Trost Buildings on Mills Street
Trost edificios en la Calle Mills
Trost Buildings on Mills Street
The notation on the postcard says: "2314 Mills Street Looking West Toward Pioneer Plaza (Little Plaza) El Paso, Texas." The red building on the center left is the Hotel Hilton. It was built on the site of the former Hotel Sheldon by the Hilton Hotel company, designed by Henry C. Trost, and opened in July 1930. The building is a fine example of the Art Deco style popular in the 1920s and still characterizes the cityscape of Downtown El Paso today. It was sold in 1963 and re-opened as the Plaza Hotel, which operated until 1991. The small white building next to the Hotel is the Roberts-Banner Building, commissioned by Martin D. Roberts and William M. Banner and designed by Henry C. Trost as well. It was opened in 1910. To the right, on the other side of the street are also historic buildings visible. The big yellow building is called the Cortez Building today. It was designed by Henry C. Trost and opened in 1926. In 1927 it was re-named Hotel Hussmann and only in 1935 it became the Hotel Cortez. It is characterized by a blending of styles and its marvelous decoration. The grey building to its right is the Commercial National Bank Building. It was also designed by Henry C. Trost and opened in 1916. The Mills Building is situated on the left of the Hotel Cortez. Henry C. Trost completed the construction of the building in 1911. It was one of the largest all-concrete buildings then constructed. Behind it, you can see the White House Department Store, designed by Trost & Trost and opened in 1912. It housed a store and the Hotel McCoy.
