HACIENDA SANLAHTAH
The present work is a historical essay, the purpose of which is to summarize the relevant information on the history and the memorial past of the Sanlahtah hacienda.
It’s a journey, a look from the origins to the greatness achieved by the culture of henequen in the last century
Hacienda Sanlahtah is located in the municipality of Tekanto, which is one of the 106 municipalities that make up the Mexican state of Yucatan.
After the most significant political changes that took place on October 25, 1988, the old hacienda of Sanlahtah was established as the highest local government of the municipal stewardship,
The very name of Sanlahtah evokes a Mayan origin. The Chilam Balam of Chumayel, a work of testimony written by the Maya
The name of Sanlahtah can be interpreted as a place where honey flowers abound, (and therefore a place where bees abound)
In 1785, the name of Sanlahtah appears attached to that of a Catholic saint, which corresponds to that of Saint Joseph,
It was in the second half of the 19th century, when the Sanlahtah hacienda passed into the hands of the Molina brothers, that the improvement in the export of henequen occurred. It is likely that this hacienda was one of the first to be acquired by the Trinidad and Olegario brothers, because although each of them later owned other haciendas, this one has the particularity of being considered their property to both.
What confirms this is that we found during the reconstruction, which lasted more than 5 years, about ten coins, minted on the tail side with the O and T logo, for Olegario and Trinidad, and side face on can see the Tajonal flowers which are in abundance on the hacienda, and which still contribute to our honey production,
Olegario became the most powerful man in Yucatán, holding the public office of governor of the state, being also one of the richest landowners in the region. The modern construction works of Olegario Molina Solis, when he was governor of Yucatán, were as important as the wealth of the state.
In one of the photographs recovered from the state archives, we can see a construction that may well have been an engine room and a warehouse integrated with the name of the hacienda and embossed with the year 1914
One of the haciendas that “benefited” from the arrival of this foreign labor is precisely Sanlahtah, owned by the same governor of Yucatán in 1905, who had monopolized the general sale of henequen.
In his study on Korean migration…, he describes the case of the hacienda: “In the Sanlahtah hacienda where, in 1910, there were about 150 Koreans, there was even a school for Koreans. woman named Poot married 4 of her 5 daughters to Koreans named Choi; their descendants still live in this village”.
It was only at the end of the 20th century that the old henequen haciendas of Yucatan began to enter a new economic era, which involved the restoration of their old residences and gardens, which are now luxurious restaurants, hotels, select camps, and all adjusted to the highest standards of profusion and comfort.
OLEGARIO MOLINA SOLÍS
He was a Mexican lawyer, businessman and politician, born in Bolonchenticul, now Bolonchen de Rejon, Campeche, when it was part of Yucatan, and died in exile in Havana, Cuba. He was twice governor of Yucatán, secretary of development in the government of Porfirio Díaz. He was also twice a federal deputy.
TRINIDAD MOLINA SOLIS
Wealthy Yucatan landowner. He founded and directed a school in Izamal. It is worth mentioning the schools supported by his family, such as those of his brother Juan Francisco Molina Esquivel, Cecilia Solís de Molina and Olegario Molina Solís, all three supported by the resources of the Molina Figueroa family, the Yucatec poet Manuel Díaz Masa having been the director of the latter for many years; Explicit and militant Catholicism is another distinctive feature that has led, in some cases, to the priesthood and the consecrated life; don Jose
María and Don Pastor Molina Solís, their nephews Don Carlos and Don Audomaro Molina Castilla and Don Emilio Suárez Molina were priests.
HISTORIC CHRONOLOGY OF HACIENDA SANLAHTAH
XVIII – A corn and cattle ranch is founded on the old hill called Tzalahtah, with a small number of neighbors in charge of production.
1785 – The name of this estancia is given as follows: “San José de Tzanlantah”. The name of San José is added to follow the blossoming of the cult of this saint, who in 1764 had been declared Patron Saint of Yucatán, for having succeeded in suppressing the indigenous revolt led by Jacinto Canek, a few years earlier.
1811 – The name of the estancia appears as Sanlahtah, as it will remain established to this day.
1830 – In the census taken, the Sanlahtah estate shows no people living there.
1848 – The caste war breaks out, upsetting the social and political order of Yucatan, following the uprising of the natives against the deprivation of land and the abuse of taxes and payments.
1850 – Cultivation of henequen begins to expand in corn and cattle ranches, and gradually this will be implemented in the Sanlahtah hacienda, passing the change of production processing.
1900 – At the dawn of the 20th century, Sanlahtah is already the property of the brothers Trinidad and Olegario Molina Solís.
It begins the accelerated race to increase its population as a workforce and begins the most important construction works of the first half of this century.
1910 – It is recorded that in the Sanlahtah hacienda there were a total of 150 Koreans, who worked in the cutting of henequen leaves. The Koreans arrived in Yucatan in 1905, during a difficult situation. Since the governor of Yucatan at the time owned the hacienda himself, many Koreans were assigned to the hacienda to provide much-needed labor.
1914 – This is the year that can be seen in an old photograph of the hacienda, engraved on one of the main buildings, possibly in the engine room and bodega.
1916 – Governor Salvador Alvarado cancels the debt of the workers and confiscates the agricultural lands, the large fields of henequen from the haciendas, to distribute them to the peasants.
1918 – Large amounts of lime are stolen from the Sanlahtah hacienda, and the owner, Olegario Molina Solís, files a complaint with the state congress.
