
The Chocolate House in the Plaza de Espana
The circular Chocolate House,
also known as the Summer House, served as a social meeting place
within the Plaza garden. The Spanish custom of serving hot
chocolate during late afternoons to the governor's guests was
later replaced by afternoon tea served by the American governor's
wife. The Chocolate House illustrates typical Spanish
building methods. Walls are constructed of roughly finished
coral stones cut from a quarry and plastered with a smooth lime
mortar. The technique of using coral stone and mortar
materials in contruction is called "manposteria", and provides
strength able to withstand earthquakes. Ceiling beams are
the durable native hardwood called "ifil" (Intsia bijuga) found in
Guam's northern plateau. The roof has been restored to the
original design with clay tile as it was in the Spanish days.
Incorporated into the Chocolate House are two Spanish
coat-of-arms which were found in the debris of the Governor's
Palace after World War II.
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