sketchclub.net: The El Paso Sketch Club: The R.B. Stevens Building

R.B. Stevens, one of our city's pioneers, was one of El Paso's most predominant landowners in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He arrived in the Sun City in 1889, and served two terms as a State Representative in addition to serving on El Paso's City Council during the administration of Mayor Tom Lea. He built (at least) three buildings named after himself: the Stevens Building downtown at Mesa and Texas, a 1909 Trost & Trost design later remodeled by Gibson & Robertson; the R.B. Stevens Building, a smaller 2-story business block located at 2909 Alameda; and the 1921 R.B. Stevens Building, perched at the corner of Yandell & Piedras.

The 1921 Building on Piedras is a two-story office and retail structure erected at a cost of $45,000 by contractor Orndorff & Reynaud. It was built primarily to house the headquarters of the National Lumber Company, which occupied eight of the 19 second-story offices. Other occupants of the new building's second floor were the Western Union Telegraph Company, a pair of Real Estate firms, a chiropractor, a dentist, and an office of beauty specialists. First floor retail included the Manhattan Bank and Trust Company, along with the Ideal Pharmacy and the Five Points Grocery. The Commercial styled structure utilizes White Managanese brick, trimmed with terra cotta. A central parapet displays the name "R B STEVENS 1921", and a modern sign over the apartment entrance says "STEVENS BLOCK NO 3". It is really a surprisingly enchanting building, retaining its historic appearance while leaning decidedly "artsy".

The building was designed by El Paso architect Guy L. Fraser, who spent most of his career in the city as an architect for Harry Hussmann. Fraser designed additions to the Hotel Hussmann (the Cortez Building of today) in 1928, in addition to designing a number of Hussmann owned apartment buildings and private residences throughout the city. He designed at least one addition to the Radford School, plus the Casner Chevrolet dealership at Wyoming and Florence, a beautiful Spanish designed building that was demolished for the I-10 construction.

Today, the nearly century old building is in outstanding condition. The first floor retail bays are occupied and clean, including a nice vintage clothing store and a Wing restaurant. Apartments occupy the second floor. The exterior of the building looks dated, but sharp. The building is a shining example of a successful repurposing and preservation. It was a joy to visit and photograph.

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Text, modern photography and research provided to Sketchclub.net by Mark Stone, citing period newspaper articles accessed at newspapers.com