Rafael Rivera Esbrí (2 July 1870 – 9 November 1965) was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1915 to 1917.
Rafael Rivera Esbrí | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mayor Rafael Rivera Esbrí | |
| 113th Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| In office 2 January 1915 – 2 January 1917 | |
| Preceded by | Simón Moret Gallart |
| Succeeded by | Luis Yordán Dávila |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 July 1870 Ponce, Puerto Rico[citation needed] |
| Died | 9 November 1965 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Spouse | Fausta Bengoa |
| Relations | Benicio del Toro (great-grandson)[1] |
| Profession | Handyman[2] |
Early years edit
Rivera Esbri was the son of Ramón Rivera Alvarado and Julia Esbri.[3] He married Faneta Bengoa y Larrauri and had a daughter named Lili Belen, born around 1904.[4] His great-grandson is actor Benicio del Toro.[5]
El Polvorín edit
Rivera Esbri is best remembered for an incident that has little to do with his work as mayor. He is remembered as the only civilian who in the company of seven of Ponce's firefighters confronted and brought under control the fire of 25 January 1899 that took place at the American munitions depot in the city of Ponce, located where the Ponce High School is currently located. Rivera Esbri and the others did this in defiance of an order from the American military officials not to attempt to fight the fire.[6] Their bravery is said to have saved the city from total destruction.[7]
Obelisk edit
In 1906,[8] the Legislature of Puerto Rico issued a proclamation to declare Rafael Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters heroes officially.[9] In time, the city of Ponce also built an obelisk to their memory which is located at Plaza Las Delicias (See Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín), and is dedicated to Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters who risked their lives in the 25 January 1899 fire. Rivera Esbri's name, along with those of the firefighters are engraved on the obelisk.[10]
Mayoral work edit
As mayor, Rivera Esbri founded, in 1916, the cemetery at Barrio Coto Laurel in Ponce.[11] Rivera Esbri founded Partido Ponceño, which was short-lived, and around 1950 he ran for mayor of Ponce.[12]
Death and burial edit
Upon his death, Rafael Rivera Esbri was buried at the mausoleum reserved for Ponce firefighters in the Monumento a los heroes de El Polvorín at Cementerio Civil de Ponce.[13] He is the only civilian non-firefighter in the mausoleum. He died on 9 November 1965 at age 95.[14]
Honors edit
In Ponce there is a street in Urbanización Las Delicias of Barrio Magueyes named after him.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Historic Buildings and Structures in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Jorge L. Perez (El Nuevo Dia) and Jorge Figueroa (Ponce Municipal Historian). Text accompanying Drawing No. 20, titled "Tumba de los Bomberos". Puerto Rico Historic Buildings Drawings Society. 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019.
- ^ Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001
- ^ Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001
- ^ 1910 United States Federal Census.
- ^ Historic Buildings and Structures in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Jorge L. Perez (El Nuevo Dia) and Jorge Figueroa (Ponce Municipal Historian). Text accompanying Drawing No. 20, titled "Tumba de los Bomberos". Puerto Rico Historic Buildings Drawings Society. 2019. Accessed 4 February 2019.
- ^ Comentario del libro "El Rostro Oculto de la Desobediencia Civil", by José Enrique Ayoroa Santaliz Archived 20 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Album Histórico de Ponce", by Ruth Fortuño Sellés
- ^ Pergamino Continua Desaparecido. Archived 21 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Univison
- ^ Obelisk to the Heroes Archived 21 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Coto Laurel Cemetery Archived 21 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Mariano Vidal Armstrong. Ponce, Notas para su Historia. Second edition. 1986. p. 78.
- ^ Conmemoran 113 aniversario del Fuego del Polvorín en Ponce: Los “Héroes del Polvorín” son: Rafael Rivera Esbri, Juan Romero, Rafael del Valle y Valle, Cayetano Casals, Pedro Sabater, Gregorio Rivera, Pedro Ruiz y Tomás Rivera. Primera Hora. 27 January 2012. Accessed 4 September 2018.
- ^ Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001.
Further reading edit
- Fay Fowlie de Flores. Ponce, Perla del Sur: Una Bibliográfica Anotada. Second Edition. 1997. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce. p. 216. Item 1109. LCCN 92-75480
- Cayetano Coll y Toste. Boletín Histórico de Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Cantera Fernandez. 1914–1927. (Colegio Universitario Tecnológico de Ponce, CUTPO).
- Fay Fowlie de Flores. Ponce, Perla del Sur: Una Bibliografía Anotada. Segunda Edición. 1997. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Universidad de Puerto Rico en Ponce. p. 174. Item 893. LCCN 92-75480
- Ramon E. Bauzá. Con la ventana abierta...era mejor cuando era peor. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Cordillera. 1996. (UPR-RP; CUTPO)