The present communist government of
Cuba has renamed almost all sugar mills, making it difficult to research
family histories that make reference to mill towns. To make matters
worse, half of the sugar mills in the country have been deactivated and
most of them have been dismantled. This cross-reference listing of
sugar mills, showing their original and current names is provided as
an aid to the researcher.
Old Photos
Here are some old photographs of sugar mills as they once existed:
Present Status
According to Reference 1, in 2002 the Castro government activated a plan for the
reconversion of Cuban sugar mills. The Ministry of Sugar decided that,
of the 156 mills that existed at that time, 71 would produce sugar, 14
would produce sugar and molasses destined as cattle feed, and the remaning
71 would be deactivated. Of these remaining 71, 5 would be converted
into museums, 5 would be held in reserve and the remaining 61 would be
dismantled.
On September 8, 2005 the Miami Herald reported that
industry and government sources in Cuba stated that between 40 and 50 of
the still active sugar mills would be closed for the 2005-2006 harvest.
As a pictorial example, one of our readers in Spain has
sent us these photos of what is left of the the central Perú in the locality
of Jobaibo in the province of Las Tunas. He reports sadly that the remaining
mill facilities are now being used for a rabbit farm and a local university.
Central Peru (summer 2004)
Notes
- The sugar mills are listed in alphabetical order of their original names within each province. By "original names" we refer to the names in use as of 1958. Mills may have had other names prior to that date as they changed ownership during their history.
- The identification numbers shown in the "#" column are those that were assigned by the Cuban Ministry of Sugar.
References
- The Current Restructuring of Cuba's Sugar Agronindustry, Jose Alvarez, EDIS document FE472, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainsville, Florida, Jan 2004. EDIS web site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE472
- Las Empresas de Cuba - 1958, Vol I, Guillermo Jimenez, Ediciones Universal, Miami, Florida, 2000. ISBN: 0-89729-904-3.
- La Sacarocracia - Historia de la Aristocracia Azucarera Cubana, Dr. Ruben C. Arango, Ego Group, INc., Miami, Florida, 2006 - ISBN 13: 9780977203635, ISBN 10: 0-9772036-3-8. (Early history)
Sugar Mill List
Pinar
del Río Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1980)1 |
Treinta de Noviembre |
San Cristóbal |
110 |
sugar |
Bahia Honda |
Harlem |
Bahía Honda |
102 |
sugar |
La Francia2 |
- |
Los Palacios |
- |
- |
Niágara |
Manuel Sanguily |
La Palma |
106 |
sugar/molasses |
Orozco |
Pablo de la Torriente Brau |
Bahía Honda |
107 |
dismantled |
San Cristobal |
José Martí |
San Cristóbal |
108 |
dismantled |
Ciudad de La Habana Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Toledo |
Manuel Martinez Prieto |
Marianao |
213 |
refinery/museum |
La Habana Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Amistad |
Amistad con los Pueblos |
Güines |
201 |
dismantled |
Andorra |
Abraham Lincoln |
Artemisa |
101 |
sugar |
El Pilar |
Eduardo Garcia Lavendero |
Artemisa |
103 |
dismantled |
Fajardo |
Comandante Manuel Fajardo |
Quivicán |
202 |
sugar/molasses |
Gomez Mena |
Hector Molina Riano |
San Nicolás |
203 |
sugar |
Habana |
Habana Libre |
Caimito |
204 |
sugar |
Hershey |
Camilo Cienfuegos |
Santa Cruz del Norte |
205 |
dismantled |
Josefita |
Manuel Isla Perez |
Nueva Paz |
206 |
dismantled |
Mercedita |
Gregorio Arlee Manalich |
Melena del Sur |
207 |
sugar |
Mercedita |
Augusto Cesar Sandino |
Mariel |
105 |
dismantled |
Occidente |
Pablo Noriega |
Quivicán |
208 |
dismantled |
Portugalete2 |
- |
San José de las Lajas |
- |
- |
Providencia |
Osvaldo Sanchez |
Güines |
210 |
dismantled |
Rosario |
Ruben Martinez Villena |
Madruga |
211 |
dismantled |
San Antonio |
Boris Luis Santa Coloma |
Madruga |
212 |
sugar |
San Ramón |
Orlando Nodarse |
Mariel |
109 |
dismantled |
Matanzas Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in1986)1 |
Mario Muñoz Monroy |
Los Arabos |
324 |
sugar |
Álava |
Mexico |
Colón |
301 |
sugar |
Araujo |
Reynold Garcia |
Calimete |
302 |
dismantled |
Australia |
Australia |
Jagüey Grande |
303 |
dismantled |
Carolina |
Granma |
Jovellanos |
304 |
dismantled |
Conchita |
Puerto Rico Libre |
Unión de Reyes |
305 |
dismantled |
Cuba |
Cuba Libre |
Pedro Betancourt |
306 |
sugar/molasses |
Dolores |
Jaime Lopez |
Jovellanos |
307 |
dismantled |
Dos Rosas |
Humberto Alvarez |
Cárdenas |
308 |
dismantled |
Elena2 |
- |
Canasí |
- |
- |
España |
España Republicana |
Perico |
310 |
sugar |
Guipuzcoa |
Esteban Hernandez |
Martí |
311 |
sugar/molasses |
Limones |
Fructtuoso Rodriguez |
Limonar |
312 |
dismantled |
Mercedes |
Seis de Agosto |
Calimete |
313 |
dismantled |
Porfuerza |
Jesus Rabi |
Calimete |
314 |
sugar |
Progreso |
José Smith Comas |
Cárdenas |
315 |
museum |
Puerto2 |
- |
Canasí |
- |
- |
San Ignacio2 |
- |
Agramonte |
- |
- |
Santa Amalia |
Victoria de Yaguajay |
Jovellanos |
318 |
dismantled |
Santa Rita |
Rene Fraga |
Colón |
319 |
sugar |
Santo Domingo |
Juan Avila |
Unión de Reyes |
320 |
sugar |
Soledad |
Julio Reyes Cairo |
Jovellanos |
321 |
dismantled |
Tinguaro |
Sergio Gonzales |
Colón |
322 |
dismantled |
Triunfo |
Horacio Rodriguez |
Limonar |
323 |
dismantled |
Zorrilla2 |
- |
Los Arabos |
- |
- |
Cienfuegos Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1986)1 |
Cinco de Septiembre |
Rodas |
456 |
sugar |
Andreita |
Mal Tiempo |
Cruces |
403 |
sugar |
Caracas |
Ciudad Caracas |
Lajas |
404 |
sugar |
Constancia |
Guillermo Moncada |
Abreus |
406 |
sugar |
Covadonga |
Antonio Sanchez |
Aguada de Pasajeros |
409 |
sugar |
Hormiguero |
Espartaco |
Palmira |
413 |
dismantled |
Manuelita |
Catorce de Julio |
Rodas |
416 |
sugar |
Parque Alto2 |
- |
Rodas |
- |
- |
Perseverancia |
Primero de Mayo |
Aguada de Pasajeros |
424 |
dismantled |
Portugalete |
Elpidio Gomez |
Palmira |
425 |
sugar |
San Agustín |
Ramon Balboa |
Lajas |
431 |
dismantled |
San Francisco |
Marta Abreu |
Cruces |
433 |
reserve |
Soledad |
Pepito Tey |
Cienfuegos |
443 |
dismantled |
Villa Clara Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1986)1 |
Batalla de Santa Clara |
Camajuaní |
460 |
reserve |
Adela |
Heriberto Duquesne |
Remedios |
401 |
sugar/molasses |
Carmita |
Luis Arcos Bergnes |
Camajuaní |
405 |
dismantled |
Constancia |
Abel Santamaria |
Encrucijada |
407 |
sugar |
Corazón de Jesús |
Mariana Grajales |
Cifuentes |
408 |
dismantled |
Fe |
José Maria Perez |
Camajuaní |
411 |
sugar |
Fidencia |
Juan Pedro Carbo Servia |
Placetas |
412 |
reserve |
Macagua |
Braulio Coroneaux |
Cifuentes |
415 |
dismantled |
Maria Antonia |
Veintiseis de Julio |
Santo Domingo |
417 |
dismantled |
Nazábal |
Emilio Cordova |
Encrucijada |
420 |
dismantled |
Pastora |
Osvaldo Herrera |
Ranchuelo |
423 |
dismantled |
Purio |
Perucho Figueredo |
Encrucijada |
426 |
sugar/molasses |
Ramona |
Quintin Banderas |
Corralillo |
427 |
sugar |
Reforma |
Marcelo Salado |
Caibarien |
428 |
museum |
Resolución |
José R. Riquelme |
Quemado de Güines |
429 |
dismantled |
Resulta |
Antonio Finalet |
Sagua la Grande |
430 |
dismantled |
San Agustín |
Chiquitico Fanbregat |
Remedios |
432 |
sugar |
San Isidro |
Panchito Gomez Toro |
Quemado de Güines |
434 |
sugar |
San José |
Hermanos Ameijeiras |
Placetas |
435 |
dismantled |
San Pablo2 |
- |
Zulueta |
- |
- |
Santa Catalina |
Carlos Caraballo |
Ranchuelo |
437 |
dismantled |
Santa Lutgarda |
El Vaquerito |
Cifuentes |
439 |
sugar |
Santa Maria |
Ifrain Alfonso |
Ranchuelo |
440 |
sugar |
Santa Rosa |
Diez de Octubre |
Ranchuelo |
441 |
sugar |
Santa Teresa |
Hector Rodriguez |
Sagua la Grande |
442 |
sugar |
Ulacia |
Carlos Balino |
Santo Domingo |
446 |
sugar |
Unidad |
Unidad Proletaria |
Cifuentes |
447 |
dismantled |
Washington |
George Washington |
Santo Domingo |
449 |
sugar |
Zaza |
Bernito Juarez |
Placetas |
450 |
dismantled |
Sancti Spíritus Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Amazonas2 |
- |
Sancti Spiritus |
- |
- |
Escambray2 |
- |
Fomento |
- |
- |
Jatibonico |
Uruguay |
Jatibonico |
512 |
sugar |
La Vega |
Remberto Abad Aleman |
Cabaiguán |
414 |
dismantled |
Narcisa |
Obdulio Morales |
Yaguajay |
418 |
sugar/molasses |
Natividad |
Siete de Noviembre |
La Sierpe |
419 |
dismantled |
Nela |
Aracelio Iglesias |
Yaguajay |
421 |
dismantled |
Santa Isabel |
Ramon Ponciano |
Fomento |
438 |
sugar |
Trinidad |
FNTA |
Trinidad |
444 |
sugar/molasses |
Tuinicu |
Melanio Hernandez |
Taguasco |
445 |
sugar |
Vitoria |
Simon Bolivar |
Yaguajay |
448 |
dismantled |
Ciego de Ávila Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Adelaida |
Enrique José Varona |
Chambas |
501 |
sugar |
Algodones |
Orlando Gonzales Ramires |
Majagua |
503 |
sugar |
Baraguá |
Ecuador |
Baraguá |
504 |
sugar |
Cunagua |
Bolivia |
Bolivia |
506 |
dismantled |
Moron |
Ciro Redondo |
Ciro Redondo |
515 |
sugar |
Patria |
Patria o Muerte |
Morón |
517 |
museum |
Punta Alegre |
Máximo Gómez |
Chambas |
518 |
dismantled |
Stewart |
Venezuela |
Venezuela |
522 |
sugar |
Violeta |
Primero de Enero |
Primero de Enero |
524 |
sugar |
Camagüey Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1980)1 |
Batalla de las Guásimas |
Vertientes |
530 |
sugar |
(built in 1983)1 |
Jesús Suárez Gayol |
Sta. Cruz del Sur |
525 |
reserve |
Agramonte |
Ignacio Agramonte |
Florida |
502 |
sugar |
Céspedes |
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes |
Carlos M. de Céspedes |
505 |
sugar |
Estrella |
República Dominicana |
Carlos M. de Céspedes |
508 |
dismantled |
Florida |
Argentina |
Florida |
509 |
sugar |
Jaronu |
Brasil |
Esmeralda |
511 |
sugar/molasses |
Lugareño |
Sierra de Cubitas |
Minas |
513 |
sugar |
Macareño |
Haiti |
Sta. Cruz del Sur |
514 |
dismantled |
Najasa |
Alfredo Alvarez Mola |
Sibanicú |
516 |
dismantled |
Santa Marta |
Candido Gonzales |
Sta. Cruz del Sur |
519 |
sugar |
Senado |
Noel Fernandez |
Minas |
520 |
reserve |
Siboney |
Siboney |
Sibanicú |
521 |
sugar/molasses |
Vertientes |
Panama |
Vertientes |
523 |
sugar |
Las Tunas Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1987)1 |
Majibacoa |
Majibacoa |
642 |
sugar |
Chaparra |
Jesus Menendez |
Jesús Menéndez |
610 |
sugar |
Delicias |
Antonio Guiteras |
Puerto Padre |
611 |
sugar |
Elía |
Columbia |
Colombia |
507 |
sugar |
Francisco |
Amancio Rodriguez |
Amancio |
510 |
sugar/molasses |
Jobabo |
Perú |
Jobabo |
618 |
dismantled |
Manatí |
Algeria Libre |
Manatí |
622 |
dismantled |
Holguín Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Alto Cedro |
Loynaz Hechevarria |
Cueto |
602 |
sugar |
Baguanos |
Lopez Pena |
Báguanos |
604 |
sugar |
Boston |
Nicaragua |
Banes |
607 |
sugar/molasses |
Cacocum |
Cristino Naranjo |
Cacocum |
608 |
sugar |
Maceo |
Antonio Maceo |
Cacocum |
621 |
sugar |
Preston |
Guatemala |
Mayarí |
626 |
dismantled |
San Germán |
Urbano Noris |
Urbano Noris |
631 |
sugar |
Santa Lucía |
Rafael Freyre |
Rafael Freyre |
635 |
museum |
Tacajo |
Fernando de Dios |
Báguanos |
639 |
sugar |
Tánamo |
Frank Pais |
Frank Pais |
640 |
dismantled |
Granma Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
(built in 1982)1 |
Grito de Yara |
Río Cauto |
650 |
sugar |
Cape Cruz |
Luis E Carracedo |
Pilón |
609 |
dismantled |
Dos Amigos |
Francisco Castro Ceruto |
Campechuela |
612 |
dismantled |
Estrada Palma |
Bartolomé Masó |
Bartolomé Masó |
615 |
sugar |
Isabel |
Juan Manuel Marquez |
Media Luna |
616 |
sugar |
Mabay |
Arquimides Colina |
Bayamo |
620 |
sugar |
Niquero |
Roberto Ramirez Delgado |
Niquero |
624 |
sugar |
Rio Cauto |
José N Figueredo |
Río Cauto |
627 |
dismantled |
Salvador |
La Demajagua |
Manzanillo |
629 |
dismantled |
San Ramon2 |
- |
Campechuela |
- |
dismantled4 |
Santa Regina |
Enidio Diaz Machado |
Ceiba Hueca4 |
636 |
sugar |
Sofía |
Renulfo Leyva |
Yara |
637 |
dismantled |
Santiago de Cuba Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Algodonal |
Salvador Rosales |
Songo-La Maya |
601 |
sugar |
America |
America Libre |
Contramaestre |
603 |
sugar |
Baltony |
Los Reynaldos |
Songo-La Maya |
605 |
sugar/molasses |
Borjita |
Paquito Rosales |
San Luis |
606 |
sugar |
Miranda |
Julio Antonio Mella |
Mella |
623 |
sugar |
Palma |
Dos Rios |
Palma Soriano |
625 |
sugar |
Santa Ana |
Chile |
San Luis |
633 |
sugar |
Union |
Rafael Reyes |
San Luis |
641 |
dismantled |
Guantánamo Province
Original Name |
Current Name |
Locality |
# |
mission |
Ermita |
Costa Rica |
El Salvador |
613 |
dismantled |
Esperanza |
Argeo Martinez |
Guantánamo |
614 |
sugar |
Isabel |
Honduras |
Guantánamo |
617 |
dismantled |
Los Caños (Las Cañas)3 |
Paraguay |
Guantánamo |
619 |
dismantled |
Romelié2 |
- |
Yateras |
- |
- |
San Antonio |
Manuel Tames |
Manuel Tames |
630 |
sugar |
Santa Cecilia2 |
- |
Guantánamo |
- |
- |
Soledad |
El Salvador |
El Salvador |
638 |
sugar/molasses |
Footnotes
1. This mill appears listed in Reference 1 (corresponding to the situation in 2002) but does not appear in Reference 2 (corresponding to the situation in 1958). There are 160 mills listed in Reference 1, of which 8 were built after 1980 and thus do not appear in the earlier date corresponding to Reference 2.
2. This mill appears listed in Reference 2 (corresponding to the situation in 1958) but does not appear in Reference 1 (corresponding to the situation in 2002). There are 161 mills listed in Reference 2, of which 13 were probably closed between 1958 and 2002 and thus do not appear in the later date corresponding to Reference 1.
3. Name differs between Reference 1 and Reference 2.
4. Information from one of our readers, Dei Dez. Other references list the location of the Santa Regina mill as Campechuela.
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