| What makes it historical? |
Inaugurated in 1912 by Plutarco Elías Calles, this plaza became the social center for the developing railroad town of Agua Prieta! Two years later, Calles changed the plaza’s name to honor his friend, José Azueta, a naval student who died fighting U.S. forces during the invasion of Veracruz!
See, Woodrow Wilson had sent the Marines and the Navy to block arms shipments from reaching dictator, Victoriano Huerta, but there were still folks alive in Veracruz who remembered the last horrific bombardment of Veracruz during the Mexican-American War! So the people of Veracruz—the official army had withdrawn—rose up against the invasion. José Azueta faced off against incoming American forces on his own with an old machine gun! |
