The Frank Ainsa residence, completed in January 1914 and designed by the architectural firm of Gibson and Robertson, stands today in excellent condition at 106 years of age. A stunning Ionic Colonial architectural style, it is located at the southwest corner of Mesa and Arizona and is immaculately maintained by current owners The Herrera Group.
The Frank & Rose Ainsa Residence has long been incorrectly attributed to Trost & Trost with an erection date of 1907, however period documentation clearly identifies Gibson and Robertson as the architects, with a completion date of January, 1914.
The erection of this home was not without its difficulties. On July 25, 1913, the concrete columns at the front of the home collapsed, injuring plasterer E.S. Taylor. He sued Ainsa and the Oklahoma based contractors, J.A. Mayfield and W.C. Shaw, for $1,225.00 because of permanent scars on his head (El Paso Herald, Tuesday, September 9, 1913).
Frank Ainsa worked his entire career for Ainsa & Sons Wholesale Grocery Distribution, his latter years as President of the company. The first positive documentation of this is found in the 1895-1896 El Paso City Directory, continuing all the way through the 1913 directory. In July 1913, according to the El Paso Herald of 7/02/1913, he retired - six months before he took possession of his new home. This was quite a retirement home! Enjoy the images.
Note: The documentary evidence that this home was designed by Gibson & Robertson is in the 8/28/1912 El Paso Herald. The clipping is posted below.
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Text and research provided for the El Paso Sketch Club by Mark Stone, citing the above referenced sources. All modern photographs were taken by Mark Stone in 2019.
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| El Paso Public Library |
