Monumento a los héroes de El Polvorín (mausoleum) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín

Image of the mausoleum
Coordinates	18°00′47.7714″N, -66° 37' 58.2954"W
Location	Cementerio Civil, Barrio Portugués Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Designer	Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti
Type	Tomb, obelisk, and statue
Material	Stucco and Concrete
Length	approx 40 feet
Width	approx 40 feet
Height	approx. 50 feet
Beginning date	ca. 1904 (source: the monument's front plaque)
Completion date	1911
Opening date	1911
Dedicated to	The "El Polvorín" fire heroes
Note: This monument is not the same as the obelisk at Plaza Las Delicias. Both are dedicated to the same group of men.

The Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín (which means "Monument to the El Polvorín Fire Heroes") is a special mausoleum and monument in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was built to honor seven brave firefighters and one civilian. These heroes helped put out a huge fire called "El Polvorín" on January 25, 1899, saving the city.

Where It Is Located

This important monument is found in the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery). This cemetery is in the Portugués Urbano neighborhood of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The Story Behind the Monument

On January 25, 1899, a very big fire, later known as "El Polvorín," started in Ponce. This fire was a huge danger to the people of Ponce. It also threatened the economy of Puerto Rico, because Ponce was a major center for banking and farming back then.

A painting inside the Parque de Bombas firehouse shows the amazing bravery of seven firefighters and one civilian. They fought hard against the dangerous fire. Even though American troops, who had recently taken control of Puerto Rico, told them not to, this group bravely put out the flames. The fire had started in the U.S. Army's gunpowder storage area. Because of their courage, a terrible disaster was avoided.

These heroes were honored many times in Ponce and across Puerto Rico. The mausoleum was built to be their final resting place and to remember their bravery forever. The seven original firefighters and the one civilian are buried here. Also, 60 other Ponce firefighters who have served for a long time can be buried in this special tomb.

What the Monument Looks Like

The mausoleum was finished in 1911. This monument is different from another obelisk that was put up in 1948 at Plaza Las Delicias. Both monuments honor the same group of heroes.

The obelisk and statue parts of this mausoleum were rebuilt in 2011. This was for the 100th anniversary of the original monument. It was ready to be seen again on January 25, 2012, for its 101st anniversary. The monument had also been rebuilt in the 1950s. The 2011-2012 rebuilding was done by artist Ramón Rivera Cáliz. He was the director of the Office of Arts and Culture for the city of Ponce. Because of his work, Rivera Cáliz was honored in 2013. His name was added to the list of famous Ponce citizens at the Park of the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.

The monument stands on a 4-foot tall base. It is surrounded by 19 columns, each 3 feet tall. These columns are connected by chains. The chains have metal decorations that show Ponce firefighting tools and important dates. These columns and chains form a square that is about 40 feet by 40 feet. There is also an inner chain closer to the obelisk itself. This chain is held up by four smaller columns.

At the bottom of the obelisk, there is a marble plaque with an inscription. It says:

The metal decorations on the outer chains have important dates. Some dates are repeated. These dates mark special moments in the history of the Ponce Fire Corps. For example, February 2, 1883, is when the Ponce Fire Corps moved to what is now the Parque de Bombas Museum. May 30, 1906, is when the first plots of land were given to Ponce firefighters. They used these to build their homes on Calle 25 de Enero street. And, of course, January 25, 1899, is the date of the El Polvorín fire.

The actual mausoleum is underground, beneath the obelisk. The entrance to the mausoleum has another inscription. It lists the people involved in building it:

A Tribute to Firefighters

Another plaque, shaped like a stone head, guards the entrance to the tombs. It has a poem that speaks about the monument's meaning:

The Heroes Honored Here

All Ponce firefighters who have served for five or more years can be buried in this mausoleum. So far, 60 firefighters rest here, along with the first eight heroes. The monument especially honors these seven firefighters and one civilian from the January 25, 1899, El Polvorín fire:

• Rafael Rivera Esbri (a civilian who later became mayor of Ponce)
• Pedro Sabater
• Rafael del Valle
• Cayetano Casals
• Pedro Ruiz
• Juan Romero
• Gregorio Rivera
• Tomas Rivera