February 8, 1951
Formal opening of the remodeled 1881 Building, modern office structure, will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. The work cost $500,000.
The building, occupied until a little more than a year ago by the Milner Hotel, has been renamed in honor of O.T. Bassett, El Paso pioneer, who founded a lumber yard on the site in 1881.
All-Year Conditioning
One of the features of the building is underfloor electric ducts, eliminating electric wall plugs and proving outlets on the floor for both lamps and telephones.
Among other features are all year air conditioning for the entire building, sound proofing and acoustical ceilings fluorescent lighting and modern elevators.
The lobby contains walls of imported tile with bronze decorations, including a huge star in the center of the floor.
First floor tenants will be Eckford, Smith and Vandenheuvel, Allen Arms, Elias G. Krubb Inc., Size 0 Dress Shop, Palm’s Shoe Store, Tri-State Music Co., Electric Center and El Paso Federal savings and Loan Co.
Phone Company Offices
The second floor is being occupied entirely by the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph co.
Features of the telephone firm’s floor is a modern housing for an accounting office. Recreation rooms and a snack bar are provided for employes.
Third floor of the building contains offices of General Motors Acceptance Corp., General Motors Insurance Corp., Buick Motor Division, Southwestern Life Insurance Co., New York Life Insurance Co., Main and Co., and El Paso Natural Gas Co.
Horse Rings in Sidewalk
Each unit was constructed according to specifications of tenants.
A new sidewalk will be laid. Items of the history of the site, such as rings for tying horses, will be set into the new walk.
An ancient marker, labeling the street now call Mills as St. Louis, will be put into the sidewalk.
A number of years after O.T. Bassett established his lumber yard on the site, two rooming houses were constructed and later joined.
Honors Pioneer
Still later, the structures became known as the Lockie Hotel and more recently the Milner Hotel.
The name 1881 Building was selected to honor O.T. Bassett, and also to mark the year that the real history of El Paso began.
It was during this year that the first railroads, troop installations, Postoffice, bank, and street railway were established here.
Owned by Estate
After the death of Mr. Bassett, his son, C.N. Bassett, who died a few years ago, took over the estate.
The property now is part of Bassett Estate Inc., headed by Mrs. Myra P. Bassett, widow of C.N. Bassett. Hal M. Daugherty is vice-president and general manager of the estate.
R.E. McKee Inc. is contractor for the remodeling program. Eckford, Smith and Vandenheuvel are agents.
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