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Walter Bensaúde Hosptial, Horta, Faial Island, Azores
Walter Bensaude Hosptial on Rua Frederico Machado, Horta, Faial Island, Azores.
Description
Walter (1850-1920) and Henry Bensaúde (1953 -1924) although born in Sа̃o Miguel, were raised on the island of Faial, and were the children of Elias Bensaúde (1806-1868), an important dealer of the island and owner of the most successful business in the Azores and Rachel Friedeberg Nathan.1 On the death of his father, the company was inherited by both. In the biographical note written by Jose Maria Abecassis, Walter Bensaúde is identified as banker and benefactor, donating 500 thousand Reis to the Santa Casa da Misericordia to pay for the works of the hospital, started in 1901. Thanks to the praise for Bensaúde’s donation, Walter became the hospital’s designer on January 9th, 1921.
The hospital was damaged by the violent earthquake of November 23rd, 1973. Then, on 16 February 2001, the Foundation Gaspar Frutuoso acquired the building for 60.000 escudos and drew up the donation deed of the property to the University of the Azores on 7 Marco 2006. Since 2010, the following houses have been built: the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the University of the Azores.
Walter (1850-1920) e Henrique Bensaude (1953 sic- 1924) ainda que nascidos em Sao Miguel, foram criados na ilha do Faial, poise ram filhos de Elias Bensaude (1806-1868), importante negociante da ilha. Por morte do pai, a empresa foi herdada por ambos. Na nota biografica escrita por Jose Maria Abecassis, e edentificado como banqueiro e benemerito, pois doou 500 contos de reis a Santa Casa da Misericordia para pagar as obras do hospital, iniciado em 1901. Gracas a sua boacao, o Hopsital passou a designer se Walter Bensaude, a partir de 9 de Janeiro de 1921. O hospital, apos estragos causados pelo violento sismo de 23 de Novembro de 1973. Entao, a 16 de Fevereiro de 2001, a Fundacao Gaspar Frutuoso adquiriu o edificio por 60,000 contos, tendo sido lavrada a escritura de doacao do imovel a Universidade dos Azores a 7 de Marco de 2006. Desde 2010, o edificio alberga o Departamento de Oceanografia e Pesca (DOP), da Universidade dos Azores.
Faial Island, Azores, Portugal
© Mapbox, © OpenStreetMap
Sources
Based on information found in Heranca Judaica Nos Azores map, translated by Google translate.
Footnotes
[1] Cultura Governo dos Açores, “Bensaúde, Walter Nathan,” Enciclopédia Açoriana, accessed July 27, 2021. http://www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt/ea/pesquisa/Default.aspx?id=6230
Bibliography
Cultura Governo dos Açores. “Bensaúde, Walter Nathan.” Enciclopédia Açoriana. Accessed July 27, 2021. http://www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt/ea/pesquisa/Default.aspx?id=6230