Congregation B’Nai Zion
El Paso, Texas

Description: Congregation B’Nai Zion
Address: 1416 North Mesa Street and 220 Cliff Street, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Type: religious: synagogue with educational and recreational facilities
Original Client: Congregation B’Nai Zion
Date: 1926
Condition: destroyed by fire (arson), October 13, 1984

Architect or Firm: Henry C. Trost
Associated Architect or Firm: Trost & Trost
Contractors: Robert McKee
Dimensions and Orientation: irregular U-shaped complex; 129 feet 8 inches across x 112 feet 2 inches deep
Budget/Cost: $125,000

Foundation: concrete
Wall Materials: yellow brick
Roofing Materials: tile
Other Materials Used: cast stone and concrete ornament

Location of Drawings: El Paso Public Library: (A-5) 22 ink on linen drawings dated February, 1926 and April, 1926, including side, front and rear elevations, details and sections; one tissue drawing; (WW-10) blue line copies of A-5, pages 2, 3, 10-14
Location of Documentary Photographs: El Paso Public Library, El Paso Churches file, photograph by Peter Hundley

Bibliography: (1) El Paso Herald, January 7, 1926, page 2, column 4
(2) Harriot Howze Jones, editor, El Paso, a Centennial Portrait (El Paso,El Paso County Historical Society, 1972), page 95, photograph
(3) El Paso Times, September 2, 1983, pages 1C and 2C, report of sale of building with photograph of synagogue entry
(4) El Paso Times, October 14, 1984, page 1-B, report of the fire with photograph of synagogue entry
(5) El Paso Herald, November 5, 1930 page 18, reports McKee as contractor

Remarks: Commission 2647
The plans included classrooms, a gymnasium, auditorium, billiard room, bowling alley and living quarters. The educational building was known as the Jewish Community Center.

Prepared for the El Paso Public Library by Lloyd C. and June F. Engelbrecht under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1990