The Streets of Güines.
The Origin of their Names.
By Nicolás García Curbelo1
ALVAREZ:
Named after Don Domingo de
la Luz Alvárez, Mayor
of Güines in 1824. That year, Luz Alvárez
beautified the town's main square, la
Plaza de la Villa, including a monument to
King Ferdinand VII. The square remained this way until
1847 when it was rebuilt by Lieutenant Governor Alejandro
Gasser, and it was renamed Plaza
de O'Donell.
DUARTE:
This street begins at Máximo Gómez street
and ends at Amistad street. It is named after Don Matías José
Duarte, a renowned resident of Havana. He became a Roman Catholic priest and
was assigned several appointments, but when the English conquered Havana he
left the Church and joined the Aragón
batallion. He raised to the Captain and was transferred to Güines in
1801. He did many a great service for the town and as a reward the town named
this street after him.
ARANGO:
Named after the Havana statesman
Don Francisco de Arango [y] Parreño, who for
many years helped Güines in many ways, including
the donation of a school, an investment of over 30,000
Cuban pesos, a handsome sum at that time.
CUARTELES:
This ancient street starts
at Maceo street and ends at the railway. It is so
named because there had been a military barrack ( cuartel)
on this street for a long time. In 1817 a wooden barrack
located between Reina and Concha
burned down. The town bought a building directly across
the main square and converted it to a barrack as a
replacement. To this day, the troops and administration
of the Constitutional Army remain headquartered at
this location.
PEÑAS:
This street runs parallel to, and is as long as, Cuarteles
street. It is named after Don Inocencio de las Peñas y Magallar, a
one time Lieutenant Governor of this town. Thanks to his efforts, the Escuela
Arango [y] Parreño school was reopened in 1862.
HABANA:
So named because it is the road that leads to Cuba's
capital.
GENERAL DULCE:
The whole street runs from Arango
street to the railway; General Dulce refers to the portion of it that runs
between the railway and San Julián street.
It is named after Captain General Don Domingo Dulce.
GASSER:
The whole street runs from Arango
street to the railway; Gasser refers to the portion of it that runs between
Arango and San Julián
streets. It is named after Don Alejandro Gasser, a Lieutenant Governor of
Güines who in 1847 rebuilt the town's main square and renamed it Plaza
de O'Donell.
CONCHA:
This street starts at Pinillos street and ends at
Valdes street. It is named after Cuba's Captain General Don José Gutierrez
de la Concha, Marquis of Havana.
HERRERA:
Named after Mr. Ignacio de Herrera y O'Farrill, Marquis
of Almendares. He built his home on this street, between Habana
y Peñas streets, across from the town's main square.
COLON:
Named after the discoverer of the New World.
SAN JULIAN:
Named after the patron saint of Güines.
TACON:
Named after Cuba's Captain General, Don Miguel Tacón.
HOSPITAL:
This short street runs for one block, between Duarte
and Gasser streets. It is so named because the first
Güines hospital was built there. That hospital, named La Pura y
Límpia Concepción ( Of the
Pure and Inmaculate Conception), was founded in 1766 by Bishop
Don Pedro Agustín Morell de Santa Cruz.
REINA:
Named after Lieutenant Governor of Güines Don
Gaspar de Reina. Earlier, it was called Cuartel street.
CUATRO PALMAS:
This street begins at Máximo Gómez 2
street and ends at Maceo. Its name stems from the fact that here were four
palm trees ( i.e., cuatro
palmas) at the corner with Máximo Gómez street ( aka., Real).
Cuatro Palmas was Güines' first commercial street.
CUATRO PALMAS:
This street begins at Máximo
Gómez Street and ends at Maceo.
Its name stems from the fact that here were four palm
trees (i.e., cuatro
palmas) at the corner with Máximo Gómez
Street (aka., Real).
Cuatro Palmas was Güines' first commercial street.
|