La Palma, a Canary Island rich in history, reflects a longing for its past prestige, rooted deeply in the creative energy of the 19th century. This era, heralded by the establishment of the newspaper El Time in 1863, saw the rise of the Sociedad La Cosmológica and the involvement of Masonic lodges, which connected the island to wider networks. Local intellectuals worked tirelessly to defend their forests, boost agriculture, and improve communication.
Santa Cruz de La Palma retains the cultural footprint of its prosperous 19th century, known as the Golden Age of La Palma, while the Valle de Aridane boasted intellectual hubs that contributed to the publication El Dinamo de Aridane.
Romanticism heavily influenced local writers, who created narratives intertwined with the island’s enchanting landscapes, weaving tales filled with folklore, tragic love stories, and heroic deaths. This artistic movement, which gained traction around 1825, celebrated freedom and emotions over strict rules, igniting a passionate response from the island’s introverted population. Regionalism flourished, with a renewed focus on historical themes and the beauty of the island. Prominent figures like Nicolás Estévanez and Antonio Zerolo emerged, drawing inspiration from the past while promoting a sense of local identity.
La Palma’s historical significance is underscored by its privileged trade links with Flanders and America, where swift sailing ships were constructed. Local literary figures like Pedro Álvarez de Lugo and Juan Bautista Poggio from the 17th century set the stage for later generations that fused Enlightenment ideals with patriotic fervour.
The Masonic movement created connections with American lodges, fostering ties to places like Philadelphia and Havana. Notable intellectuals, such as Félix Duarte, who emigrated to Cuba and Venezuela, interwove local myths and legends into their work. Duarte’s literary contributions shaped a poetic landscape that balanced the spiritual and the everyday, celebrating the island’s rich heritage and the need to defend its natural resources.
Despite facing significant challenges, including political oppression and economic hardship, La Palma clung to Enlightenment ideas, maintaining its port’s significance until steamships eclipsed sailing vessels. The island became a centre for liberal-republican thought, driven in part by Masonic influence. El Time was the first of 123 newspapers published on the island between 1863 and 1948, making La Palma the most newspaper-dense island in the archipelago.
El Time emerged as a leading voice, advocating for environmental protection, better infrastructure, education, and agricultural reforms. The island’s media landscape included numerous publications—liberal, conservative, satirical, and proletarian—each contributing to a diverse social discourse. The establishment of Freemasonry in Santa Cruz de La Palma in 1875 significantly impacted both civil life and journalism, involving around 200 members from various sectors.
However, the onset of the Spanish Civil War disrupted this vibrant movement, leading to the confiscation of a printing press brought from London, ultimately destroyed by the victors of the conflict.
In El Time y la prensa canaria en el siglo XIX. Masonería y liberalismo en La Palma, published in 1990 and reissued by Ediciones Idea, we delve deeper into these themes and their significance.
The article originally appeared in El Apurón.
