Stories of Paraná - Maringa Maringa

Stories of Paraná - Maringa Maringa

Maringá Maringá
Abilio Alves da Silva

"The promised land!" It was once the northern Paraná was shown in 1948, an extensive article in the magazine "The Cruise", sort of Globo printed those times.
Adventure and possible prosperity, was all that a young man at the age of 25 years, full of enthusiasm and hope for the future could want at that moment.
Hence ordered shutdown Army battalion which was engaged in Vila Militar in Rio de Janeiro, and went in pursuit of the promised land.
I went with a guy, courage, willpower, only lots available.
Without knowing anyone in the new Eldorado, buck meager pocket. The journey by train
up Ourimbah, on the border of São Paulo with Paraná in diesel locomotive, modern for the time
From there forward, went from "Smokey Mary" to where the train could take me, Apucarana, the end of the line.
My first contact with the promised land "was not, however, up to snuff.
Hit leg without getting any Apucarana
job placement. "Go further ahead," I advised. And I was.
Ride and walk until I got Mandaguari, sought employment in
the Company's office
Improvements North of Paraná and got placement, not there, but a little more forward.
I was assigned to work at the opening of City of Maringá.
The cities of North New Londrina region, were already implemented a few years ago.
Called on North Brand new, but still had ground unexplored cities were being formed at this time.
Maringa, for example, was nothing or almost nothing, neither municipality was, which occurred only in 1951.
Won driving itself to go to Maringa: A donkey sealed.
In it, I looked like a "Sancho Panza". Arriving in Maringa, I was greeted by Dr. Alfred W. Niffeler in the office of the Company, and he received the order of work: monitoring forest lands of the Company.
At that time there was much stealing wood, especially cedar.
Hence, it is easy to imagine, my service was not the easiest, I became a sworn death by robbers wood.
One night when I was returning from truck ambushed on the road of the city.
They were three, fired ten shots and only hit two.
I shot six, only one hit. We were all bad shot.
I stayed 22 days in Maringa Hospital, Dr. Geraldo Braga (father of Sonia Braga) and thank God that I escaped.
The thieves were arrested and removed to Londrina, where they would be judged.
One newspaper even published a headline: "Just as there were judges at Nuremberg, hopefully also exist here." Judge had, but the bandits bought the jailer for 100 cruises and escafederam up before being judged.
At that time there were two Maringás, the old and the new, more workers village, the old one had a few good houses, the majority was a favelão; had many new houses, but most of them closed, were built only to fulfill the contract, its residents were only 66, almost all employees of Company land.
Seen, therefore, Maringa born. And with the same affection that accompanied the growth of my daughter Marialva, the first woman born in Maringá to graduate in Law.
If today I tell this story is because it is not mine alone.
Dozens, hundreds of people coming from various parts of the country, staged adventure
similar. The adventure to help the unborn today rich Northern Paraná.

Abilio Alves da Silva, a pioneer in the founding of Maringa


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.