Then & Now
Downtown’s History in Photos
Photoraphs and text courtesy of the El Paso Preservation Alliance

Then, one of El Paso’s most infamous citizens, John Wesley Hardin had his law office in this, the Wells Fargo Building, on the second floor just to the right of the dentist’s sign. Built in 1888, this building was rich in architectural detail. Note the lady in the sunbonnet standing near the left-most telegraph pole, and the trolley tracks in the street. Now, we are lucky to have this building still here. Although it formers glory can still be seen, the original beauty of the structure is shrouded by years of neglect. It cries out for restoration, after which it could be the center point of a Wild West Town tourist attraction, or at least, another historically restored downtown building.

Then, this glorious home, built in 1892, was a striking example of a well-built house with much “curb appeal.” Now, it still has that quality that attracts the eye. The horse and buggy has been replaced by horses of different colors and powers. The street is now paved and the fence is gone as are the large trees and most of the neighboring homes. What would the gentleman say if he knew that only three homes remain on his side of the block.? The rest have been demolished to make a parking lot for the First Baptist Church, who also owns this charming home. Although it is hard to see, there is a star cut out of of the small curvy eave under the right gable end. The house needs a new roof to be its crowning glory or it will be another case of “demolition by neglect,” a tragic end to such a treasure.

The firm of Trost and Trost designed this exquisite example of Chicago style architecture, the Paso del Norte Hotel. It was built by Zach T. White on the site of the old Happy Hour Theater for $1.5 million. Because of the earthquake in San Francisco in 1906, and his previous experience with a hotel fire, Mr. White used the finest material and construction to make the building earthquake-proof. He used inside partitions made from our own White Sands gypsum to make fireproof walls. Artisans were brought in from Italy to construct the lobby, and Tiffany’s of New York made the stained glass dome. It opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1912. Now, the Camino Real stands restored to its former beauty, thanks to the Franklin Land Co., a subsidiary of the El Paso Electric Company. It is a tribute to Zach White and the other visionaries who built this wonderful hotel that we are able to enjoy it today.

Then, this beautiful building, built in 1912, became the freight depot for the Texas and Pacific Railroad after Union Station was built. Before that, all passenger trains departed and arrived from a frame structure that predated this striking red brick depot. Now, it outshines all the other building around it and looks almost exactly as it originally had. The window transoms have been covered over and it has a new front door. It serves as the GLBT Community Center.

Then, before this building was a restaurant it was the site of a grist mill and the residence of Simeon Hart and his family. Hart’s mill began in 1849 at this historic crossroads where Juan de Onate forded the Rio Grande in the 1850s. It was built of plastered adobe with a roof of sycamore and willow limbs. Mr. Hart, a New York native, was born in 1816 and died in 1874; the mill operated until 1895. Major changes were made to the home around 1900. Now, La Hacienda Restaurant occupies the old home. It looks almost unchanged from the old photo, taken in 1900. The eastern elevation, shown, still has the arches across the front but they are hidden by the awnings. Note how the background mountain silhouette is the same.

Perhaps it is amazing that El Paso had so many amenities by the late 1800s. This natatorium, an indoor swimming pool, had been built by 1902. Note the windmill in the background, and the Oriental architecture. How exotic! There were still residences around the plaza then, but progress was fast approaching. The Angelus Hotel grew up next door the natatorium. Now, can you guess what is there? It is a parking lot.