El Paso's First Skyscraper
One of architect Edward Kneezell's most enduring creations sits at the corner of Stanton and Franklin in downtown El Paso. We drive by it every day, but many have not paused to absorb its pedigree or take a closer look at its gorgeous exterior.
The impact of Kneezell's designs in our downtown area is frequently underestimated, sometimes overlooked, in the shadow of Trost & Trost's brilliance. However, Edward was a powerful figure in early El Paso history and architecture, helping to shape our skyline and alter our early political climate.
Arriving in El Paso in 1882, Kneezell (1855-1926) had studied architecture in his home state of Pennsylvania. In the years prior to his arrival in the Sun City, he worked for the Mexican Central Railroad, traveling throughout Mexico with an occasional excursion into Central and South America. He became a member of the American Institute of Architects, the highest association of the profession in the country, early in 1901. He designed a number of local schools, including Alamo Elementary (1899), Sunset and Morehead Elementary (1901) and the San Jacinto Elementary in 1904. His Alamo School stands today as the oldest existing school building in El Paso. Possibly his best known building to architectural enthusiasts in our city was his 1884 Sheldon office block, an amazing Italianate structure that was converted to a hotel in later years, and haunts the archives of our Trost Society Facebook page.
The El Paso and Southwest Railroad office building is a seven story Romanesque Revival building standing today as the BBVA Compass Bank building. The structure is dominated by its tall, arched windows that give it an exaggerated sense of height, along with its ornately decorated arched entryways. Close inspection proves its age (113 years as of this writing) but the building is well maintained and in excellent condition.
Early images of this building are rare, except as a background to pictures of the immensely popular White House and Anson Mills buildings when the camera is facing northeast. You will note that in our only old image attached to this post it photobombs the Pioneer Plaza Trost giants - all by itself, seemingly isolated out in the middle of nowhere. El Paso's very first skyscraper -- still strong and stately.
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| El Paso Public Library. Notes by Mark Stone |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
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| Photograph taken by Mark Stone 1/08/2020 |
