January 26, 1971
By DORRANCE H. GUY
Times Executive Editor
Sale of the Hotel Cortez, a landmark of El Paso, to Coregis Properties by West Texas Hotel Co. was announced Monday afternoon.
Prime purchaser is Jonathan Rogers, El Paso businessman. Price was not disclosed. Location is Mills and Mesa, overlooking the Plaza.
Joe K. Foster, El Paso Realtor, negotiated the sale and will manage the property. Foster said all leases were assumed and the operation of the facility as a manpower training center will continue without interruption.
West Texas Hotel Co. is operated by the Moody Foundation of Galveston and Houston.
OPERATING FIRM
The name of the new operating corporation was formed by the purchasing firm, St. Regis Airport Properties, a Texas corporation, and the Hotel Cortez names.
Hotel Cortez had been operated as a hostelry by Affiliated National Hotel Co., a hotel chain controlled by the Moody Foundation, from 1936 to March 1, 1970.
At that time, the hotel was closed and remodeling was begun to turn it into the El Paso Residential Manpower Center. Remodeling cost was approximately $250,000.
The center is federally funded by the Department of Labor and provides educational-vocational training for school dropouts between 16 and 21 years.
SOLD IN 1933
The center opened Sept. 28, 1970, and has a capacity of 250 students.
The Cortez is steeped in the tradition of El Paso.
The building originally was designed and built by Mrs. Charles DeGroff, pioneer hotel operator and real estate businesswoman. It was patterned after an old Spanish castle. It was constructed on the site of earlier hotels, picturized by its two level balconies, which ran the full length of the building.
It was fitting that the Orndorff, social center of El Paso should be supplanted by the Cortez.
The present building was opened to the public in 1928 and was named “The Orndorff Hotel.” It was operated by the Orndorff family until 1933, at which time it was purchased by Harry L. Hussmann and renamed “The Hussmann Hotel.”
It was operated by him until 1936 when it was taken over by affiliated National Hotel Co. A contest was held to select a new name and the late Thornton Hardie, prominent El Paso lawyer, was named the winner, having selected the name, “Hotel Cortez.”
The name was deemed fitting as it was over the site of the City of El Paso that one of the most famous of all Spanish conquistadors and explorers, Fernando Cortez, led his men into what is now know as New Mexico.
The site long has been used as a hotel. In approximately 1881, the Parker House was erected on it by Chester Reeves and John Lohner, both railroad engineers. Later the Parker House was renamed the Vendome.
This hotel really has a long history. Too often moved around ownership as well. But I hope with the new ownership, the hotel is getting better than before, and no longer shifting ownership. Just wait for the next good news. Keep the good work.
Posted by: Milan Hotels | November 11, 2009 at 03:42 AM
hey, i have a question, i'm doing the Cortez Hotel as a project for school, and i need some help on where to find information, any idea's.? Thanxs. :D
Posted by: Rebecca. | January 25, 2010 at 07:52 PM