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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 Gómez2 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.

1. This document came to us via Rafael García Callejas, the author's grandson, who obtained it from his cousin-once-removed Gladys Valdés García. Each page of this manuscript is stamped as follows:
ARCHIVO DE
JUVENAL VALDES GARCIA
GÜINES
2. Cuatro Palmas street begins at Arango street and not at Máximo Gómez as indicated in the manuscript.
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