White House Department Store
Casa Blanca Departamento de tienda

White House Department Store

The popularity of the White House exceeded the size of its selling floor, even though in 1905 it had added a space equal to its original size. According to a 1953 Texas Western College history seminar paper by John Guice , the Central Building and Improvement Company, whose members included Felix Martinez, J. J. Mundy, L. L. Mundy and Zach White, began the construction a seven-story building in 1911. Designed by famed architect Henry C. Trost , the building was completed in 1912. The White House leased the first three floors, and the McCoy Hotel occupied the remaining four stories. “Wait for the Opening,” boasted a newspaper ad in March 1912. In this advertisement, management described new facilities, in addition to the much bigger main store. A “toilet articles” department had been added, carrying “Parisian ivory novelties” as well as perfumes, powders and much more. The ad made a point of announcing – especially for the ladies – a corset department, whose “specially designed corset fitting rooms entered into the plans of the new store.” http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=2573139

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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Photo of important department store in El Paso, TX. I'd guess 1990.

I modeled ladies wear during holidays at the White House in 1958 or 1959. I especially like the ladies hat department where I could try on hats during my lunch houer.

While I was still a very young girl my dearest Aunt Nellie started me off on the right foot developing, understanding and appreciating great quality and style when she would take me shopping at the White House. The downtown store was the most impressive and beautiful and gave me an appreciation of well-designed buildings. I loved going to the White House when I lived in EP and made sure I visited even after I moved away.

I used to work there back in the seventies.

Bernadine Antone, parishioner at St. Patrick's helped Miss Parker who once worked at the White House at the end of her life in El Paso, TX.

Picture was taken in El Paso, TX.

wow i likethis place

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