Olimpio Otero Vergés

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Otero and the second or maternal family name is Vergés.

Olimpio Otero Vergés
Born	1845 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Died	1911 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Occupation	Musician and Political Leader

Olimpio Otero Vergés (1845–1911) was a merchart^[1], attorney,^[2] composer, musical editor, and a political leader in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Merchant

As a merchant, Otero Vergés led the Agricultural and Industrial Tabacco Exposition held in Ponce in 1883, just a year after the successful 1882 Exposition Fair that was held in the same city at Plaza Las Delicias in the building now called Parque de Bombas.^[3]

Musician

Otero founded the first publishing house to publish and distribute Puerto Rican music, called the “Bazar Atocha”. His efforts made possible the circulation and distribution of music from the most important composers of his time, such as Manuel Gregorio Tavarez and Juan Morel Campos.^[4] The Bazar, also known as "Bazar Otero" was also a gathering point for the musicians of the area.^[5]

Politician

In October, 1887, Otero led a three-member commission that organized an expedition to Madrid, Spain, for Julio Vizcarrondo and Juan Bautista Arrillaga Roque to denounce the injustices perpetrated by Spanish governor General Romualdo Palacios Gonzalez. It resulted in the removal of General Palacios from office.^[6]

Otero is also known for his promotion and creation of a road, now PR-10, to link Ponce and Adjuntas in the early twentieth century. In 1903, the Puerto Rico Legislature named a bridge on the Ponce to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico section of the road to his memory.^[7] The bridge is located in the Magueyes barrio of the municipality of Ponce. A prominent local politician, Otero was also a member of the organizing board that made possible the 1883 Ponce Fair.^[8]

Abolition of slavery

In 1880 Otero, together with the Juan Mayoral Barnés and Román Baldorioty de Castro, was instrumental in creating the concept for a park in Ponce—now known as Abolition Park—dedicated to the abolition of slavery, the only such memorial in the Caribbean.^[9]

Legacy

• In Ponce, there is school named after him.
• A bridge between Ponce and Adjuntas is called the Otero Viaduct, to his memory.
• A plaque recognizes him at Ponce's Park of the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.

See also

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

1. ^ El Componte. Museo del Autonismo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Autonomism Museum), Panteon Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Accessed November 10, 2010
2. ^ A Resolution to Name and Designate "Otero Viaduct" a Certain Highway Bridge on the Section of the Arecibo-Ponce Road within the Municipality of Ponce. Acts of the Legislature of Puerto Rico. Approved March 12, 1903. By the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. pp. 149-150. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
3. ^ "Actividad Economica" Hall, Museo de la Historia de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 9 March 2001.
4. ^ Martha Marchena, Pianist. Cancion Sin Palabras (Compact Disc) Retrieved April 11, 2010.
5. ^ Ramón Marín. Las fiestas populares de Ponce. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994. Page 30. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
6. ^ El Componte. Museo del Autonismo de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Autonomism Museum), Panteon Nacional Roman Baldorioty de Castro, Ponce, Puerto Rico. Accessed November 10, 2010
7. ^ Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. A Resolution to Name and Designate "Otero Viaduct" a Certain Highway Bridge on the Section of the Arecibo-Ponce Road within the Municipality of Ponce. Acts of the Legislature of Puerto Rico. Approved March 12, 1903. Pages 149-150. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
8. ^ By Jose Ramon Abad. Puerto Rico en la Feria-Exposicion de Ponce en 1882: Memoria Redactada de Orden de la Junta Directive de la Misma. (Ponce, Puerto Rico: Establecimiento Tipografico "El Comercio". 1885) Pages 56, 65. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
9. ^ Let'sGoToPonce. Abolition of Slavery.

Persondata
Name	Otero, Olimpio
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1845
Place of birth	Ponce, Puerto Rico
Date of death	1911
Place of death