History Kern Place

land division kern place built.

kern place founded peter e. kern (1860-1937), whom neighborhood named. kern first came el paso in 1881. in 1886, purchased large amounts of land juan , guadalupe ascarate , largest of purchases, mckelligon tract, became kern place subdivision.

in 1913, paved road created on mesa avenue , leading area known kern place. kern had engineer, w.i. rider, him develop plans neighborhood. construction began on november 21, 1914. 1914 ad in el paso herald described horse trails, planned parks, homes sale under $3,500 , access public transportation. kern named streets after friends , places admired. kern did not want commercial properties on land. kern borrowed money develop property texas bank & trust later merged first national bank. in 1915, kern had 500 trees planted in madeline park, located in kern place, gave city of el paso later same year. on may 4, 1926, kern sold land made kern place.

in 1959, clinton , hal dean jr. bought kern place property , build kern village shopping center.

in 1970s, kern place used strategically demonstrate there problem lead contamination , nearby asarco plant in el paso. investigators chose show wealthy children kern place area had high levels of lead in blood in order combat assertion poor, uneducated el pasoans being affected problem.

in 2001, report published texas department of state health services (tdshs) documenting high levels of arsenic , lead in soil in areas around kern place. community within 3 miles of asarco plant found high levels of lead. students had gone school in area showed greater average rates of developing multiple sclerosis (ms). individuals in neighborhood dealt health issue washing hands more after playing in nearby parks. fourteen cases of ms positively linked area around kern place , mission hills in 1994 study.

the kern place gate

building kern place gate, erected in 1916.

in 1916, kern constructed gate formed archway entrance of neighborhood @ intersection of north kansas street , robinson. gate made of iron , stone , cost $2,500. kern found decedents of toltec , hired them build gate.

gate erected outside of kern place neighborhood in 1916.

the iron gate contained swastikas, kern family crest , 444 electric light globes illuminated words kern place on center of gate. had zondias calendar, totem poles alaska, , spelled out kern place. symbolism of gatewas meant express ideas brotherhood of man, light, life, health , wealth, according el paso herald-post.

kern wanted gate remain forever monument , legacy generation here , come after them. pieces of gate taken on time vandals, leaving pillars of stone. eventually, entire gate dismantled in 1954 during street-widening project.

a new gate has been proposed in 2017 part of sun city lights project. proposed gate meant reference old kern place gate , located on cincinnati street.