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Ponce is Ponce

Ponce's Coat of Arms

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Ponce was founded officially in 1692, the precise dates are not known because the municipal archives were destroyed. It's name is in honor to the first governor of Puerto Rico, Don Juan Ponce of León, for that reason ours symbol is a Lion. At the mids of 1500's Ponce already existed, agriculturists and cattle dealers began to group at the zone that today we know as the historical site of the city. During the first years, the town of Ponce underwent many catastrophes, because the rivers that surrounded the city continuously exit their channels, destroying everything to its step. By the 19th century , Ponce began to arise as an economic center . In 1850, His Majesty Isabel II declares Villa to Ponce, and in 1877 His Majesty Alfonso XII he declares City to Ponce. Due to the capacity of its citizens, and the royal decree to turn the port of Ponce into a free one, by the end of 19th century , Ponce was the richest, prosperous and the biggest city in all the island. Of those times today we conserved great witnesses, like the Parque de Bombas (1882), the Our Lady of the Guadalupe Cathedral (1839), the City Hall, and other buildings. Nowadays, Ponce shows itself with new determination, proud of his past, towards a huge and promising future. Ponce is Ponce!

Don Juan Ponce de Léon

Don Juan Ponce de Léon

 

 

 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral in 1881 (Over the Cathedral we can see the way to the old Vigilant's Cross or "Cruceta del Vigia")

City Hall (today).

 

City Hall in 1881.

Below old and actual photos of the City of Ponce. Click on any image to see it enlarged . Place the cursor on any photo to get a short description of it, if you are a Firefox user right click on the picture, then properties and you should see the description on alternate text. New pictures will be added soon.

West side at Plaza las Delicias Square in1881.East side of Plaza las Delicias Square in 1881 (A year later the Old firehouse Parque de Bombas was built here).

Ponce Bank today (At Plaza de las Delicias Square).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old Trolley of Ponce in 1881 (Today exist parts of the rails at Playa de Ponce district ).Old Ponce Port Administrative Office in 1881.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Ponce's Coat of Arms.Old Ponce's Seal.

 

Vigilant's Cross Monument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Perla theatre in 1881.

La Perla theatre today.

 

 

 

The old arab style kiosk that was next to the old fire station as seen in 1898.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Ponce City Map.Aereal view of Plaza de las Delicias Square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aereal view of the Ponce Hilton.Ponce Old Casino.

 

Atocha Street Walk.

 

 

 

Comercio Street. Old house at Ponce's downtown.

 

 

 

Ponce Port.

 

 

 

Nocturnal view of the Serralles Castle.

The Lion's bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old house at Ponce's downtown. Ponce's History Museum.

Hacienda Buena Vista Museum.

 

 

 

 

Monsantos house at Ponce downtown.

 

Wiechers Villaronga house at Ponce downtown.

25 of January Street. This was the date in which in 1899 it happens the fire near the warehouse of gun-powder, known like "El Fuego del Polvorin", where the firemen of the Park of Pumps ("Parque de Bombas") save the city. For that reason all the houses are red and black like the Park of Pumps ("Parque de Bombas"), since these were given the distinguished firemen of Ponce. Today their descendants live there. Isabel street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Guancha walk.

 

 

 

 

 

Ponce coast view. Ponce coast view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            Castillo Serrales en Navidad

                                                                    Hospital Tricoche 1881

Ceiba Centenaria

 

Costa de Ponce Costa de Ponce

 

 

 

 

 

Parque de Bombas en Navidad

Vista aerea de la Guancha

Museo de Arte de Ponce

 

Vista aerea de la Guancha

 

 

 

 

 

Plaza del Mercado a principios del 1900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some photos courtesy: The Popular Celebrations of Ponce-Ramon Marin, Editorial of the University of Puerto Rico.