Yehle Genealogy

La Plata Argentina - #8

2011-04-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

This post is part of my ongoing blog of information related to La Plata, Argentina (see previous posts). This post is complete following a Holland America cruise taken in February-March 2011. As mentioned in blog #7, I used ByT Argentina (http://www.bytargentina.com/) to arrange the tour from the dock in Buenos Aires to La Plata, Argentina.

As planned, we were met at the Buenos Aires dock by a driver who spoke only Spanish and a tour guide who was bilingual. The tour consisted of myself and my travel mate, a former co-worker and good friend. Our first surprise was that the car was a new, air conditioned, sedan that was very comfortable. La Plata was a 45 minute drive from our location in Buenos Aires. I showed the previous blog postings (I had printed them prior to the trip) to the guide who used the information as the basis for the tour.

La Plata is the capital of Buenos Aires province and it’s easy to get around since its streets are logically numbered, in what was one of the first planned cities in Argentina.

As expected, many of the locations mentioned in the blogs, dating back to the 1920s, had been replaced by other structures over the ninety some odd years since my grandparents, father and aunt were in the country. The guide did, however, take us to the streets where the buildings would have been and went out of their way to talk with current hotel managers who had some idea as to the history of the area.

The most anticipated part of the trip, and the one with the most obvious 1920s photographs was at the Plaza Moreno. It is an expansive and open area with broad views of the sky, city skyline and the towering neo-gothic cathedral, copied after one in Germany. Several religious statues are located around the plaza. While the gift shop was not open when we were there, I did notice that there was a large coffee-table book, in either Spanish or English, that was available. I was lucky enough to find the only available on-line copy just prior to my return.

The Cathedral of La Plata: The Largest Neo-Gothic Church of the Twentieth Century [Hardcover] Manrique Zago (Editor), Graciela Smith (Translator)

This cathedral is beautiful, both inside and out and I recommend a trip to La Plata just to see it and enjoy the beauty of the plaza. I've copied most of a wikipedia article below for your information. As noted in the article, the cathedral was started in 1884 and designated a cathedral in 1932, however, it really wasn't completed until 2000. The pictures of the cathedral in my grandfathers photos showed one spire. The finished cathedral has two.

The tour guide, and the driver, went out of their way to try to match the blog entries. The driver especially spent some time tracking down the Armour and Company Meat Packing location, which we knew had been torn down some time ago. What he found, however, was another refrigeration company warehouse - spread over several blocks - in a downtrodden part of town. He advised that we might have to "make a run for it" if we found the area a bit too challenging. As it turns out the plant was still being used in the outskirts of town in a rundown residential area. The trip to that site alone as awe inspiring (maybe only for me).

In the early discussion with By-T travel, I was directed to an on-line article concerning cold storage units in La Plata (http://www.berisso-web.com.ar/frigor.html). The site is in spanish but can be translated to English. I mentions in that article that the Armour S. A. plant was closed in 1983 and demolished in 1986.

We were also treated to the exterior (it was closed) of the Natural History Museum and several other local attractions. It was a truly interesting day.

As we returned to Buenos Aires on our way to the touristy Florida Street, we went by the Buenos Aries Cathedral which from the outside looks like some sort of government building, not at all impressive. However, the inside is as beautiful as the cathedral was. Without this specialized tour we wouldn't have known what the inside of the cathedral looked like as most off-ship excursions don't give you enough time to wander into the cathedral.

La Plata lived up to what I had hoped when I first saw the old pictures. While many of the original buildings I had hoped to find were no longer available, the simple act of being in the town and standing in the general area of my ancestors made the trip a bargain.

Below is the promised article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_La_Plata

Cathedral of La Plata

View of the lateral buttressing

The Cathedral of La Plata, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic sanctuary in the city of La Plata in Argentina and one of the largest in Latin America. This neo-gothic edifice is located in the geographical center of the city, facing the central square, Plaza Moreno, and the City Hall.

Inspired by the European cathedrals of Amiens and Cologne, its plans were drawn by architect Ernesto Meyer under the direction of city planner Pedro Benoit. The cornerstone was laid in 1884, and it was consecrated as the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in 1902. The parish church, which continued undergoing works, was designated a cathedral in 1932.

Restoration and completion

View of the altar

In the 1930s, fearing that the foundation had been underestimated, workers halted construction. The spires were left unfinished and the exterior brick work was left undressed. In the mid 1990s, an ambitious plan of restoration and completion was carried out. The 1990s plan included the following:

Strengthening the foundation.

Reversing the damage in the bricks and joints.

Completing two spires, six turrets, 200 pinnacles and 800 needles.

Installing a 25-bell carillon.

Once the bricks were restored, the decision was made to leave them undressed. The building's exposed-brick exterior is thus unusual to some extent, and it makes La Plata Cathedral resemble the brick Gothic style of many churches in northern Europe, such as Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden and Poskilde Cathedral in Denmark. The refurbishment was inaugurated to the public in the year 2000.
With its towers rising 367 feet, it is among the four tallest churches in the Americas.

La Plata Argentina - #7

2010-06-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

This post is part of my ongoing blog of information related to La Plata, Argentina and travel that included the State of Sao Paulo Brazil (see previous posts). My intention with this post is to highlight several resources provided by those who have responded to my emails, have assisted with a planned visit to La Plata in 2011, and as a thank you to my favorite podcasts.

Genealogy Gems Podcast / World Vital Records:

When I first created this blog, I sent information to Lisa Louise Cooke, Genealogy Gems Podcast [http://genealogygems.tv/] who referenced the blog in Episode 86. In response to that post, a comment was received via Lisa from World Vital Records: "I was listening to your last podcast, where you had a listener who is doing genealogy research in Argentina. We have a large database called Familias Argentinas with over 14,000 individuals in it. It is found at http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=familiasargentinas ."

Genealogy Guys Podcast

I also sent a notice to the genealogy guys (http://genealogyguys.com/) who mentioned the blog in Podcast #204, 8 June 2010. They did an excellent job highlighting the blog - thank you to George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, the hosts of the podcast.

Art Frommer's Travel Podcast

Pauline Frommer was kind enough to answer an email sent to her father, Art Frommer. Her response, in part was: "Such companies as Port Compass, ShoreTrips or Port Promotions would be able to hook you up with a local tour operator. Or you could simply go to www.frommers.com, key in Buenos Aires and get contact info for local tour operators there."

The Travel Show with Art and Pauline Frommer can be accessed at http://www.wor710.com/The-Travel-Show-with-Arthur-Frommer/3600821 or via itunes. The show is two hours once a week on Sundays.

ByT Argentina (http://www.bytargentina.com/)

By independently searching the web, I found a firm named ByT Argentina that is located in Buenos Aires. I contacted them and the various firms highlighted by Pauline Frommer. Not only was ByT the cheapest, but Roxana del Canto, Travel Consultant, worked closely with me to develop a tour with a pickup at the dock to La Plata and return on the first day we were in port. I sent her the link to this blog, which she was able to use to determine my exact interests. Not only did she offer a tour in a modern van with an English speaking guide (I don't speak Spanish) but did so with my interests in mind and at a fee about 40% less than the US based firms. If the tour is half as good as I anticipate, it will be well worth it.

La Plata Argentina - #6

2010-06-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting some additional scanned documents.

This posting contains Argentina and Brazilian documents for Casimir T. Yehle dated in 1915. Casimir worked for Armour and Company, a meat packer, generally in Argentina but apparently at some point coordinating with the Brazilian arm of the company. These documents provided some information, including an address in La Plata, not formerly known - thus demonstrating that taking a close look at documents that you may have in your possession may provide clues.

The above item is a personal ID card labeled Cedula de Identidad [Citizenship card identity]. The card was issued on 12 November 1915 and shows my great grandfather, his thumb print and his signature along with information provided by Argentina authorities. The card is for the Province of Buenos Aires which included La Plata where he was employed.

This is the outside holder of the "Brazil / Carte de Identidade / Estado de Sao Paulo"

[Brazil / Identity Card / State of Sao Paulo]

Inside the Brazilian ID card packet are two items - the first is a visa stamp from Argentina. The "Formula dactyloscopica" numbers are identical to that on the Argentina ID Card shown previously in this posting.

This is the interior of the Brazilian Identity Card. Note that it provides the name of her father and mother along, his birthdate and his picture. The family resided in Argentina from 1915-1921, note that this document is dated 27 February 1923, apparently a return trip to the area for Armour & Company of Brazil. I had information on the 1921 return to the United States and a 1925 trip, but this document shows a 1923 trip that hasn't as yet supported by passenger ship records.

This document was issued on 30 November 1915 in La Plata, Capital of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The document again shows the name of Casimir's parents (in Spanish), his height, his birthdate, where employed. The document also shows an address: calle 8 num. 1343.

Puerto de Santos, Brazil

2010-04-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

Another location where the family vacationed while in La Plata Argentina was Santos, Brazil. The photo was taken circa 1915-1921 during the time that my grandfather, grandmother and their two children resided in the area.

This photo shows the seaport of Santos, Brazil. My guess is that it has changed dramatically in the years since this photo was taken.

This is a postcard of the coast at Santos, Brazil.

Any assistance with this location would be appreciated.

I do not read nor write Portuguese nor Spanish.

Richard Yehle

Sacramento California USA

La Plata Argentine - #5

2010-04-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting another set of photographs taken from a photograph album. The time frame and people are unknown. The places are circa 1915-1921 during the time that my grandfather, grandmother and their two children resided in the area.

This photo is of the La Plata Cathedral located in the distance.

Can you identify the other buildings in the picture or maybe where it may have been taken from?

This photo is identified as "Scene La Plata" showing people on bicycles in what may be a park.

Any idea what the name of the park may be?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Richard Yehle

Sacramento California USA

La Plata Argentina - #4

2010-04-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting another set of photographs taken from a photograph album. The time frame and people are unknown. The people are likely neighbors and/or friends circa 1915-1921 during the time that my grandfather, grandmother and their two children resided in the area.

This photo is identified as "our home". It was a residential building in La Plata during the 1915-1921 period. Does anyone know if the building still exists and where it might be located?

This photo contains a view of Plaza Rivasaria (top left); Lago Bosque (top right)

This page shows an older woman at the upper right identified as "Senora Carmen Martin" [the surname may be wrong], A boy named Robert shows up with my father and aunt in the top center photo. The people on the seat at the bottom right is identified as being in the Bosque. The bottom left is another open space.

Any information on the locations or people would be appreciated.

Richard Yehle

Sacramento California USA

La Plata Argentina # 3

2010-04-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting several sets of photographs taken from a photograph album. The time frame and people are unknown. They were likely neighbors and/or friends circa 1915-1921 during the time that my grandfather, grandmother and their two children resided in the area.

This sheet identifies Pearo Caneroni, his mother and sister. The picture on the bottom right shows two men and a wagon pulled by what appears to be ox - they are not identified.

This sheet identifies the young man in the center as Ignacio de la Fuente Arg[entina] family. The upper left is apparently his sister and the bottom right shows Stefana and cassie [Casimir C. Yehle - my father]. The upper left photo is identified as a group of boy scouts.

I would appreciate any information on the identity of the people or locale.

Richard Yehle

Sacramento California USA

La Plata Argentina - #2

2010-04-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting several items based on documents from the period when my grandfather, grandmother and their two children resided in the area. This second posting includes two events held in La Plata in 1915 and 1918.

The 1915 event invited the North American residents of La Plata at a ball given in celebration of the 139th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. It was held on July 3, 1915 at the Salon "Unione & Fratellanza" in La Plata. Any information on this venue would be apprecited.

The 1918 event was for Frigorifico Armour de La Plata and was a 3rd Annual Dinner held at the Plaza Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina [which is now the Marriott Plaza Hotel, Florida 1005, Buenos Aires - their website mentions 100 years of service, so apparently it was a reasonably new high-end hotel in 1918].

-- Any idea what the back cover message from J. Oden Armour means would be appreciated.

-- The word "Frigorifico" translates to Refrigeration. Armour & Co. was a meat packer and thus refrigeration in this case had something to do with obtaining and/or processing meats. Any assistance as to the history of this process would be appreciated.

Marriott Plaza Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina

La Plata Argentina - #1

2010-04-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

As I try to find information about La Plata Argentina, I am posting several items based on documents from the period that my grandfather and family resided in the area. The first is an entry in a baby book for my aunt, Marie I. Yehle, 1914-2000.

Do you have additional information?
Question 1: Do you have any information concerning the Sportsman Hotel in La Plata?
Question 2: Do you have any additional information concerning the Visari steamship and stops at Buenos Aires?

Remember: I do not speak or read Spanish.

The baby book entry reads as follows:

Baby's Outings and Journeys

Baby went to La Plata S.A. [South America]. Left St. Joseph [Missouri] March 21st [1915], went to Chicago, then to N.Y. then on the steamer "Vasari." Was on water 3 wks. Baby was cross the first 3 days out. After that fine, landed in Buenos Aires on Apr 18, 1915. Then came to "La Plata" after 2 days in B. A. [Buenos Aires]. Was at Sportsman Hotel 3 wks then moved in house. Baby health near fine all the time.

The Cunard Line had a ship named the S.S. Vasari which may be the one my grandparents took to Buenos Aires.

The Start of Something New - A Blog

2010-04-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

At some point one needs to take the plunge... So here is my first effort at my own blog posting.

The purpose of this blog is multifold:

1) To post some photographs taken in La Plata Argentina between 1915-1921. The hope is that someone from the area will find the blog and recognize the locations, family, etc. in the images. I hope to visit La Plata in early 2011 to "walk in the footsteps" of my grandfather, grandmother, father and aunt - all of which are deceased. My grandfather (Casimir T. Yehle) was in Argentina working for Amour & Company Meat Packers during those years. With him was the entire family. My dad came back with a love of Argentina and South America as a whole. I would like to understand what he felt.

2) To investigate the three Yehle (German spelling = Jehle) brothers who came to the US in 1866-1867. Lambert Yehle, my great grandfather, ended up in Maryville Missouri and later moved to Saint Joseph Missouri. Alois Yehle ended up in La Crosse Wisconsin and Fridolin Yehle ended up in Kansas. I need more information to verify that the Alois and Fridolin Yehle families that I am aware of are actually the brothers of Lambert. Additionally, Lambert rented a butcher shop from Willibald Yehle, a judge in Maryville Missouri. I would like to get more information on that family to see if there was some relationship back in Baden.

3) To obtain as much information from Baden as possible to flesh out the rest of the family before the brothers came to the US. I haven't verified the parents names, other siblings or aunts/uncles, etc. The Jehle surname is reasonably common in Baden so investigating those relationships has been more difficult.

If you have information concerning any of these items, I'd love to hear from you. I will be posting more information in the coming weeks and months and with luck will find someone who has similar interests. Please note that I neither speak nor write Spanish or German.

My listed url on the main blog page will take you to the Yehle/Krause page on rootsweb and provide much more than I have said here. As all genealogists know, all research is continual and will likely take a lifetime.

I answer all inquries and will provide whatever assistance I can for your own research.

Richard Yehle

Sacramento, California USA