian dwelling place. According to Brenneker, during the digging work for the construction of the seminary at Skèrpènè an urn was hit, containing a small skull with a lot of powder. At Skèrpènè also stood one of the oldest gardens on Curaçao: already during the Spanish occupation, in 1499, it was indicated on maps as Platanal de Damian, Damian's banana plantation. In 1634 the island is in the hands of the West India Company, the WIC, and in 1670 Bartholomeus Triber, assistant at the WIC, is owner of Skèrpènè. In 1727 the plantation, with 28 enslaved people, still stood in the name of his widow, who sold the estate that year.

Watuflie

The name Watervliet for the northern part of Skèrpènè indicates that this was a very water-rich plantation. The location still has water-rich wells, and the name lives on in the Dam di Watuflie, which lies south of the seminary. In 1814 the "free negress" Anna Maria, called Anika in everyday speech, buys the plantation Watervliet near Scherpenheuvel, but despite the abundant water she sold the plantation again a year later. The owner of Watervliet in 1842 is Nicolaas Bor, a Catholic gardener, a friend of pastor Putman and collector for the construction of the church at Santa Rosa. In 1842 Watervliet had only a hut as a dwelling and further a granary with a tiled roof. In 1844 pastor Putman of Santa Rosa received the use of a piece of land north of Watervliet, which was from then on to be called the Kerktuin (Church Garden). Skèrpènè was above all a water supplier, and nopaleries (cactus plantations) were laid out to produce red dye, and by the landhuis there was also a hofje with big fruit trees. But although water-rich, the plantation did not produce as expected. Thus in 1833 permission was requested for burning lime as a source of income, and in 1839 it was auctioned in connection with failed harvests. Skèrpènè was successively in the hands of various Jewish families, as in 1845, when both Scherpenheuvel and Watervliet were offered for sale by the heirs of Esther Abraham Jacob Jesurun. Watervliet was definitively incorporated into plantation Scherpenheuvel from 1847.

Country house

In 1850 and 1856 Skèrpènè was bought mainly as a country house because it lay close to the city. Shon Manchi Penso, the last owner of Skèrpènè, sold the estate to the bishop of Mérida, and in March 1897 the first stone was laid for the construction of the seminary; the landhuis proved too small for it. The value of the plantation around 1900 was 20,000 guilders.

Seminary

The diocese of Mérida in Venezuela needed a large seminary — a college for the training of priests. The bishop, Mgr Ramon Silva, knew Curaçao well, and since it was politically more stable here than in Venezuela he corresponded in 1896 with the Curaçao congregation of Dutch Fraters Dominicanen, who dared to take on the heavy job. After the purchase of plantation Scherpenheuvel the building began, following a drawing and under the direction of pastor Frie of Santa Rosa, who was also a joiner. The boys' orphanage at Santa Rosa was to supply the woodwork. The contractors were Thomas Panneflek, master carpenter, and Ospicio Confesor, master mason, who had various town houses on Scharloo to his name. They were assisted by pastor van de Pavert, who among other things also designed the Holy Family Church in Otrobanda.

Aspiring priests

On 9 January 1898 the first 20 students arrived, but the very first enrolment was the local aspiring priest Antonius Ellis. It was hoped that Ellis would be the first of a series of priests graduating from "El Seminario Inmaculada de Concepción de Scherpenheuvel". The Spanish-speaking pupils were taught by Dutch brothers who in turn were taught Spanish by Frater Radulphus. The political unrest in Venezuela spread much unrest among the population of Mérida a few years later. As a result the students were obliged in 1901 to break off their studies and return home. According to other sources the lack of funds, which had originally turned out to derive from an inheritance, was the reason for closure. Be that as it may, it was hoped that the closure of the seminary would be temporary, but the building ultimately stood empty for 18 years.

Purchase by the brothers

A supervisor was appointed for the plantation and the seminary, former police officer John Bloem, who died in 1912. After that a Mr Van Kampen, a retired pilot, was appointed supervisor, who however ruined the plantation by having all the trees felled. The plantation was finally rented to Cornelis Sprockel. Until 1918 the bishop of Mérida was still the owner, and on 12 April of that year Mgr Vuylsteke, apostolic vicar of Curaçao, bought the plantation and the monumental building for the Sint Vicentius Foundation — the brothers (fraters) of Tilburg. In 1936 the landhuis disappeared to make room, in the middle of the present complex, for the chapel with a pointed roof and the extension on the right-hand side: here came a primary school, a cinema hall, the kitchen with dining hall, consulting rooms for the brothers and a recreation room for the youngsters. And only a small place west of Scherpenheuvel, called Mérida, still recalls the original set-up of Skèrpènè, namely a seminary for Venezuelan priests.

'Skol di frater'

The plantation had been called Scherpenheuvel since 1670, referring to a town and the best-known place of pilgrimage in Belgium. And when the brothers took over the seminary the building was renamed Huize Scherpenheuvel. The brothers on Curaçao had the care of orphans and neglected boys at Santa Rosa, who now moved to Scherpenheuvel. Later 17 brothers and 130 neglected youngsters lived here, which is why it was formerly also called the Orphanage (Weeshuis). It was also the very first boys' vocational school on the island, a facility that came about under the leadership of Frater Maria Radulphus Adrianus Hermus (1869–1961). He headed the Catholic mission on Curaçao, and at Scherpenheuvel there then came a carpentry shop, a shoemaking and tailoring workshop, a painting department, a metalwork shop, an upholstery shop, a smithy with mechanics' workshop and its own laundry.

National anthem

Later a school for car mechanics and drivers and a repair workshop for cars were added, which was still operational decades ago. Even DIY — Do It Yourself — courses were given here to interested women. The present spray and car-paint shop and the printing house (and former bindery) at Scherpenheuvel (Amigoe) are also a legacy of this dynamic brother. The ailing printing house was originally owned by the Catholic church but was taken over by the brothers. Here 10,000 exercise books were delivered monthly and numerous school books printed. The Sint Vicentius institution, better known as Skol di Frater di Skèrpènè, was a household name on Curaçao and guaranteed quality and craftsmanship.

Innovative education

Under the leadership of Frater Radulphus the number of schools on Curaçao was also considerably extended or restored. At the government's urging the vocational school at Scherpenheuvel was extended, and halls and sports facilities were added, among other things. To perfect education the brothers developed various new methods such as Zonnig Nederlands and Nos Patria. They were also pioneers in the founding of youth organisations such as Jonge Wacht, Scouting and football clubs such as Jong Holland, Sithoc and Scherpenheuvel. Besides the boarding school at Scherpenheuvel they also founded the boarding school San Fernando at Soto, and they made a cultural contribution through the founding of the Sint Vicentius Harmonie (brass band). Finally, the retreat centre Emaus Kas di Orashon at Soto is also an initiative of the brothers. It was also Frater Radulphus who wrote the original version of the national anthem for Curaçao — Nos Tera. His name lives on in the "Radulphus College", the R.C. school for havo and vwo on the Cas Coraweg.

Farewell to the brothers

In December 1995 the Fraternan di Skèrpènè took leave of the island after 109 years of dedication to education and the social welfare of young people on Curaçao and the other islands. The congregation's properties were donated to the island and management passed to Fundashon Sint Thomas College. After serving as seminary and boys' boarding school/vocational school, the building served from 1975 to 2008 as head office of the Central Roman Catholic School Board. In 2013 it became the "Home on the Sharp Hill", as a location for the medical faculty of St. Martinus University. For many years Scherpenheuvel also served mainly as office space for various businesses. In 2024 the western part of "Huize Scherpenheuvel" was sold for more than 2.5 million guilders to a private company that will fit it out as a care home for the elderly. The maintenance costs of the enormous building weighed heavily on the foundation's funds, and with the sale the foundation's other possessions, such as the eastern part of the monumental building, can be better maintained as historic heritage.

Pilot project

In 1907 DOW (the Department of Public Works) began a pilot project in which a system of 400 large and small dams was systematically laid out on Scherpenheuvel. The experience gained here immediately meant an end to the arbitrary subsidy policy for financing dams on private land, and from 1910 dams were built exclusively by DOW. In 1928 a pipeline came around the Schottegat, and by means of enormous water-pump installations at Hato, Scherpenheuvel and Klein Kwartier a large part of Curaçao was supplied with (well) water. In the rooi south-east of the seminary stood a government well with a large pump house and an enormous American windmill for the water supply of the neighbourhood.

Finca's

Skèrpènè still consists for a large part of hofjes and some 13 finca's (small farms) where farming, horticulture and also livestock keeping are practised. These lie around the hill, both in front of the seminary on the Kaminda Grandi and behind it in the area of Seru Loraweg. Thus in 1970 about 2.5 ha of land was bought for one of the largest dairy farms on the island, Natuurfarm Scherpenheuvel. The greater part of the former plantation is nowadays government land that is issued as leasehold. Furthermore, part of Scherpenheuvel is inhabited area, there are plots for sale for luxury villas in a rural setting, and in 1980 the convent Monasterio de Dios was inaugurated at the foot of the hill.

With thanks to: Helma Maduro-Molhuisen (photos of seminary, vocational school, landhuis and convent), Andre Rancuret, Frensel Mercelin, Jeroen Heuvel and François van der Hoeven.

Sources

• J. van Soest: Olie als water
• Ministerie SOAW: Buurtprofiel Seru Lora
• P. Brenneker: Sambumbu, various editions
• R. Nooyen: Van Bellefaas Martis tot Angel Obia
• M.D. Latour: Sausemangelen
• R. Nooyen: La Union, 6 Sept 1998: "Famia franses na kunuku"
• W. Renkema: Het Curaçaos plantagebedrijf in de 19e eeuw