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SOME ALAMOS BEGININGS

Some friends have asked me to share here some of what I have researched on Alamos History.
Here is some of what I have collected from some personal research I have don in museums and file collections from Spain and through the history passed by some of the founder families of Alamos.
I would also like to thank Juan Carlos Holguín Balderrama for sharing with me his research on the names of streets in Alamos.

First the unconfirmed tale…
From family to family, in particular a merchant family by the last name of Garcia, which used to accompany the Spaniard militaries, not the missionaries as many think, say that some time between 1567 and 1587 a group of military Scouts sent to the north to find a place where they could establish a fort from where the Spaniards could observe and position themselves in advantage to the “savage natives of the region”. In looking for that region the tale states that 6 or 8 scouts found a seasonal river that crossed from West to East through a small forest of very tall trees, actually they were poplar trees (Alamo). The tale says that the scouts were amazed not to find any native resistance on their way to that area; they identified the small valley suitable for an outpost composed of a mission and a military fort to help those explorers and missionaries to the north and help the discovery and conquest of new lands for the crown of Spain.

The confirmed history …
About 100 years after the time of the tale the settlers of Alamos had not only built a chapel on the vicinity of the river, but the first levee to change the route of the river was built by adding sand and dirt they moved the riverbed to the north reclaiming some ground and using the wood of the trees to help on the construction of the levees the chapel and the military post. Note that by then the forest of poplars was nearly destroyed (I guess an unfortunate event).
Water and a peaceful area also attracted cattle farmers and merchants, specially knowing that this place would be on route to new land and the base from where new exploration would take place. Geological speaking Alamos had the shape that still has today.
By moving the riverbed to the north the base for what today is la Alameda was settled, the tracing of the streets was in plan and more people started to come in … prospectors among the newcomers.
From here on a lot of the history gets documented and the streets of Alamos got named!

So lets talk of the names of the streets, once again thanks to Juan Carlos Holguín for his research on the street names, that saved me a long time of research. If I ask you which streets preserve their original, or at least the first known name? Before you continue reading take a wild guess….
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OK here is the answer:
The street by the name of Comercio which original name or at least the first known name was “calle del comercio”, so when you walk by that street, keep in mind that it has had that name for at least 200 to 300 years.
Other streets and their original names:
The “Benito Juarez” Street or Just “Juarez” its first known name around the XIX century was “Calle de la Paz” (peace street).
The “Callejón del Beso first known name was Martín Garatuza (and who was this person? … more history research for this one later)
Going back to the Juarez street from the City hall and continuing through what today is called calle Chihuahua up to the intersection with Galeana was called “Calle del Calvario” (Calvary street).
Finally continuing on Chihuahua from Galeana towards the end of the street was called “Callejón de la Huerta de los Urrea” (alley of the Urrea orchard)
What today is known as “calle Molina” the first known name was “calle del Ángel” (Angel Street).
The first name of “callejón del Pipila” was known as “calle del Puente” (Bridge street, can you the reader guess why this was the Bridge street? The evidence still exists in Alamos)
What today is “calle 2 de Abril” used to be “calle del hospital” (Hospital street)
Today’s “calle Alberto Gutierrez” was known by either of two names “calle de las flores” (flowers street) or “calle del Baratillo” (dime store street, closest translation)
The “calle Antonio Rosales” was “Calle del Refugio” (refuge street or retreat street; both are the closest translation)
The portion of  “Calle Ignacio Zaragoza” limited to the west by “calle Alberto Gutierrez” and to the east by its intersection with “calle comercio” was known as “calle de la pilita” (street of the small water fountain) this last because at the end of the street used to be a public water fountain, on the east end of the street.
Continuing on this street towards the east, on the intersection with the “calle obregón” and until you hit the intersection of  “calle Rosales” was known as the “calle de la garita” (shelter street).
The “calle Obregón” was known as “calle de las palmas” (palms street).
The “callejon Marcor” was known as “calle de Antelo” (street of Antelo)
The “calle Francisco I Madero” was known as “Calle de la Aurora” (Aurora Street or down street, both are the closest translation). This last change its name relatively recently, maybe in the last 20 years.
The asphalt paved area that is by what today  is the start of the road to Navojoa was known as “camino a la Uvalama” (Uvalama road)
The “calle Morelos” by the Alameda, used to be known “paseo Alameda” (Alameda ride)
This same street towards the east starting on the intersection of “calle Guadalupe Victoria” was known as “calle de la Industria” (industry street)
The portion of the “calle Rosales” between “callejon del beso” and “calle Guadalupe Victoria” was known as “calle del recreo” (recreation or recess street, both cases is closest translation)
The portion of  “calle Guadalupe Victoria starting in front of the museum going south until it ends was known by  any of these two names “calle de la moneda” (coin street) or “callejón de los artesanos” (alley of the crafters”, closest translation)
The “calle Miguel Hidalgo” was known as “calle de Zapopan” (Zapopan street)
Finally the “calle Tacubaya” was known as “camino Real” (Royal road)

I now invite the reader to walk around Alamos and think about these streets and their original or first known name. In some cases I think the name was nicer than today’s in others I think is good to know its history.
You, the reader, will also note that this work is not finished, there are more streets that need to be researched and Juan Carlos Holguín and myself do this only as a hobby, probably some day we will have the time to finish this fascinating work.

A proposal that I have for the Alamos Council (Cabildo in Spanish) and the Major is that the streets of Alamos should be at least temporarily renamed during the Festival days. Wouldn’t this be a nice historical reminder of what Alamos was in the past?

There is much more I could write on this posting but for the moment I will let you enjoy thinking on the beginning of Alamos its streets and the forest that once was there.

Best regards,
And HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Carlos Pratt
Copyright notice:
This work is copyrighted material of ©Carlos Pratt and others.
No portion of this material may be reproduced or copied or redistributed by any means without express written permission of the author
Some sources of information:
Garcia  Family documents.
Juan Carlos Holguín Balderrama
Historic data from the Alamos church archives
Historic data from the Alamos City hall
Several sources from Spain and Portugal