Friday, July 31, 2009

OKC History On-Line Resources

This page lists quality websites that I know to contain good and interesting Oklahoma City history information other than my own, and others will be added as they become known to me. A permanent graphic link to this page appears in the left panel for quick access. A changing featured website is highlighted at the end — right now, it's AbandonedOK.com.

Steve Lackmeyer & Jack Moneys' OkcHistory.com

Authors of
OKC: 2nd Time Around    Bricktown
MLS Oklahoma Images

Maintained by Larry (Buddy) Johnson
Author of Historic Photos of Oklahoma City
Also: Folklore Collection    Info Magazine
OK History Center Research

Popular subgroups are below
Clickable OKC Map    Star Archives

MLS Logon Page

Use your MLS card to log on & search Oklahoman's archives & more
Need Help?    Sanborn Maps Help
OHS Encyclopedia

Mini-articles on OK history by OHS personnel
AbandonedOK

A quirky, sometimes spooky, but always charming look at things abandoned in Oklahoma
The Archvist

A fun look through the Oklahoman's archives by Mary Phillips


Featured Website:
AbandonedOK.com

AbandonedOK.com is to abandoned properties what storm chasers are to tornadoes. These guys hunt down boarded up buildings, somehow get inside and put together videos in a way that is distinctly "AbandonedOK," a little jerky now and then for effect with unusual music playing as they take you into rooms, stairways, anywhere they can poke their cameras into.

The one above is of the old Christian Science Church at the northwest corner of NW 11th & Robinson where (as I understand it) Perle Mesta attended when she was in town. About it, they write,
Located in Oklahoma City’s “church row,” the Center for Design Arts began it’s life as the First Church of Christ Scientists. It was constructed in phases between 1914 and 1918.It has been abandoned for close to two decades. The building itself is constructed in a Classical Revival design featuring four greek columns facing Robinson, with anthemions on each corner of the facade. The lobby is 1,000 square feet and features all original mahogany paneling and wood work. The flooring is laid in mosaic tiling in a cris-crossed design featuring a Greek key design, also known as a swastika, which before Nazi Germany utilized it was a symbol of luck and good fortune not only to Greco romans but also to native Americans. Reached my a marble staircase, the main sanctuary is 5,000 square feet. It contains balconies, large windows that look over the downtown skyline. The central feature is an incredible stained glass dome. Below the sanctuary is a 4,000 square foot gathering space with a small raised area.

Following the Murrah bombing in 1995 most of the buildings in the immediate area were damaged, but were repaired. This building however was not. It suffered the loss of most of its original stained glass windows. The upper balconies of the sanctuary were removed due to structural issues.

Several attempts have been made to renovate the building by groups of local architects to no avail. The funds could never be fully raised and finally it was sold to a group from California with the hope to renovate the structure. Now it is for sale again. Who knows what will happen to this building of faded grandeur. Due to local covenants it cannot be razed for the next 35 years.

6 comments:

Lady Beekeeper said...

VERY nice, Doug. Your blog is a treasure.

Doug Dawg said...

Thanks, Penny.

Unknown said...

http://www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/okpostcards

Some of the things on this site may be of interest. These are postcards.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the site with all the picture postcards. I found a lot of where my family originated in Oklahoma.

Anonymous said...

John A Brown's was the place to shop when I was a kid, lived on SW 10th & would walk to town to purchase for my mom - the lady with the blue hair that ran the elevator was so regal looking. After shopping it was over to Katz Drugstore for a Coke. Thanks for sharing - CitizenNowofBranson

Bob LaMascus said...

Recall Brown's ran across the alley and in that door was the first esculator I'd ever seen.
Also, on a different topic: The Sussy's I remember was close to Lincoln and 23rd St., next to a favorite cafe the "Golden Lion" and actually had a young lion in a cage, outside for a time. On those cold early mornings after throwing our paper routes we'd be at the cafe for a hot roll and chocalate. Jeez, you'd never get kids to work like we did for peanuts from Gaylord again; throwing morning, evening eveyday with Sunday afternoon the only time not to throw a paper!