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San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Tenerife Avenida Universidad / Avenida de José Tabares Barlett |
Laura de la Puerta Guillén Laura Grote de la Puerta, Laura Cabrera de la Puerta>
Gáldar, Gran Canaria 1881 - La Laguna 1949 |
artist unknown
c. 1950 |
Commemorative ring around the trunk of a palm tree, resembling a cigar band. It shows a portrait and the name LAURA de la PUERTA de CABRERA (Cabrera is the name of her second husband, her mother's name was Guillén) and the coat of arms of La Laguna.
She lived with her second husband on the corner of the Avenida Universidad (then Camino Largo). She had seen the palms planted in 1907 and growing. That is why when she died the Laguneros wanted to perpetuate her memory with the ring around the first tree.
Dulce Marïa Loynaz (bust) met Laura de la Puerta during her stay on Tenerife, 1947-1951. In the book she published in 1958 about that trip she wrote: "This is the first time I have seen a public tribute of this kind, paid to a woman who was not a war heroine, nor a glory of letters, nor even a popular benefactor with a very full coffer. Laura was a fine promoter of art and culture in her city, but she was, above all, a woman-smile whose radiance was approached by all (...) her help was always in body and soul. And the smile always. With the smile she earned the ring". (Dulce Marïa Loynaz, Un verano en Tenerife, Chapter VII, San Cristóbal de La Laguna).
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