Houghton Block Photo form Donnelly Collection Courtesy of the Citizens' Committee for Historic Preservation

24. Houghton Block

N side of E. Lincoln mid-block

1881-ca.1955

When the first train chugged into Las Vegas in 1879, it was Charlie Brooks who was conductor, a man who, "counted his friends by the hundreds."* Fred Locke was "a fine old gentlemen..he dressed in a Prince Albert and a high hat...he was dubbed 'Lord Locke' and everyone treated him with the greatest respect."** Charlie and Fred opened their Locke and Brooks Saloon a few doors down from the Variety Hall on the corner of R.R.& Center, in January 1880, with a barrel of fine Kentucky whiskey. Soonafter, Charlie was stricken with rheumatism and died, and Fred moved the saloon to Oliver Houghton's new brick building. O.L. Houghton, a hardware merchant, built this the first two-story brick building in New Town. Houghton's business was conducted on both sides of the Gallinas River, erecting a building on the Plaza as well. T.J. Raywood is attributed as the architect of this building, because of the T.R. Pullis & Sons cast-iron columns used and the arcade design on the metal cornice. This arcade design, or a row of arches, was introduced by him in the railroad district on brick buildings, that filled the void of burned down wood frame shops. This building later housed Siegal's grocery. *F. Stanley, The Las Vegas NM Story, pg. 85 **MA Otero Jr., My Life on the Frontier I,pg. 155

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