June 1st, 2010
Central Roig, Historic Sugar Cane Plantation and Mill, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, El Yunque, Rain Forest
Sightseeing around the southeastern side of the Island of Puerto Rico took me to Yabucoa. This town is in short proximity to Humacao, where I grew up. I just wanted to take a trip around this area and see what time had done to this beautiful part of the island.
I arrived at the remnants of the Central Roig, which is located in Yabucoa. Yabucoa is known as Sugar Cane City.
At one time in history there were 6 sugar mills operating in this area. The most important one was Central Roig. The name was changed to Central Roig when it was bought in 1909. It is a historic sugar cane plantation.
Yabucoa is a fertile valley that produces plantains and bananas. But, most of the valley was used for sugar cane growth.
Central Roig was one of the last mills that produced sugar in Puerto Rico.
During harvest it felt like it was snowing except that the flakes were black and the weather was warm. Hand harvesting accounted for more than half of production. It was done by using “machetes”.
The “colonos” of the sugar were the harvesters. They lived at the mill in small houses in a plantation atmosphere. My father grew up at the mill and my grandfather worked for the Central Roig. I remember him bringing me sugar cane. It was such a treat to chew on the cane and, oh, so sweet.
Another method of harvesting is using sugar cane combines. This is called a mechanical harvest, but the preferred method was with the “machetes”.
The sugar cane industry had been most important in Puerto Rico for 400 years and in 2000 the Central Roig closed.
I had to take the pictures of what was a very important part of my family’s past. Puerto Rico’s own governor’s mother grew up in “La Central”, as well.
The mill looked so sad and abandoned and as I took those pictures I kept thinking if only those buildings could talk.
On that same day I took off with my driver to El Yunque, the rain forest. You already met him in my previous blogs.
I had to go and visit because I also spent so much time there. You might not know but people do have homes inside the rain forest. They are beautiful homes in a most unique environment.
Approaching Rio Grande, which is where El Yunque is located, you could see that it was raining; 240 inches per year. The mountain is 3,543 feet high.
El Yunque at a distance; Rain Forest
The little town of Palmer had not changed in all those years. It was great and I could not believe it. At least something has remained the same.
Driving up the rain forest I had to open the windows; the coolnest of the mountain and the mist were fantastic. In El Yunque there are 4 different forest vegetations. The mountain is also renowned for its unique Taino petroglyphs (rock engravings).
One of the “Kodak” moments of every tourist visiting El Yunque is the Coca Falls. Through the years I have taken pictures up on the rocks. I had to take some more and the falls looked exactly the same, as well. The sounds were unforgetable.
Not too long ago a friend reminded me that to reminisce is to live; definitely, so true.
Talk to you later….
Tags: Activities, Central Roig, Coca Falls, El Yunque, Historic Sugar Cane Plantation, Palmer, Puerto Rico, Rain forest, Rio Grande, Sugar Cane Mill, Things to do at the beach, What to do at the beaches, Yabucoa
Oh Gloria, it has brought up so many memories for me as well. Those days were so simple, we were so lucky that we grew up with no fears of anything bad happening to us. I remember going to La Central to pick up my friend Barbarita, whose grand father was at one time the manager.
Those were the days my friend!!!!!
my father used to work there ..and some other family member those pics. makes me very sad cauz my father is gone already. but yeah there were no fears..like todays day.
thanks for the pictures thats my hometown i love my island and i wish i could go thre one day. oh i remember picking up the black flakes..and my hands were all black. with the stain. i wish i could be a child again!..and have the same father i had.
CENTRAL AZUCARERA : NOSTALJICO! SOLO PENSAR EN ELLA HUELE A AZUCAR ES COMO ESCUCHAR EL PITO DE LAS 12 Y EL MAS PENOSO ERA CUANDO SE ACABABA LA SAFRA …ASI LE LLAMABAN. QUEDAN ALLI … EL SUDOR DE LOS TRABAJADORES SUS HUELLAS EN LA TIERRA …TAL VEZ SUS VOCES WHO KNOWS! YABUCOA HOLIA A CANA MOLIDA…A AZUCAR…OLORES INOLVIDABLES. NO CREO TENGAN LOS MISMOS OLORES ! PUERTO RICO ES BELLO PERO EL OTRO ME PARESIA MAS BONITO. NO POR K SEAMOS LATINOS TODOS HABLAMOS IGUAL NI MUCHO MENOS TENEMOS LAS MISMAS COSTUMBRES. K TRAEN A NUESTRA ISLA Y LO CONFUNDEN TODO. POR ESO PREFIERO VIVIR ACA CON EXTRANOS K VIVIR EN MI PROPIA ISLA CON OTROS EXTRANOS. CREO POCO A POCO LA PURA SEPA SE VA A ACABAR. CUANTO LO LAMENTO! PUERTO RICO NECESITA UNA LIMPIESA. PERO TOTAL! AVECES ME PREGUNTO COMO LE HACEN COMPARTIENDO LO POCO K ENTRA A LA ISLA CON GENTE K DEBE LARGARSE A SU PAIS Y OBLIGAR A SUS GOVERNADORES K CUMPLAN CON ELLOS.
GRACIAS POR LAS FOTOS! K PENA K NO TOMASTES FOTOS ADENTRO! CUANDO VI LA FOTO DE LA OFICINA DEL PERSONAL SE ME ROMPIO EL CORAZON …LA ULTIMA Y LA PRIMERA VEZ K FUI AHI FUE DESPUES DE LA MUERTE DE MI PADRE . FUIMOS A RECOJER SU ULTIMO PAGO. K DOLOR TAN INMENZO! GRACIAS A DIOS PUERTO RICO ESTA RODEADO POR AGUA DE OTRO MODO NO HUBIERA ESPACIO PARA LA GENTE. ME SORPRENDI EL OTRO DIA VER K HAY UNA CALLE K SE LLAMA QUISQUEYA ! K HORROR! PRONTO VEREMOS CASITAS DE CARTON CON MADERA VIEJA POR DONDE ENTRAN LOS RAYOS DEL SOL. HA HA HAHAH. K FASTIDIO!
COMO ME GUSTARIA SER TIBURON O UNA PIRANA!
Muchas gracias por tus comentarios. Mi abuelo vivio y trabajo en la central tambien. Mi papa nacio en Yabucoa. Creo que si una tormenta le da a PR estos recuerdos se iran para siempre. Esa area de la central esta olvidada.
Can you tell me how long the sugar cane (“safra”) lasted in months? What did the people do during “tiempo malo”? Thank you.
I believe the safra was about 6 months. The “tiempo muerto”? I am not sure what they did; maintenance? preparing the land?
Buen articulo, tengo una pregunta. De casualidad alguien me podría decir el nombre de la plantación de cana que estaba localizada en lo que es ahora palmas del mar. Es que estoy investigando el origen de mis familiares y me a llevado a este lugar.
Cerca del pueblo de Humacao estaba la Central Ejemplo. Tambien llendo para la Playa de Humacao estaba la central de la Eastern Sugar y la que estaba en Yabucoa era la Central Roig. Por muchas partes, incluyendo a Palmas del Mar habia siembra de cana pero eran llevadas para su proceso a algunas de estas centrales. Gracias por su comentario.
Do you know what the name of the plantation was before it was bought and renamed Central Roig in 1909?
sThanks for the sharing
yo trabaje en la central en 1955 cuando tinia solo
15 anõs me fui a estados unidos y ahora que regrese a vivir a yabucoa cuando paso por la central dan deseos da pena al ver el abandono de
un lugar que tanto dio al pueblo de Yabucoa .Si
ubiese un modo de restaural esta central yo seria
boluntario.Dios perpimata que alguin dijera presente y pudiermos conservar este tesoro
Sr. Lozada fue un placer hablar con usted. Puerto Rico necesita personas como usted para hecharlo para adelante. Gracias por sus comentarions.
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Thanks!!
Mi papá era mayordomo de la Colonia Ingenio de la Central, su nombre era José Cruz Román (Don Pepe). Esto me trae muchísimos recuerdos y me hace recordar todos los años que viví en PR.
Me alegro le haya gustado. Mi papa se crio en La Central. Como ve esta cayendose, pero que se va hacer. Hay un senor que vive en Yabucoa y le gustaria que se convirtiera en un sitio turistico. Yo le dije que el gobierno es dueno de esas centrales. Mi abuelo tambien trabajo en la central. Yo me acuerdo que el me traia cana. Deliciosa.
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Cuantos de nosotros habremos muerto en sus campos, Jornaleros, casi esclavos, trabajando por una miseria, si no trabajaba y me quedaba cuidando mi cepa en casa, me metían preso, (leyes de vagancia)
Y toda la riqueza se la llevaban fuera de la Isla los dueños ausentes. la blanca azúcar, el dinero que con ella hacían, cuanto maltrato aguantamos del mayordomo, del capataz!
por los menos nos quedamos con la negra melaza para destilar NUESTRO propio Caña (el que sabe, sabe)
Ay pobre del que idealize estos tiempos! que confunda la buena vida con 12 horas de trabajo en el cañaveral!
Muchas gracias por sus comentarios a mi website.
Antes de la Central Roig era llamada La Central Mercedita.
mi abuelo sixto jimenez nacio y trabajo en la central roig, toda mi familia es de yabucoa yo me crie en la central.
me crie en la central. mi abuelo sixto jimenes trabajo en la central
Mi papa tambien se crio en lal Central. Pepito Fernandez. Mi abuelo era Juan C. Fernandez. En Facebook hay una pagina que se llama Museo de la Azucar. Se estan moviendo para tratar de convertir la Central en Museo ya que su impacto fue muy grande. Gracias por sus comentarios.
Can you tell me about “tiempo malo” when there wasn’t any work. Please tell me about the poverty of the sugar cane cutters.
I noticed that someone asked what the plantation was called before it was Central Roig and someone else answered La Central Mercedita. That is correct. Mercedes was my great aunt. I am a direct descendant of the original Spaniards who established this plantation before it went to the bank and then the Roig family. If anyone is interested in hearing more, please let me know. I have plenty of information on the Spaniards that established the original plantation on this site.
So glad you for your comments. The sugar cane plantations were homes for many, including my own father. I will pass this info. around. Thanks.
@Pablo Vallecillo I would like to know more information.
My grandfather Agapito Jimenez (Guzman) was the accountant. His wife my grandmother was Filomena Gonzalez.
My a uncle Miguel Jimenez & aunt Julia Jimenez are still alive. She was reminiscing just yesterday and telling me about my roots.
I am glad that you are being told of a time that is long gone in Puerto Rico. The people of La Central Roig will always have a bond. Thanks for your comments.
Mi padre, que en paz decanse, fue ingeniero en los 70’s en la central. Este Julio lleve a mis hijos a ver Yabucoa por la primera vez. Que tristeza al ver en la condicion que se encuentra la central. De la casa donde vivi solo queda unas columnas. Que tristeza me dio, pero tantos buenos recuerdos a las misma vez. Gracias por el articulo
Hace tiempo no voy por lo que queda de la Central. Algunos querian conservarla como museo pero no se en que a quedado eso. Gracias por su comentario.
NACI AHI . ESTUBE HASTA LOS 10 ANOS. MI ABUELO SIXTO JIMENEZ, TRABAJO AHI.
Que bien. No se si ha ido recientemente pero todo se esta derrumbando. Mi papa vivio alli tambien. Gracias por su comunicacion.