The old BUILDING in Banyuwangi is still the target of the expedition team from the colonial Java Pos Radar Banyuwangi (JP-RaBa) and the Banjoewangie Tempo Doeloe community (BTD). This time the expedition team visited an old building in Penataban Village, Giri . District, namely SMK PGRI 2 Giri Banyuwangi.
Even though it looks old school (old), but the construction of the PGRI SMK building 2 Giri Banyuwangi still looks solid. Buildings with high ceilings, Big doors and windows indicate that the building is a legacy of the Dutch colonial era.
It seems, the building is still like the original. It looks like there is only a little renovation in the building, the renovation of the floor and roof of the building. In the past, the roof was made of zinc, now it's been replaced precarious. The floor of the building is the same, it used to be tiled floor, but now it has been replaced with ceramic.
Information collected by Jawa Pos Radar Banyuwangi and BTD, the building was erected in the 1900s. At that time the Dutch government ordered several Dutch businessmen to open coffee plantations, rubber, tobacco, teh, chocolate, and others, on the easternmost island of Java.
At that time there were four private entrepreneurs from the Netherlands who were appointed. They were given the freedom to clear land in the Glenmore region. One of these entrepreneurs is JH. Behms. JH. Behms is a Dutch citizen who was born in 23 August 1863 in Franeker, Dutch.
When he is in his 40s, he and his three colleagues jointly cleared land in the Glenmore area under the name C.O. (Culture Enterprise) oxen. The plantation is under the auspices of David Bemie Kantoor Administration (DBAK) located in Jember, Besuki Residency.
In short, when the plantation has started to run well and some workers from outside the city have started to be brought in, These four Dutch businessmen were involved in a conflict that resulted in them having to separate.
The conflict looks very serious. To the extent that the Dutch court sent JH. Behms had to leave the Glenmore estate he founded. He chose to go east, namely heading to Penataban Village, Giri . District.
In Penataban Village JH. Behms built a luxury house which is currently the PGRI Vocational High School building 2 Turns. It is not known exactly what year the house was built JH. Behms and how it was built. Because, JH. Behms very rarely appears and is written in history books.
“But we predict it was built in the 1900s,”Said Munawir, head of BTD. BTD Public Relations, Yanuar Widodo, explained after the house that was built it stood firmly, Behms married an indigenous woman from Malang named Halimah.
He also invited his wife and wife's family to live in Banyuwangi. Some of Halimah's family bought rice fields in the Krikilan area, Glenmore. Some of them are being worked as drivers, household servant, koki, gardener, and others.
Each of them was also built a house behind JH Behms' house in Penataban Village, so that a small settlement of Halimah's family was formed at that location. Until now the village is still densely populated.
Even, when Halimah died, His body was buried in a village behind the house belonging to JH Behms. Meanwhile, head of the expedition, MH. Qowim, explain based on the literature found, JH Behms and Halimah's marriage is not blessed with children. However, they raised four children named Sirat Minggu, Asmiati, Weight, and Saelah.
"In his lifetime, The Behms family is known as a good family, philanthrope, and care for the natives,"explained MH. Qowim. Told by Munawir, Based on the search conducted, it was found that the JH . family. Behms live in harmony.
A small village behind JH's house. Behms also seemed calm that time. Entering World War II years 1942, Behms was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese rulers who defeated the Dutch rulers. He is being held in the detention house (prison) in Malang and then moved to Semarang until he died on 29 March 1944.
After death, The house is occupied by Halimah and her foster children. As a result of all the wealth of JH. Behms was confiscated by Japan—including the house—finally Halimah's family fell into poverty. Halimah died in poverty.
“Building at SMK PGRI 2 This giri is all original. Only the floor and roof were replaced but still well maintained,” concluded Munawir. (radar)
