Esta ley declara el edificio de la Escuela Comunitaria Manuel Corchado y Juarbe en Isabela como monumento histórico, reconociendo su valor arquitectónico y su asociación con eventos históricos y estilos de construcción de principios del siglo XX en Puerto Rico. La ley instruye a la Junta de Planificación, en coordinación con el Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña y la Oficina Estatal de Conservación Histórica, a incluir el edificio en la lista de Lugares y Sitios Históricos y al Departamento de Educación a instalar una placa conmemorativa.
(Approved on October 28, 2002)
To declare the building that houses the Manuel Corchado y Juarbe Community School, in Isabela Municipality, as a historical monument.
The building that houses the Manuel Corchado y Juarbe Community School was built in 1905. In the beginning, it was a wooden structure. It was inaugurated on December 1, 1905, with the name of Corchado School, being the first urban school to be built in Isabela Municipality. During 1927, this building was rebuilt in cement, reflecting the same distinctive characteristics of a very particular type and method of construction.
The building is associated with events that have forged the general pattern of history. Due to the change in sovereignty, the number of public buildings increased and the use of the re-emerging Spanish style became fashionable. This particular style was used as a way to facilitate the "integration and modernization" of Puerto Rico. Curved ramparts, symmetry, mosaics, shingles, smooth walls and horizontality are all characteristic elements of the style which marked this time. This style began being used in government works and it acquired popularity until it became one of the preferred styles of the Puerto Rican cultural and political elite.
Section 1.- The building that houses the Manuel Corchado y Juarbe Community School, located in Isabela Municipality is hereby declared a
historical monument. Section 2.- The Planning Board, in coordination and with the advice of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the Puerto Rico Historic Preservation Office, shall take the necessary steps in faithful compliance with the provisions of this Act and shall include the Manuel Corchado y Juarbe Community School in its list of Historic Places and Locations, in agreement with the current legislation and Regulation No. 5 of Historic Zones and Sites.
Section 3.- The Department of Education, with the advice of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, shall install a commemorative plate referring to such designation no later than six (6) months after this Act takes effect.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 249 (H.B. 1872) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare the building that houses the Manuel Corchado y Juarbe Community School, in Isabela Municipality, as a historical monument, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $6^{ ext {th }}$ of August of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director