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498. asociación española de socorros mutuos

Buenos Aires, Balvanera, ex-Asociación Española de Socorros Mutuos

A favorite photo from the Colección Witcomb shows quite a different Recoleta Cemetery than the one that can be visited today. A few façades & domes remain to provide orientation, but sadly what was likely the largest mausoleum of that time no longer exists:

Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Colección Witcomb

Its identity remained uncertain until the following clip appeared in the excellent collection of images curated by Argentina Vintage:

Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Panteón de la Asociación Española de Socorros Mutuos

Just what I’d been looking for! A bit of research & a similar photo can be found in society magazine Caras y Caretas for Columbus Day, Día de la Raza, Día de la Hispanidad… a.k.a. October 12th.

As self-help organizations grew along with immigration, so did the need for burial space. The Asociación Española de Socorros Mutuos moved to Chacarita in 1896, eventually selling their group pantheon in Recoleta. Although demolished today, the new mausoleum by architect Alejandro Christophersen proved to be even more luxurious.

Chacarita Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Asociación Española de Socorros Mutuos, Alejandro Christophersen

Published inArt + ArchitectureHistory

2 Comments

  1. Sergio Sergio

    El ángel que se ve en la tercer foto se asemeja al de la bóveda del Dr. Juan Pujol, que fue Gobernador de Corrientes. Por la avenida que cruza a la del acceso hacia la izquierda, cerca de Rufina.

  2. Sí, tal cual… el panteón estaba ubicado cerca de la bóveda de Florencio Varela, o sea, cerca del final del diagonal. Un cachito de ese diagonal se ve en la tercera foto (la pirámide con laureles, que tampoco no está más). Saludos!

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