Former Swastika and Yucca Hotel - Raton Downtown Historic District - Raton, New Mexico - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

Street Address: 200 South 2nd Street (BI)
Construction Date / Historic Name: Swastika Hotel (H), ca. 1928-1929, Yucca Hotel (H), ca. 1945
Style: Decorative Brick

Constructed by the Swastika Coal Company, a local branch of St. Louis, Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coal Company, the former Swastika Hotel is the tallest structure in Raton. Built in 1928-1929, the building and company name had yet to develop its negative association. During World War II when the Nazi Party adopted the symbol, the name of the building was changed to the Yucca Hotel. For many years, the City Market, a grocery store, and Yucca Drugs were located on the first floor. The International Bank has occupied this building for roughly 45 years.

Decorative brown brickwork is found on the street-facing elevations (east and north), while the south and west elevations reveal hollow-clay tile construction. The lower portion of the south elevation, which faces a vacant lot, has been consolidated with stucco. The windows are aluminum replacements, including one-over one double hung and Palladian windows as accents, which fit original openings. The north elevation features a grouping of three Palladian windows separated by short turned marble columns. Arches with keystones surmount the windows. The majority of the openings feature brick sills. The sixth floor of the north and east elevations has colorful tiled arches above the windows. A corbelled brick cornice band with alternating patterns of squares, circles and swastika symbols crowns the building. Recessed corner entries are located at the street intersection. A low brick addition was added to the rear elevation at some point.