Kress Building

Kress building in 1980 - downtown El Paso, Texas. Kress department store first opened its doors in El Paso in 1907, at 211 N. Mesa. A 1916 fire destroyed part of the store, but it was rebuilt at the same location. A second fire in 1924 destroyed the store, and again it was rebuilt. In 1937, the store location was moved to the corner of Mills and Oregon Streets and the design of this new store became one of the most beautiful and unique stores in the entire chain. This new location originally housed part of the San Antonio and San Diego (Jackass) Mail stage line, which started business in July 1857, and a shop operated by Sam Hing, a private banker for the Chinese who also supplied labor for railroads and other contractors. Later, these businesses and others adjacent to it were replaced by the United States Federal Building. These were subsequently torn down to make room for the new Kress building. http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=346448&sid=2891832

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Library of Congress

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History