By Bill Stark, Copyright 2012
This photo of the San Juancito Mine in Honduras may be my favorite. Hugh C. Watson was so spontaneous when he snapped this that he captured his mule’s ears in the frame.
In its heyday, San Juancito had a population of 44,000—equal to that of Tegucigalpa. It enjoyed all the technological advances of the day. The first light bulb flickered here, and the first cinema in Central and South America was built in San Juancito. Electricity was provided by a hydroelectric plant constructed by the New York and Honduras Rosario Mining Company.
Hugh C. Watson probably took this photo around 1903. It provides a list of important locations in San Juancito, including the places where he worked, slept, drank, and ate. The photo indicates a populated and fairly well-developed area.
This photo of Hugh’s room in San Juancito suggests utility with no concern for appearances.
Hugh C. Watson appears in this photo taken in San José, Guatemala circa 1903.
Hugh took a photo of this street scene in nearby Amapala, Honduras circa 1903.
Another view of Amapala, Honduras from Hugh’s lense circa 1903.
Hugh’s crew of mechanics at the San Juancito Mine.
This photo shows the entire Mill Crew of the San Juancito Mine. The photo is a gelatin silver print and appears to have been handled poorly over the years (note the crease marks). Nevertheless, the photo confirms Hugh’s presence in Honduras in 1903.
A view of the kitchen at San Juancito Mine.
This photo of one of the Toit Samplers at San Juancito gives a view into the daily operations of the mine. The Toit Sampler was named after the famous South African geologist and mining engineer, Alexander du Toit.
Hugh is the handsome guy on the right, heading the San Juancito assay gang. In his diaries, Hugh repeatedly mentions that he does not like assaying. The assay gang was responsible for conducting laboratory work to determine the mineral composition of the stones and earth removed from the mines.
Arguably the most important person in the mining camp: the cook. It is surprising that the photo does not name the cook. He is merely “the cook.”
This depiction of the celebration of Todos Santos in Pespiri, Honduras, puts Hugh there in November of 1903.
In a park in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Street view of Tegucigalpa. Note the cobbled streets and high curbs.
The market in San Juancito.
A mountain road in Honduras. Hugh did most of his traveling in the region on the back of a donkey. Note the first photograph in this series. Among my great-grandfather’s many inventions, the following image depicts his design for wooden paniers.
Note that this design is dated 1909 and corresponds with Hugh’s expeditions in Durango, Mexico.
This photo of natives in Nicaragua and previous photos of Hugh in Guatemala suggest that Hugh was extremely mobile.
Life long friends, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Stanford in Nicaragua with Hugh circa 1903.
This photo of two local women suggests that Hugh had a rare eye for beauty.
Reflections from the Colonial Divide 
Makes me woozy looking at this photo.
I wonder: Is it the height or the disparity of focus?
I really enjoyed this post. My grandfather was Alfred Lyman Hurst, he owned the first movie theater in Honduras and he was in charge of the first Hydroelectrical plant in San Juancito, Honduras. I was searching for more information about him when I found your post. Thank you!
Hello Gloria, I am pleased that you enjoyed the post. Good luck with your search.
Alfred Hurst is my great-grandfather, Gloria. May I ask who your parents are?
Hi Amy, my great grandfather was Hugh C Watson. I will look to see if I have any photos of your father
Hi Annie, my father was Roy W Hurst, he died in in a car crash in 1966. My mother is Gloria Aguirre, she re-married and her name now is Gloria de Baide. My siblings are Carlene, Royal (RIP) and Alfred.
My gramps is roys younger brother James Henry Hurst
Matthew: I am Gloria’s half sister; Roy was my father too. Where are you? I’d love to connect. I’m n Austin, Texas. Tara Elgin Hurst
I’m in Los Angeles Tara if you wanna contact me you can text or call at 8184869441 I’m jimmy hurst grandson he was a brother of Roy’s and a son of Alfred after he left to Tegucigalpa he abandoned my dad and his brothers thus we really have any information about our hurst lineage, I’ve also heard that Alfred was a Freemason if you have any info on that please lmk. But like I said if u wanna contact me that’s my number
When I asked my mother if she knew you, she mentioned your were her Uncle Roy’s daughter. You and my mother, Annie, are cousins. What a small world to find you on this blog. I was also doing some research on my great-grandfather. Have you had much luck? You may have this info already, but in case you don’t, check out this website. It tracks my Alfred Hurst’s maternal genealogy. His mother was Elizabeth “Lizzie” Brett Howard.
Oh wow! I am a great aunt? ha! I do have a very detailed G-tree that my aunt “Annie” from Honduras shared with me and I am familiar with the Howard genealogy. Thank you! So tell me; wich one of my father’s siblings is your Hurst grandparent? I know of Elvira, Annie, Alfred, Jimmy, Eva and Noe
My grandmother is Annie, and her daughter, whose name is also Annie, is my mother.
Annie, I know and love your grandma, let’s move our conversation so we don’t take more of Bill’s blog space. This is my email gloriahurst@hotmail.com
Hi Annie Hill, My name is Diana Lara, and my dad Orlando Lara Hurst in the grandson of Alfred Lyman Hurst. My dad grow-up with Alfred and Isabel Andino (his wife). My dad bought the house in San Juancito beside the telegraph were Alfred lived until he died. Orlando, my dad, lived in the same house until he died in 1999. My dad was very close to your grandmother Annie. I met her too, and I loved mi tia Annie. I would love to connect with you, send me an email to dklp@yahoo.com
Gloria: Pretty awesome to find this I am Alfred’s grand-daughter, and daughter of Lee Roy Hurst. I know of Annie, but nice to see some familiar names.
Bill: Loved this post, thanks for sharing all the photos and information
Hi Sheryl! awesome family reunion. Bill, see what you did?
So who is your dad Sheryl?
This is great! My father is Lee Roy Hurst; son of Alfred Hurst.
we are cousins!!! unfortunately, I never got to meet your dad but heard about him. I have a photo of him from when he and my dad enlisted and fought in WWII.. I will look for it and send it to you
Bill, question: do you have family in Honduras. Might be a coincidence but I have some Watson friends in Tegucigalpa.
Hi Gloria,
That is fascinating. I don’t believe that I have any relatives in Honduras. My great grandfather passed away in Denver, CO. As far as I know, he only had one brother who died before him in Colorado. It might be interesting to learn of a connection. If you would like to put them in touch with me, I would be grateful.
Thank you,
B
I will ask and learn a little bit more, will get back to you
The photos I have posted are the only ones that I have. I am in the process of contacting distant relatives who have been out of contact for some time. It is difficult as many who may have had information have passed and the thread has been lost. I persevere. I will certainly let you know if I come across information regarding your family members.
B
My great grandfather was Alfred and I’m Hispanic due to his trips to honduras
Hi Mathew,
My paternal great-grandfather was from Colorado. My maternal great-grandfather was originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. My paternal great-grandmother’s family hailed from Canada, and before that from England. My maternal great-grandmother’s family was from the area we now call New Mexico. Our family traces its lineage to before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Did your great-grandfather work in the mines in Honduras? I’d love to hear more of your story.
I now that my great grand dad did engineering built a bridge and brought one of the first movie players to Honduras but that was it
My dad says his grand dad was Alfred Lyman Hurst who lived in Easton Massachusetts and his sons name (my grandpa) is James Henry Hurst now my father tells me that my great grandpa (father of Alfred) was a engineer and who built a bridge in Honduras (my fathers country) and as I read this on how my dad was born in Honduras Hal Hispanic half europian makes me wonder does anyone know if Hugh c Watson and my great grandfathers name which is unknown knew each other? If anyone is part German who is also from Honduras please text me at 818-486-9441 or email me at mathurst12@gmail.com my name is Mathew Hurst please tell me anything you know about any Honduras or German related people with the name Alfred or hurst and tell me their background
Hi Matthew, thanks for posting about your great-grandfather and father. It is possible that my great-grandfather and your great-grandfather knew each other, but as noted in descriptions of San Juancito, it was a thriving location with a population of 44,000 in its heyday. Do you have any photos? I see that you are related to Sheryl and Gloria. I hope that you have contacted them. It looks like Gloria has photos.
Hello:
My name is Edgardo Alegría, and I am a honduran hotel manager by profession and a stamp collector/historian by passion. Your Tegucigalpa Street photo encompasses both activities, since it shows a mail box on the front wall. These were placed in the 1880´s and it is the first time I see them on a picture. Also, on the background, you can read the sign of the “Hotel Restaurante Internacional”. This was the first hotel service offered in Tegucigalpa, and likewise, the first picture I see.
Thanks for sharing such important memorabilia.
Cordially,
Edgardo
Hi Edgardo, thanks for your message. Glad you liked the photo. I would like to learn more about the area. I understand that San Juancito is now a park and nature conservancy. One of these days I hope to visit.
Gracias nuevamente, B
Bill buenas tardes mi bisabuelo trabajo en la mina del rosario en Tegucigalpa Honduras si usted tuviera alguna fotografía de él y la pudiera compartir con migo lo. Agredeceria mucho, era de escocia su nombre fue James campbell Duncan
Muchas gracias
Buenas tardes Mildred. Gracias por tu mensaje. Voy a buscar mis archivos. No te puedo prometer nada. ¿Tu bisabuelo estaba en San Juancito a inicios del siglo XX?
Gracias bill el trabajo ay aproximadamente en el año 1915 al año 1927
Muchas gracias
Hola Mildred, Gracias por tu nuevo mensaje. Es improbable que yo tenga fotos de tu bisabuelo. Lo siento. Mi bisabuelo estaba trabajando en La Ojuela en aquellos entonces. Era una mina en México. Te espero mucha suerte en tu búsqueda.
Muchas gracias por esta serie de invaluables fotografías. Le comento que en esa zona de San Juancito ahora existe un Parque Nacional La Tigra, área protegida para la protección y conservación de esa zona productora de agua.
Y me interesa tood lo relacionado con la historia del pueblo minero. Tenemos la intención de realizar un museo de historia minera
Saludos.
Mi correo es cespinalpnlt@gmail.com
Por cierto… tengo el honor y responsabilidad de ser el Director del Parque Nacional La Tigra, que incluye las zonas de El Rosario y San Juancito y la infraestructura que hoy perdura y se construyó durante estuvo la compañía Minera. Sería un placer para nosotros recibirlos en el Parque… ustedes que guardan tanta historia.
El antiguo hospital de la compañía minera ubicado en El Rosario hoy en día es un Eco-hotel.
buenas tardes, mi tataraabuelo trabajaba para la rosario mining company y era el Sr Percy Buck y estoy tratando de encontrar alguna informacion que lo ligue a la compañia o alguna foto. El estuvo alrededor de 1902 o 1903. El fue originario de Inglaterra y se casó en San juancito y ahi se estableció.
Muy buenas tardes, Alida. Gracias por su mensaje. Espero que esté bien usted. Yo puedo buscar otras fotos de El Juancito, pero no recuerdo fotos de los colegas de mi bisabuelo. La historia de su tatarabuelo me interesa mucho. Gracias por compartir estos datos.
Hello there. I am fascinated about this stories. I am originally from Tegucigalpa relocated to US since 1983. I am interested in art, history and culture. I just contacted Mr. Espinal. The reason i am interested in san Juancito is because My next door neighbor (move nest to me 5 years ago) lived in San Juancito from 1936 to 1954. He is by his account the last living foreign that lived in San Juancito (father worked for the company. He has lots of pictures and papers of his life there. Because his work is preserving historical artifacts, monuments and art work (security expert that ahs traveled throughout the world)we are talking in collaborating in building a Museum there. If anyone is interested in cooperating let me know (not easy in Honduras) My email is adonislorenzana@gmail.com
Hi Adonis,
My sister and I, are granddaughters of Alfred Hurst, who worked with the company and stayed in San Juancito until his death. Our grandfather owned a operated the first movie theater in Central America. We would love to collaborate with you in the museum project.
Hi Gloria,
I have been researching the Hurst family history including Alfred Lymon Hurst and believe we share a Great Great Great Grandfather from the UK where the Hurst name originates. I would love to hear more about Alfred, my email is david@nightflyrecords.com
I am in Detroit, planning part of my retirement there doing this type of work and also medical work with pediatric cancer there
Hi Adonis, thanks for you comments on San Juancito. I wish that I knew more about it. My great-grandfather was there during the US imperialist boom in Latin America. Good luck with your work, it is a worthy endeavor. Please let me know if you come across Hugh Callory Watson’s name in your research. I’d love to hear more about his work there, Bolivia, and Mexico. Again, thank you and best of luck.