Tampa's Centro Asturiano

[xiblaniella]

Tampa's Centro Asturiano has an impressive history which is just starting to be known in Asturies. We've heard a lot about México, Argentina... but we are still discovering Asturian-Americans.

I bought a book (Immigrant World of Ybor City) a couple of years ago in which you can learn a lot of interesting things about Asturians and Centro Asturiano, and, morever, there's a lot of bibliography which may be useful for further research. I think you can find it at Amazon.com

I found this somewhere online but i'm sure it's a quote from this book:

Founded for essentially social reasons, Centro Español deftly balanced the strong regional loyalties of its Asturian and Galician members. The early society, unified by real and perceived animosities from Anglo Tampa and the colony's Cuban element, could not retain such loyalties following the conclusion of the Cuban revolution. In particular, the Asturian element had steadfastly urged the society to broaden its collective efforts in the, medical arena. Leaders of Centro Español resisted entrance into such an unexplored area because of costs and the "ungovernable and rebellious nature of the Asturians."

Frequently called "anarchist" by the Galician leadership, a large faction of dissident Spaniards seceded in 1902 to organize Centro Asturiano. The new club became a North American auxiliary of the Centro Asturiano of Havana. By 1900, the renowned Cuban institution already boasted 10,000 members. The international bylaws required a minimum of 300 members, a commitment to donate a percentage of annual dues and a written constitution before granting a charter to the new American affiliate. Pioneering members, of whom sixty-five were still alive in 1936, recalled that enraged leaders from Centro Español especially the cigar manufacturers-fought against the creation of a rival and potentially radical society, even to the point of dispatching delegates to Havana to plead against the proposed establishment. The Spanish hierarchy in Cuba disregarded the protests and granted a charter to Centro Asturiano of Tampa on April 1, 1902. According to record books meticulously preserved at the clubhouse, 546 charter members enlisted in the new society.

Destined to evolve into tile most stable, well financed, and best-preserved clubhouse in Ybor City, Centro Asturiano began with a two-room, wood-frame building at 14101/2 Seventh Avenue. In 1907, leaders announced plans to erect a modern facility on the corner of Palm and Nebraska Avenues. Dedicated on January 22,1909, the $75,000 clubhouse stood unrivaled by Tampa's standards. A 1912 fire completely destroyed the structure, but members resolved to rebuild with an even more ambitious building. In a gesture inconceivable fifteen years earlier, tile Cuban Club offered Centro Asturiano the use of its facility-with full membership privileges during the construction period.

The Tampa Tribune heralded the new Centro Asturiano, unveiled on May 15, 1914, as "the most beautiful building in the South." Designed by the talented architectural firm of Bonfoey and Elliot (which came to design all of the other major clubhouses), the structure cost, a staggering $110,000 of the time. Dedication ceremonies filled three days, highlighted by original operatic scores, a symphony and endless balls and banquets. The building still sparkles as an architectural gem nearly a century later. Its spacious features include a dramatic 1,200 seat theatre, a cantina, ballroom and a well-stocked library.

Financially sound, socially progressive and institutionally viable, Centro Asturiano attracted flocks of Spaniards to its protective banner. While the club naturally promoted Asturian culture, at no time did it exclude other Spaniards or Latins. Italians, Cubans and Galicians joined Centro Asturiano because of its facilities, benefits and membership . Economically, the club operated efficiently, as demonstrated by its surplus of $165,000 for the period 1902-1914, Centro Asturiano's officials established a club bank , whereby members could deposit funds, earning a high interest and at the same time supporting their club. No institution in Ybor City or Tampa generated the crowds and numbers as could Centro Asturiano. A 1911 picnic at Sulphur Springs attracted 6,000 members, their families and guests, causing the trolley company to press all its cars into service. Six months later, another picnic counted a crowd of 4,500 "Every nationality was represented," reported the Tribune.

They have their own webpage http://www.centroasturianotampa.org

David Guardado

[Art]

Very interesting!

I remember reading about an Asturian Center in FL that had formed what was basically an early HMO or medical cooperative. Thanks for helping find that again! There's an interesting history of the Centro Asturiano here: http://www.centroasturianotampa.org/
but you have to click on "Museum" to see it.

I'm impressed that the Asturians were so successful in starting and maintaining their medical cooperative for so long. They had TWO hospitals! They also had a banking club, a grave yard, and provided educational, recreational, and social activities (not in the grave yard). Their events could be huge: 6000 people showed up at one picnic.

It's interesting to read that other Spaniards were troubled by the radicalism of the Asturians, who were viewed as ungovernable. And yet these Asturians in Tampa seemed capable of incredible cooperative feats!

Asturias has a history of anarchist activity. Although the foundation of the Centro Asturiano was probably inspired by that history, I doubt that it was really anarchism. My dictionary offers differing definitions for anarchy and anarchism.

Anarchy: a state of lawlessness or political disorderdue to absence of governmental authority.

Anarchism: a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups.

Clearly, we Americans have a very distorted image of what anarchism is; we tend to equate it with anarchy. Anarchism appears to be a very advanced form social responsibility and engagement requiring intelligence, maturity, and active participation. This is way beyond what almost any contemporary people in the world could handle! I suspect that it's a lot of work.

Maybe no where can anarchism be maintained for a long term because of the normal progression of human social/organizational interatctions. Yes, the Tampa group did quite well, but it probably wasn't actually anarchism, at least not for long.

Ironically and sadly, anarchy--as demonstrated today in Iraq--can be the by-product of governmental action.

[xiblaniella]

Apparently most aAsturians in Tampa were cigar-makers, people that were very involved in left-wing politics, specially anarchists ideas.
While they worked they had a "reader" who kept reading for them texts mainly with political content.

It's quite interesting that asturians in Tampa were considered anarchists while asturian workers have always been considered more influenced by socialist ideas.

It seems that socialist ideas started to become more and more important during the 20's and 30's in Asturies with the consolidation of PSOE and UGT (the trade union) but still during the Republic anarchism was more important than socialism among workers in Xixón and Langreo (Llangréu).
My grandfather himself belonged to the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo) the anarchist trade union.

CNT started to become popular in Asturies among workers which sympathise with the "Partido Republicano Federal" a non-revolutionary left wing party and the asturian branch of CNT wasn't as radical as others (for example the catalan, where Durruti was one of the leaders).
In 1934 Asturian CNT joined the PSOE an UGT (socialists) in the revolutionary uprising against right-wing government, but CNT in most parts of Spain didn't agree with that aliance considering PSOE an UGT weren't really revolutionary.

Obviously their conception of society was not a state of chaos but a self-organised community in which government and political parties were excluded (utopia?).
That's theory as i tell you because you get a wide range of different people belonging to CNT, many of them actually voted (for left-wing parties) at the elections.

In the book I quoted before there's a lot of information about trade unions, political factions and ideas these people had.

I'll quote somthing about the hospital:

The existence and increasing popularity of collective medicine among Ybor City's Latins angered Tampa's medical community. The Hillsborouhg County Medical Society (HCMS) battled the concept of contract medicine for a half-century, labeling it "socialistic", "un-American" and "radical", and in particular waged and incessant battle with physicians who wished to serve Latin societis. The very firt amendment of the HCMS's constitution prohibited its members from participating in contract-medicien programs.

[Suronda]

Hello,

I thought I'd jump in here with the full citation for the book referred to by Xiblaniella (David). The full citation is:

Mormino, Gary R. and George E. Pozzetta. THE IMMIGRANT WORLD OF YBOR CITY: ITALIANS AND THEIR LATIN NEIGHBORS IN TAMPA, 1885-1985. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1987).

While giving information on the variety of ethnic groups in Ybor City, Mormino and Pozzetta's work is one of the few studies of U.S. immigration that addressess Spanish immigration, and in this case, the Asturian immigrant community in Tampa. You're right David, the quotes you found are taken directly from the text. It's a great read if you haven't checked it out yet.

[El Tampeno]

Hello ....I'm our newest member. Thanks for your interest in our Centro Asturiano...yes there was quite a bit of competition between the 2 Centro's.My abuelo was very Asturiano but for some reason he joined the Centro Espanol instead. I would like to think it was a matter of convenience.......there were 2 Spanish/Cuban/Sicilian neighborhoods in Tampa....Ybor City and West Tampa. Like most cities in the USA Tampa is a very large city, geographically and the 2 areas were a fair distance apart. My family lived in West Tampa...Cento Espanol at that time had 2 very large club houses...1 was in Ybor City and the other was in West Tampa. Centro Asturiano had a club house only in Ybor. Well, many of my abuelo's Asturiano friends called him a "traitor" for joining with the Gallegos....my, aren't we Spaniards passionate about everything!!!!!!

As time went on and the organizations grew they eventually embraced the Cubans and Sicilians as well. The 2 centro's, at their peaks operated 2 major hospitals, several out-patient clinics and cemeteries as well....in fact they provided what was, literally, "cradle-to-grave" mutual aid. In the late 1980's Ybor City was granted "Historic Landmark District" status by the US Department of the Interior.....this is prestigious and includes, for example San Francisco's Chinatown and New Orleans' French Quarter. Their decision was based, in large part, on the history of these mutual aid societies.

As of today, the Cento Espanol no longer exists as an organization but its clubhouses still exist...the one in West Tampa has been purchased and restored by the city and the Ybor City one is part of a new shopping and entertainment complex called "Centro Ybor" (I am not pleased).

Centro Asturiano still exists and is undergoing a membership drive (I will be joining). Also L'Unione Italiana and El Circulo Cubano also exist...all these buildings are National Historic Landmarks and are protected!!!!! they are all in the Ybor City area.

Looking forward to hearing from you....hope I didn't get too verbose....I love all this stuff.....Thanks again for your interest........there's lots more to talk about.

[el californiano]

I have visited the Centro Asturiano club house on a few occassions when I passed through Tampa. The marble bar in the cantina is amazing! It is a very nice building that still needs strong maintenance and renovation. I believe the club welcomes all support and I also plan to become a member.

It should be visited by all Asturianos just for noting the historical significance of these Spanish pioneers in Ybor City,Florida. (If one is to visit Ybor they should also visit La Union Italiana and El Circulo Cubano to grasp the magnitude and influence of the mutual aid societies in Tampa/Ybor in the early 20th century.)

[cmt261]

Just as an FYI..the Centro Español still exisits, although with very few members! I am the youngest, I think! and I am 46. My husband is the Vice President. When we sold the hospital and the buildings, we purchased another building, the West Tampa Convention Center on Columbus Dr.

Unfortunately, although our ancestors were very pround people, we have lost our heritiage to some extent, for many reasons. As we become more international, I think some of the pride in our history is returning. I am 3rd generation American and luckily, my parents forced me to speak Spanish for which I am eternally grateful! My children understand and speak it also.

[linda]

Hello,
What an interesting site. I came upon it by searching for information
on the Sanatorio del Centro Espanol hospital. I have read a few posts and saw that there are a few people here who might be able to help me.
I would like to know the history of this hospital. All that I can find online is a picture.
I would really appreciate any information.
It is wonderful to read about Ybor city and it's history. I had no idea.
Linda

[stamargo]

My family also belonged to El Centro in Ybor. Both my Abuelo and Abuela Tamargo were born and passed away in the Centro Asturiano's hospital.

Sadly, while the club building is still beautiful and the club itself is still holding on, the old hospital building is half demolished and slowly rotting away.


Here is the link to the club's current website (everybody's got a website!):
http://centroasturianotampa.org/

...and an outside link to some historical information on the club:
http://www.ybor.org/historicclubs/asturi.asp

[Art]

Thanks StaMargo!

Your first link (http://centroasturianotampa.org/) has an interesting history of the Centro Asturiano and some images that show how truly grand the complex is.

The second link (http://www.ybor.org/historicclubs/asturi.asp) is especially interesting for its cultural commentary on regional rivalries, gender issues, etc.

They're worth reading.

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¡Gracias StaMargo!

Tu enlace primero (http://centroasturianotampa.org/) tiene una historia muy interesante del Centro Asturiano de Tampa y algunos fotos que muestran el esplendor de los edificios.

El segundo eslabón (http://www.ybor.org/historicclubs/asturi.asp) tiene mucho interes por el comentario cultural sobre las rivalidades regionales, temas géneras, etc.

Vale la pena leerlos.

[Phylis]

Nancy A. Hewitt. Southern Discomfort: Women’s activism in Tampa, Florida, 1880s-1920s. 2001 Urbana: University of Illinois.

This book looks at Ybor City's "Latin" population. She does address Spaniards and briefly Asturians and their social club. For those interested in this area and the interesting mix of people, loyalties, and the role of women you should take a look. The other Latins are Cubans and Sicilian/Italian Americans.
Cordially, Phylis

[stamargo]

Nancy A. Hewitt. Southern Discomfort: Women’s activism in Tampa, Florida, 1880s-1920s. 2001 Urbana: University of Illinois.

This book looks at Ybor City's "Latin" population. She does address Spaniards and briefly Asturians and their social club. For those interested in this area and the interesting mix of people, loyalties, and the role of women you should take a look. The other Latins are Cubans and Sicilian/Italian Americans.
Cordially, Phylis

Wow, I forgot about this web site!

If anyone's interested, the best book about the history of Ybor City (and the Asturianos who help build it) is "The Immigrant World of Ybor City" by Gary Mormino, a local university professor. It's available at many online bookstores.

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Si cualquier persona todavía interesado, el mejor libro acerca de la historia del Ybor City es "The Immigrant World of Ybor City" escrita por Gary Mormino, un profesor local de la universidad. Puede encontrarlo en muchas librerías en el Internet.

[stamargo]

I just added a bunch of information about Ybor City and its mutual aid societies to the Ybor article on wikipedia.com:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor