TRELEW

If there was ever a "promised land" for a small band that sought a place to make their dreams come true in a peaceful setting, it was the valley of the Chubut River, and the band of dreamers were the Welsh settlers that arrived in Argentine Patagonia in the late 19th century.

The gigantic labours of these Welsh pioneers were crowned with the building of a branch railway line joining Golfo Nuevo with the Valley, giving birth to the city of Trelew.

In January 1886, an agreement was signed with the company to take over the construction of the railway line, and Lewis Jones and Thomas Davies, the men behind the plan started to work immediately.

At the head of the track, sheds, living quarters and offices mushroomed, so that work could start as soon as workers and raw materials arrived on site.

From the port of Liverpool, a group of 300 Welsh pioneers embarked to help build the railway.

Six months after the work had started, a small town had already taken shape at this spot.

Oral and written testimony show that Lewis Jones was the major driving force behind railway expansion and its consequences on the regional economy.

Thus, the town took the name of Trelew (after Tre = town in Welsh, and Lew short for Lewis) as an homage to the man who worked so hard to develop this colony.

As a railhead, Trelew grew rapidly, and in early 1888 the headquarters of the "Compañía Mercantil del Chubut" (Chubut Trading Company) was established; in 1889 the Tabernacle chapel was built; in 1903 the first municipal commission to census the population was named, and in March 1904 authorities were elected by vote.

That same year, Lewis Jones died and was buried in the Moriah cemetery, by the river, facing Trelew.

Already in the 20th century, Trelew had become a vigorous colony, because its proximity to the sea and lying on the northern slope of the Chubut River valley and on the edge of the important National Route Nº 3, helped to create a sustained pace of economic development.

Today it is an important commercial and communications hub in the northeast of Chubut.

Jets and prop planes linking it with all parts of the country leave and arrive at its airport daily, and it is the bus terminus for passenger transport firms with routes covering the whole country, northwards, southwards and towards the Cordillera.

Its large population and the numerous vehicles that ply its streets reflect this city's vigorous spirit and confirm it as the "most progressive city in southern Argentina".

Its many comfy hotels and night spots, as well as its shops, keep it intensely active twenty four hours a day.

BACKGROUND DATA
The arrival of the Welsh settlers was not only the first step in Chubut's progress, but also another link in an ancient cultural saga.

For centuries the druids (followed by Christian missionaries) developed literary and musical traditions that were so strongly ingrained in the Celtic peoples that they permeated all levels of society: from sumptuous castles and palaces to the murky depths of the mines.

In 1875 the first Eisteddfod was organized Chubut. This was held during several years and then discontinued, but in 1965, after a long interval, the descendants of the pioneers revived their ancestor's festivity.

The name is Welsh in origin and is formed by the two Welsh verbs "eistedd" (to sit) and "fod" (to be: to be seated).

Some think that the name aroused because the audience remains seated during the festival. However, the real reason is that from its beginnings (in the city of Caerfyrddin, in 1541), the prize winner of the contest for the best poem was seated in the "Bard's Chair".

The Eisteddfod is, therefore a literary-musical festival cantered around the "Bard", a player who recites his poems in the Welsh Gaelic language. Spanish language poets and choirs also take part in the ceremony. The main festival is enclosed by many other artistic competitions.

It takes place in October and is only held in two places: in this province and in Wales itself.

WHAT CAN ONE SEE IN THE CITY?
With its own particular atmosphere, Trelew is worth touring calmly, keeping ones eyes and ears well open to search out its many hidden secrets.

The traditional historic circuits are the old railway station, now a National Monument that houses the "Pueblo de Luis" Regional Museum. This was built in 1889; to this site covered wagons drawn by teams of oxen brought in those days the agricultural products that were later embarked at Puerto Madryn.

It shows an exhibit of the culture of the ancestors of Chubut's residents: Tehuelche Indians, Mapuche Indians and Welsh immigrants.

The museum also has a place for the town's most important poet: Morris A.P. Hughes.

Facing the museum stands the monument that was built in 1910 as homage to Freedom and Agriculture.

Saint David's Hall
The Society of Saint David was created in 1891 in celebration of the national patron saint of Wales. The construction was completed in 1913, and officially opened two years later.

Welsh chapels in the Chubut valley
Due to the fact that the Welsh colonists were Protestants, the diversity of creeds that they followed caused over 30 chapels to be built, most of which are still standing.

The community, headed by their priestly druids (multi-function pastors), used these buildings as combined meeting rooms, temples, law courts and schools.

The traveler visiting Trelew on July 28 will be able to attend a curious ceremony in all the Welsh chapels: the Gwyl y Glaniad Tea, celebrating the landing of the settlers.

Independence Square
This Square, inaugurated in 1910, bears its name in honor of the centenary of the May Revolution. That is when the arbor/grandstand at its center was constructed. It is one of the city's most peculiar buildings. Its locally crafted woodworks are in the "Victorian Gingerbread" style.