Rafael Rivera Esbrí
Encyclopedia
Rafael Rivera Esbrí was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico
from 1915 to 1917.
s confronted and brought under control the fire of 25 January 1899, at the American munitions depot. Rivera Esbri and the others did in defiance of an order from the American invaders not to attempt to fight the fire. Their bravery is said to have saved the city from total destruction.
to officially declare Rafael Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters heroes. In time, the city of Ponce also built an obelisk
to their memory which is located at Plaza Las Delicias
, and is dedicated to Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters who risked their lives in the January 25, 1899, fire. Rivera Esbri's name, along with those of the firefighters are engraved on the obelisk.
in Ponce.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
from 1915 to 1917.
El Polvorin
Rivera Esbri is most remembered for an incident that has little to do with his work as mayor. He is remembered as the only brave civilian who in the company of seven of Ponce's firefighterFirefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s confronted and brought under control the fire of 25 January 1899, at the American munitions depot. Rivera Esbri and the others did in defiance of an order from the American invaders not to attempt to fight the fire. Their bravery is said to have saved the city from total destruction.
Obelisk
In 1906, the Legislature of Puerto Rico issued a proclamationProclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
to officially declare Rafael Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters heroes. In time, the city of Ponce also built an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
to their memory which is located at Plaza Las Delicias
Plaza Las Delicias
Plaza Las Delicias is the main plaza in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various monuments it contains. The historic Parque de Bombas and Ponce Cathedral buildings are located within Plaza Las Delicias. Plaza Las Delicias is actually composed of...
, and is dedicated to Rivera Esbri and the seven firefighters who risked their lives in the January 25, 1899, fire. Rivera Esbri's name, along with those of the firefighters are engraved on the obelisk.
Mayoral work
As mayor, Rivera Esbri founded, in 1916, the cemetery at Barrio Coto LaurelCoto Laurel
Coto Laurel is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Anón, Marueño, Guaraguao, Quebrada Limon, Real, and San Patricio, and the coastal barrios of Canas and Capitanejo, Coto Laurel is one of the municipality's nine bordering barrios...
in Ponce.
See also
- Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto RicoPonce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
- List of famous Puerto Ricans