Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce
Encyclopedia
The Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce (English: Old Spanish Military Hospital in Ponce) is a historic building located on Leon, Atocha
, and Bondad Streets 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 in the Island.
(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.
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 disaster
s, thus solving a social need in the southern part of the Island.
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.
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).
The main entrance is highlighted by a projecting portico of attractive proportions. Is 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.
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.
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.
Paseo Atocha
Paseo Atocha is a pedestrian mall in the Ponce Historic Zone, a historic district in Ponce, Puerto Rico. For over a century Paseo Atocha was a commercial street opened to motor vehicle traffic. The street, which is now pedestrian-only, stretches over four blocks from Isabel Street to Vives Street...
, and Bondad Streets in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, 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
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
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 in the Island.
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 CastilloAntiguo Cuartel Militar Español de Ponce
The Antiguo Cuartel Militar Español de Ponce or "El Castillo" is the only structure directly related to the events of the land defense of Puerto Rico during the 1898 American invasion of the Island...
(Ponce's Spanish military headquarters
Antiguo Cuartel Militar Español de Ponce
The Antiguo Cuartel Militar Español de Ponce or "El Castillo" is the only structure directly related to the events of the land defense of Puerto Rico during the 1898 American invasion of the Island...
), Hospital Tricoche
Albergue Caritativo Tricoche
The Albergue Caritativo Tricoche or Hospital Tricoche is a historic building located on Tricoche street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. The articulated Classical revival style building dates from 1885. It was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers...
(Ponce's Municipal Hospital), and the Casa Alcaldía
Ponce City Hall
The Ponce City Hall is located on Calle Degetau, across from Plaza Las Delicias in the Ponce Historic Zone in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The building serves as the seat of the executive branch of government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, including the office of the Mayor of Ponce. It is the...
are the only remaining buildings representative of the Spanish Crown's interest in other areas of the Island besides San Juan.
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.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 disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s, thus solving a social need in the southern part of the Island.
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.
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 orderTuscan order
Among canon of classical orders of classical architecture, the Tuscan order's place is due to the influence of the Italian Sebastiano Serlio, who meticulously described the five orders including a "Tuscan order", "the solidest and least ornate", in his fourth book of Regole generalii di...
capitols, planar window surrounds, and a set of steps giving access to the main portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
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).
The main entrance is highlighted by a projecting portico of attractive proportions. Is 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.
The structure was erected around a rectangular central patio
Patio
A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a residence and is typically paved. It may refer to a roofless inner courtyard of the sort found in Spanish-style dwellings or a paved area between a residence and a garden....
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.
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.
See also
- Fortune Janeiro, Luis. Album Histdrico de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1934
- Newmann, Eduardo. Verdadera y autentica historia de la ciudad de Ponce. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1913.