East Las Vegas in San Miguel County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Browne & Manzanares Commission House

1889 & 1895

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 14, 2023

1. Browne & Manzanares Commission House Marker

Inscription.
Architects: Issac H. & William M. Rapp Founded as W.N. Chick & Co. before the Civil War, the firm became Chick, Browne & Co. in 1858 and Browne & Manzanares in 1878. Commission houses served as ordering agents, transporters and wholesalers for merchants throughout the Southwest. The firm was sold to rival Gross, Kelly & Co. in 1915.

Erected by Las Vegas Citizens' Committee for Historic Preservation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 35° 35.71′ N, 105° 12.763′ W. Marker is in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in San Miguel County. It is in East Las Vegas. It is at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Douglas Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Railroad Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Railroad Ave, Las Vegas NM 87701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rawlins House (within shouting distance of this marker); Meadows Hotel (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); End of an Era (about 600 feet away); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company Depot

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(about 600 feet away); Gross, Blackwell & Company Commission House (about 700 feet away); Wells Fargo Express Office (about 700 feet away); Clara Waring Bookstore (about 700 feet away); Rosenthal Brothers General Merchandise Store (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Las Vegas.

Regarding Browne & Manzanares Commission House. Lawrence Pembroke "L.P." Browne (1830-1893) began working for the Kansas City retailer of Walker, Northrup & Chick in 1852. Five years later, two partners of that mercantile formed W.H. Chick & Co. When one of those partners died in 1859, Browne bought his interest in the business, which was renamed Chick-Browne Co. Francisco Antonio Manzanares (1843-1904), who had previously worked for W.H. Chick & Co. as a salesman, became partner in the firm after Chick's retirement. The retailer, now known as Brown, Manzanares & Co., moved its headquarters from Kansas City to Las Vegas, N.M. when the Santa Fe Railroad arrived there in July, 1879. The firm operated several stores along railroad lines in several Western states, selling sundries, household items, farm equipment and other general merchandise. Manzanares also

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 14, 2023

2. Browne & Manzanares Commission House Marker

Marker is by the entrance.

opened First National Bank and formed the Las Vegas Waterworks Association before entering politics, serving as territorial delegate in Congress and a county commissioner.

Also see . . . Railroad Avenue Historic District. National Register of Historic Places nomination (PDF) and photographs (separate PDF) submitted for the district, which includes this building and was listed in 1979. (Prepared by Ellen Threinen, New Mexico Historic Preservation Program; via National Park Service) (Submitted on November 22, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 22, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.