On this edition the Rolé Carioca will make it’s way through a unique suburban neighborhood. Marechal Hermes has a Cultural Patrimony status and is, along Urca and Vila Isabel, one of the few planned living areas in Rio de Janeiro. Actually, it may be considered “the first federal intervention in Brazil’s housing development history”. The suburbs occupation began with the city’s growth during the 19th century when the ancient farms around Central do Brasil train station were bought and divided. Seizing the opportunity, the people evicted from the slum houses by both Barata Ribeiro and Pereira Passos administrations, established themselves in this area.
The construction of the then called Vila de Sapopemba was intended to solve the habitation demand by supplying a working class village endowed with infrastructure urban equipment. Launched in 1913, counting with the Republic president Hermes da Fonseca (1910 – 1914), the project was executed by the military engineer Palmyro Serra Pulcherio, also responsible for the constructions of the buildings and headquarters in Deodoro and Vila Militar.
Among the large and arboured streets, the new neighborhood was planned with 1350 edifices with all kinds of houses, hospitals and kindergartens. It stayed unfinished given the end of Fonseca government. The construction was brought to life again in 1930 during the Vargas Era, when the houses were finally appointed to the military village workers for the Union. The Village then received a modernist configuration: on the Cine Lux movie theater building and the flats that reduced construction costs and housing states as “Três de Outubro”.
Being on of the neighborhood first constructions, the train station was inaugurated in 1913 and is considered one of the oldest and most luxurious stations in the city. The building follows an English railroad model in bricks and have an eclectic styled structure that adds French tiles, German and Belgian wall tiles used for details and French cast iron arches. Both the station construction and railroad increasing made Marechal Hermes have an easy connection straight to Central do Brasil, which facilitated it’s growth.
There were five squares planned on the original project, one on the center and 4 others semicircular squares on the edges of the principal axis, but only 15 de Novembro Square and Montese were finished. Executed on the north edge in front of the train station, Montese is surrounded by two important public constructions: Correios (post office) agency and the cinema building. Nowadays it shows a three-cornered shape which would not have the old façade recognized if it there wasn’t it’s original convex format.
Sharing a wall with Santos Drummont Municipal School, it makes part of and architectonic complex representing landmark transformations on the neighborhood. The location was originally intended to be the headquarters to receive soldiers during Marechal Hermes workers’ village execution. It’s structure, inspired in neoclassic tendencies, presents a sequence of three volumes, alternate and modular, that projects themselves to the façade. The decoration of all the windows is adorned with cushions in stucco, with floral patterns, over and above the parapet.
The theatre dates from 1954 when it was inaugurated by the city mayor. The project is from architect Affonso Eduardo Reidy, embellished by Burle Marx gardens and lateral panels from Paulo Werneck. It’s name pays homage to journalist and playwriter Armando Gonzaga, a renowned day to day comedy author from the first half of the 20th century, known for his participation in the so called “Trianon Generation” along Viriato Corrêa and Odwaldo Vianna.
This church, initially dedicated to Saint Paul, was founded in 1920 by Cardinal Arcoverde by the title of Saint Paul Parish. On it’s 25th anniversary, in 1945, they renamed it as Our Lady of Grace Parish. It is composed by the Matrix and the Saint Rita de Cássia chapel, distinguished for it’s religious festivities, activities, pastorals and services.
From 1937 to now, the hospital sustains the title of the oldest emergency unity on the state healthcare system. Nowadays it works as a medical, surgical and pediatric clinic. The building also shelters the Sate Bariatric Surgery Program and Special Smile Project, intended to provide odontological treatment – for people of all ages – to patients with special conditions such as brain paralysis, autism and down syndrome.
In 1922 this field used to belong to Sport Club União (now União Futball Club). After Botafogo lost the General Severiano terrain this address became the training center to the team. There’s a project intending to reactivate it as TC to the base categories and master football implementation.
Nowadays this space includes a middle school and both mechanics and electronics buildings but it has once served as a workshop to prepare the material used on the construction of Marechal Hermes Village. IN 1914 FAETEC was borrowed to the town hall in order to install a technician school. So in 1916 over the name Visconde de Mauá Professional School opened it’s doors accepting only boys and later changing the name and structure again to Agricultural Studies Practical School, where the students would sell their productions in fairs so they could use the money acquired to buy new equipment. In 1932 the technician school status was returned.
Hermes da Fonseca was one of the most mocked presidents in our history. His image were constantly part of the humoristic catalogue in caricatures and jokes on the papers. He received lots of nicknames as “dudu”, “urucubaca” and “smelly creature” (people used to say that he reeked). The number of anecdotes about Hermes was such that the Careta Magazine had a section titled “The Last One From The Marshal”. He was appointed as dumb, unlucky, passionate, party-going and submissive to Pinheiro Machado. The former president body type was also a motive to mockery and he must’ve been the first country representative to ever influence a Carnaval mask.
Around 1880 there was a initiative to incentive civil construction businessmen to build cheap houses for factory workers and former slaves. The idea was to avoid the proliferation of slum houses and unsanitary installations, having the support of the Empire Ministers and Counselors. Despite the fact that money of those never went forward, some of the concessions which gave birth to the first factory connected villages as Jardim Botânico and Vila Isabel, and then the ones created by Pereira Passos (Salvador de Sá street) and Marechal Hermes.
Given the strong presence of Portuguese descendants during the occupations Marechal has earned the “Little Portugal” nickname. Most of it’s new residents must had been going the then recently demolished Morro do Castelo. Although the truth is that the occupation property went to those who had contacts and influence among the public branches responsible for the housing distribution.
Next to Marechal Hermes station remains this must go spot belonging to Ademar de Barros Moreira. His fries became famous after it’s viral images on the internet showing the enormous portions served – even 3kg of fries that can come along with cheese, cheddar, fried chicken, pepperoni, bacon and several sauces.
João Vicente Street, 1543
https://www.facebook.com/batatademarechalhermesrj
This cultural equipment offers a great panel of shows and keeps the really active function of feeding artistic expressions from the community by ministering theatre, dance and video courses. The program is available in: https://www.facebook.com/teatroarmandogonzagamarechalhermes/
Gal Osvaldo Cordeiro Farias avenue, 511
(21) 2332-1040
