03/14/1977
Opening of the new City Market at 3700 Alameda has been delayed from two to three weeks.
The new City Market stands on the former Camp Grande location. Camp Grande was the first motel in the U.S. and set the national pace for motels.
The
early beginnings of "luxury" motor hotels had their start here,
according to Mrs. Dean Earp, who operated the camp with her husband from
1943 until 1955 when they sold it.
It was razed some years after that.
THE CAMP later renamed Grande Motel, was opened Nov. 10, 1923, by the Southwestern Tourist Camp Co., Inc., formed by four men: W. K. Marr, president; W. R. Piper, secretary-treasurer; Winchester Cooley, vice president and J. R. Moffett, manager.
"The camp could also be considered El Paso's first shopping center," Mrs. Earp said. "There were a bakery, shoe store, grocery, drug store, gas station, Post Office sub-station and police sub-station, photo shop, lunch and delicatessen at Camp Grande lunchroom, barber and beauty shops, a tent and awning company, auto supply shop and curio shop."
Mrs. Earp wrote a thesis on camping in general and included a lot of information about Camp Grande in it.
She majored in history and is retired as a counselor from Burges High School.
MRS. EARP SAID the camp had a recreation hall and during its early years, it held an evening floor show for guests. An orchestra was hired for special events.
"On either side of the hill were bungalows and outdoor campsite. Small bungalows for two people rented for $1.50 a night and the larger ones, $5 a night, " Mrs. Earp said. "There were shower baths in some and tubs in others. Each was equipped with a kitchenette, a breakfast room and bedroom. They were electrically lighted and heated with gas.
"There were spaces for tents for the thrifty tourist or if he preferred, he could rent a tent from the management.
There was a community kitchen containing 30 stoves equipped with five-cent meters There were folding tables and three kitchen sinks. There were bathrooms for men and women equipped with showers, tubs and washbasins, a laundry room with three double tubs, a patio where clothes could be hung to dry and three built-in ironing boards.
"WE OPERATED THE CAMP during World War II when there were lots of wives coming through to visit their husbands.
"One of the strangest thing to occur was when a man registered and was given a room; right after that another man came in an registered — using the exact name. We learned the first man was a hitchhiker who stole the wallet from the second man, who came in without knowing his wallet had been lifted and discovered his name on the register. The clerk on duty called the police and everything came out alright."
Camp Grande was sold the first time to Newell R. Hays who sold it to the Earps. The Earps sold it in 1956 to Leslie Hayes who in turn sold it to the Falstaff Brewing Co. in 1957.
Mrs. Earp keeps busy with her children. Honey Carter of Lynchburg, Va., Mrs. Minnie Lee Travis and Robert of El Paso and eight grandchildren. She is also busy with a number of organizations.
"I still meet a lot of people who will say, 'I remember you from the motel. And I still feel like I'd like to go out and check the rooms."
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