Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce


Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Location of Ponce and the Antiguo Hospital Militar Español in Puerto Rico
Location	León, Atocha, and Bondad Streets Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates	18°01′08″N 66°36′52″W / 18.019026°N 66.614432°W / 18.019026; -66.614432Coordinates: 18°01′08″N 66°36′52″W / 18.019026°N 66.614432°W / 18.019026; -66.614432
Area	1 acre (4,000 m²)
Built	1896-97
Architect	Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers
Architectural style	Neoclassical architecture
MPS	19th Century Civil Architecture in Ponce TR
NRHP Reference #	87000770^[1]

The Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce (English: Old Spanish Military Hospital in Ponce) is a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. The building dates from 1896 or 1897. It was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. The architecture consists of 19th Neoclassical architecture style. The building is of architectural significance since it is the only one-story building of this style remaining in the city of Ponce and one of the best examples on the Island.^[2]

History

The structure commonly known as the "Asilo de Ciegos" (Home of the Blind) was built between 1896 and 1897 to serve as hospital for the city of Ponce's military garrison. The Royal Spanish Engineering Corps constructed this building in the then popular neoclassic style which was common to the old San Juan area, but was not at the time prevalent in Ponce. This building, together with El Castillo (Ponce's Spanish military headquarters), Hospital Tricoche (Ponce's Municipal Hospital), and the Casa Alcaldía are the only remaining buildings representative of the Spanish Crown's interest in other areas of the Island besides San Juan.^[3]

Significance

The building is of architectural significance since it is the only one-story building of this style remaining in the city of Ponce and one of the best examples in the Island.^[3]

The hospital served the military community stationed in Ponce and in the southern region and could be used by the civilian population in case of emergencies and natural disasters, thus solving a social need in the southern part of the Island.^[3]

In 1905, this property was given to the state government to be used as an asylum for the blind. It gave shelter to the many poor blind in the south. Here they were taught skills that could help them support themselves in the future. In other instances those who could not be rehabilitated were given a home and free meals thus keeping them from the streets where they could be in danger. The social functions carried out in this building continued until the mid-1970s when the structure was closed. The people of Ponce consider this structure to be important to the community's history for its role as hospital and asylum.^[3]

Physical appearance and description

This one story building is a very good example of Neoclassic style in Ponce and the only one single-story building in the area. It preserves its simple lines typical of the 19th century institutional or military construction in the Island. Contributing elements to the style are its massive and sober exterior elements consisting of wide walls and pilasters crowned with tuscan order capitols, planar window surrounds, and a set of steps giving access to the main portico which projects form the main facade. A simple cornice crowns the building in all facades. Series of arched windows originally closed by wood louvers and glass panel transomes, complete the facade (these windows were replaced with metal blinds in the mid-1960s and have been vandalized in recent years).^[2]

The main entrance is highlighted by a projecting portico of attractive proportions. It has a main central arch flanked by smaller ones to the sides. These arches and the other two lateral ones are ornamented with tuscan order pilasters. Four tuscan order pilasters, a simple frieze, cornice, and parapet complete the portico's decoration giving it the appearance of being slightly taller than the rest of the building.^[2]

The structure was erected around a rectangular central patio with arched galleries on all sides that serve as transitional elements to the office and room areas located throughout its periphery, all of which are typical of the period and style. A small fountain in the center of the patio served the dual purposes of ornamentation and water supply. This element no longer exists. The building was constructed of brick and a mixture of rubblework and stone. A series of symmetrically-placed thick walls carrying wooden beams, probably of ausubo or other Puerto Rican hard wood, support the brick roof. This structure has a basement, an uncommon element in this type of construction, on its south side.^[2]

Many of the windows and parts of the roof as well as many wooden parts have been vandalized in recent years since the structure has not been in use. However, the main structural and ornamental elements of the building are in good shape or could be restored.^[2] The structure is not currently in use nor accessible to the public.

Landmarks and historic buildings of the Ponce Historic Zone

Plaza Las Delicias and immediate vicinity	Plaza Las Delicias Plaza Degetau Plaza Muñoz Rivera Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín Hotel Meliá Casa Saurí Los Chinos de Ponce

Government buildings	Casa Alcaldia Ponce Servicios Biblioteca Municipal de Ponce Correo de la Atocha

Schools and colleges	Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico Escuela de Arquitectura Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos Escuela Superior Ponce High

Religious buildings	Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Ponce

Museums	Parque de Bombas Museo Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre Museo de la Historia de Ponce Museo de Arte de Ponce Museo de la Arquitectura Ponceña Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña Museo de la Masacre de Ponce

Monuments and memorials	Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín Monumento a la abolición de la esclavitud

Theaters	Teatro La Perla Teatro Fox Delicias Concha Acústica de Ponce

Parks	Parque Urbano Dora Colón Clavell Parque de la Abolición Parque del Tricentenario Parque Ecológico Urbano Parque Lineal Veredas del Labrador

Markets	Paseo Atocha Plaza de Mercado de Ponce Mercado de las Carnes

Historic banks	Edificio Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño Edificio Banco de Ponce Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (institution) Banco de Ponce (institution)

Historic houses	Casa Paoli Residencia Armstrong-Poventud Residencia Ermelindo Salazar Centro Español de Ponce Casa Fernando Luis Toro Casa Oppenheimer Casa Salazar-Candal Casa Vives Casa Wiechers-Villaronga Residencia Subirá Casa Rosaly–Batiz

Others	Albergue Caritativo Tricoche Antiguo Casino de Ponce Antiguo Cuartel Militar Español de Ponce Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce Panteón Nacional Román Baldorioty de Castro Ponce YMCA Calle 25 de Enero Campo Atlético Charles H. Terry Monumento a la abolición de la esclavitud

References

↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
1 2 3 4 5 Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix Julian del Campo, State Historian; and Joaquin Acevedo, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 2. Listing Reference Number 87000770. May 14, 1987.
1 2 3 4 Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix Julian del Campo, State Historian; and Joaquin Acevedo, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 3. Listing Reference Number 87000770. May 14, 1987.

External links

National Register of Historic Places photographic file

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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