Bottles on the Border: The History and Bottles of the Soft Drink ...

and Dieter Beer Vault.” Even though we know that the
company was continually bottling soft drinks, there is no
identification of the bottling plant on the property. It is
possible that the company still bottled at the old location.
This probably actually reflects the configuration of the
property prior to the 1884 move (Figure 5-6).
Although originally a partnership, the firm appears
to have been run in absentia, with both Houck and Dieter
residing elsewhere until Dieter relocated permanently to El
Paso in 1888 to take over personal operation of the
business. Dieter, however, had come to El Paso at least Figure 5-6 – Houck & Dieter Beer Vault
(Sanford Fire Insurance Map 1885)
long enough to get the business well established before
vanishing again. He was still in the city on New Year's Day to be interviewed by the Times,
although when he left again is unknown. The first extant El Paso City Directory (1885) lists
Dieter at the firm’s address. He is shown living at the Grand Central Hotel by 1888.
The 1888 Sanborn map shows a few changes in Houk
& Dieter, beginning with a sub-heading of “Beer Bottling &
Soda Water.” The storage unit fronting Fourth St. is now
labeled “Bottling & Packing” (with the office still at the east
end), and the storage shed across the alley to the east appears to
be in use (Figure 5-7). No apparent occurred during the rest of
the 1880s.
An 1892 letterhead continues to advertise Crystal Ice
and features “St. Louis Beer” without the mention of a brewer.
Several breweries copied the Anheuser-Busch “St Louis Beer”
logo, so this is not revealing. The letterhead mentions ginger
ale, sodas, champagne cider, and all kinds of mineral water.
Although Dieter is listed in El Paso (Figure 5-8 & 5-9), Houck
resides in Wichita, Kansas (Figure 5-10).
Figure 5-7 – Houck & Dieter Beer
Bottling & Soda Water (Sanford
Fire Insurance Map 1885)
The 1893 Sanborn map shows considerable growth.
The firm is now billed as “the El Paso Bott’g W’ks. Houck &
Dieter, Prop’s.” The Houck & Dieter property has now
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