The October 29, 1902 El Paso Daily Times announces the new Hotel Caples with great fanfare:
"SOMETHING NEW -- HOTEL CAPLES opens with a flattering outlook. Visitors are constantly pouring in to see the new building and new and elegant furniture, carpets, etc. throughout the rooms. The unanimous opinion is, "Nothing like it in the way of up-to-date rooming house in the city". Mrs. Crews would like for the people of El Paso and their friends and all visitors to the city to know there is a place, outside of our leading hotels, where everything is new and first class, and where the bestpeople can secure a night's lodging or permanent rooms in the heart of the city, without having to pay rates charged by the first class hotels. She feels the best way to convince the public of this is to have the people call and see, whether they need rooms now or not, and cheerfully welcomes and shows all who call through the splendid apartments. Rates, 50c to $1.50 per day, $12 to $20 per mmonth. Hotel Caples, Hammer-Caples Bldg, San Antonio St."
The Hotel Caples was opened in October 1902 in the Caples-Hammer Building, which had been completed in late September of that same year. Managed by a Mrs. Crews, it offered rooms by the day or month at rates advertised as considerably lower than the high-end hotels. We guess it can be said that it was El Paso's first "boutique" hotel.
Most historic sources identify the structure as the Caples-Hammer building. In period newspapers, especially after the passing of Richard Caples, it was referred to as the Caples Hotel.
The structure was built by contractors Richard Caples (who also owned the building), a former Mayor of El Paso, and Louis S. Hammer, who, as a duo, were described as “The best known contractors in the southwest” (El Paso Herald, 11/04/1919). Caples and Hammer began working together shortly after Caples' arrival in El Paso in 1882. Their first project was to build the Hart's Mill Dam. They are also responsible for the Hotel Dieu and the John J. Stewart masterpiece Merrick Building, which still stands today. The architect was Richard Caples friend John J. Stewart, a long-time business associate who also had a hand in designing other Caples projects, most notably the Richard Caples Building, in addition to the Merrick building mentioned above.
The structure, located at 107 San Antonio, was designed in a Romanesque style, and still stands today. The quoins add a Tuscan Renaissance flavor, making this striking building stand out. It is probably the second oldest standing brick structure in downtown El Paso. preceeded by the 1900 Momsen-Thorne building less than a block away. Construction was delayed for a very short period of time by a wall collapse at the front of the building (El Paso Daily Times, 7/17/1902). The newspaper reports that no one was injured. We don't know whether it was the Texas St. front, or the San Antonio. The building faces both streets, adjacent to the Trost W.S. Hills building.
The building was initially owned by Richard Caples and housed a number of businesses, including the hotel, according to period newspapers. When Caples passed away in 1911, his wife became owner of the property; then in an odd $65,000 "trade" that took place in 1916, ownership passed to Louis Hammer's widow (El Paso Herald, 2/19/1916). Mr. Hammer had passed away before 1910 (El Paso Herald, 2/4/1910). Current owners of the building are the Brockhaus family, and although the exterior of the building is "rustic" in appearance, tenants in the upstairs apartments tell us the interior is remodeled and in great condition.
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
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| Picture courtesy of the Library of Congress' Historical American Buildings Survey (HABS) |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
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| Picture courtesy of the Library of Congress' Historical American Buildings Survey (HABS) |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 6/19/2019 |
