La Cañada in El Marqués, Querétaro, Mexico — The Central Highlands (North America)

The Escandón Bathing Pools

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, September 2, 2019

1. The Escandón Bathing Pools Marker

This version of the text replaced a previous marker in the same location.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Alberca Escandón (El Piojito)
El 16 de abril de 1736, el ilustre militar hispano y Conde de Sierra Gorda, Don José Escandón y de la Helguera, adquiere este terreno para la construcción de unos baños en el pueblo de La Cañada, hoy cabecera municipal de El Marqués. En este lugar, se les concedió a los indios bañarse, con el solo gravamen de que todos los lunes del año dieran perpetuamente un peso al Cura de la iglesia. Con esta cantidad, se sufragaba el gasto de una misa rezada con responso al alma de dicho Sargento Mayor y los indios del pueblo, además de las que se pudieran ofrecer con el paso del tiempo.

English translation:
The Escandón Bathing Pools (El Piojito)
On April 16, 1736, the illustrious Spanish military man and Count of Sierra Gorda, José Escandón y de la Helguera, acquired this land for the construction of some bathing pools in the town of La Cañada, today the municipal seat of El Marqués. In this place, the Indians were allowed to bathe, with the sole responsibility that every Monday of the year they would give one peso to the local church's priest, in perpetuity.

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With this amount, the cost of a mass was paid for the soul of the Sergeant Major and the Indians of the town, in addition to those that could be offered over time.

Erected by Municipalidad de El Marqués.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Entertainment • Man-Made Features • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1736.

Location. 20° 36.54′ N, 100° 19.909′ W. Marker is in La Cañada, Querétaro, in El Marqués. Marker is on Calle Venustiano Carranza just south of Avenida del Ferrocarril, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: La Cañada QUE 76240, Mexico. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Small Church (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); El Marqués Cultural Center (about 180 meters away); The Temple of San Pedro (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Bicentennial of Mexican Independence (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Foundation of La Cañada (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); La Cañada (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The "El Capulín" Reservoir (approx. one kilometer away); Pan Dulce Monument (approx. 1.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Cañada.

Regarding The Escandón Bathing Pools. Since the 1950s the flow

The previous Escandón Bathing Pools Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 2, 2018

2. The previous Escandón Bathing Pools Marker

of water into the pools has reduced considerably and it is now basically a small local swimming pool. Payment for entry is now made directly at the pool.

Previously the marker text was much more interesting, mentioning that the reason for the name of the pools was due to the water stream being powerful enough to force off lice. The previous text read as follows:

Balneario Escandón
“El Piojito” – 1736
En este año Don José Escandón y de la Helguera, Conde de la Sierra Gorda, adquirió éste terreno y los manantiales para la construcción de unos baños en el pueblo de La Cañada, los cuales concedió a los habitantes de La Cañada para bañarse, con el solo gravamen de que todos los lunes del año, dieran perpetuamente un peso al Cura de la Iglesia. En 1815, el Cura Ignacio Mendiola rehabilitó y amplió el balneario. A mediados del siglo XIX, en el pueblo de La Cañada ya se identificaba a este centro recreativo con el sobrenombre de "El Piojito", puesto que contaba con un torrente del desagüe con dirección al rio, el cual era tan potente, según referían los visitantes les liberaba el diminuto insecto. También se premiaba al bañista que le resistiera más tiempo tiempo de pie y a contra corriente.

English translation:
The Escandón Bathing Pools
"El Piojito" (“The Little Louse”) - 1736
In

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 2, 2018

3. The Escandón Bathing Pools Marker

The area around the pools is currently undergoing a renovation, with a statue of Mexican President Venustiano Carranza to the left.

this year José Escandón y de la Helguera, Count of the Sierra Gorda, acquired this land and its springs for the construction of some public baths in the town of La Cañada. He donated the baths to the inhabitants of La Cañada, with the only stipulation that every Monday of the year, in perpetuity, they would give a peso to the priest of the local church. In 1815, Father Ignacio Mendiola rehabilitated and enlarged the baths. In the middle of the 19th century, in the town of La Cañada, this recreational center was already identified by the nickname of "El Piojito" (“The Little Louse”), since it had a strong water stream which led to the river, which was so powerful that visitors claimed its force could remove the tiny insect. Bathers were also rewarded in contests for standing up against the strong current.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 2, 2018

4. The Escandón Bathing Pools Marker

A view of the marker and entrance to the pools from across a nearby bridge over the river mentioned in the marker text.

A statue of Venustiano Carranza near the Escandón Bathing Pools image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, September 2, 2019

5. A statue of Venustiano Carranza near the Escandón Bathing Pools

Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 3, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 9, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 5. submitted on November 20, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.