Calle Méndez Vigo (Mayagüez)

Calle Méndez Vigo (Mendez Vigo Street) is a major thoroughfare in the western Puerto Rico municipality of Mayagüez it has a length of about 1.22 miles (2 km). The street is oriented east-west with traffic running one-way westbound with the number of lanes going from one to two after the road passes Calle Ramón Emeterio Betances (formerly Post Street) in downtown Mayagüez.[1]

In this street are located some of the most important historical places as:

  • E. Franco & Co (the house of the "Brazo Gitano Franco")
  • Escuela Mariano Riera Palmer
  • Iglesia Católica de Nuestra Señora del Carmen
  • Edificio Darlington
  • Parque Suau, Casa Gómez
  • Antiguo Hospital Ramírez
  • Casa Casals-Defilló
  • Edificio Westernbank
  • Iglesia Central Presbiteriana
  • Edificio la Palma
  • Edificio La Bolsa
  • Panadería y Repostería Ricomini
  • Municipal Historical Archives (Teatro Riera)
  • Teatro Balboa

History of the name

The street is named after Spanish General Santiago de Méndez Vigo, who was Governor of Puerto Rico during the early 1840s.[2] The Great Fire of 1841 on January 30 destroyed much of the Villa; of the 700 houses in Mayagüez, only 40 remained. Governor Santiago Méndez Vigo was informed and he immediately headed towards Mayagüez on horseback with a few of his assistants.[3] The governor brings with him 20,000 pesos in silver coins to help the victims of the fire.[3] The Villa of Mayagüez in a gratefulness to the Governor changes the name of the main street to Méndez Vigo. Before the street was called Calle Comercio (Commerce Street).[4]

Calle Mendez Vigo, circa 1910

See also

References
  1. "Tránsito Promedio Diario (AADT)". Transit Data (Datos de Transito) (in Spanish). DTOP PR. p. 151.
  2. "Mayagüez; Notas para su Historia"; by Silvia Aguilo Ramos (Author); Page: 76; Publisher: Model Offset Printing, San Juan (1984); Language: Spanish
  3. Ricardo Rosas, Jr., "Fuegos Ocurridos en Mayagüez", Anuario de Las Fiestas Patronales, 1958


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