Clemente Meneres

    Clemente Meneres was an influent business man of great wisdom and undertaking. Arising from Vila da Feira, he negotiated in wine and cork for Europe and Brazil, undertaking several trips to Brazil, North Africa and Middle East, having a representation at the Osaka Fair of 1903. With success and acceptance growing for those goods, he tries not only to sell them but also to produce them. On this quest, he reaches Trasmontano territory for the first time in 1874, searching for supposed mistreated cork trees, ending up at the Romeu zone. It took a short time for him to acquire those cork trees, and founded the Romeu Farm, and then the Meneses Company (CM). His interests covered also vineyards and olive trees, that he acquired and improved. He establishes a plant of cork stoppers in Romeu; all this establishments still exists, and they are visible from the highway IP4 (E82), that passes close to these lands, considered as amongst the richest ones in Trás-os-Montes, from where olive oil recognized internationally departs.

    It was after this undertaking that Clemente Meneres realized the vital importance of being capable to transport rapidly its goods, and, after Mirandela City Hall demonstrates its interest in bringing trains to the Terra Quente Trasmontana, he made all possible efforts to make pressure with his influence and the Trade Association of Oporto one for this project to become true. Later on, the railway would finally reach his Company doors in Jerusalém do Romeu, at August 1905, with the Romeu station next to his warehouse, allowing the shipment of goods. Not hindering this, he left an Elementary School. for which he lodged and hired teachers, and offered lunch to children.

    For all that, the Tua Line wouldn't be what it were and still is, without the energised intervention of this business man, with a clear vision of the future.

"... I came to the village of Romeu at four p.m. of May 18th 1874. I searched for a inn and I founded the only one that existed there which was owned by Misses Maria Rita, who, apparently, nothing more had to feed. I sent for roasted cod, accompanied for the first time for me by black bread of rye...

Clemente Meneres

40 Years of Trás-os-Montes"