A clean, enchanting apartment building located on the southeast corner of Montana and Noble has frequently caught our attention when driving by. This morning, while frantically searching through 1931 newspapers researching architect Otto Thorman buildings, suddenly -- well, take a look for yourself --
https://www.newspapers.com/image/429240474/?terms=%22S%20O%20Blount%22&match=1 !! (If you don't subscribe to Newspapers dot com, don't worry - we've reproduced the clipping below). There it was - a photograph of those very Apartments, surprisingly identified as a Trost & Trost designed structure!
The S.O. Blount Apartments were announced in the April 23, 1931 El Paso Times. With Chris Hansen named as General Contractor for the project, and a $20,000 budget afoot, the building was completed in 3-1/2 short months. It was a smaller 2-story brick building containing 7 units. Opening day, August 9, 1931, saw a huge open house event from 5pm to 9, announced with a 3/4 page advertisement in the Times.
We haven't gone out to photograph the property yet, however we have accessed some Google Earth screenshots (see below) that seem to indicate the building is in excellent condition. One of the shots shows a faded "Blount Apartments" on the archway over the door. What an enchanting addition to the growing list of Trost & Trost buildings!
-- Mark Stone, citing period newspaper articles and advertisements accessed at newspapers.com
 |
| Google Earth Street View, accessed December 2020 |
 |
| Google Earth Street View, accessed December 2020 |
 |
| Newspaper Clipping from the 08/09/1931 El Paso Times, pg 21 via newspapers.com |
 |
| Google Earth Street View, accessed December 2020 |
 |
| Google Earth Street View, accessed December 2020 |
 |
| Newspaper Clipping from the 08/09/1931 El Paso Times, pg 21 via newspapers.com |
