~ Comparing Family Life in Comodoro Rivadavia
and the nearby Company Towns ~
With the company in control of nearly all aspects of life, from political and economical to social organization, life inside and out of this control varied.
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Company towns prohibited numerous social and cultural activities. While a variety of these prohibited activities were available in the port town of Comodoro Rivadavia, access to them was often limited by transportation difficulties, especially early on. This resulted in workers spending their social time within the company town limits, an area with the greatest company control. Thus, workers and their families who lived in the company towns rarely interacted outside of their small town and rarely stepped beyond the influence of the company.
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María del Carmen Sánchez (de Torres) |
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There were exceptions to this, however; including celebrations such as the annual Petroleum Day Celebration. During this celebration, families from all company towns would gather together for a variety of events.
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A large difference between life in Comodoro and in company towns is the aid and serviced provided to the people and their families. For example, housing was provided to families and couples who were legally married in the company towns, yet housing was not assigned to those families in the port town. Furthermore, grocery stores and other facilities, including sports and recreation clubs, were established for those families in the company towns, but such stores and resources were not made as available in Comodoro.
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The children shown above (right), Belita and Eilyr Evans, are the children of the manager of the Comania Commercial branch office in C. Rivadavia, Sr. Evans.
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