Singer Sewing Machine Company Building (El Paso, Texas)
Built in 1928 with mathematical precision and artistic vision, the Singer Building reflects both El Paso’s commercial rise and Trost & Trost’s architectural genius. Built on land formerly owned by Ervin H. Schwartz, Manuel Schwartz, and I. Weiss. It was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style bIt has been on the National Register of Historic Places since September 24, 1980.
From Golden Ratio Design to Alterations Hub: El Paso’s Singer Building’s Legacy
Singer Building, 1928. Photograph courtesy of the Ponsford Collection, El Paso Public Library. Published by SAH Archipedia (Society of Architectural Historians).
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211 Texas Avenue, El Paso, Texas
The Singer Sewing Machine Company Building at 211 Texas Avenue in downtown El Paso is a landmark of both architecture and commerce, representing a moment when the city was rapidly modernizing and expanding its retail core. Constructed in 1928 during a period of economic optimism, the two-story structure was designed by the renowned architectural firm Trost & Trost under the guidance of Henry C. Trost, whose work defined much of El Paso’s early 20th-century skyline. Executed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style with Mediterranean influences, the building was notable for its combination of reinforced concrete construction, ornamental ironwork, and red-tiled tower roof. Its carefully proportioned façade, accented with arched entries, a second-story balcony, and the distinctive Singer crest, projected both elegance and durability. Beyond its visual appeal, the structure was celebrated for its sense of balance and harmony—some historians and architects have remarked on its mathematical precision, even suggesting that the Golden Ratio guided its design. More than just a showroom for sewing machines, it embodied the interplay of artistry, functionality, and civic pride that marked El Paso’s rise as a commercial hub in the Southwest
Singer Building, 1928. Ponsford/Trost Collection, El Paso Public Library. Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas Libraries.
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Schwartz Family and The Popular Dry Goods Company
The Singer Building’s origins are closely tied to El Paso’s influential Schwartz family, founders of the Popular Dry Goods Company. Adolph Schwartz, a Hungarian immigrant, founded The Popular in 1902; it grew into a major local department store chain (nicknamed “La Popular”) and remained the largest locally owned retailer in El Paso for decades. In 1927 the Singer Corporation purchased the lot at 211 Texas Avenue from Ervin H. Schwartz and Manuel Schwartz (relatives of Adolph) and I. Weiss. The Singer Building stood directly across Texas Avenue from the Popular’s downtown store, and in practice served as the Popular’s on-site alterations and sewing center. For over fifty years its ground floor was a Singer showroom, while the second floor housed a school of sewing and tailoring to provide alterations for garments sold at the Popular store.
Architectural Design
Trost’s design blends Spanish Colonial Revival details with Mediterranean motifs. The two-bay façade appears as a pair of village-style houses: the taller west bay features a broad arched entry and large balcony window, while the lower east bay has paired windows and a flat roof. Above, three round vents punctuate the parapet. Ironwork on the second-floor balcony and the Singer crest ornament add to the decorative effect. Trost used poured concrete construction clad in stucco, which was unusual for the period and style.
Popular Dry Goods Store (El Paso, Texas), photograph by Ponsford, El Paso Public Library, via Portal to Texas History -Public Domain.
The overall effect is lively yet harmonious, the carefully arranged arches, windows, and cornices create a sense of balance. The result is a façade often praised for its geometry and symmetry; local accounts even describe its “perfect proportions” as if following the Golden Ratio to achieve visual harmony.
Clip of Architect Edgar Lopez AIA in an episode of the podcast Sketches and Stories
The Golden Ratio in Architecture
The Golden Ratio, approximately 1.618, has been employed by architects for millennia to create aesthetically pleasing proportions. From the Parthenon in Athens to Renaissance masterpieces, this mathematical relationship appears in the dimensions of façades, the spacing of columns, and the proportions of windows and doorways. In early 20th-century American architecture, architects like Henry Trost often applied these classical principles of proportion, even when working in revival styles. The ratio creates a natural sense of balance that the human eye finds particularly harmonious, explaining why buildings designed with these proportions often seem “right” to viewers, even when they cannot articulate why. Whether consciously applied or intuitively achieved, the Golden Ratio remains one of architecture’s most enduring tools for creating visual appeal.
Architects typically apply the Golden Ratio through careful attention to proportional relationships between a building’s major elements. The overall height and width of a façade might follow the ratio, with the taller dimension being 1.618 times the shorter one. Window placement can be determined by dividing walls according to golden proportions, creating natural focal points that feel balanced rather than centered. Interior spaces benefit from golden ratio proportions in room dimensions, ceiling heights relative to floor areas, and even the placement of architectural features like fireplaces or built-in furnishings. Modern architects often use the ratio subtly, allowing it to guide their intuitive sense of proportion rather than rigidly adhering to mathematical formulas, resulting in designs that feel harmonious while maintaining contemporary relevance.
Historic Recognition
The building’s architectural and historical significance has been formally recognized. A Texas Historical Commission marker was erected on the site in 1983, noting its importance to El Paso’s commercial heritage. Most notably, the Singer Sewing Machine Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 24, 1980 . This listing underscores its value as a well-preserved example of Trost & Trost’s work and of early 20th-century commercial architecture in El Paso. Today the Singer Building is celebrated as a key piece of downtown’s historic fabric, illustrating both the city’s retail past (through its Schwartz family/Popular connection) and its architectural character.
Timeline of Uses
- 1928–1980: Singer Sewing Machine Company – From its completion until about 1980, the building housed the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s El Paso store and sewing school .
- 1980s: The Sample House Restaurant – After Singer vacated, the first floor was converted to a restaurant, known as The Sample House.
- Late 20th Century: Whataburger #378 – In the 1990s and early 2000s the building served as a Whataburger fast-food franchise .
- 2000s–present: Restoration and Historic Use – In the 21st century the Singer Building’s original facade and details were restored . It remains a preserved historic landmark in El Paso’s downtown.
References and Sources
- National Register of Historic Places – Singer Sewing Machine Company Building (NRHP Listing)
- Texas Historical Commission – Marker #4711, Singer Building
- Texas State Historical Association – Schwartz, Adolph (Popular Dry Goods)
- Henry C. Trost, Trost & Trost Architects – El Paso Works
- National Park Service – NRHP Weekly Lists, September 24, 1980
- El Paso Times Archives – Popular Dry Goods history (Schwartz family)
- Historic Downtown Walking Tour – Singer Building Description (Trost & Trost)
Phone
(915) 226-4593
Caleb@ElevateElPaso.com