Letters

Editor,

On behalf the Board of Directors and the staff of the Biblioteca Publica, I would like to thank everyone who attended the Fiesta Mexicana held at the Biblioteca on Monday, September 14. The event was well attended and everyone had a great time. We also have to thank the wonderful musicians and dancers who gave of their time to entertain us as well as the volunteers and staff who worked so hard to make the event a success.

After expenses, Fiesta Mexicana raised 13,994 pesos, which will be used to support Biblioteca programs. Additionally, the Art Fair held on Saturday, September 12 netted 14, 550 pesos. We thank the community of San Miguel for their continuing support of the Biblioteca.

Gregory Diamant
President, Board of Directors

Editor,

I thoroughly enjoyed the September 14th Fiesta Mexicana at the Biblioteca Pública. The entire courtyard was transformed into a special venue in honor of Mexican independence. When I learned that the Biblioteca’s employees prepared the entire event, I was especially impressed—despite some forewarnings of rain.

No need to congratulate anyone in particular since everyone involved did a great job. I look forward to more Biblioteca fund-raising events. 

Viva Mexico!

David Bossman

Editor,

I think we all will agree that history is a very important part of San Miguel. History is at the heart of the big, upcoming 200th year celebration of the push for independence in which San Miguel played such a major role and, indirectly, is the selling point to bring people here to visit and live. While I enjoyed the article "Forging a new nation in San Miguel" by Jesùs Ibarra, I have to take issue with the information he presented regarding the Casa de la Canal. He is confusing the Canal family house on the Jardin with the Canal family house on Ancha de San Antonio currently housing the Instituto Allende (the one with the huge housing development in its backyard.) Don Manuel Tomás de la Canal began constructing this home (Instituto Allende) in 1735, raised all his children there, bought many haciendas and ranches outside of town but never owned property on the Jardin at the corner of Hidalgo and Canal, at least according to the contents of his will at the time of his death in 1749. Probably his first son and heir, José Mariano purchased the land and began construction and it was completed by his grandson, Colonel Narciso. Both are important buildings in San Miguel´s history so I hope the information is corrected.

Sharon Conklin


Editor’s note:

Our sources for historical content come from the books San Miguel de Allende by Francisco de la Maza and Guía del Turista en San Miguel de Allende by Miguel Malo as well as collaboration with local historian Graciela Cruz.

The Canal Family house on the corner of calles Hidalgo and Canal, was built in different stages. There is a 1935 document written by Don Manuel de la Canal, which says that he owned the land with an unfinished and rustic one-story construction, which he was “improving”. 

It is true that his main residence was the current Instituto Allende, but it is uncertain if he lived or not in the centro house at any moment, since he owned the property and he was reconstructing it. There is evidence that the family was planning to move definitively to this house in 1749 (the year of Don Manuel’s death) because they were applying for a permit to open a wool factory in the house at Instituto Allende.