The still young city of Los Mochis, rises proudly as a real gem of the northwest of Mexico. “Mochim” plural of “Mochic” which translates from the cahitan language as “Tortuga de tierra” (land turtle) o “Mochi” name of a plant which abounded in the zone in which it now settles.
Los Mochis History
Doña (Mrs) María Ochoa, daughter of Don (Mr) Zacarias Ochoa who got to meet and deal with Benjamin F. Jhonston, founder of the sugar mill that gave life to the population, testified (and there’s still an original map of that date who´s copy is in “La Casa del Centenario”) that the name had a simpler origin: “Los Mochos”, a nearby ranch, it was called like that because the founder of that family was missing one arm, and the settlers who lived in the socialist colony of Owen, degenerated the term, because of their foreignism they pronounced it “Los Mochis” until finally it remained as: “Los Mochis”.
Hail beautiful lady of Valle del Fuerte!
Beyond the linguistic paternity of the name, the population who gave its first hesitant steps around the chimneys of the sugar factory, was destined to be called the progressive and beautiful city in which it has become, being among the first in great life quality and of the most progressive of the Mexican Republic.
Gone forever are the muddy streets during rainy season and big dust storms during winter. Nevermore will the “black rain” of soot from the chimneys and cane burning from the nearby fields will be seen it.
The heavy creaking of the bogies where carries were made from the place of cutting to the mills of the factory.
Los Mochis Sugar Mill
Nevermore will wagons be pulled by trucks and tractors lifting dust storms and children running after them from the settlements and small towns to steal the sweet and juicy sugar canes that were spilled on the sides giving free treats for the poor.
Goodbye forever to the pitched and melancholic whistle that marked the life of the mochitenses between great gulps of steam thrown by the big black chimneys always covered in soot.
Finally, the factory that stamped agonizingly in the last harvests, ceased to exist. Ironically the city that started out joyous at the beginning of the last century, eventually drowned it and the changes of progress annihilated it. But like the Phoenix, from those black ashes has emerged a new creation!
An extraordinary turning point has been opened between nostalgia and tradition. The community of homes made of wood, huts made of mud, two traffic lights by the main street which were subject of admiration by the locals of that time, has had the extraordinary metamorphosis of the silkworm and a butterfly has sprouted that flutters beautifully in the green valley.
Today it opens its arms to the brothers of Mexico and the world that arrive by air, sea and land.
Today it gets ready to tell everyone, that it is a worthy and beautiful city with all the comforts and services. ¨Come! ¨ She says proudly and self-satisfied. ¨Come! Everyone is welcomed¨
Meanwhile the ones who are here, from the bottom of our hearts and with the most sense of respect and the most intimate gratitude we say to you: Hail to Los Mochis! Hail beatiful lady of Valle del Fuerte!
Text: Melchor Angulo
Writer and journalist
Image Gallery
How the Virtual Tour was made
Thanks to Hotel Best Wester from Los Mochis, located in front of 27 de Septiembre Park, for the facilities that help us to elaborate this tour. The night photograph at that altitude is complicated on account of the wind, even if it is really light, the camera can move and the quality will no longer be acceptable.
Because of this the diaphragm can’t be closed too much and the ISO has to be higher to get an appropriate shutter speed.
Use our photos
English language translation made by Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa through the collaboration of Centro de Estudio de Idiomas Culiacán
