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This palace was built in the middle of the 18th century by the
Count Cadena (El Conde de Cadena). It was used as his residence
and was finished in 1767. The Count was a friend of Jose de la
Borda and was also the Magistrate in this district. It is said
that he required Indians to pay their fines by working on his
house, which probably accounts for the thick walls and well built
ceilings. It may also be the reason for the name given to it by
the natives. They called it "La Casa de las Lagrimas"
or in English, "The House of Tears".
After
the death of the Count, his house suffered many vicissitudes.
It was indeed a house of tears. One of his descendants, a Spanish
aristocrat, shot and killed his daughter's suitor, when he came
to ask for her hand in marriage. During the visit of Morelos,
when leading Spanish business men were shot down in the Zocalo
(plaza) below, soldiers stationed in the church towers fired on
the Cadena Palace and bullet marks can still be seen on the upper
corridor, to say nothing of shattered stone at the top of one
column.
 During
the ensuing years, the original family died out and the house
fell upon evil days. It was in turn a Reformatory, a Mint and
a home for Priests. The part which was once a Mint is now in ruins
and can only be seen from the roof. In the latter part of the
19th century, the house was purchased by another Spanish family
and partially restored. However, it was still a 'House of Tears'
for the last of her line, an ancient spinster, rich and alone.
was murdered here by two workmen. The many hiding places were
found empty of treasure. The workmen were apprehended and tried
but the treasure had disappeared. It was never found. This happened
in 1935.
 Then
the building became a grocery warehouse and fell into decay. The
second floor, now the studio of Fidel Figueroa, housed a candle
factory, a cantina, and three or four families with the usual
equipment of cats, dogs. children, rabbits and chickens. The patio
was piled to the roof with merchandise, old bottles and junk.
Mr.
Figueroa, in search of a larger studio near the main plaza, bought
the building in 1943. He cleaned up the walls and ceilings, which
are original, and put in new floors throughout. He also installed
all of the ornamental tile. keeping the interior as Spanish as
possible.
In
the walls he found five secret recesses for hiding treasure. In
the absence of banks, money had to be hidden in ones home. When
revolutions came, soldiers looted the houses for money, silver
pieces and women. The aristocrats provided for this contingency,
as proven by the discovery three months ago, of a secret room,
provided with a trap door and an arrangement for ventilation.
This latter led to an investigation and since then a door has
been cut so that the visitor may see.
 The
house contains twenty six rooms and only two windows, both barred
and opening on a private patio. The exterior was completely closed,
with solid doors, admitting neither light nor air. This was evidently
done for protection and light and air came from the patio or inner
court. Mr. Figueroa has changed this by inserting glass and screen
in the doors, thus making it more consistent with modern living.
The
dining room is furnished in Mexican lacquer made in Uruapan. The
kitchen has the traditional charcoal stove and the corner sink
is interesting, not only as a sink, but as a hollow treasure chest,
lined with steel bars. It is assumed that in time of stress, heavy
silver pieces were concealed there. It was not originally covered
with tile.
It
has taken two years to restore one floor and in time Mr. Figueroa
hopes to finish the other two floors and the exterior. The room
which was once a cantina, (complete with juke box), is now the
main studio where the oils and larger works of Mr. Figueroa are
shown. In the rear patio is the working studio and an exhibit
of water colors and small oils. All are for sale at various prices.
The public is admitted from 10 to 1 and from 3 to 7, or by appointment.
The admission is fifty centavos or ten cents (U.S.) per person.
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Casa
Figueroa .::. Taxco .::. Mexico
