National Register of Historic Places

Asilo De Pobres

Mayaguez, Mayaguez County, Puerto Rico
Listed
December 2, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85003087

About this property

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. 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. 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. 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. The building lost some of its original elements after restorations carried between 1972 and 1979, 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. In 2016 the elderly residents were relocated to a larger and newer facility located near the Eugenio María de Hostos Airport.

Location

Mayaguez, Mayaguez County, Puerto Rico
18.19872, -67.13979

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Rivera, Nazario, Residencia
Industrial
0.2 mi
Residencia Heygler
Civil War
0.3 mi
Logia Adelphia
Industrial
0.3 mi
US Post Office and Courthouse
Industrial
0.3 mi
Casa Consistorial De Mayaguez
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Mayaguez
1898Frontier
0.2 mi
Taino Uprising – Battle of Yagüecas 1511
1511Colonial
1.9 mi
Battle of Hormigueros (Puerto Rico)
1898Frontier
4.2 mi
Battle of Hormigueros
1898Frontier
4.2 mi
Battle of Hormigueros — Puerto Rico
1898Modern
4.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Asilo De Pobres listed on the National Register?

Asilo De Pobres was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 2, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Asilo De Pobres?

Asilo De Pobres is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Asilo De Pobres?

The period of significance for Asilo De Pobres is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Asilo De Pobres?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Asilo De Pobres will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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