Rio Grande Apartments Eleven-Forty
El Paso, Texas

Description: Rio Grande Apartments
Other Names: Eleven-forty apartments
Address: 1140 Rio Grande Avenue at North Noble Street, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Type: domestic: apartments
Original Client: financed by Builders Incorporated and partly owned by E.C. Simmons
Historic Inventory: on El Paso Register of Historic Places
Date: 1928
Condition: extant; in use as apartments

Architect or Firm: Henry C. Trost
Associated Architect or Firm: Trost & Trost
Contractors:
Dimensions and Orientation: 114 feet square with center courtyard; 35 apartments
Budget/Cost:

Foundation: concrete with high concrete footing
Wall Materials: red brick
Roofing Materials: shingle
Other Materials Used: metal casement windows; wrought iron lanterns and entry gate
Remodeling and Additions:

Present Owner:
Location of Drawings:
Location of Documentary Photographs: El Paso Public Library: Ponsford 543, perspective view; Ponsford 544, Noble Street side; Ponsford 545, Rio Grande Avenue entry way

Bibliography: El Paso Herald, April 27, 1928 page 13 ” Apartment open for Inspection”

Remarks: In April of 1928, the apartments were open to the public. The building was financed by Builders Incorporated and partly owned by E.C. Simmons.

The building contained 35 apartments, that were built around a patio of grass and shrubs. The courtyard was designed to receive both morning and afternoon sun. Each apartment was furnished with Servel brand refrigerators and gas stoves provided by the El Paso Gas Company.

The building was heated by steam heat with decorative radiators in each apartment. Each apartment was sound proof, being installed with Insulite material which closes sound out from adjoining apartments.
One of the most interesting features of these new apartments was the velvet carpeting in halls and on stairways.
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