First Mortage Company Building
a.k.a. First National Building
109 N. Oregon St., El Paso, TXThe First National Building in downtown El Paso is a large commercial structure reflecting the rapidly expanding economy of the city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The fifteen-story building, a commercial-style skyscraper, was built to accommodate the growing financial institutions and professional interests in the 1920s. Through the years, the First National Building has retained its architectural and functional integrity, unlike many of the buildings surrounding it.
The design of the First National Building was influenced by the spatial needs of the First National Bank of El Paso and the First Mortgage Company and by the desire to integrate this new building with the existing American Bank Building to which it was to be connected. The First National Building was built, as influenced by these needs and desires, to provide office space for the growing city of El Paso, to provide additional space for the First National Bank, and to house the First Mortgage Company.
The First National Bank was chartered on May 26, 1881--the first national bank in El Paso--and saw steady growth until its doors were closed to depositors on September 4, 1931. By 1914 the bank had increased its capital sixteen-fold, was one of the five organizing banks of the Federal Reserve Bank of the eleventh district and had taken over the control of two local banks. One of these consolidations was with the American National Bank. The American National Bank Building, a seven-story second renaissance revival style structure built in 1905, was enlarged and occupied by the First National Bank in 1914. In 1920 the First National Bank consolidated with a third bank and additional space was needed.
Property adjoining the existing bank building on the Oregon Street side was purchased in conjunction with the First Mortgage Company. Barglebaugh & Whitson, an architectural firm based in Dallas, Tx., was commissioned to design the new building. Whitson (1889-1973) was educated at the University of Minnesota with an engineering mechanics degree. The design of the building was influenced by the desire to relate the new building to the existing bank building built ca. 1905.
Construction was begun on the new building--which was originally named the First Mortgage Building but was later known as the First National Building--on Monday, May 3, 1920, by J. C. Buchanan, an El Paso contractor. A fifteen-story, reinforced concrete skyscraper--the second skyscraper in El Paso and the tallest for many years--was built, connected by corridors to the existing, newly remodeled bank building. The construction cost including the site was $1,029,064.57. The new building had 54 feet of frontage on Oregon Street and 120 feet of frontage on Sheldon Street. The west half of the ground floor of the new building was specially equipped with large vaults for the bank. The First Mortgage Company occupied the second floor of the new building. There were 215 offices in the new building and a total of 415 offices in both buildings. These offices were "fitted up with the latest type of equipment", according to newspaper accounts at the time of construction, and finished in red gumwood. The lobby was finished in marble.
Local significance of the building:
The design of the First National Building was influenced by the spatial needs of the First National Bank of El Paso and the First Mortgage Company and by the desire to integrate this new building with the existing American Bank Building to which it was to be connected. The First National Building was built, as influenced by these needs and desires, to provide office space for the growing city of El Paso, to provide additional space for the First National Bank, and to house the First Mortgage Company.
The First National Bank was chartered on May 26, 1881--the first national bank in El Paso--and saw steady growth until its doors were closed to depositors on September 4, 1931. By 1914 the bank had increased its capital sixteen-fold, was one of the five organizing banks of the Federal Reserve Bank of the eleventh district and had taken over the control of two local banks. One of these consolidations was with the American National Bank. The American National Bank Building, a seven-story second renaissance revival style structure built in 1905, was enlarged and occupied by the First National Bank in 1914. In 1920 the First National Bank consolidated with a third bank and additional space was needed.
Property adjoining the existing bank building on the Oregon Street side was purchased in conjunction with the First Mortgage Company. Barglebaugh & Whitson, an architectural firm based in Dallas, Tx., was commissioned to design the new building. Whitson (1889-1973) was educated at the University of Minnesota with an engineering mechanics degree. The design of the building was influenced by the desire to relate the new building to the existing bank building built ca. 1905.
Construction was begun on the new building--which was originally named the First Mortgage Building but was later known as the First National Building--on Monday, May 3, 1920, by J. C. Buchanan, an El Paso contractor. A fifteen-story, reinforced concrete skyscraper--the second skyscraper in El Paso and the tallest for many years--was built, connected by corridors to the existing, newly remodeled bank building. The construction cost including the site was $1,029,064.57. The new building had 54 feet of frontage on Oregon Street and 120 feet of frontage on Sheldon Street. The west half of the ground floor of the new building was specially equipped with large vaults for the bank. The First Mortgage Company occupied the second floor of the new building. There were 215 offices in the new building and a total of 415 offices in both buildings. These offices were "fitted up with the latest type of equipment", according to newspaper accounts at the time of construction, and finished in red gumwood. The lobby was finished in marble.
Commerce; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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The Alamo, a mission in San Antonio, is perhaps the most famous historical site in Texas. It was the site of a key battle during the Texas Revolution in 1836.
About El Paso County
El Paso County Timeline
El Paso County, Texas, has a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years. Before the arrival of European settlers, the area was inhabited by various Native American groups, including the Apache, Comanche, and Jumano tribes. They lived off the land, hunting, farming, and trading. The first recorded European exploration of the region occurred in 1581 when Juan de Oñate claimed the area for Spain.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, El Paso County became an important stopping point along the Camino Real, a trade route connecting Mexico City with Santa Fe. Spanish settlers established the town of San Elizario in 1789 as a waystation for travelers. The settlement grew as more people arrived, including Mexican and American traders, and it became a center for ranching and farming.
In the mid-19th century, El Paso County experienced significant changes brought about by the Mexican-American War and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. With the establishment of the new border between Mexico and the United States, El Paso became a strategic area for trade and military operations. Fort Bliss, one of the oldest Army posts in the Southwest, was established in the area in 1848 to protect American settlers and the new border.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El Paso County experienced a population boom due to the growth of mining, agriculture, and the railroad industry. The city of El Paso, which was incorporated in 1873, played a pivotal role in these developments. As a border town, it served as a gateway for trade with Mexico and witnessed significant cultural and demographic changes as diverse groups of immigrants arrived seeking economic opportunities.
Today, El Paso County continues to be an important region characterized by a unique blend of cultures, influenced by its rich history and its location on the U.S.-Mexico border. With a population of over 800,000, it is a vibrant center of commerce, education, and tourism, attracting visitors from both sides of the border and beyond.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, El Paso County became an important stopping point along the Camino Real, a trade route connecting Mexico City with Santa Fe. Spanish settlers established the town of San Elizario in 1789 as a waystation for travelers. The settlement grew as more people arrived, including Mexican and American traders, and it became a center for ranching and farming.
In the mid-19th century, El Paso County experienced significant changes brought about by the Mexican-American War and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. With the establishment of the new border between Mexico and the United States, El Paso became a strategic area for trade and military operations. Fort Bliss, one of the oldest Army posts in the Southwest, was established in the area in 1848 to protect American settlers and the new border.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El Paso County experienced a population boom due to the growth of mining, agriculture, and the railroad industry. The city of El Paso, which was incorporated in 1873, played a pivotal role in these developments. As a border town, it served as a gateway for trade with Mexico and witnessed significant cultural and demographic changes as diverse groups of immigrants arrived seeking economic opportunities.
Today, El Paso County continues to be an important region characterized by a unique blend of cultures, influenced by its rich history and its location on the U.S.-Mexico border. With a population of over 800,000, it is a vibrant center of commerce, education, and tourism, attracting visitors from both sides of the border and beyond.
El Paso County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of El Paso County, Texas.
- 1682: Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate claims the El Paso area for Spain.
- 1827: El Paso del Norte is established as a new Mexican border town.
- 1848: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, transferring the El Paso region from Mexico to the United States.
- 1850: El Paso becomes part of the newly formed Texas state.
- 1881: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway reaches El Paso, spurring rapid growth and development.
- 1888: El Paso County is officially organized, with El Paso as the county seat.
- 1909: The Chamizal dispute is resolved, confirming the Rio Grande as the border between the United States and Mexico.
- 1916: The Mexican Revolution spills over into El Paso County, resulting in military clashes and tension along the border.
- 1924: The construction of the iconic Paso del Norte International Bridge is completed, further strengthening El Paso's role as a major border crossing.
- 1951: The Korean War leads to increased military presence in El Paso County, with the establishment of Fort Bliss.
- 1963: The El Paso Museum of Art is opened, showcasing a diverse collection of artwork from around the world.
- 1993: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is implemented, further boosting trade and economic activity in El Paso County.