Calle 25 de Enero facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calle 25 de Enero
Calle 25 de Enero, in May 2006
General information
Type	Victorian houses
Architectural style	Ponce Creole
Location	Barrio Segundo, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates	18°00′48″N 66°37′21″W / 18.0133°N 66.6226°W / 18.0133; -66.6226
Construction started	30 May 1906
Design and construction
Architect	City of Ponce architects

Calle 25 de Enero (which means "25th of January Street") is a special street in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's known for its historic Victorian houses. This street was built to give homes to the brave volunteer firefighters of Ponce and their families.

These homes were a thank-you gift for their amazing work during a huge fire that happened on January 25, 1899. The street is famous for its 39 houses, which are painted with red and black stripes. These are the official colors of Ponce's firefighters!

History of the Heroes

Firefighters are very respected in Ponce because the city has had many big fires. The most famous fire was on January 25, 1899. It was called El Polvorín, which means "the gunpowder storage". This fire started in a military ammunition building. It was only three blocks from the famous Parque de Bombas firehouse.

The firefighters were told not to fight the fire. No one really knows why they got this order. But several firefighters decided to ignore it. They bravely put out the fire and saved the city.

At first, they were in trouble for not following orders. They were even jailed for a short time! But the people of Ponce saw them as true heroes. There was a huge public outcry to free them. Soon, the U.S. military government in Ponce changed its mind. They freed the men and honored them in a big public celebration.

Seven years later, starting on May 30, 1906, the city decided to do even more. They created a plan to give these brave firefighters and their families free homes.

Homes for Heroes

Ponce's firefighters had always been volunteers. The city government wanted to show how much they appreciated their courage. So, each year, a firefighter was chosen to receive a new home. These houses were built by the government.

The street where these homes were built was later officially named "25 de Enero Street". This was to honor the firefighters who saved the city in 1899. Today, there are about 60 of these special houses. You can easily spot them because they are painted in Ponce's unique red and black colors.

Calle 25 de Enero Today

The houses, the street, and the areas around them were fixed up in 1991. This was part of the city's plan to "rescue" its history. Rafael Cordero Santiago, who was the mayor at the time, led this effort.

The place where the El Polvorín fire happened is now home to Ponce High School. This school was built in the early 1900s. It is still open today and has seven buildings. It is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its importance.

Ponce is the only city in Puerto Rico that has officially called a group of its citizens "heroes". The date of January 25 is very important in Ponce. It's the second most important date after the city's founding in 1692.

Remembering the Heroes

The seven heroes of the El Polvorín fire were: Rafael Rivera Esbri (who later became mayor), Juan Romero, Rafael del Valle y Valle, Cayetano Casals, Pedro Sabater, Gregorio Rivera, Pedro Ruiz, and Tomás Rivera.

The official paper that declared them heroes was once displayed at the Parque de Bombas museum. Sadly, it disappeared when the museum was being restored between 1969 and 1972.

Every year on January 25, the city of Ponce remembers these heroes. They place a wreath of flowers and hold other events to honor their brave actions during the El Polvorín fire.

There is also a tall marble monument called an obelisk in the main square, Plaza Federico Degetau. This monument honors the heroes of El Polvorín. It was built in 1958. The first monument, built after the 1899 fire, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1918.

Ponce firefighters have another memorial at Cementerio Civil de Ponce. It's called the Monument to the El Polvorín Heroes. The remains of the original seven heroes are buried there. Many other Ponce firefighters have also been laid to rest in this special monument.

Images for kids

• 

  25 de Enero Street. 2015.

• 

  25 de Enero Street. 2015.

See also

In Spanish: Calle 25 de Enero para niños