Marta Abreu Arencibia

Marta de los Ángeles González - Abreu y Arencibia, known as Marta Abreu de Estévez (Santa Clara, November 13, 1845 - Paris, January 2, 1909) was a Cuban philanthropist.

Biography

She was born in Santa Clara, on Sancti Spíritus street, in the house marked with number 49, today Juan Bruno Zayas, the daughter of Pedro Nolasco González-Abreu y Jiménez and Rosalía Arencibia y Plana. Both also born in the same city. She grew up and was educated in the bosom of a wealthy family, whose life was characterized by its large donations to charitable works and public utility. Later, he moved to a farm belonging to his family in the current municipality of Encrucijada, which was destined for the cultivation of sugar cane thanks to the work with slaves and because of his good heart and kindness, he was known among them as "La Generosa& #3. 4;. Her hometown owes her the Colegio San Pedro Nolasco; she also founded the San Pedro and Santa Rosalía asylum for the poor, she erected the Teatro de la Caridad, whose proceeds were dedicated to charitable works; she built the public laundries of the Bélico and Cubanicay rivers, the El Amparo dispensary and promoted the electric plant. She contributed numerous financial resources to the fight for Cuban independence. With funds provided by her, three expeditions destined for Las Villas and Camagüey were organized in the middle of 1896, she also financed the construction of the railway line from the municipality of Encrucijada to the city of Santa Clara and later the train terminal that today It bears his name in homage of the inhabitants to said personality.

In 1874, she married Dr. Luis Estévez y Romero, a lawyer from Matanzas, who always supported her charitable and patriotic activities and who was Vice President of the Republic during the government of Don Tomás Estrada Palma. Marta Abreu she died in Paris on January 2, 1909.

Honors

Poshumous tribute

The steamship Flandres left France on February 4, 1920 with the mortal remains of Marta Abreu and Luis Estévez (who committed suicide), and on the 20th they were buried in the tomb of the Abreu Arencibia family in the Colón Necropolis. Before, they received honors from government authorities.

Monument to Marta Abreu

The Havana City Council decided to change the name of Calle Amargura in Old Havana to Marta Abreu.

Since then, tribute has been paid to this beneficent woman and her unwavering and unmistakable patriotic legacy, after a century of existence in the enduring memory of Cubans.

The memory of the protector of the poor and of the city of Santa Clara was preserved by fellow citizens, who on June 24, 1945, to celebrate the centenary of Marta Abreu, erected a monument to her in the central park of the city.

Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas

In the library of this university there is a collection of very valuable rare books.