Frequently, while researching, we come across architects that spend only a short period of time working in the Sun City, but exert a lot of influence. A few examples are R.C. Ball (https://www.facebook.com/TrostSociety/posts/3570132619771445), George E. King (https://www.facebook.com/TrostSociety/posts/3579982195453154) and Charley Maydwell (https://www.facebook.com/TrostSociety/posts/3519373911513983), all with very short tenures in El Paso, but all adding to the texture of Old El Paso architecture and history. Another architect has popped up on the radar: J.P. Annan, a gentleman that practiced in El Paso for the better part of two years, 1908 and 1909.
In January 1907, Annan came from St. Louis to Alamogordo, NM to design the Alamogordo Co-Operative Sanatorium, also known as the Fraternal City Sanatorium. After completing this hospital in August, he embarked on a very short tenure as the Editor of the Alamogordo News - but ending up in El Paso by the beginning of 1908.
We can document 12 buildings which during the next couple of years he designed here in ELP:
-- a Residence for C.A. Fox, to be built in Golden Hill, costing $4,500
-- W.H. Bryan Residence at 1011 Montana, costing $4,600 (demolished)
-- F.L. Shapiro Residence in the Tobin area to cost $2,800
-- E.W. Mitchell residence in Altura Park, costing $3,100
-- Sam Heiligers residence in Mundy Heights, $2,500
-- W.M. Baruer residence at the corner of River and Brown Streets, $2,450
-- A.D. Spence residence, also in the Tobin area, $2,650
-- Frank Boegeman residence, Highland Park, $4,300
-- Country Home for D.M. Payne on his ranch by Ysleta, $5,000
-- J.W. Weaver residence, location not specified, $3,700
-- A 2-Story Office Block at Franklin and El Paso streets
Added to those eleven is the William K. Preston Residence (pictured below), a beautiful small-ish Colonial located at 1224 Prospect in the Sunset Heights district. Although it seems to lack the creative flavor of a Gibson & Robertson or a Trost & Trost Colonial, it is nevertheless a very stunning and prominent building.
It will be interesting to get to know the work of Mr. Annan, and to see if we can discover more of his designs. He remained in El Paso through only 1909, then his name strangely and abruptly disappears from El Paso newspapers. Poof. Gone.
We've begun to research a few of the 11 other buildings listed above. So far, we have not been able to find a 1909-1910 home built for C.A. Fox or F.L. Shapiro; and we've discovered that his Office Building at Fanklin & El Paso is long demolished, along with the 1011 Montana residence built for W.H. Bryan. We're hopeful some of the other searches become fruitful. Another architect helping to shape the fabric of El Paso: Introducing J.P. Annan.
***************
Text and research provided to the Trost Society by Mark Stone, citing period newspaper articles accessed at newspapers.com.
 |
| Google Earth Street View accessed April 2021 |
 |
| Google Earth Street View accessed April 2021 |
 |
| Google Earth Street View accessed April 2021 |
 |
| Google Earth Street View accessed April 2021 |
