Located at the corner of Yandell and Octavia in Central El Paso, the Marguerite Apartments were erected in 1912 in what the Architect describes as an Italian Renaissance design. The building is very unique in appearance, standing out in its block with a certain bravado. Designed by El Paso architect H.M. Beutell, it is a virtual twin to a second apartment structure designed by Beutell and erected later the same year: the Wallace Apartment Annex, which faces Randolph Way and is directly behind the Edward Kneezell designed 1903 Wallace Apartments on West Yandell.
The Marguerite Apartments were completed the last week of July, 1912 and was open to residents on August 1. They were built and owned by E.A. Caples, a son of Richard Caples, and was advertised as the best apartments in the city. There were ten units, varying from 3 to 4 rooms each. It was built with red pressed brick and "is built along the pure Italian Renaissance lines" (quoting the newspaper reference). The building featured hardwood floors, and individual sleeping porches. There was also a "modern system of electric call bells" in addition to steam heat (El Paso Morning Times, Tuesday, July 16, 1912).
Beutell also designed the Broaddus & Davis Apartments, directly across the street from the Marguerite, which is also extant.
The Marguerite has been in constant use as apartments since its erection. It underwent a major interior and exterior renovation in 1949, according to EPCAD. Today it is known as the Hacienda Apartments, and the building is owned as an investment property by LOR & JLP Property Investment. The building looks like it is in good condition, although looks can be deceiving. Nevertheless, it is a mighty pretty structure, along with its virtual twin the Wallace Annex.
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Text and research provided to Sketchclub.net by Mark Stone. This historical narrative is derived from newspaper articles and City Directory entries accessed through the Library of Congress' Chronicling America project at https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ and the University of North Texas (Denton) Digital Archives at https://texashistory.unt.edu/
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 07/20/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 07/20/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 07/20/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 07/20/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 07/20/2020 |
