About Las Cruces' Alameda Depot Historic District

I love architecture. I have a couple of books on my bookshelf about some of the architects that are important to Las Cruces - including Henry Trost. Mr. Trost was a premier architect in the Southwest and his influences are still around today...in different states of rejuvinated homes or ones that need a lot of help.

Case in point:

This is a historic home in the Alameda area - the H.B. Holt house, built by Mr. Trost. H.B. Holt was a prominent attorney and banker in the 1920's, among other things. To look at it now - as it has been as long as I can remember - is disheartening. Oh, how I wish I would drive by one day and see a for sale sign and not the political signs. Maybe then someone would invest in its restoration.

There are a few historical homes around Las Cruces that would benefit from a restoration. We've torn down so many buildings that we need to save what we have. I've not been in this home but, from looking at old pictures, it was a spectacular home in its heyday.

Moving on to a happier note, when you tour around the Alameda District, you'll find many different styles of homes. In the span of maybe 15 minutes, I stumbled across many, including:

This is in the Trost style with the owner currently working on adding their touches.
This was built in 1944.

You'll find a few homes built like this - rock exterior. It was built in 1948 and the owners have spent time making it look very nice.

This home is just next door to the 'rock house'. Also built in 1948, you can see a distinct difference in style.

Finally, this home was one I found just turning a corner and looking down the street. Again, there are some Trost features but I'm sure, as the years have passed, owners have added their own touches, including the front decorative security grills.

It's like treasure hunting in my little town of Las Cruces. There are amazing things around every corner to discover!

Pioneer Womens Park is surrounded by the Alameda Depot District in the middle of Las Cruces. This is one of the original neighborhoods. This is where you will find many of the grander, larger homes where some of the movers and shakers of the day lived.

Imagine traveling by train and arriving in Las Cruces. You step off the train and into a beautiful neighborhood with tree lined streets and magnificent homes. Trees in the desert? I'm sure it was a shocking sight for people who had never been to the West. I've read the accounts of travelers. Most were amazed to see that the West wasn't all sand and cactus with shanty houses.

Alameda Train Depot

Homes on the street that visitors from the Train Depot would see on their walk into town

In the middle of this neighborhood is Womens Pioneer Park. It was built in 1924 and deeded to the city in honor of our women founders and pioneers.

In the middle of the park is a gazebo that has been the site for many weddings, family reunions and after church gatherings.

This is the historic Sterns home which is on the north side of Pioneer Park. It's a great example of how builders back then mixed southwest style building with east coast influences. (Close up pictures are forthcoming)

I guess it's pretty obvious that I really enjoy this part of town. You just wouldn't guess that you'd find such lucious landscaping and amazing homes in the historic area, but you do! Chances are that we'll revisit this area in another blog!

as Cruces is going through a downtown revitalization once again. In the early 70's, the downtown area was blocked off to traffic as part of urban renewal. Unfortunately, businesses moved out and foot traffic died over the last couple of decades. If it weren't for the bi-weekly Farmer's Market and Coas Bookstore, I doubt there would be anyone down there at all.

The Downtown Las Cruces Partnership has been hard at work, along with the city and other entities to bring the area back to life by re-opening Main Street, re-designing the side walks and some of the architecture. One of the first projects was bringing back the Rio Grande Theater.

The Rio Grande has been in operation continuously for over 70 years and is the only two story adobe theater in operation in the United States. Some of the past performers include Janis Ian, Glenn Miller and even the Vienna Boys Choir. The Las Cruces Blog has a great write up on the grand opening in 1926.

I'm sad to say that I've not been inside the theater. There are some very interesting and fun events on the horizon, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to finally go inside.

It's so nice to see something like the theater alive and well. During the 'revitalization', many buildings in and around the downtown area were torn down for the sake of progress. It's kind of sad to look at old pictures and realize just how much isn't there anymore. Thankfully, the powers that be are realizing the value of keeping and restoring some of these buildings. To me, buildings like the Rio Grande are priceless.