THE TREASURE OF SALATIGA (ESTO documents)

Several weeks ago (25 June 2018) I got an appointment with one of the student from IAIN Salatiga, actually he wanted to discuss about horror movie that he will produce based on the history of Salatiga. Therefore, We planed to meet in my friend’s coffee shop named KIOS KOPI TUNTUM in Diponegoro street, Salatiga. Almost four ours we discussed about his concept of movie. He asked me about the dutch house that still exist in Salatiga nowadays which has the original furniture. Relating to this question, I remembered about one of the dutch house in Salatiga that has and original furniture in Diponegoro street, then I told it to him. Responding my answer, he wanted to survey this kind of house so that I had to accompany him to go there.

In Saturday, 30 Juni 2018 we met in this kind of house in the morning. we met with the caretaker of this house named Junedi, I known him since 2011 when I had a research project from my university to explore the tourism potency of dutch house in Salatiga.  Junedi guided us to explore the whole room of this house from family room, kitchen, private room, and library.

Library was the fascinating spot in this house because a ton of rare books relating to history of Indonesia located in this place, futhermore classical atmosphere with an original furniture make this library become convenient for me. In the middle room of this house, I talked to Junedi about ESTO document- Esto is the pioneer of transportation company in Salatiga that was established by Kwa Tjwan  Ing in 1918. Several days before I visited this house, my facebook friends offered documents of ESTO for me that he just got from ESTO garage. The price of this document is 1 million for 20 accounting books of this company. Junedi suddenly cut my story, He said that he want to show me something.

Junedi told me to follow him to the back area of this house, I could not expect what kind of thing is it. He entered to the warehouse of this home and bring out two big boxes. Then he said, “the things that I want to show you is this, all the documents of ESTO (Erstee Salatiga Trasnport Onderneming)- The first transport company in Salatiga”. I amazed to this kind of documents, it was because this company had a pivotal role during collonial era to mobilize all of the daily necessities and the mode of transportation that was needed by local society, however there is no book or literature which can explain a complete story of this company.  Therefore my feeling was so happy, finding the huge documents about this company is like finding a lump of gold hehehehe... but it was true, I am really happy, One of the treasure in Salatiga could be finded by me. Morover, Junedi told me that he want to sell those documents.

__ million was the price for all the documents in two boxes, I was shocked knowing about this price, it is not because expensive but I did not have enough money in that day...hahahaha. Therefore I really panic since he wanted to sell those documents in Solo if there was no someone in Salatiga who wanted to buy it. As a person who really interests to History, I had a big desire to save this documents before Junedi sold it to Solo, Central Java. However, I needed more money to buy it, then I called my father- the kindest person in this world after my mother hehehehe... My father told me that I had to thinktwice before I decided to buy this documents, it was crucial for my career or not. Then I told to Junedi, “Mas, would you mind to give me a time to think before i decide to buy?”. Eventually Junedi gave me a time to think and he wanted to save this documents for me.

A day latter in the afternoon, I decided to buy this kind of documents. I saw a great an opportunity to write a book that focus on the history of ESTO. Therefore I sent a message to Junedi to bargain, but Junedi want me to meet face to face for bargain. OK, then I rode my motorcycle to go to the dutch house in Diponegoro street where Junedi stayed. After I arrived in this house, Junedi brought an iron suitcase which comprised of another ESTO documents (Oh My God!!!!!!!). I was really shocked since I though that a day before this day Junedi has been showing off all the documents that he had.

I think Junedi did this, it was because I looks serious to buy his documents so that he showed me all of the archieves. Furthermore, I checked every single boxes and suitcase to read each archieve and photo. After I finished to check the documents I tried to bargain. It took a great deal of time in the process of bargain, maybe I needed four hours to find the best price for me and Junedi for this ESTO documents. Finally, I could save this kind of treasure for the society in Salatiga and I felt really lucky to be able to do it. Initially I want to called GO-CAR to send this document to my house however a friend of mine name Sinyo want to accompany me to bring those documents by Steve’s motorcycle (Thanks to Sinyo and Steve).

I feel that the universe always support every step of mine and my beliefe.

Thank you for being a reader of my blog.

BIG HUG

Abel Jatayu Prakosa

SALATIGA- a cup of Nusantara, 6 August 2018.