Palacete Los Moreau
Encyclopedia
Palacete Los Moreau is a house museum located in Moca, Puerto Rico
. Historically known as the Labadie Mansion, the house inspired Enrique Laguerre to write La Llamarada. The property was restored as a museum and renamed the "Palacete Los Moreau" in honor of Laguerre’s novel. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as Hacienda Iruena Manor House.
The hacienda was sold to Juan Labadié in 1860. At the time of acquisition the property had an area of 1,300 acres, of which three quarters were planted with coffee. The other quarter was divided between cane, timber and cattle.
Juan Labadié lived on the plantation until his death in 1893. His widow, Cornelia Pengeot decided to demolish the old house of wood to build a new one made out of concrete.
After the invasion of the island
by the United States in 1898, the estate became solely a sugar plantation belonging to Central Coloso
.
in Châteauesque
architecture
. The main element of the house is the front porch that is flanked by two towers. One of the towers originally housed the library of the house.
. He describes the house as it existed during the early 20th century, and the Moreau family are largely based upon the Labaddies. Laguerre recognized how the novel transformed the house into a legend, "it's like when a great man dies and literature replaced history and the legend begins."
In 1993 the municipality of Moca acquired the property and restored the house calling it "El Palacete Los Moreau" in honor of the novel. The estate is open free of charge to the public. In accordance with his wishes, Laguerre's body was cremated and his ashes are interred in a small mausoleum on the grounds of the estate.
Moca, Puerto Rico
Moca is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of Añasco; southeast of Aguadilla; east of Aguada; and west of Isabela and San Sebastián. Moca is spread over 12 wards and Moca Pueblo...
. Historically known as the Labadie Mansion, the house inspired Enrique Laguerre to write La Llamarada. The property was restored as a museum and renamed the "Palacete Los Moreau" in honor of Laguerre’s novel. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Hacienda Iruena Manor House.
History
Built in 1905, is the only building still standing of an agricultural conglomerate where both coffee and sugar were planted and processed. It belonged to the french family Pengeot.The hacienda was sold to Juan Labadié in 1860. At the time of acquisition the property had an area of 1,300 acres, of which three quarters were planted with coffee. The other quarter was divided between cane, timber and cattle.
Juan Labadié lived on the plantation until his death in 1893. His widow, Cornelia Pengeot decided to demolish the old house of wood to build a new one made out of concrete.
After the invasion of the island
Puerto Rican Campaign
The Puerto Rican Campaign was an American military sea and land operation on the island of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. The offensive began on May 12, 1898, when the United States Navy attacked the archipelago’s capital, San Juan. Though the damage inflicted on the city was minimal,...
by the United States in 1898, the estate became solely a sugar plantation belonging to Central Coloso
Central Coloso
Central Coloso, also known as Coloso Sugar Cane Refinery, was a long-running sugarcane refinery in Aguada, Puerto Rico. The refinery was established in late 19th century becoming one of the biggest sugar emporiums in the island...
.
Architecture
Plans for the construction of the house started in 1893. The house was designed by Paul Serva, the administrator of the sugar mill "Central Coloso" in Aguada. Serva conceived the design as a Caribbean adaptation of a ChateauChâteau
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
in Châteauesque
Châteauesque
Châteauesque is one of several terms, including Francis I style, and, in Canada, the Château Style, that refer to a revival architectural style based on the French Renaissance architecture of the monumental French country homes built in the Loire Valley from the late fifteenth century to the...
architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. The main element of the house is the front porch that is flanked by two towers. One of the towers originally housed the library of the house.
La Llamarada
The house, under the name “Hacienda Palmares de la Familia Moreau”, became immortalized in Puerto Rican literature by "La Llamarada" , a novel about the Depression-era sugar cane industry written by Puerto Rican author Enrique LaguerreEnrique Laguerre
Enrique Arturo Laguerre Vélez was a Nobel literature prize nominee, teacher and critic from Moca, Puerto Rico...
. He describes the house as it existed during the early 20th century, and the Moreau family are largely based upon the Labaddies. Laguerre recognized how the novel transformed the house into a legend, "it's like when a great man dies and literature replaced history and the legend begins."
In 1993 the municipality of Moca acquired the property and restored the house calling it "El Palacete Los Moreau" in honor of the novel. The estate is open free of charge to the public. In accordance with his wishes, Laguerre's body was cremated and his ashes are interred in a small mausoleum on the grounds of the estate.
External links
- El Palacete Los Moreau - visiting information