Description of events
Political organization
Date : –
Address : –
The Socialists had a stable grouping and a clearly delimited organizational structure in the factory town. The first socialist group was created in Barakaldo in 1900, having its headquarters at Calle Arrandi No. 2, later moving to Calle San Juan. After a few years, it was decided to have its own premises and the first House of the People was built in 1913, in the current Herriko Plaza.
The Casa del Pueblo, the social center of the socialist militants, tried to host all the organizations created around the socialist party and the UGT. After this first House of the People, given the strength of the socialist militancy, a second will be built, with unique architecture, inaugurated in 1932. This second House of the People stood right on the site that today occupies the current one, on Juntas Generales street. , in times of the Republic, Pablo Iglesias street, specifically at number 4.
According to Mikel Aizpuru, “it was the first building in Barakaldo built in concrete and it cost 210,618 pesetas. It had a ground floor where a large assembly hall capable of hosting 1,500 people was installed, and also three other floors. In the first, the meeting room would be located, in the second the cafe, the different offices and the library and in the third 4 rental houses. It was a question of the affiliated Baracaldean workers having a modern and owned premises ”(vol. I, p.50).
At that time, and following Mikel Aizpuru again, the People’s House had 4,400 members, “of which only 150 were affiliated to the Socialist Group and 270 to the Socialist Youth” (vol. I, p.50 ).
The building was demolished after the Civil War. In its place, another was built that became the headquarters of the Franco Vertical Union.
The municipality also had other socialist groups. At least, we have evidence of the Socialist Circle of Lutxana (in Lutxana, 14).
SOURCES
AIZPURU, Mikel (2010). Barakaldo, an industrial city: boom and consolidation (1900-1937). Vol. I. Bilbao: Beta III Milenio, DL
Place reference
Headquarters in the House of the People (General Meetings 4)
BBK BUILDING: Built around 1928. It should be noted that it housed the first municipal library. Before its construction, this land was occupied by the House of the People, which was later rebuilt a few meters away.
State of conservation:
The building was demolished after the Civil War
Old photography
Recent photograph
