El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-27
CONVERT
Temple INTO
BIC STORE
improvements to Cost S125,-
600 to Be Made in Masonic
Building.
BUILDING WILL BE
SIX STORIES HIGH

A siX-stOry steel and concrete build
ing with pressed brick front, an ad-
ditiOnaI story. new plate glass fronts,
new San Antonio and Mesa avenue en-
frances and the enlargement OF the
basement are a part Of the plans for
the S125,O00 Improvements which are
to be made by the Popular Dry Goods
company to the Masonic temple build
ing, which wiz be remOdeled 10 become
the Popular building.
The new steel and concrete building
viii be built on the east part OF the
Masonic temple site upon the ground
now occupied by the two-story build
ing, the second floor of which is oecu-
pied by the Scottish Rite This build
ing will not be built until the other
improvements are made and everything
arranged In the main store for the ac-
cOmmodatlOn OF the rapidly increasing
department store building
The new part viii have a frontage Of
a Feet on san Antonio street from the
ailey TO the west side Of the present
stairway which leads to the second
story OF the Masonic temple An addi-
tlonal story Is also 10 be built upon
me main building to make It four sto-
RES with a full story underground.
giving i've Iull floors for merchandis-
ing in the main building and six and
a basement in the new part
Plans Are Being Prepared.
The plans ars now being prepared
Tor the most urgent part OF the work
which IS TO be done to the Masonic
temple The second floor Of the east
wing VIII be remodeled. the Scottish
Kite lodge rooms removed and the en-
TIRE rloor fitted for a new department.
and part OF the ones now on the sec
Ond floor Of the building proper. The
electric elevator from the main floor
q 49,
and the brick partition wall viii be
removed so that the entire second floor
may be converted into one big show
room ms IS temporary necessity in
order 70 care for the trade until the
basement and fourth floor can be com
pleIed and in use when the tWO-StOry
1Glolng VIII be wrecked TO make room
Tor the new concrete structure
Basement to Be DeePened.
The basement viii be sunk three feet
deeper IN order TO make this depart
menI equal In size and convenience to
those On the other floors The base
ment IS to be excavated under the side
walk on Mesa avenue and san An
tonic street and a system OF ventiIat-
ors and prism glass viii be installed
10 make the basement as comfortable
and light as the other floors. A radi-
cal change is to be made IN the win
COW arrangement OF the street floor
The plate glass on the san Antonio
and Mesa avenue fronts is to be re-
placed with large glass plates and
PRISM glass placed above the French
plate IN order TO give better lighting
facilities to the departments on the
first floor
To Change Main Entrance.
The main entrance viii probably be
changed from the corner OF Mesa ave
nue. and San Antonio street to the cen
ter OF the san Antonio street front and
the first floor rearranged to make this
the main entrance to the store An
Qrler entrance will also q In
the Mesa avenue front where the blue
lodge office is at present There viii
also be an elevator hall with an eIe-
vatOr running to the upper floors OF
the building This hall VIII also con
meet with the main and basement
floors In place OF the present en-
trance on the corner the show win
dows viii be built out around this cor
ner and additional show space OBJ
tanned The present san Antonio street
entrance viii be. removed when the
change is made and there will be but
two entrances the one in the middle
of san Antonio street front and the
one to the elevator on Mesa avenue.
VIII Cost S125,OOO
1t is estimated that these changes
when completed. and including the new
building. the additional story on the
present Masonic temple. the basement
and the change IN the windows. viii
cost SlZ5,eOO or more. The work will
have TO be done in parts so as not to
disturb the business. As soon as the
Scottish Rite vacates its club rooms
and lodge halls the second floor viii
be enlarged. When the Masonic bodies
vacate the third floor. this win be
converted into another floor OF the de-
partment store The fourth floor viii
then be added and IN the meantime the
basement excavation viii progress as
rapidly as possible.
Work on the changes will start a.
soon asrthe deed to the building, which
has been passed upon, is finally signed
and delivered to the Popular Dry
Goods company The price paid for
the huilding Mas 500 600