jun 1, 1856 - Vannina Sugar Mill Kercado

Description:

The first Central sugar mill on the island was Central San Vicente established in 1873. The following pages are dedicated to document the sugar mills of which remains are still found, none of which are currently in operation.

The following sugar mill(s) at one time operated on the island, but with the exception of Playa Grande in Vieques, have no remains left. Some of the information on the names highlighted in gray was obtained from Volumes 1 & 2 of the 1902 book by José Ferreras Pagan Biografía de las Riquezas de Puerto Rico.

Vannina aka San José - Rio Piedras (1910-1952) It was located on the lands of the old Hacienda San José established ca. 1830 by Alonso Andrade who operated an oxen driven mill. It was later owned by Spanish immigrant Jose Solís and then his son Joaquín Solis Kercadó (1825-1897) who installed equipment from the defunct Hacienda Media Luna and Hacienda Monserrate in Dorado.

ts years of operation are not clear but according to José Ferreras Pagán in his 1902 book Biografía de las Riquezas de Puerto Rico, after its closure, its equipment was installed at Hacienda San José in Rio Piedras which later became Central Vannina. He also states that Media Luna's lands were leased to Central Luisa in Manati which was established in 1873 and apparently at a later date, processed at the nearby Central Constancia which was established in 1897. Ferrears Pagán states that by 1902 the factory facilities were in a bad state of disrepair.

Upon the death of Joaquín it passed on to Sucn. Solís composed of Joaquín's wife Aurelia Amy and their sons Francisco, Joaquín, Natalia, Josefina and Maria all Solís Amy.

In 1902 its administrator was Miguel Emannuelli Costa who was married to Natalia. The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer Volume 44 No. 24 of June 10, 1910 states that: "Many new centrals are being planed for erection during the present year, three being certainties - viz., Arecibo, Camuy and Rio Piedras. This last expects to be in operation for next season. The capital is said to have been raised in Germany with a Porto Rican management."

Vannina Corporation was incorporated in 1911 with a subscribed capital of $300,000 and began operations in February 1911. Its initial Board of Directors was comprised of Santiago Lorenzi, Antonio Caubet Pons, Vicente Antonetti Antonini, Joaquin Villamil, A. Gautier, G. Candina, G. Sagastibelza, Bernado Gil, A. Somoza and P. Castaños. As a result of a request in 1914 by Sucrs. de Abarca, the District Court of San Juan appointed Abelardo de la Haba and Rud Myohl as receivers to run the affairs of Central Vannina.

Successful operations rescued Vannina Corporation from receivership in November 1916 until it ceased operations in 1939 when it was acquired and the name changed to Central San José.

https://jaimemontilla.com/sugar-mills

https://jaimemontilla.com/media-luna

https://books.google.com/books?id=E6EKAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA378&ots=v5rAc48kx2&dq=Vannina%20Corporation&pg=PA378#v=onepage&q=Vannina&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=ToRUMopcqWYC&lpg=RA22-PA12&ots=VAZ7HShLhq&dq=Vannina%20Corporation&pg=RA22-PA12#v=onepage&q=Vannina%20Corporation&f=false

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