A Life of Commitment in Pinos Genil and Granada
Discover the fascinating story of Berta Wilhelmi (1858–1934), a brilliant mind who was far ahead of her time. Although her main residence was on Granada’s Paseo del Salón, her entrepreneurial vision and immense philanthropic work spread across the entire province, leaving an indelible mark on Pinos Genil.
El Blanqueo: An Industrial and Agricultural Heart
Berta managed the Wilhelmi & Lemmé Manufacturing Society, turning the area of El Blanqueo (Pinos Genil) into a beacon of progress. Under her leadership, this estate was not only home to one of her main paper mills and a pioneering power plant but also served as an extensive agricultural operation.
This agricultural side was managed with a social philosophy far advanced for its era, based on cordiality between owners and workers. Furthermore, it was here that Berta revolutionized the sector by introducing modern beekeeping (movable-frame hives), updating honey production throughout the province and achieving great success at the 1888 Alhambra Exhibition.
Pedagogical Innovation: Pinos Genil and Almuñécar
Guided by the principles of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Berta believed in education as a catalyst for change:
- In Pinos Genil: In 1913, she built the Mixed-Gender School and a People’s Library with 600 volumes. She also implemented the “Sopa Escolar” (School Soup) program to combat malnutrition. Through this initiative, Berta aimed to motivate working-class parents to send their children to school rather than to the fields. She applied this same practice in several classrooms she established in Granada city, providing full school supplies so that poverty would never be a barrier to learning.
- In Almuñécar: In 1892, she led a pioneering pedagogical project by organizing the first mixed-gender School Colonies in Spain. This was an educational project rather than a medical one, seeking the physical and moral development of children through contact with the sea.
The Voice of Feminism: Applause from Pardo Bazán
That same year (1892), Berta marked a historic milestone at the Hispanic-Portuguese-American Pedagogical Congress in Madrid. She presented her paper “The aptitude of women for all professions,” defending equal rights. The famous writer Emilia Pardo Bazán publicly congratulated Berta, praising both her content and the courage and firmness with which she defended her ideas.
The Fight for Health: Mountain Sanatoriums
Motivated by the loss of her brother Luis, she dedicated her energy to fighting tuberculosis in fresh-air environments:
- El Purche (Monachil): She created the first healing center at her estate, “Las Acacias.”
- La Alfaguara (Alfacar): She founded the Anti-Tuberculosis Trust and the Alfaguara Sanatorium, as well as the Zenete Dispensary in Granada.
A Humble End for an Extraordinary Woman
Berta passed away on July 29, 1934. Faithful to her convictions and her love for simplicity, she left precise instructions for her farewell: she was buried in a deep trench, wrapped only in a sheet, alongside the ashes of her beloved brother Luis. Per her wishes, the funds that would have been spent on a traditional funeral were donated to the poor. It was the final act of generosity from a woman who always put the disadvantaged at the heart of her work.
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The legacy of Luis Dávila: A pioneer in the sky
If Berta Wilhelmi revolutionized the land, education, and industry, her son Luis Dávila Ponce de León y Wilhelmi (1878–1925) did the same in the air. A Captain of Military Engineers, Luis embodied his family’s avant-garde spirit, becoming a key figure in the early years of Spanish aeronautics.
A Polyglot at the Service of Engineering
Educated under his mother’s intellectual influence, Luis was a man of vast culture. He mastered five languages (Spanish, German, French, English, and Italian), allowing him to stay informed about the most cutting-edge technical advances in Europe.
The Father of Aviation in Granada
His importance to the province is historic; without him, Granada’s aeronautical map would look very different:
- The Armilla Hangar: In 1914, he personally directed the assembly of the hangar at the old Armilla racecourse. This work was essential for the National Aviators Contest, the event that sowed the seeds of what is now the Armilla Air Base.
- The Complete Pilot: He was not only an engineer but also an accomplished pilot with licenses in free balloons, airships, and airplanes.
- Connection to the Factory: Despite his brilliant military career, he never forgot his roots. He maintained a close bond with Pinos Genil, supporting his mother in managing the paper mills and family estates.
The Tragic End of a Hero
His passion for flight cost him his life on April 18, 1925. Luis died at the age of 47 in an aviation accident, an event that shocked Granada’s society. His impact was so profound that authorities renamed the Armilla Airfield as “Aeródromo de Dávila” in his honor—a name it held officially for years in recognition of the man who “taught Granada how to fly.”
Berta Wilhelmi, a story waiting to be discovered
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