Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce facts for kids
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Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Calle Bondad, between Calle Atocha and Calle León Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| 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 No. | 87000770 |
The Antiguo Hospital Militar Español de Ponce (which means Old Spanish Military Hospital in Ponce) is a really old and important building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. You can find it in the city's historic area. This building was finished in 1897, just before the Spanish–American War in 1898. It was the last big building project the Spanish government completed in the Americas.
The hospital was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. It shows off the beautiful Neoclassical architecture style from the 1800s. This building is special because it's the only one-story building of its kind left in Ponce. It's also one of the best examples of this style in all of Puerto Rico. From 1905 until the mid-1970s, it was used as the Asilo de Ciegos de Ponce (Ponce Blind Asylum). Today, the building is empty.
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History of the Old Hospital
This building, often called the Asilo de Ciegos (Home of the Blind), was built between 1896 and 1897. Its first job was to be a hospital for the Spanish military in Ponce. The Royal Spanish Engineering Corps built it in the popular Neoclassical style. This style was common in old San Juan, but it was new and different for Ponce at the time.
This building, along with other important Spanish structures like Ponce's Spanish military headquarters and the City Hall, shows how much the Spanish Crown cared about areas outside of San Juan.
From Hospital to Home for the Blind
On October 1, 1905, the building got a new purpose. It became the Asilo de Ciegos de Ponce (Ponce Blind Asylum). This was a home for blind adults in the city. It stayed open as a home for the blind until the mid-1970s.
The asylum could house up to 95 people. In the early 1910s, about 80 people lived there regularly. The main goal was to help its residents with medical care, including eye surgeries. Dr. Guillermo Vives performed many successful operations, helping about 95% of his patients see again. The asylum also taught blind people skills to help them live on their own. For those who couldn't care for themselves, it provided a permanent home and free meals.
Why This Building Is Important
This building is very important for its architecture. It's the only one-story building in Ponce that still shows the Neoclassical style so well. It's also one of the best examples of this style on the whole island of Puerto Rico.
Helping the Community
First, as a military hospital, it served soldiers in Ponce and the southern part of the island. It could also help regular people during emergencies or natural disasters. This filled an important need for the community.
Later, in 1905, the building was given to the government to be an asylum for the blind. It gave shelter to many poor blind people in the south. Here, they learned skills to support themselves in the future. Those who couldn't be independent were given a safe home and free food. This kept them off the streets and out of danger. The building served these important community roles until it closed in the mid-1970s. People in Ponce still see this building as a key part of their city's history.
What the Building Looks Like
This one-story building is a great example of the Neoclassical style in Ponce. It's the only single-story building of its kind in the area. It still has its simple, strong look, typical of military buildings from the 1800s.
Key Features
- Strong Walls: It has thick walls and tall, flat columns called pilasters. These pilasters have simple tops, known as tuscan order capitals.
- Main Entrance: The main entrance stands out with a projecting porch, called a portico. This portico has a large arch in the middle, with two smaller arches on the sides. These arches are decorated with more pilasters.
- Roofline: A simple decorative edge, called a cornice, runs along the top of the building.
- Windows: Originally, the building had many arched windows. These windows had wooden shutters and glass panels above them. Sadly, these were replaced with metal blinds in the 1960s and have been damaged over time.
Inside the Building
The building is built around a rectangular central courtyard, or patio. This patio has arched walkways on all sides. These walkways lead to the offices and rooms located around the outside. This design is very typical for buildings of this time and style. There used to be a small fountain in the middle of the patio, which was both pretty and provided water. This fountain is no longer there.
The building was made from brick and a mix of rubble and stone. Strong, thick walls hold up wooden beams, probably from very hard Puerto Rican wood. These beams support the brick roof. The building also has a basement on its south side, which is unusual for this type of construction.
Many windows, parts of the roof, and wooden sections have been damaged because the building has been empty for years. However, the main parts of the building are still in good shape or could be fixed up. The building is not currently used or open to the public.
See also
