Directorio Telefonico de La Habana 1958 – Updated

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After an emotional, hectic day, and a horrendous fight through LA traffic, I finally make it home and what do I find? The phone book; white pages, yellow pages, and green pages. What a treasure it is. We pass it around, “careful, be careful, make sure you don’t tear it”, we tell each other.

For those of you who have a copy, you already know. We find the listings for relatives, and friends, and then what comes next is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. Page after page of La Habana ayer.

For instance, here in Los Angeles, I know of about a half-dozen “Cuban” bakeries. My favorite requires quite a drive and waiting in line. If I counted correctly, there are four pages of listings for Panaderías. My mouth is watering, my heart contracts, and the tears fall.

A sampling:

Toyo, Panadería y Dulcería
El Bombero, Panaeria y Dulceria
La Favorita
La Francesa
El Gozo
Candido Guso y Co.
La Ibeica
La Defensa
La Providencia

I could go on and on, and of course it’s not just bakeries, it’s everything. Seeing a listing of all these businesses that were stolen, I’m at a loss for words. It’s a very vivid illustration of castro’s greedy plundering. (And yes, for all you useful idiots out there, that is exactly what it is. If fiidel’s motives were idealistic he would not have 900 plus million dollars stolen from the Cuban people stashed away for his personal use.)

If there is a name, or business you’d like me to look up, please send me an email, or leave it in a comment.

Meanwhile, I’m having a Café Cubano and praying for Cuba Libre.

UPDATE: I´m really touched by the response to this post, and to everyone who has asked, I want you to know that I will look up every request. Regarding posting pictures, as soon as I get to a scanner I´ll be posting the ads, etc. Also as soon as I figure out the best way to do it, I am going to make available a good part of the book. Especially those sectons, like the 22 1/2 pages of El Automóviles, that make so obvious what a first rate thriving city La Habana was before the bastard ruined it.

Special thanks to Manuel, Larry and the others for lending a hand.

38 thoughts on “Directorio Telefonico de La Habana 1958 – Updated”

  1. Please look up Cuba A.P. in Marianao. It was a auto parts restoration factory owned by my father.

    Could also be Cuba A&P.

    Thanks.

    Speedy

  3. Mama (ella tiene casi 97 a~nos) Leonela Garcia I~niguez Humbolt 7 70-83911
    y
    Tio Calixto Mario Garcia I~niguez Oficina Cuba 22 5-6302

    estan en la tercera columna pagina 129

    Tio Abuelo Carlos Garcia Velez, 5a 407 esta en la primera columna pagina 133

    Alguien se acuerda de los Ruiz que tenian casa de prestamos, creo que fue La Central de Estrada y Ruiz (pagina 860). Los hijos del due~no Nestor y Jose iban a los Escolapios de Guanabacoa. Despues Nestor y quisas Jose eran peloteros de Jai Alai en Espa~na

    Si alquien sabe de ellos mi direction electronica es

    Larry Daley (Garcia-I~niguez)
    daleyl@peak.org

  5. Astilleros Palma Casa Blanca 6-2391, 5-3874 is on page 382

    Gabriel Palma Varadero Casa Blanca 6-2391 is on page 225 middle column

  6. Larry:

    You are descended from General Calixto García, one of the greatest heroes of Cuba’s Wars of Independence and perhaps the only Cuban whose name was once known to all American school children from the inspirational novel A Message to Garcia. That was the first book that American students used to read in school.

    I hope you named your first son Calixto García Daley.

  7. I can´t find Cuba A P, what does the A P stand for?
    Ditto Astilleros Palmer, I do see a Gabriel Palmer – Varadero C Blanca.

  8. Ziva:

    Can you please look up my parents in Alamar? There may be a listing for “Jose M. Rodriguez.” Also, see if you can find a “Guillermo Alamilla.” He was an attorney and althought my father’s boss, he was also his mentor and like a father to him.

    Thanks…Alberto

  10. My grandfather used to own a “juice/batido” place called “El Camaguey.” I’d appreciate it if, when you get a chance–I can imagine you’re getting dozens of requests to look up one place or another–you’d look it up and post the number and address here. Thanks a bunch.

  11. Ziva… perdoname, me confundi.

    My grandfather’s name is “Herminio Diaz.” He may be down as “Herminio Diaz-Guerra,” but most likely under Diaz.

    Sorry, Alberto

  14. Deacon:

    From my copy of the Directorio Comercial Industrial Cubano (1958), published by the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba (founded 1879).

    FÁBRICA NACIONAL DE IMPLEMENTOS AGRÍCOLAS, S.A. was located in Havana at the intersection of Plasencia and Berjumeda Streets. It’s telephone # was UO-8006. It had agencies in Pinar del Río; Artesima; Güira de Melena; Jaruco; San José de las Lajas; Catalina de Güines; Güines; Nueva Gerona; Habana; Matanzas; Colón; Rincón; Santa Clara; Yaguajay; Aguada de Pasajeros; Camagüey; Ciego de Avila; Florida; Victoria de las Tunas; Guantánamo; Manzanillo; Holguín; Santiago de Cuba; Bayamo.

    It had bank accounts in The National City Bank of New York; The Royal Bank of Canada; and The Trust Company of Cuba.

    The company described itself as:

  15. continued…

    FABRICA NACIONAL DE IMPLEMENTOS AGRICOLAS described itself as importers of chemical fertilizers; “Land-Rover” trucks and tractors; automobile parts; hardware and construction supplies; agricultural and industrial machinery; raw materials for industries; manufacturer of agricultural tools; and vehicle repair shop.

  16. Directorio Comercial Industrial Cubano:

    where on earth did you find that? very interesting. anything on
    Compania de Fomento Maritimo de La Habana (astilleros palmer)? i think i’m going to have to try and find a copy.

    Cheers,

    -Gabriel

  17. Gabriel:

    It must be listed under another name, as it does not appear under either “Astilleros Palmer” or “Compañia de Fomento Marítimo.”

  18. My copy of this phone book is one of my weapons against the idiots who think Cuba was a third world country before fidel. When I show it to them, he idiots are particularly shocked by the number of automobile related businesses – showing that Cubans didn’t travel by ox cart (at least until fidel’s economic system forced them to in 1994).

  19. thank you I think that “varadero” means beaching place (in “Casa Blanca” across the way not the “Beach of Varadero.” Sailing ships needed to be beached occasionally to remove marine growth from the hull.

    As to my ancestry, thanks for kind comments. One of my Great Grandmothers was the part Taina or Siboney (checked by maternal DNA from mother) Leonela Enamorado Cabrera (second wife of Calixto Garcia, unfortunately for her the Major General’s first wife her cousin Isabel Velez Cabrera was not dead (:>) and showed up when he was captured and taken to Spain.

    Leonela married again, this time a Spaniard by the name of Eduardo (I think) Perez in Manzanillo and Calixto Enamorado her son went to Dominador de La Guardia school in Manzanillo. He was a close friend of Angel de la Guardia, and was close when Marti was killed.

    These de la Guardia are not related to La Guardia twins Patricio and I forget the other that “worked” for Castro. These two unfortunates (one should always have rascals inthe family) were related to Tia Helena de la Guardia who married Uncle Calixto Mario Garcia-I~niguez
    Uncle Calixto Mario is also in the phone book (se above). I think but I am not sure these two are descdents of de la Guardia an old radical family from the Canary Islands.

    see Angel de La Guardia Rosales 1957. Memorias de una Familia de Maestros y Patriotas. Editorial Garantia, Havana. This book on pages 146 to 148 (Las Locuras de la Guerra de Independencia) includes a section written by Calixto Enamorado dated 17 June 1938 which recalls one of the wild risks Angel and Calixto would take in the 1895-1898 war.

    There are more details at:
    http://www.spanamwar.com/calixtoenamorado.htm

    BTW Leonela Gonzalez the famous Cuban ballarina is a is also descended from Leonela Enamorado Cabrera

    Details on all of this will come out in my book in pin preparation “Narrations of War in Cuba”
    drafts can be found at:

    http://www.spanamwar.com/calixtoenamorado.htm

  21. Reading this thread, its purpose, and its supplicant’s requests is both amazing, and heartwrenching.

    It’s not the big rhetoric which tears people apart, when remembering all that they lost.

    It’s precisely these little things, of memories which have been stolen from you, which can never be duplicated where you are, no matter if you have a sastreria with the same name, in Miami — that’s what hurts.

    One day, when I make that famous post on my blog, when YA YA, that person’s life will be over, you can bet, I will remember this post.

    And to think, it’s happening all over again in Venezuela, and not one useful idiot is saying boo.

    Cheers,
    Victoria

  22. Manuel: Re Fabrica Nacional…

    My family owned the “branches” in Camaguey and Ciego de Avila. They were independent businesses that had an exclusive contract with Fabrica Nacional to sell their products.
    I knew the principals at Fabrica Nacional personally before 1959 as my father would meet with them at least twice a year. —Yeah, I am an old coot—.

    Besides the Land Rovers, they were also the importers for Ferguson tractors and Massey-Harris combines, made in England and Canada and Servis brand grass mowers. They had a large foundry in La Habana where they made plows, cultivators, seeders, “chapeadoras” etc.

    One of my uncles was a manager at one of the Royal Bank of Canada offices, I remember it well.

    Thanks for the information!!

  24. My uncle owned a Tintoreria I believe it was called Tintoreria Pepe or Tintoreria de Pepe, all relatives have now passed so I don’t have any more information to go on, perhaps its listed. Would love to know
    thanks

  25. Amdor(Ambar?) Motors in Havava would be interesting as well as any hospitals. As we know the state of medical care in Cuba was supposedly pre-historic pre-castro.

    There is a website I believe called Cuban-Exile which lists 1958 and 1959 listings from somethibg called the Cuban-American Directory (if memory serves me correctly). It has a yellow background and blue lettering.

    Also the number of radio, TV stations, newspapers and magazines would be interesting, as well as the schools fidel closed down.

    Construction companies would be interesting in light of the “ruins” courtesy of fidel.

    But an earlier poster was right on, the car businesses would be great to see.

    Not to make too light of it, but when Cuba does open up, I have to think the infrastructure constructiuon and classic cars would be two good businesses for free Cubans to be in.

    Also you’re right its stolen businesses. The fancy word is expropriation.

  26. Larry:

    Our mambises were great men when it came to women also. They had official wives and unofficial wives and sired children like the patriarchs of the Bible. If you think old Calixto was “bad” you should try to re-construct the “amorios” of Maceo. But given that these men belonged to a race of giants it is not surprising that they should literally have had women hanging off them and progenies to attest to it.

    The genealogies of both the (Calixto) García and Iñiguez families are in the Conde de Jaruco’s monumental 9-volume Historia de Familias Cubanas. Some think that the reason that the Conde de Jaruco did not include the Maceo family in his work is that he was an elitist or racist. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that he just could not assemble in one volume the vast progeny of Maceo and his 12 brothers (all heroes and martyrs like him).

  27. “thank you I think that “varadero” means beaching place (in “Casa Blanca” across the way not the “Beach of Varadero.” Sailing ships needed to be beached occasionally to remove marine growth from the hull.”

    Correct! Papa’s astilleros are still in operation although, up until recently, they were being operated in a joint operation between the regime and the Curacao Drydock Company until just recently. you’ll recall the “slave labor” deal between cuba and Curacao Drydoc,, providing labor from the shipyards in Casablanca. Sigh. Poor fellas. There are some photos of what the shipyard once was at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dosepocas

    Best to all,

    Gabriel

    PS: What interesting finds!

  28. Larry:

    CUBAN MOTORS CORP. was located at Calzada Real #8-10, La Lisa, Marianao. Its telephone numbers were B0-7600; BO-9102;BO-9344; Bo-9360; BO-9619; B-3100; and B-3104 (must have been a busy concern!). It had bank accounts at The First National Bank of Boston and Banco Continental Cubano. It sold: “accesorios de automóbiles y camiones; importadores de acumuladores; venta de automóbiles y camiones; almacenistas de gomas y cámaras “Fisk” para automóbiles.”

    CUBAN MOTORS CORP. shares the same page with CUBAN PETROLEUM CORP., SA; CUBAN PLASTICS AND RECORDS CORP.; THE CUBAN POTATO CO., SA and the CUBAN TELEPHONE CO.

  29. JackW:

    AMBAR MOTORS CORP., SA was located on the Vía Blanca, in Luyanó, Havana. Its telephones were UO-9341 and U0-9349. It had 9 agencies in just Havana and 21 others throughout the island. It specialized in Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles, Cadillacs and Opels.

  30. Ziva, sometimes a digi-cam works as well as a scanner, and it’s less stressful for the book than squashing it repeatedly on a flatbed scanner. Looks like you’ve found a real treasure so best of luck with helping people remember their heritage.

  31. Alberto- I found Hermano Guerra Exp. Figuras 462, Telf. 6-2644. I found Guillermo Alamilla on pg. 331. Edf Horter 40? Piso, Telf. 6-6945.

    Castrodeathwatch – I did not find El Camaguey, but I did find a bodega on pg.57 Los Camagueyanos, 452 Ave San Miguel, Telf. 4-4629.

    Deacon – On page 394 there´s a quarter page ad for Land Rover, Fabrica Nacional de Implementos Agricolas,S.A. Infanta y Benjumeda, Apdo. 502 Habana, Telf. 70-8006.

    Mablanco – I did not find Tintoreria Pepe at all. But I did find Tintoreria Pedro, Av. 19 No. 5211, Almendares-Marianao Telf. 2-6537. Could that be it?

  33. Manuel,

    Thanks on Ambar Motors. And mentioning how many outlets it had outside Havana as well.

    I was just aware of the one in Havana.

  34. Ziva:

    Thank you so much for the information. I guess the next request would be if you could send me a copy of these listings. I know you must be going crazy looking up all the requests, but if you do decide to scan the images, please put me on your list. Let me know if you need my e-mail address.

    Gracias
    Alberto

  36. Ziva – I think you will enjoy thumbing through that book – it will be a sweet and sour experience at the same time. If you look up Quiroga Hermanos on Calle Muralla 458 and Joyeria Palladium at the Focsa building, you’ll have the Quiroga business history in Cuba in a nutshell.

    I ought to get me a copy. Wonder who had the franchise for MG and Triumph in Havana? That I’d love to know. Safety FAST!

  38. I need your help. Im currently tracing my ancestry and would like information on when THEY arrived to Cuba and any other info. of historical significance(to me).
    My late grandmother(mother’s side) Josefina Tarajano(maiden name Gonzalez) from Camaguey and her late husband Tarajano who’s family owned a soda manufacturing plant called, “Tarajano.”
    On my father’s side,Ramon Cros,(and mother Julia Garcia) from the Orientes Province. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
    thank you
    Ray Cros email: rcros75@yahoo.com

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