Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal cigar factory.... by Punch Joe

[El Presidente]

Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal cigar factory by Punch Joe

When it comes to track down factories in Havana and its history, the least I can say is that becomes a real heroic deed since half the facts are lost and factory buildings are elusive, hard to locate or simply, they are long gone.

Despite not being the first location of the Hija de Cabañas and Carbajal factory, it’s a lovely building. The site is under construction now (plumbers are quite busy drilling the streets for new connections) but it can be spotted easily.

In 1798, Spaniard Francisco Álvarez Cabañas owned a small workshop at Jesus María No 112, inside the city walls. Some way or another, he managed to get a license to manufacture cigars during the Tobacco Trade Monopoly and more importantly, to apply for individual registration of his brand. He used his surname to identify the oldest tobacco brandname which survived up to this day. Upon registration, Francisco moved to another location right on the Calzada de Jesus del Monte and began to flourish as its production started to be exported to Spain and England.

In 1828 Francisco’s daugther, María de Jesús Álvarez Cabañas Pérez, got married with Manuel Antonio González Carbajal y Fernández de la Buria. Francisco died on September, the 4th that very year and transferred his properties, the cigar factory and the brandname to his only heir, his daughter. Over time, his son in law took over and expanded the business in 1833.

In 1848, Manuel Antonio registered the factory with the name Hija de Cabañas y Carbajal y Cia. with legal address at 4 and 6 Dragones St. but soon the business passed on to the hands of Asturian Anselmo Gonzalez who married to Manuel Antonio’s daughter. Years later, Anselmo’s daughter would marry to Leopoldo Carvajal, who had lands in Pinar del Rio and because of his large acquisitions he acquired also the title of Marques de Pinar del Rio.

The company was then called Leopoldo Carvajal y Cia. and under this association that took place in 1879, they continued producing the brand Hijas de Cabanas y Carbajal. They built a factory in the corner of Lamparilla and San Ignacio Sts. where still stands. Needless to say the building now houses over 14 families inside. So sad they barely know the importance and history of this building.

[hanhan]

Wonderful!

[laficion]

GFEAT !!!! José, Thank you .

[Smallclub]

Very interesting, thanks!

[AdC]

great reading

thank you

[Strada]

Good read Jose:)