Asilo De Pobres Explained

Asilo De Pobres
Location:Post Street,
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Map Alt:Locator map
Built:1920
Architecture:Classical Revival, Late Neo-Classical Revival
Added:December 2, 1985
Refnum:85003087
Designated Other1 Name:Puerto Rico Historic Sites and Zones
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. fa7070
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Designated Other1 Number:2003-25-(1-9) JP-SH
Designated Other1 Abbr:RNSZH
Designated Other1 Date:January 24, 2003

The Asilo de Ancianos de Mayagüez, also known as Asilo De Pobres or Asilo Municipal, is the name of a historic Classical Revival style building located in downtown Mayagüez, originally as a shelter for the homeless, poor and disabled of the city.

History

The idea for the asylum for the poor began with a campaign to build it by Salvador Suau y Mulet when he was Mayor of Mayagüez.[1] This building is highly representative of the 19th century institutional architecture of Puerto Rico. The building was designed and built by commissioned state architects Manuel V. Domenech and Luis Perocier in 1895. The building as it stands today however was not fully completed until 1920 due to complications caused by the 1918 earthquake, after which it was restored and expanded. The institution was operated by the Sisters of Charity during its first years.[2]

For some time, Salvador Agrón, the inspiration for the Broadway musical The Capeman, lived in the building with his mother. In 1962 it became asylum for the elderly. The number of elderly patients increased, and, in 1967, occupational therapy and arts programs were added by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, they also run the laundry, cafeteria, pharmacy and others.[3]

The building lost some of its original elements after restorations carried between 1972 and 1979,[4] but it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2003 for its architectural value. [5] [6] In 2016 the elderly residents were relocated to a larger and newer facility located near the Eugenio María de Hostos Airport.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alianza Espirita . www.alianzaespirita.org . September 2, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090505223338/http://www.alianzaespirita.org/historia%20Rena.htm . May 5, 2009 .
  2. Web site: Mayagüez: Asilo de pobres / Asilo de ancianos . 2022-06-22 . EnciclopediaPR . en-US.
  3. Web site: hijas de la caridad sociales. hijas de la caridad. September 2, 2009. https://archive.today/20091026040004/http://www.geocities.com/hijasdelacaridad/sociales.html. dead. 2009-10-26.
  4. Web site: Asilo de Pobres . 2022-06-22 . www.mayaguezsabeamango.com.
  5. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=85003087}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Asilo de Pobres / Asilo Municipal (Municipal Poor Asylum) ]. September 1984 . Jorge. Ortiz. Jorge. Rigau. Jorge Rigau. National Park Service. and
  6. Web site: GOBIERNO DE PUERTO RICO . JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO . December 7, 2022 . REGISTRO DE PROPIEDADES DESIGNADAS POR LA JUNTA DE PLANIFICACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO . jp.pr.gov.
  7. News: Wiscovitch Padilla . Jeniffer . Asilo municipal de Mayagüez será una APP y estará ubicada en el barrio Cuba . Semanario Visión . es . June 15, 2016 . June 12, 2017 .