Albergue Caritativo Tricoche

Albergue Caritativo Tricoche
Locator map
Location of Ponce and the Albergue Caritativo Tricoche in Puerto Rico
Location Calle Tricoche, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 18°01′00″N 66°36′55″W / 18.016785°N 66.615193°W / 18.016785; -66.615193Coordinates: 18°01′00″N 66°36′55″W / 18.016785°N 66.615193°W / 18.016785; -66.615193
Area 1.3 acres (0.53 ha)
Built 1885
Architect Julio Vizcarrondo[1]
Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers.
Architectural style Neoclassical and 19th Century Civil Architecture
MPS 19th Century Civil Architecture in Ponce TR
NRHP Reference # 87000769[2]
Added to NRHP May 14, 1987

The Albergue Caritativo Tricoche or Hospital Tricoche (English: Tricoche Charitable Shelter or Tricoche Hospital) is a historic building located on Tricoche street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the city's historic district. It was designed by the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. The architecture consists of 19th Century Civil Architecture. For its services, its elegant architecture and its excellent location in Ponce's urban area the Hospital Tricoche has become a significant part of Ponce's history.

The articulated Classical revival style building dates from 1885, according to a report by the Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) dated April 7, 1987. However, according to local Ponce historian Luis Fortuño Janeiro, the structure was founded on December 11, 1878.[3] The structure was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1987.[4]

The hospital was named after Valentin Tricoche, a 19th-century philanthropist and land owner in Ponce with lands on the western bank of Rio Bucana which included lands with a stone mine.[5]

Physical appearance and description

The Hospital Tricoche occupies a whole urban block bounded to the north by Arena Street, to the South Tricoche Street, to the east Bertoly Street and to the west by Union Street. It is located several blocks north of Ponce's main square.[6]

The oldest records found indicate that this structure was built in 1885 consisting of a one story building organized around two identical anterior courtyards. This original spatial distribution is still preserved. The southern half was altered in 1928 after the 1918 earthquake damaged part of this side. During this remodeling a second story was added to this half. This southern facade is set back from the street by a fence and front yard. Its main element is the entrance portico articulated by flat tuscan pilasters and three arches, the central one slightly protruding to the front (This portico is part of the original 1885 construction). Over the portico, separated by cornice and parapet with the building's name in sans serif letters. Other decorative elements at this level include overhangs, a segmental round cornice over the recessed center window, louvered casement windows with segmental round openings and plain glass transoms and a rosette on top of the center recess between the two volumes. In contrast, the first floor of this south facade presents large rectangular windows with wide planar moldings and a simple cornice with a segmental pyramidal profile on the top molding, a cornice and rectangular windows with false segmental arch crowned by an equally false keystone all part of the original 1885 construction.[6]

The rear half of the building conserves the original one-story configuration with a repetition of rectangular openings surrounded by wide planar moldings and top cornices. Crowning the center bay of the north (Arenas Street) facade there is a simple triangular pediment with the date "1885" on top. The Arenas Street facade presents a certain rhythm in its treatment of pilasters and bays: two pilasters flank each of the central ones, including the one with the pediment, are flanked and separated by a total of six more pilasters. Wherever the pilasters occur on this facade, the wall is slightly set off to the front. The bottom of this rear part is lifted on a podium and the pilasters are surmounted by an entablure with a very simple frieze and architrave.[7]

The corners on this rear part of the building are rounded, a somewhat unusual condition for corners in buildings of this type of architecture. After a recent remodeling, most windows and doors were finished in near-duplicative (usually louvered casement) designs. The new annex on the side features arched openings to the street and has glass fenestration. This addition does not contribute to the property's architectural value but due to its disposition and volume it does not harm the main structure's integrity. Even with the 1928 alterations this building is still a magnificent example of Spanish architecture in Ponce and of the neoclassical style.[8]

Significance

The "Albergue Caritativo Tricoche" (Tricoche Charitable Shelter) was founded in 1878 thanks to an endowment to the City of Ponce left by Mr. Valentin Tricoche in his will. These funds were to be used for the construction of a shelter-hospital for the poor and needy of Ponce.[9]

No records of the original 1878 structure have been found; however, the existing building was commissioned to the Spanish Royal Corps of Engineers. By 1885 they had completed a one story neoclassical style structure that covered an entire urban block. This building remained unchanged until the 1918 earthquake which damaged part of the southern side.[9]

The reconstruction of this side was completed in 1928. During this reconstruction a second story was added to the south side. The architectural vocabulary used for this addition was similar to the 1885 construction. The first floor and main entrance were restored to their original shape.[9]

Since then alterations to the structure have been minimal and mostly due to new regulations by the Department of Health or to serve the community better. The main alteration to the structure was the addition of a new emergency entrance on the southern side on the Bertoly Street facade. This small addition does not contribute to the value of the property but neither does it hinder the structure's architectural integrity since it was designed and built with a compatible architectural vocabulary. This is also true of the 1928 second floor, which was clearly separated from the 1885 construction by means of visually acceptable wall.[9]

Hospital Tricoche has served the Ponce community since 1878. In its 121-year history the hospital gave the best free-of-cost medical attention available to the poor and needy in the city of Ponce.[10]

The hospital shut down in 1999.[11]

Recent developments

In 2009, the Ponce mayor Francisco Zayas Seijo reported that 1 million dollars had been used by the municipality to remove toxic materials from the Hospital, and was optimistic that the inversion would lead to the opening of the hospital.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. Album Histórico de Ponce (1692-1963). Page 142. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Imprenta Fortuño. 1963.
  2. ↑ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. Album Historico de Ponce (1692-1963). Page 250. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Imprenta Fortuno.
  4. ↑ Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 6. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  5. ↑ Ramon Marin. Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Page 187.
  6. 1 2 Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 2. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  7. ↑ Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Pages 2 and 5. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  8. ↑ Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 5. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Page 3. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  10. ↑ Mariano G. Coronas Castro, Certifying Official; Felix J. del Campo, State Historian; and Jorge Ortiz Colom, State Architect, Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) April 7, 1987. In National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. United States Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (Washington, D.C.) Pages 3, 6. Listing Reference Number 87000769. May 14, 1986.
  11. ↑ Vice alcade ponceño a favor de reapertura de hospitales públicos. Primera Hora. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  12. ↑ MENSAJE DE SITUACIÓN Y PRESUPUESTO DEL ALCALDE DE PONCE, HON. FRANCISCO ZAYAS SEIJO, A LA LEGISLATURA MUNICIPAL DE PONCE CORRESPONDIENTE AL AÑO FISCAL 2008-2009. Primera Hora.
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