by LORENZO LEMAUR SANTANA
We like to start the last installment of this series by quoting Antonio María Manrique. From what we have learned about him, from Félix Hormiga and Pedro César Quintana, who know a lot about this, this character deserves special attention, whom we consider very important in the life of Arrecife, who was born in Tetir (Fuerteventura) in 1837. He came to Lanzarote as a notary and was an ardent promoter of the regular water supply for the supply of Arrecife. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the island was hit by major droughts, he took the initiative to illuminate the waters of Famara and lead them to Arrecife. He also pointed out to the neighborhood the convenience of building cisterns to store the precious resource after the rains. It gives its name to one of the oldest streets in Titerroy.
Many other characters from the daily life of Arrecife also give their name to our streets. A prominent example is that of the Zerolo Brothers, three brothers who will dedicate themselves to different activities, but all having in common their outstanding work in the areas they chose to develop their professional activity. Antonio Zerolo Herrera, born in Arrecife in 1854 and died in 1923, was a member of the Royal Spanish Academy and a writer. Tomás, who was a doctor, was born in Arrecife in 1850 and died in 1910. Elías, who was born in Arrecife in 1849 and died in Paris in 1900, was a writer. That street, located in the Center that goes from the Guanapay bar, takes us to Calle Real, formerly called Miraflores.
The street that goes from Calle Real, in four corners, passes through El Lomo, parallel to the Charco de San Ginés, is named after Jacinto Borges Díaz, since the end of the Civil War since he was a martyr of it, he was born in Arrecife in 1917 and died on the front in Lérida while helping a wounded comrade. Before it was called Guerra del Río (1935) and before Carretera de los Charcos and also Porto Naos.
Vicente Vilas González, who was born in Pontevedra in 1918, gives his name to another street. A prominent businessman on the island, but above all he is known for the role he played for the benefit of the mentally handicapped on the island. Another merchant, Julio Blancas (Center) who was dedicated to the trade of agricultural products such as tobacco. Also very popular for his fondness for pigeon racing. In Titerroy a street bears the name of the popular merchant Vicente Guerra who was born in Guatiza in 1928 and died in Arrecife in 1980. Also in Titerroy the lawyer Eugenio Rijo Rocha has his street, who was born in Teguise in 1896, studied in Madrid, and then returned to his homeland, where he practiced his profession until his death, which occurred in 1964. The only athlete who names a street is Antonio Bermúdez (San Francisco Javier). He was born in Güime in 1949 and died at 38 years of age. Popular and accomplished athlete, who excelled in the vernacular sport of Canarian Wrestling.
Other well-known characters from not long ago were Virgilio Cabrera (Altavista) who was born in Arrecife in 1916 and died in the city itself in 1983. He was a teacher and liked to write. The same can be said of Braulio de León Navarro, with a street through El Lomo, founder (1973) and leader of the San Ginés Polyphonic Choir and a great lover and precursor of music. Another popular character with a street in Altavista was Ginés Luis, Ginés Luis Suárez, who was born in Arrecife in 1934 where he also died in 1965. He was an official of the Arrecife City Council who stood out for his enthusiastic and active participation in the organization of local festivals and other events, especially the San Ginés festivities.
In the Center of the City a street honors Don José Molina, favorite son of Lanzarote. José Gonzalo de la O Molina Orosa was born in Arrecife in 1883 and died in this same city in 1966. Altruistic and philanthropic doctor to whom the founding of the Lanzarote Island Hospital in 1950 is owed.
In Valterra we find Calle Ingeniero Paz Peraza. José Paz Peraza was born in Arrecife in 1837 and died in 1898. Civil engineer who stood out for the construction of several of the main island roads. The Aguilar Sánchez Brothers (Tomas, Francisco and Cándido) were born in Cáceres, in the years 1910, 1912, 1920 respectively. The three were school teachers.
The official chronicler of Lanzarote and Favorite Son of Arrecife, Guillermo Topham gives his name to a street in Altavista. He was born in Arrecife in 1916 where he also died in the year 2000. Very popular journalist who signed with the pseudonym "Guito". Founder and editor of the publication Antena, which was published in Lanzarote between 1953 and 1970, a true social chronicle of the time. He was distinguished as Important for Tourism by the Government of the Canary Islands.
Other characters perhaps less remembered are Claudio Toledo Cabrera (Argana Alta) who was born in 1897 in Arrecife and died in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1943. A pioneer among the island's hoteliers. Also Enrique Suárez Lubary (Altavista) was born in Arrecife in 1908. Bookbinder by profession and a well-known person in the cultural field of the island. He died in the city of Arrecife itself in 1982.
Perhaps somewhat more remembered for being recent, Antonio Nieves Santos (La Vega) was a taxi driver from Arrecife born in Guatiza in 1932 and died precisely in an unfortunate traffic accident in 1990. Another popular taxi driver Cristín Corujo (Argana Alta), Maximino Cristín Hernández Corujo, was born in San Bartolomé in 1927. The Cabildo awarded him the Golden Crab in 1986.
Finally, some military personnel closely related to the island also have a place in the streets of Arrecife. One of them is the Artilleryman Luis Tresguerras, a military engineer and artillery captain who was born in Arrecife in 1903, and died by firing squad in Paterna (Valencia) between 1936-1939, during the civil war. The small pedestrian street that leads from the Plazuela to Avenida La Marina bears his name. Before it was called Alta Vista and then Muelle. The merchant marine pilots, Guillermo Toledo Duchemín (Altavista), Paco Naverán (in front of Castillo San José) and Paco Fierro (La Vega), also have their street.
In previous articles we have already mentioned characters such as the Photographer Gabriel Fernández (Center), Emilio Ley (Center) and José Alonso (Los Alonso), so we will say nothing more about them.
Note: all the documentation has been obtained from the book "Arrecife. History of its streets", by Alejandro González Morales.
