euskalkultura.eus

The presentation was attended by a large crowd interested in the history of Gandara -- a district of Chascomus -- and the presence and influence that Basques and their descendants had in this county (partido) of the province of Buenos Aires. At the end of the 19th Century Gandara was the location for a important factory founded by a group of Basque entrepreneurs.

Chascomus, Argentina.  Professor and researcher from the National University of La Plata, Cesar Arrondo, presented his book The Basques of Gandara on November 28 at the local Sarmiento Library.  A large audience gathered, including some of the people interviewed for the book.  The professor explained his motivation for writing the book and his methodology for giving form to the text that treats the social life, economics, politics, religion and education in this section of the county of Chascomus with a large Basque presence.

The presentation began with showing a documentary by Fernando Pieske on Gandara, the site and its factory and continued with the book presentation by Pieske himself.  Finally, copies of the book were presented to those who had contributed their testimonies to it as well as to local public libraries and research centers.

Remember that at the end of the 19th Century rural area of Gandara, located in Chascomus was the cradle and location of the factory “Union Gandarense” founded by a group of Basque entrepreneurs, Fermin Peña, Juan Vértiz, Victoriano Iriarte, Juan Eder, Martín Vizcay, Pedro Heguiabehere, Pedro Jaurretche, Domingo Arrambide, Martín Garacotche, Juan Dorré,  Ignacio Tolosa and Miguel Sinconegui.

Right now the book is available at the library Monday-Friday from 9-11am and 2-6pm.