VALLARTA MEMORIES

Standing right next to a car at Hacienda Ixtapa. Don Rafael Contreras, Buenaventura Santana, Leopoldo González and inside the car, Alfredo Rentería or "El Brillante" (The Brillant) 1930.

Going back to the year 1923, I must narrate the important events that took place in Hacienda Ixtapa, northeast of Puerto Vallarta.

In 1923, representatives of the Montgomery Company came to Hacienda Ixtapa from Mexico City to purchase a large extension of land from landowner Don Alberto Beck, a German gentleman. The administrator of Hacienda Ixtapa, was Señor Patricio Bernal, father of renowned farmer and cattleman, Alfonso Bernal Montaño, as well brother of Ignacio, Elvirita and Conchita Bernal.

Montgomery Company started an enormously successful business of bananas roatán. They started a huge plantation bringing the banana seeds especially from United Fruit was Montgomery company headquarters.

The banana business was a success. Mr. Dobler managed the plantation and Eduardo Guzmán was his administrator. The mass production of bananas took place during 1923, 1924 and part of 1925. Then in 1925 after the hurricane destroyed the banana fields, the land was abandoned.

The Montgomery Company returned to Vallarta in 1926. This time, American capitalists represented it. The redevelopment of the company made the economy of Ithaca boom again, marking a new chapter in the history of Puerto Vallarta. Montgomery Company transformed the village of Ixtapa, into a new, very active small city. Prefab wood homes were exclusively imported for employee housing. The homes had all the comforts of the big city and more. A hotel was built exclusively for the employees. People from Mexico City and other foreign countries were hired to work at the plantation. A lot of these jobs were executive positions. Social life changed for Ixtapa, and for local people in Vallarta. We were more involved in activities related to the plantation and in socializing with the new people.

Iron Bridge in Ixtapa. Standing by the bridge are, Rafael Contreras, José Güitrón Tejeda, J.B.S. Carmen O. de Rentería, and Julia R. de Santana

Mr. Rafael Silowey from México City was named General Manager for Montgomery. He filled in the position left by Mr. Max Dowry. Among the foreign people I remember were Señor Don Carlos Ojeda, Señor Walter Iberri, a handsome man who captivated many hearts in Vallarta, and Carlos Dorehmeberg, a very handsome German man and one of the most desired bachelors, who surprised everyone marrying Petra González, a humble girl from Vallarta.

Rafael Gay was a cook from China who worked for Montgomery.

Everybody nickname him “Chinito” (affectionate name for little Chinaman). There were other important executives such as Mr. McClelland and other British engineers a recreation center for all of us. We went to visit often and were always welcomed by our friends, the Fernández sisters, Lola, María and Cuca. They were merry maidens who enthusiastically organized parties and other types of celebrations. We rode the tropical bus to Ixtapa (tropical buses had no sides but only benches in the center). We always had plenty of fun riding the bus. Everybody cheered, laughed, sang, and told jokes. I remember a few of the songs we used to sing, Pobre Venadito (Poor Little Deer), Ala Orilla de un Palmar (By the shore of a Palm Grove), Los Barandales del Puente (The Rails on the Bridge), etc.

Ixtapa ,looked prosperous like never before! Engineering masterpieces were exclusively designed for Montgomery. This included a new railroad route from Ixtapa to Boca de Tomate beach, (Tomato River Mouth) to facilitate the daily transportation of tons of banana produce to the ships. There was so the shipment in the ocean. It was a pity to see beautiful bunches of bananas wasted floating on the ocean waters.

Engineering projects in Ixtapa included irrigation channels and a big iron bridge over the Macota River spanning 136.00m. Unfortunately, the costly bridge never opened. Rare as it may seem, the river changed its course before the construction of the bridge was completed. The bridge was abandoned for many years until it sold years later through the National Committee of Neighbors Communication at $200,000.00 Pesos (Two Hundred Thousand Pesos). I believe the Government of the State of Jalisco contributed with $50,000.00 Pesos (Fifty Thousand Pesos) to the sale.

Show in picture above, a hotel built exclusively for employees of Montgomery Company at Hacienda Ixtapa.

The prosperous era in Ixtapa ended in 1931. The government granted property land to the agrarians. The division of land affected the area of Montgomery’s plantation. Montgomery had to withdraw and cede its rights to common land development.

Mr. Silowey stayed in Vallarta. As for Mr. McClelland, he bought property for lease to other plantations and lived in Vallarta for many years. Many of Montgomery’s employees started a family in Vallarta and are still here.

Don Antonio Gûereña purchased the beautiful hotel at Hacienda Ixtapa.

He named it Hotel Delicias (Delights) and moved it near Los Muertos beach.

Catalina Montes de Oca Aguilar
Read Doña Catalina Montes de Oca Aguilar Autobiography
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