|
Let's Go2Mazatlan - Articles Mazatlan Historic Center - Part III
Probing further on the renovation of the Historic Center, I found out about the existence of the “Asociación del Proyecto de Renovación” [Association of the Renovation Project], an NGO [non-governmental organization] that is fully committed to the promotion and restoration of Mazatlan´s downtown, a declared Nation’s Historic Heritage in 2001. This organization emphasizes that the Historic Center has become an attractive place to live, to visit and to enjoy and that this is mainly thanks to the hard joint work the different sectors have undertaken during the past five years. I wish to mention that, having strolled its streets about five years ago and then again this year, I can confirm what this organization declares is accurate. According to the Association of the Renovation Project, the revitalization model implemented for the Historic Center is the American concept known as “Main Street Project”, which works under the four following phases: Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restoration; factors that turn it into an integral model, ideal within the actual context, and in full accordance with the great real estate development that is revitalizing this destination. Important details of the origin of the commercial history of Mazatlan remain engraved, among other things, on the downtown buildings, they show us that Mazatlan is a multiracial and multicultural destination, aspects that today have converted it into the only Mexican tourist destination of the Pacific Coast with a great historic and cultural wealth expressed by its Historic Center, which is being promoted today as one of the most significant attractions of this enigmatic, exuberant, romantic and spectacular port. Let’s continue our tour… • Edificio de la Mercería Alemana [German Hardware Store Building]
Here the German Hardware Store operated during many years (known as Mercería Alemana), owned by Heymann Sucesores, whose main associates were the German-born: Luis Volquardsen and Carlos and Alejandro Melchers. An enormous variety of products were sold here, hardware related products, musical instruments, toys, china, and furniture. It was the exclusive distributor of English toilets, which arrived to take the place of the rustic shaft-toilets of the well-off families. The associates were exclusive agents of the fabulous and magic Kodak photographic cameras and the modern Bickensdefer typewriters, whose cost was the moderate sum of forty-five pesos in gold. There you could also find the finest Bohemian, Vienna and Baccarat crystal; china from Meissen and Berlin; Steinway, Beschslein & Wagner vertical pianos; Wilcox-White pump organs, Carrara marble tops, and well, the market’s finest and most select things of the times. In that same block there presently still exists a property owned by the same family which is maintained in excellent state, Mr. Medrano’s descendants have inhabited it, one of them Doña Lucila Medrano, who besides having been a beautiful woman, winner of several beauty pageants, was for many years president of the Red Cross Committee. The construction of the excellent facilities of this meritorious institution is owed to her. • Mansión de Los García [García Mansión]
In 1883 it was bought over by the firm Somellera Hermanos, who occupied it until the year 1907, when it closed due to the death of the owner, Spaniard Don José Somellera. The building was then bought by Mr. Genaro García, who was then president and associate of the mining company Minera del Pánuco and stockholder of the mighty financial institution Banco Occidental de México, besides being the owner of large land lots near the old city and are now part of the city itself. It is known that for several years, while it was in the hands of this family and several modifications were made both inside and out, due to this it gained the reputation of one of the best houses in the city. Its main entrance is located on the corner and all its windows end in a cornice that holds several beautiful balconies with their wrought-iron banisters; the whole upper part of the attic is crowned by an imposing neoclassic-type cornice. This is one of the few buildings in the Historic Center that despite its owner’s abandonment and the normal deterioration suffered by its façade due to the passing of time, still maintains its stoic battle to keep some of its grandiosity present. • Mansión de Los Campos [Campos’ Mansión]
Its grandiosity is reflected in the size and originality of its detailed decor. Its lower façade stands out because of its monumental front door, located – as it was customary in that type of houses, on the most outstanding corner of the property. The entrance is crowned by beautiful effigies of Hellenic influence. There are six huge grilled windows along the length of each side of the building, framed by a fine cornice and, on its upper part, by a beautiful and stylized Moorish canopy. All these windows are crowned by cornices placed in such a manner that they form an angle on top of this beautiful ornamentation in the form of a sea shell. You cannot help but admire the covered terrace found on the second floor with a view to the narrow Carnaval street, nor can you ignore the regal shape in which this house is surrounded by a group of pillars and small ornaments shaped in the form of torches as well as the semi-circular balcony crowning the upper part of the main corner with small sculptures, all those details, having nothing to envy from those found in many Parisian palaces. Neither can you miss the majestic top of the main entrance where you can observe a precious nymph flanked by two winged youths and playful fish as well as the ornamentations of angelical faces placed underneath each balcony. Outside this house, on May 6th, 1914, a biplane belonging to the revolutionary forces let down a couple of rustic bombs that, although they did not damage the mansion, they did kill a person and injured several others. These bombs were originally aimed at the federal troops stationed at the Cerro de la Nevería, though due to an error of calculus, or the pilot’s lack of skill, the wind or just a fortuitous accident, did not make their target. This fact gave Mazatlan the doubtful honor of being the first city in the Americas to be bombed from the air. • Edificio García Granados [García Granados Building] This two-story building located on Belisario Domínguez street, was originally built in 1862, on orders of Mr. Vicente García Granados, head of one of the first families who settled in the port and who amassed an incalculable fortune when they dedicated to commercial activities starting in 1830. The well-accredited jewelry La Nueva Esmeralda operated here, it opened its doors in 1903 and its owner was Mr. Carlos Díaz. In its spacious rooms and windows a varied and wide assortment of jewels, watches, wall and table clocks, opulent and intricately designed watch-chains, musical boxes of the finest china, Fabergé eggs, bracelets, necklaces and diamond encrusted tiaras, emeralds, zephyrs and rubies, as well as all kinds of objects, charms, pitchers, plates, bowls, and gold and silver trinkets. Unfortunately business did not go as the owner had expected and had to declare bankruptcy in 1906. Despite this reversal, the building maintained its original splendor and architectural richness through the years. In the forties it was used by one of the oldest radio stations of the city as its offices and studios, even adapting a little auditorium in which all the artists visiting the city performed. Countless amateur singing contests were organized there, some of those singers eventually became famous; one fine example of this was the always remembered performer Lola Beltrán. • Edificio la Voz del Pueblo [Voice of the People Building] Located on Belisario Domínguez street, it is one of the oldest buildings in the city still kept in good condition. Its construction is estimated to have been in 1845, one arrives at this conclusion as its façade is lacking of ornaments and architectural elements that did not become popular until the early 1860’s. One of the most important commercial stores of the port and the whole pacific coast operates here, it was known as La Voz del Pueblo, (The Voice of the People) owned by Wholer Bartning Sucesores. In 1890 an individual of German descent, Mr. Bernard Huthoff and the Spanish Pantaleón Ezquerra, were the owners of the building and the adjacent facilities which they used as warehouses. The building’s second floor was used by the resident administrator and this story’s side facing the street of Niños Héroes, was used by cashiers and department heads that were brought in from Germany to work for the company, all of them young, single handsome men, many of whom got sentimentally involved with gracious local ladies and formed sound families. This store had to weather many difficulties and it was not until World War II when it finally closed its doors, a fact that greatly saddened the local society. Another detail that must be mentioned is that this building is the only one in the city belonging to the times when forged-iron banisters were seated on a wooden railing. The prestigious Unión pharmacy operates there since 1950. It was established by a small group of doctors headed by Doctor and General Primo Alfredo Gutiérrez, who was in those days the director of the Military Hospital and one of the best surgeons in the city. The Historic Center Tour Continues... Email to a friend Let’s Go2Mazatlan News More about Mazatlan:
|
|
||||||
|
Presently there are various zones ―among them the Historic Center― that are being developed in 
In the times when the commercial stores ruled in 
Located on the corner of Niños Héroes and Mariano Escobedo streets; this two-story building was considered in its time one of the most beautiful and attractive of the downtown area. It was originally built in 1870, to serve as headquarters of the Ecuadorian-German commercial store Alzua & Dorn. 
This is an elegant, regal and imposing building located on the north-side of Carnaval street, it was erected in 1910 representing the high-level of prosperity achieved in the city before it started to decline due to the Madero revolution.
© 1995 -
Let's Go2Mexico ® - All Rights Reserved |