The house known as “La Ciudadela”, at Calle Cárdenas #15, is one of the oldest in Álamos.  Construction on the upper part that borders Calle L. Cárdenas was started in the 1690’s.  It served as a fort or place where arms were stored and was called “Ataranzana”.   During much of the 1700’s it served as a center for government activities and was given the name “Cabildo.”     José de Galvez stayed at this house for two months during 1769.  He signed a proclamation on the upper portal in July of that year.  The second Juan Batista de Anza expedition departed from what is now called “Ciudadela” in 1774 with most of the 277 participants having been recruited from Álamos. 

    By the early 1800’s governmental activities had another building, and a new jail eliminated the need to incarcerate people in the subterranean rooms of Ciudadela--which have been referred to as the dungeons.  The son of Don José María Almada, Simón Almada, was the first of the silver barons to live at “Ciudadela.”  In later years la Ciudadela was occupied by Simón Almada, Jr.  That family had nine daughters.  When their father was executed at the Alamos cemetery for his part in supporting Maximilian, the wife in mourning would not let her daughters leave the house for many years.  At that time the name “Ciudadela” was coined.

    It has been claimed that the property was divided into two sections during the 19th Century.  One section was occupied by Eduviga Corral de Almada, widow of Antonio Anselmo Almada, and her unmarried daughter--also Eduviga--continued to live there after her death.  Her son, Simón, retained the other half where he and his wife, Pomposa Parrada Pablos (nicknamed Concha) raised their family.  Hopefully records can be found to prove this information.

    The early 1900s saw troubled times in Álamos with rebellions, Indian uprisings, and the Mexican Revolution.  The exodus from Álamos began around 1915 when families moved to places such as Navojoa, Obregón, Guaymas, and Hermosillo.  A few families settled in the United States (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and South America, leaving some of their Álamos homes abandoned.  Fortunately Ciudadela survived without going into significant ruins due to use of the east half as a rental managed by the last of the Almada owners, and the use of the west half by the Marquez family.  María Luisa Marquez was the last of that family to live in the house.  She died in the 1980’s.  Patrick Jenks acquired that part to restore the property to its original colonial size.

      The Almada east side “Ciudadela” was rented to a family named Denson, and more information on that family can be found in the attached letter from Dr. Marcia Coyle Denson, who grew up in the house in the 1950’s.  At that time the floors of the garage and subterranean rooms were dirt and she stabled her pony in what is now the laundry room.

    La Ciudadela was bought by Patrick Jenks, the son of a wealthy eastern family who became an ornithologist, rancher, and treasure seeker. He took occupancy in 1968 after receiving clear title. During his initial restoration, an olla of silver coins was found in the previously bricked interior window of the main sala.  Álamos legend says that the contractor, Lupe Camerenia, found the treasure while Pat was in the United States and then became a rancher.   Celsa Grejada was their housekeeper and cook, and she later opened a restaurant that was initially on the main square, adjacent to Ciudadela. 

    In 1991 Richard Howells came to the Álamos area.  He was interested in the crafts and culture of the Seri Indian community along the Sea of Cortez near Bahía Kino, and he met with Pat Jenks--also a collector and authority on the tribe.  Although a psychologist from Washington State had offered to buy la Ciudadela, the sale fell through and Richard purchased the property in June, 1991.  He subsequently married Margo.  Stepson David MacKay and his family moved into Ciudadela in 1993.  David and Jennifer MacKay spent the next ten years operating a bed and breakfast  while restoration on the property continued.  In the main dining room are displayed two paintings which show a likely rendition of the house in the 1700’s and as it was when it was partly restored by Patrick Jenks.

      Since 2006, Richard and Margo Howells have occupied the entire house on Calle Cárdenas 15, spending part of each year in residence.  Yes, there may well be a ghost in residence as well.  Evidence of a tunnel between the house and Escuela Bartólome was claimed by Jenks, but no evidence of a tunnel connecting to the church on the square has been found.  Unfortunately, Pat passed away in early 2011.  Several of his publications are housed in the library at La Ciudadela.