Elgin Puerto Ricans claim Columbus' first stop on the island

Growing up in Aguada, Puerto Rico, Elvin Vega learned the story of Christopher Columbus' 1493 arrival to his small town. But children less than 10 miles north, in Aguadilla, heard a competing story. In a centuries old rivalry, they also claim Columbus' first views.

There's no way to truly prove which town Columbus actually landed in first, but Aguada, from which a majority of Elgin Puerto Ricans come, celebrates the “Day of Discovery” as a major holiday every year.

As Vega learned it, Columbus arrived to his hometown on Nov. 19, 1493. He stepped off the boat, tripped on a rock and the first words he said on the island were “pico de piedra,” speaking about the point of the rock.

The beach has been known as Pico de Piedra ever since.

“It's a very big deal,” Vega said. “There's no school that day. People go to downtown Aguada to the parade and they stay there the whole day celebrating the discovery of Puerto Rico in Aguada.”

Gail Borden Public Library will be showing a documentary in conjunction with Elgin's Puerto Rican Heritage Organization to celebrate the anniversary of Columbus' arrival on the island. The film will be shown at 6:30 Nov. 18 at the library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.

The film, “Mi Puerto Rico,” is bilingual with subtitles and traces the cultural and political history of the island from the view of a Puerto Rican woman Raquel Ortiz, who was raised in New York.

It discusses the Spanish, African and indigenous Taino influences on the culture. And it explores the political controversy over Puerto Rico's status whether it should remain a commonwealth or become an independent nation or state.

Told by Ortiz, the documentary focuses most on the argument for independence but, according to Gilberto Feliciano, president of the Puerto Rican Heritage Organization, it provides a good introduction to island culture and politics.

“The narrator clearly states her political viewpoint but she also gives the other side ample platform to explain where they come from and why they hold the political view they do,” Feliciano said.

The film will last 90 minutes and Feliciano plans to have at least a short discussion afterward to discuss some of the issues it raises.

The film screening is free but registration is recommended at the information desk at the library, at gailborden.info or by phone at (847) 742-2411.

Ruperto Acevedo came to Elgin as a 16-year-old in 1965 with many of the first Aguadeños to arrive here. Word spread that Elgin was a good place to raise a family and find jobs so more and more people came, according to Acevedo.

Now, many local Puerto Ricans argue the vast majority of those in Elgin from the small Caribbean island are from Aguada, the same town in which they say Columbus landed.