The advent of the railroad created a demand for increased hotel
facilities and the public-spirited citizens proceeded to supply the
demand. On December 1st, 1876, a company was organized with a capital of
$30,000 of which Capt. J. C. Terrell was elected President; W. J. Boaz,
Vice-President; J. Q. Sandidge, Treasurer and C. K. Fairfax, Secretary.
K. M. VanZandt, W. A. Huffman, W. W. Dunn, J. C. Terrell, J. Q.
Sandidge, B. C. Evans, J. E. Streeper, C. K. Fairfax and W. J. Boaz
constituted the Board of Directors. It was christened the El Paso Hotel
and was opened for business on the 22d day of September, 1877, with
seventy-six rooms. It was leased to C. K. Fairfax & Co., who furnished
it at a cost of approximately $15,000. It was located where the present
Westbrook now stands. Major VanZandt and his family may not like to have
it told that he was subjected to no little criticism at the time by some
of the people for his action in this connection, but the truth of
history requires that personal feelings must not stand in the way of
telling the truth about such matters. Major VanZandt owned the land on
which it was desired to erect the building and it was asserted that
knowing this to be the logical place for the hotel, that he held the
company up for an exorbitant price. He put the half block at the
fabulous sum of three thousand dollars, payable in stock of the company.
It would be interesting to know what the "kickers" if any of them are
alive now think of the objections. The Major finally got forty cents on
the dollar for his stock which made the price of the half block $1200.
The property was finally sold to M. C. Hurley, but the price paid is not
available at this writing.
Other hostelries at that time were the Mansion, Clark House, Commercial
Hotel and other less pretentious houses, every one of which was "the
best in the city."