Before you stands Novo Homero Thon a neighborhood steeped in history. Its story begins not with grand pronouncements but with the quiet arrival of a Belgian family. Lucien Antoine Thon his wife Josephine and their children Desiré Homero and Clara disembarked in Santos in 1886. They were not seeking fortune in the bustling city of São Paulo. Instead they settled in São Bernardo. Lucien became a merchant. His son Homero a remarkable man found work with Light and Power. He even led teams building the Capivari Dam and the Smith Canal at Billings Reservoir.
Novo Homero Thon’s heart beats with the legacy of Homero Thon. He married Luiza Zumbuhl in 1897. Her family had arrived a year before the Thons. Their combined efforts shaped the land. In 1913 Homero acquired his father-in-law’s property Chácara Suíça. This wasn’t just farmland. It was a pioneering orchard. Homero introduced pear plum peach and persimmon trees to Brazil. Imagine the taste of those first fruits.
The Chácara Suíça thrived. It supplied the Municipal Market of São Paulo. Think of the two thousand pear trees six hundred Japanese plum trees and three hundred apple trees. They even made ceramics from the clay. Small wagons transported the bounty to the station for shipment.
Homero’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond fruit. He bought cattle from Argentina. He sold some in Santo André sending the surplus to Santos. He provided much of Santo André’s milk supply.
In the 1920s he subdivided parts of his land. The first plots were small farmsteads. They lined the Guaianazes and Tibiriçá streets. Later sections were designed for homes. These streets formed the framework of what would become Novo Homero Thon.
The residents themselves chose the name Vila Homero Thon in a plebiscite. They honored the son of Belgian immigrants. His impact extended beyond farming. He served as a councilman in São Bernardo during the Old Republic.
Novo Homero Thon is more than just a place. It’s a living testament. It stands as a tribute to the hard work and vision of Homero Thon. His legacy continues to shape the community. He passed away in 1948 but his influence remains. He left an imprint not only on the landscape but on the soul of this neighborhood. Stand here today and feel the weight of that enduring legacy.