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Residencia Ermelindo Salazar
Centro Cultural de Ponce Carmen Solá de Pereira in Barrio Tercero, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC01933).jpg
Residencia Ermelindo Salazar, in Barrio Tercero, Ponce, Puerto Rico
General information
Architectural style Ponce Creole
Town or city 70 Cristina Street, Ponce
Country Puerto Rico
Coordinates 18°00′43.092″N 66°36′45.3234″W / 18.01197000°N 66.612589833°W / 18.01197000; -66.612589833
Completed 1870
Client Ermelindo Salazar
Design and construction
Architect Juan Bertoli Calderoni
Engineer Juan Bertoli Calderoni

The Residencia Ermelindo Salazar is a very old and important house in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was built way back in 1870. This house was once the home of Ermelindo Salazar, who was a well-known businessman and even the mayor of Ponce in 1880. You can find this historic building at 70 Cristina Street, right in the Ponce Historic Zone. Today, it's a busy place! It's the main building for the Centro Cultural de Ponce Carmen Solá de Pereira. This is a cultural center where people learn, enjoy art, and see cool exhibits.

A Look Inside the Residencia Ermelindo Salazar

The Residencia Ermelindo Salazar is a special building. It was designed in 1870 by a talented architect named Juan Bertoli Calderoni. The house shows a mix of styles, including Colonial Spanish and Ponce Creole architecture. Imagine a beautiful courtyard in the middle, surrounded by a covered walkway!

Who Lived Here?

This grand house was first built for Ermelindo Salazar. He was a very important person in Ponce. He owned land, ran businesses, and was a banker. He even served as the mayor of Ponce in 1880.

A Home for Art and Culture

Over the years, this house has had many important roles.

  • In 1959, it became the first home for the Museo de Arte de Ponce (Ponce Art Museum).
  • The art museum moved to a new, bigger building in 1965.
  • Later, in the 1980s, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture bought the house. They used it as the first location for the Museum of Puerto Rican Music.
  • In 1990, the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña fixed up the house. It then became the first home for the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña (Museum of Puerto Rican Music).
  • Since 1992, the house has been the home of the Centro Cultural de Ponce Carmen Solá de Pereira. This center helps artists in Ponce grow and show their work. They have special events called Noches de Galería. Here, painters, artisans, and sculptors can show off their amazing talents.

The First Private Phone Line

Did you know this house has a cool secret? It was the very first house in Ponce to have its own private telephone line! This special phone line connected the Salazar family's home directly to their business offices at the Port of Ponce. This happened 17 years before other people in the city even got phone service!

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