El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-19
Save 25c Get Coupon See the Bird Mans Flights
COL. D.. F. HAMMETT Of TYPE Of
MEN WHO MAKE GREAT CITIES

had been making trips to Ell Paso Tor
many years before, brought a party OF
prominent capitalists here to inspect the
field offered IN the then little town for
investments After the organization OF
the real estate company, Col. HanHmetl
moved to FL Paso to make his home
This was in either 1898 or '94, Mr..
Coles says, and since that time he and
Mrs Hammett have maze this their
home, taking an active part N the So
cial and business affairs or the COM
munity.
B. F. Hammett, jr-, who was known
TO everyone as Forest" was afso asso-
ciated with his father in the active real
estate campaign for disposrng OF the
Campbell company's holdings After
Forests" death. Paul Hammett came
out from st. Louis and joined his father
in the realty business. Associated with
Col. Hammett in the upouilding Of Ell
Paso were four men, each strong types,
and to whom is due much of the credit
men were H. L. Newman. A. NJ Loomis,
Felix Martinez and A. P. Coles. While
not directly associated in business,
these four men, with Col. Hammett.
worked elbow to elbow for the growth
Of FL Paso, the results OF their efforts
being apparent in every corner Of the
present city of Ell Paso.
railroad Building.
Before Col. Hammett moved to FL
Paso, A. P. Coles was in charge of both
the Campbell addition and the Franklin
Heights addition. But finding the work
of placing these properties on the mar
ket too hard, Mr. Coles relinquished
the Campbell addition to Col. Hammett
and confined his efforts to the Franklin
Heights addition. Although they did
not come here together, Col Hammett-
who was also a railroad promoter and
builder, became associated with H. L.
Newman IN the promotion Of the old
White Oaks line. now the FL Paso &
Southw estern lire, east. 1t was a siren
uous campaign, and Col. Hammett. i'm
bued with the St. Louis ideas, waged for
a greater city of the southwest at the
gateway. He built the Gan Blarcom
block on Texas street and Mesa avenue
which was named after mis- close friend
J. G. Van Blarcom, of st. Louis He
also built the D. r. Francis hotel on
st. Louis street, which was also named
after his very dear friend, the former
governor Of Missouri. The Hammett
building. where the FraternaI Brother
hood hall is located. on South Oregon
street, was only recently remodeled by
Col and Mrs. Hammett. In addition
to these holdings, Col. Hammett ac-
Quired a large quantity of city and val
ley property, his estimated wealth in
realty holdings being placed at $780,,
600 at the time of his death.
Retires From Business.
After dispOsing Of the property in
the Campbell addition. Coi. Hammett in
association with his son, did a general
real estate business until about two
yeGIs ago. when he decide1 to fcriie
from active business life and devote his
time TO his private interests. During
his administration as mayor, the anti
quated mule cars were replaced by cleo
trio street cars. Col. Hammett being an
active worker in the cause of better
transportation facilities during his term
as mayor from 1901 TO 1903. Later, as
alderman, he helped inaugurate the
street paving era for FL Paso.
Deceased was a member or the Elks'
lodge, and with Mrs. Hammett was ore
Of the leading spirits in starting the
annual Christmas dinner ana party for
the poor children OF the city which has
gown 10 81 the most co1npren- nsi.s
charitable effort of each year.