Medan was just a small village ath the beginning. It was founded by Guru Patimpus around 1590s. Because Medan village sits on Tanah Deli ( Land of Deli ). Kampung Medan is also referred as Medan – Deli. The original location of Medan village is an area where the River of Deli meets River Babura.
Medan did not enjoy significant development until 1860s, when the Dutch colonialists began clearing the land for tobacco plantations. Medan quickly became a center of government and commercial activity, dominating development of Indonesia’s western region.
The Dutch governed Tanah Deli from 1658, after Sulatan Ismail, ruler of the Kingdom of Siak Indrapura, yielded some of his once ruled land, Deli, Langkat, and Serdang. In 1915, Medan officially became the capital of North Sumatera Province, and officially a city in 1918.
To see the essence of Medan history from time to time, you must visit Kesawan Square and the old buildings along Ahmad Yani Street, Balai Kota Street and Putri Hijau Street. The trilogy street actually is one corridor which becomes the heart of Medan City and still reflecting a glory of the past. At the time the deli tobacco dominated the world market.
When a young entrepreneur from Netherland, Nienhuys, discovering the premium quality of deli tobacco, this village soon grow faster and know all over the world. The leaves of deli tobacco were brought to Rotterdam and made for the best cigar’s wrapper and the most expensive as well.
The presence of tobacco plantation in Tanah Deli have triggered the development of supporting sectors in Medan. Nienhuys built his office named Deli Maatschappij in Medan (now Putri Hijau Street). Simultaneously the need of the worker was in great demand. They brought coolies from China, Penang and Java. After they were no longer in plantation sector, the Chinese and European businessman built houses and new business centre in Kesawan just a few hundred meters from Deli Maatschapij office. Formerly the surrounding land was paddyfield and jungle.
This business centre which was formerly called Paris of Sumatera marked by luxurios Lonsum building (Juliana building), the romantic Tip Top Restaurant, the impressive house of Tjong A Fie, Jakarta Lloyd building which was formerly the Netherland Shipping Company, etc.
At those time, Lonsum building belonged to Harrison & Harrison Cross Field, a British tobacco company. The lift inside the building was made in 1910 can be activated until today. This lift was decorated with beautiful iron in art deco. The architectural design of Harrison & Cross Field building in London was a copy from its representative office in Medan.
There are still many old elegant buildings which are similar in appearance. Between
Lonsum building and Raden Saleh Street, there are two beautiful buildings which were formerly owned by The Netherlands Trading Company or Netherlansche Handel Maatschapij until 1929. Then there is the former City Hall of Medan which keeps the historical records about the glory of Medan. This building was contructed in 1906. In 1913 someone donated a big clock to be installed on the top of its building. He was Tjong A Fie, a Chinese mayor who was very wealthy and kindhearted man.
On the lettside of the former City Hall, stand the building of Javasche Bank (now Bank Indonesia) which was built in 1910 by the architect firms Hulswit and Fermont from Weltevreden, and Ed Cuypers from Amsterdam. This building was built in classical style plus Javanese ornaments.
Next to Hotel Dharma Deli, the first luxurious hotel in Medan which was formerly called Hotel de Boer are still to be seen inside the hotel. In 1030, there were 120 rooms available in Hotel de Boer. Some distinguished guests had ever stayed in this hitel, namely the world’s top and legendary dancer, Mata Hari and King Leopold from Belgium.
Opposite to Hotel Dharma Deli, sits the Central Post Office of Medan which was built between 1909 and 1911 by architect Snuyf who was also Director of Public Works in Indonesia. The surrounding area of the building is mentioned as 0 (zero) kilometer of Medan. Next to it, Bank Central Asia which formerly called Witte Societeit building built in 1886. The following are the Railway Station of Medan, and the hanging Bridge on top of the rail – tracks.
The City of Medan and the past are indeed very close. All the historical objects are maintained for harminous balance of a town. That is the reason why 70% of the old buildings are still going strong and become the tourism landmark at present day.
Author http://www.hokian.com
Sunday, 29 July 2007
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