El Circulo Cubano 101
All you wanted to know compiled and edited by Lloyd Carrera Santos
Eladio Paula
1st President of El Círculo Cubano de Tampa
1902-1906
Eladio Paula
1862–1923
When Eladio Paula was born in February 1862 in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba, his father, Manuel, was 32 and his mother, Josefa, was 22. They had a son named Ricardo (Eladio’s brother, Primo Raul remembers this brother). (Primo thinks Eladio also had 3 sisters??). Cubria and Navreta were the last names of the husbands who were married to two of the sisters)
Eladio's brother Jose Manuel was born on March 4, 1872, in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba when Eladio was 10 years old.
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Eladio's brother Luis was born on August 28, 1881, in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba when Eladio was 19 years old. Luis Lavin’s mother and father died of small pox just after Luis’ birth. The Paula family were already cousins and Manuel and Josefa accepted to raise Luis as their own child. He was raised as a Paula, but they honored his family by keeping his last name Lavin as there were still many Lavin family members in Cuba and Luis would also be taken back to visit them once they all moved to Florida. Luis Lavin and Mercedes Duarte had four children in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. Two sons and a two daughters. Luis Jr., Gertrudis (Tula), Hortensia and Raul Lavin. Gertrudis Lavin (Tula) is actress Cameron Diaz’ paternal grandmother. And Raul Lavin (1917-present) is Cameron’s grand uncle.
Eladio and Inez then had their son Tirso who was born on November 29, 1887, in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba. Tirso Paula 1887–1979
Their daughter Sara was born on June 21, 1888, in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba. Sara Paula 1888–1966.
Eladio's father Manuel Rufino passed away in 1890 in Habana, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, at the age of 60. Manuel Rufino Paula 1830–1890
Eladio and Inez' next son Silvio was born on December 31, 1893, in, San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba. Silvio Paula 1893–1977
Their next son Manuel was born on November 28, 1895, in San Antonio de los Baňos, Cuba. Manuel Paula 1895–1979
After their son Manuel was born, Eladio being a cigar maker, moved his family to work in the cigar factories of Key West and then Ybor City, Tampa, Florida.
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After moving to Ybor City, he became one of the founding fathers and the first president of El Círculo Cubano de Tampa (Ybor City) in 1902-1906
Eladio and Inez' last child was Alberto who was born in 1905 in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. When Alberto Paula was born in 1905 his father, Eladio, was 43 and his mother, Inez, was 35. Alberto Paula 1905-????
Eladio's mother Josefa passed away in 1909 in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 69. Josefa Fundora 1840–1909
FIRST PRESIDENT
The pavement marker was placed by the Santos-Paula Family at there last family reunion in the summer of 2014. Because there is no “Walk of Fame Paver Project” available on the sidewalks in front of the Cuban Club, the marker was decided to be placed in front of the Ybor City Museum. 1818 E. 9th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 • (813) 247-6323 www.ybormuseum.org
For more information on the Ybor City Paver Project click here.
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Woodlawn Cemetery on North Boulevard in Tampa, Eladio Paula’s tombstone that was paid for by “Los Socios del Circulo Cubano de Tampa” - “The Members of the Cuban Club of Tampa”.
Current main office of vault with Eladio Paula’s portrait on left and Salvador Martinez Ybor on the right
An earlier picture of Eladio’s tombstone provided by the membership of El CÃrculo Cubano. (Photo courtesy of James Paula)
The Ybor City Story, by Jose Rivera Muniz
Page in the book that speaks of Eladio Paula and his presidency at the CC.
Page in the book that speaks of Eladio Paula and his presidency at the CC.
Letter from Dr. Wallace Reyes to the CC Foundation speaking of the importance of Eladio Paula to Ybor City and to the CC.
Letter from Dr. Wallace Reyes to the CC Foundation speaking of the importance of Eladio Paula to Ybor City and to the CC.