Alzina Orndorff DeGroff (born Alzina Caroline Allis; 1858/1859 - died August 10, 1926)[1] was an American businesswoman who was involved in civic causes in El Paso, Texas, and West Texas.
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DeGroff was born as Alzina Caroline Allis in Washington, Louisiana. She married Lee H. Orndorff in 1876 and the couple had three sons.[2] They moved to Tucson, Arizona.[1] Lee Orndorff died after a railroad accident in 1887.[2][1] Her husband's death propelled Alzina into the business world.[1]
Alzina married Charles DeGroff in 1890 and the couple became involved in building hotels.[2][1] In 1899, the family moved to El Paso, Texas, after Alzina decided to buy the Vendome hotel which she renamed Hotel Orndorff. The Hotel Orndorff was a huge success for Alzina and she went on to buy more real estate around the area and in the Lower Valley. In March 1925, she began work on a new hotel that is now known as Hotel Cortez.[1] This hotel was designed by Henry C. Trost.[3]
Alzina DeGroff became the first president of the El Paso Paso Civic Improvement League, which was associated with the El Paso Woman's Club, in 1905.[4] She was also the first president of the El Paso Equal Franchise League, serving for a short time.[2][5] The Franchise League was formed in January of 1915 and the first meeting was held at the Hotel Orndorff.[6] She was appointed to the original board of the directors of the Texas Technological College in Lubbock by Governor Pat Morris Neff in 1923.[1]
DeGroff died on August 10, 1926, aged 67, after a short illness.[2] Her funeral was held outside of her home and flags of El Paso City Hall were lowered to half-staff after news of her death.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Rea, Louise Maxon (1978-07-03). "Business Woman Has Unique Place in History". El Paso Times. p. 31. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com. and "Pioneer Woman Has Unique Place". El Paso Times. 1978-07-03. p. 32. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mrs. DeGroff Dies; Funeral on Friday". El Paso Herald. 11 August 1926. p. 1. Retrieved 13 March 2022 – via Newspapers.com. and "Mrs. DeGroff Dies Wednesday A. M. Funeral on Friday". p. 6.
- ^ "Hotel Cortez Historical Marker". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ Longo, Joseph; Angus, Barbara; Stanfield, Sue; Ramirez, Claudia; Hutson, Melissa; Long, Trish; Duenas, Sarah (2020-07-19). "Women as Agents of Social Change: El Paso's Social Housekeepers, 1886-1930". El Paso County Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
- ^ "Woman Tells of Suffrage Work". El Paso Herald. 1928-03-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Organization of a Suffrage League of El Paso Women Desiring the Ballot". El Paso Herald. 1915-01-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2022-03-13 – via Newspapers.com.