H.Upmann….More than a brandname

[El Presidente]

H.Upmann….More than a brandname by Punch Joe

I am often surprised by the amount of hidden secrets, untold stories; histories behind great names that have been almost forgotten as the time pass by. Just a small detail makes people wonder and fantasize about what could have been. Years ago, I was nicely shocked by a street sign that I never paid attention to. Not the only one to blame. I showed the picture to other colleagues and they didn´t believe their eyes either.

The sign bears the name of one of the oldest cigar brands in Cuba: H. Upmann. I felt so curious that I knocked on some doors to find out who could tell me more about this street. I have never got to know anybody who would ever tell me: Well, I live in the H.Upmann Street…which would have surely made the statement so interesting and alluring for us cigar lovers. I remembered taking a picture with the cell phone I used to have back at the time (2004) and forgot about this picture. I also remembered returning to the place to ask residents for some information about it, but the story has been lost in time and there were only a few of the original residents left. The information picked out from a few of them is not completed and somehow contradictory. Usually happens to me when I decide to go deeper in old stories with elderly people who are trying hard to recall details and numbers, especially if they have gone trough a lot of difficult times in their own lives.

Chatting with these old neighbors, I was told that the ¨German¨ erected these houses for his workers in an empty ground which it was needed to partially be filled with rocks and concrete before the construction began. The reason behind was that the old Zanja Street, literally The Gutter (sewer) ended round the corner and the terrain was flooded most of the time. I have my doubts on the fact that the Upmann brothers built these houses since the Germans were kind of excluded here during the WWI and they had to come back to Germany and the US leaving the business to their nephews under the name of Upmann and Cía, who shortly after sold the Company to British Frankau entrepreneurs in 1920.

Whoever was in charge of building these facilities, I am sure it was aimed at guaranteeing a better life to his workers and at the same time gaining shares of loyalty and keeping the grateful flock together under his realm thus not wishing to go working in other factories. From what I picked from the neighbors, the buildings started circa 1920, and

The street is a two small blocks alley and some residents say they don´t have the funniest idea where the name came from but others state it was named after the benefactor cigar maker. It sound like the truth is just out there, carved on those walls, echoing the infinite to me. I took my time and revisited the street to take some shots and make the most of the morning light. The whole place is very quiet, no traffic and the street is narrow enough to only allow one car to go through.

Much can be done here, regarding the rich history of the place just to preserve it for next generations of Cubans. Considering the times we are living now, residents have made some changes inside but the façade remains virtually unchanged as a silent witness of an era.

History has it that in 1944, to mark the 100^th anniversary of the H. Upmann brand, the then owners Benjamín Menéndez, Alonso Menéndez and José García, built a new facility in Amistad Street (behind the Partagás Cigar Factory) where the Upmann warehouses were located. Those workers living in the H.Upmann compound in the late 40´s must have been riding the streetcars (trams) that covered the route along the Zanja Street, passing by the China town and then reaching the corner of Aguila y Dragones, just one block away from the newly built factory.

Nowadays, it´s hard to tell any of the actual tenants are related to tobacco one way or another. It doesn´t seems to be that way specially when I noticed that some neighbors have rooms for rent so if someone feels like staying the night in a house in the H.Upmann street, don´t refrain to do it.

[laficion]

Now THAT'S one Upmannship.!!!!!

Fantastic story & photos José

When I come back to Havana,( as soon as possible),

I will indeed look for this street.

Thank you for sharing this great history with us.

Amistad hermano,

Guy

[SCgarman]

Speaking of H Upmann, if you go to CA's website, there is a 7 minute video about a rare find. A 100 year old cabinet containing almost 500 silk ribbon wrapped Upmann cigars from the late 1800's. VERY COOL to see cigars that are so old and still intact. It was discovered somewhere in the UK and apparently belonged to a prominent lawyer of the time.

[Wil]

A great read Punch Joe. Thanks for sharing!

[MrGlass]

I'm really enjoying these stories - thank you. As long as they keep coming, I'll keep reading.

[mbrody]

Great read and pics, thank you!

[cigarros]

Wow! Fantastic stories and pikcs! Thank you so much! I love this findings!

[Mr.T]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[Habanos2000]

Great read, thanks Jose!

It's too bad many of the details behind the history of the street are missing, but in a way that just makes the story that much more interesting.

[Vortigan]

I can only repeat what everyone else has said,fantastic stories,wonderful photos! Thank you so much for sharing.

[frenchkiwi]

muchas gracias Jose,

such lovely photos, great investigation you pulled off there, in fact you remind me of the fictional Mario Conde ;-)

[Smallclub]

Can't wait to see how pretty it will look with a MacDonald's, a KFC and a Starbuck after the embargo is lifted!

[ChiTownHuck]

Excellent photos and history. Than you for sharing.