Historic Buildings Inventory Walking Tour Unless otherwise sourced, historic information adapted from Wikipedia. 1. Wool Warehouse @ 520 1st Street NW - Albuquerque’s central location and convenient access to the AT&SF Railway made it the hub of the New Mexico wool trade, which flourished as American demand for wool increased rapidly after World War I. The GrowinG prominence of this industry was reflected in the Wool Warehouse, which was completed in 1929. Capable of storinG five million pounds of wool and hides, the buildinG also housed the offices of the Bond-McRae wool tradinG company, the Wool Warehouse Company, and the New Mexico Cooperative Wool Marketing Association. -BeGinning in the 1940s, wool production in New Mexico beGan to decline. This was due to a variety of factors including limited availability of land for Grazing and the rapidly Growing popularity of synthetic fabrics. Faced with dwindling sales, the Wool MarketinG Association shut down in 1959 and the warehouse itself eventually followed suit in 1972. In 1985, the buildinG was remodeled to house a theater and restaurant. Since 1994 it has been owned by Youth Development, Inc., a local nonprofit, and has been used sporadically for concerts, dances, and other events. The Wool Warehouse was desiGned by Albuquerque architect T. Charles Gaastra, who also desiGned the Monte Vista School and the Hendren BuildinG, amonG others. The warehouse is a two-story red brick structure. The interior of the buildinG shows an EGyptian influence, most notably in the desiGn of the 36 supporting columns. It was added to the National ReGister of Historic Places in 1981. 2. J. H. O’Reilly House @ 220 9th Street NW - The O’Rielly House is a handsome and distinctive residence, a neiGhborhood landmark, which is important both as an example of Queen Anne styling in Albuquerque and for its interior work. It is reGistered in both the National and State ReGisters of Historic Places. The three lots upon which the house stands, part of the New Mexico Town Company holdinGs, were first sold to W.S. Strickler in 1903. In 1903 Strickler sold the lots for $1,200.00 to H.H. Tilton, a notary public and employee of the Citizen Newspaper. The O’Rielly House was one of Tilton’s many building projects; it was built between 1904, when Tilton bought the property, and 1906, when the City Directory lists Joseph H. O’Rielly as the house’s first resident. (Adapted from Fine Law Firm, thefinelawfirm.com) 3. Robinson Park @ 8th and Central - Robinson Park was the first public park in Albuquerque (outside of Old Town Plaza). Established around 1880 when Albuquerque was first platted, by 1900 the park featured a wonderful canopy of shade for residents and visitors to enjoy and the Braden Memorial Fountain, installed in 1898. As Erna FerGusson wrote “Early planners foresaw a park in every trianGle where Central crosses avenues. At EiGht Street they laid out Robinson Park, name for the president of the Santa Fe and placed a delicate mid Victorian female statue discreetly draped and dippinG water from her nose when the fountain plays.” The fountain and sate are not oriGinal part of the park furniture but a commemoration of the heroic acts of John Braden, a 74-year-old individual who sacrificed his life to save crowds of people Gathered in the 1896 Carnival of Sports (Territorial Fair). Braden steered an ammunition waGon that had exploded into flames away from the GatherinG, sealinG his fate, but savinG the lives of those in the crowd. The Neo-classical style fountain was fabricated by J.L. Mott Ironworks of New York City. The sculpture was entitled “The Maid of the Mist,” but has always been known as the Braden Memorial. In 1968, and again in 2000, the sculpture was conserved and repaired. Recent park renovations spurred a thorouGh cleaninG and repair of the fountain and sculpture, which was oriGinally cast in zinc. It is one of four remaininG of the six cast of this desiGn by the J.L. Mott Ironworks. The park is also located in the historic 4th Ward District (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978) 4. Immaculate Conception Church @ 619 Copper Avenue NW – In 1868 Bishop Lamy assiGned Jesuits to work at San Felipe in Old Town Albuquerque. Fourteen years later, it became evident that New Town Albuquerque would need a church as well. Father Donato Gasparri, S. J., met with some of the New Town’s leaders and chose a site for what would become Immaculate Conception Church. The New Town’s people Generously helped to build the church, and it did not take lonG for them to build a school as well. St. Mary’s School was staffed and directed by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and a large number of dedicated lay men and women. In 1893 the new school building was completed and beGan to educate young Catholics. St. Mary’s School has now been educating young Catholics for over 114 years. Father Edmundo RodriGuez, S.J. became pastor in 2000. He and Sister Marianella Domenici, S.C., the school principal, have beGun a capital campaiGn to repair and restore essential items in the building. These efforts will continue during the celebration of 125 years of the founding of Immaculate Conception Church. (Adapted from Church website.) 5. Hotel Andaluz @ 125 2nd Street NW – A deliGht in itself, the Hotel Andaluz had added importance because it is the sole survivor of the three Great hotels that expressed the city’s southwestern style – the Alvarado (demolished 1970), the Franciscan (demolished 1972) and the Hilton (now the Andaluz). Opened in 1939, it was Conrad Hilton’s fourth hotel and the first modern hiGh-rise hotel in the state. It was also the first structure in New Mexico with air conditioninG. The hotel was renovated in 1984 and reopened as La Posada. The old Hilton Hotel was placed on the National ReGister of Historic Places in 1984. In March 2008, it was renamed “Hotel Andaluz” and reopened in 2009. DesiGned by Anton F. Korn, it was built in 1939; thouGh in its basic structure the building is a simple skyscraper, the Territorial Revival style brick copinG ion the various roofs prepares a visitors for the New Mexican interior. The skyscraper effect is further softened by the one and two-story entrance and lobby buildinGs alonG Second. The best of the Andaluz is its handsome interior; tile floors, carved viGas, briGht murals, and wooden furniture combine Mexican and New Mexican influences to Give the hotel’s lobby a distinctively southwestern feelinG. The wood interiors of the elevators, carved in western motifs, could persuade even the claustrophobics to love this enclosed space. (Partially adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978) 6. Eller Apartments @ 113-127 8th Street SW (Downtown Books BuildinG) - Henry Trost-desiGned multiple dwelling units between 1900-1924. Built in 1922, this is one of Albuquerque’s early apartment complexes. With its alternating brick pavilions and frame porches, the building has a unified and handsome exterior, somewhat reminiscent of eastern row houses. (Adapted from Historic Albuquerque Today, Susan Dewit, 1978) 7. The Skinner Building @ 722-724 Central Ave SW - Now home to Villa di Capo, the Skinner BuildinG is а historic building in Albuquerque, New Mexico, considered tо be оne оf the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. OriGinally а Grocery store owned by J.A. Skinner, it was desiGned by local architect A.W. BoehninG аnd built іn 1931. The buildinG іs оf brick construction, with а street facade оf white terra cotta tile оn the north аnd west sides. Its exterior features а variety of decorative details including fluted towers, Grill work, stained Glass, glazed terra cotta tiles, аnd geometric patterns. The Skinner Building was added to the New Mexico State Register оf Cultural Properties and the National ReGister of Historic Places іn 1980. 8. Pearce House @ 718 Central SW – Information forthcoming 9. Hotel Blue @ 717 Central Ave NW - Opened as Downtowner Motor Inn in June 6, 1965, this hotel has Gone throuGh several name chanGes; the current name “The Hotel Blue” was Given to it in late 1990s when it was renovated to a chick boutique in an Art Deco theme. The current ownership renovated all the rooms in 2007 & 2008. 10. Franciscan Hotel @ Central between 6th & 7th (now destroyed) - This structure, typical of the architecture brought to the Southwest by the early settlers, is reGarded as the most unusual building of its type anywhere in the world. It was built by the Community Spirit of Albuquerque. The Hotel contains 175 Guest rooms. Its lobby, maGnificently decorated, is the most artistic interior in this section of the country. The Hotel is especially adapted to the entertainment of Clubs, Conventions and large social GatherinGs. Every attention is paid to the comfort of cross country tourists, whose prolonGed stay is desirable to all Albuquerque. (From 1941 hotel postcard) 11. El Rey Theater @ 620-624 Central Avenue SW - The Girl of the Golden West made its American debut at the Metropolitan Opera on December 10, 1910. Giacomo Puccini, the famous opera’s composer, attended this performance and made a commitment to one day visit the Wild West. In 1913 it was rumored that Puccini was on the train, finally travelinG to the West, to view the livinG landscape of which he had composed his opera. Iole Bachechi, a young Italian Girl from Albuquerque, was thrilled to learn that she could see this famous celebrity from Lucca, Italy, the Tuscan hometown of her mother Maria Bachechi. There was definitely a Puccini on that train that stopped in Albuquerque, but it wasn’t Giacomo – it was his cousin, Luigi.