The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

OKLAHOMA CITY — One reason Glory Dunlap chose her home was because it was next to the old Douglass High School building.

Dunlap has fond memories of swimming and visiting the solarium when she went to school there about 40 years ago. The building was an elementary school at the time. Now it is abandoned, and the neighborhood is quiet. Dunlap said it makes her sad to look across the street at the school.

A statewide conservation group classified the building as one of Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places in a list released Friday.

The building has been home to several schools throughout its 100-year history. During its heyday, from 1933 to 1955, the site was a center for the black community. It was Oklahoma City's first high school for black students, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.


Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Historic Places 2010
Tulsa Club Building: The city of Tulsa recently foreclosed on this building, which once served as a social spot for the Tulsa elite. The building used to house chamber of commerce offices, Tulsa Club lounges, a gymnasium, a restaurant, libraries and a ballroom. Now the building is empty and crumbling.
Tulsa Civic Center Plaza (representing Mid-Century Modern Architecture): This district was named as one of 23 architectural achievements of the 20th century by a German publication in 1955.
Douglass High School, Oklahoma City: The city’s first school established for black students.
Hopewell Church, Edmond: This building was designed to reflect Oklahoma’s cultural heritage and oil production.
The church, built in 1951, is shaped like a tepee and made with a drill stem pipe and other unique materials.
It received rave reviews from a variety of publications and was featured in TIME magazine.
Hoyt School, Hoyt: This fourroom school house was built between 1934 and 1940. It served a variety of purposes, including school, community center and voting station, until the 1980s. Today it is privately owned.
Stuart Hotel, Stuart: The hotel served railroad and pipeline workers during the early 1900s. It prospered until the Great Depression and a fire cleared the town in the 1930s and 1940s. The city of Stuart recently purchased the hotel.
Fairview No. 67 School, Roosevelt: The school was built in 1903 for pioneer children and later served as the town’s community center. It has been empty since 1942.
Quanah Parker Star House, Cache: This house, built around 1890, was home to Comanche warrior Quanah and his wives.
Ranger Theater, Alva: This theater was one of five in Alva in 1937 during the height of the cinematic era. The theater closed in the 1950s. A local couple who hope to revive the theater as a performance space recently bought the building.
Route 66 resources statewide: Many historic structures associated with Route 66 are in danger of being lost because of neglect and disrepair.
Archeological sites statewide: Erosion, weather, construction and expansion threaten to destroy the sites.
Barns statewide: Many barns have been rendered useless and fallen into disrepair as family farms decline.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20100306_12_A8_OLHMIY695113

I see TFD has had to respond here twice in the last couple of weeks for fires on the 4th and 5th floors.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12341150 (http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12341150)

I hope some one does something soon before there is another fire and someone gets hurt or worse, and then the public will plead for it to be torn down.

I see TFD has had to respond here twice in the last couple of weeks for fires on the 4th and 5th floors.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12341150 (http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12341150)

I hope some one does something soon before there is another fire and someone gets hurt or worse, and then the public will plead for it to be torn down.

It's how stuff 'round here gits dun.

(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2007/070117_a12_toon_toonfor17.jpg)

This district was named as one of 23 architectural achievements of the 20th century by a German publication in 1955.

OK, three fires in eight days. It sounds like someone is trying to get the building condemmed so they can raze it. Am I out of line in my thinking?

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12354593 (http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12354593)

At what point can TFD start charging for the calls? Can they at all?

At what point can TFD start charging for the calls? Can they at all?

The Genet Building was located between 9th and 10th on Boston. Built in 1930, it was designed by J.R. Koberling Jr. and Noble R. Fleming. It was demolished in 1969 and is now a parking lot.

Of course it is just the 60's in me... but has anyone thought of an organized "Sit-In" occupancy of the building...

Could force the hands of the powers that be. Or just make a statement that would catch the News, possibly Nationwide.

Hell it might even be fun. ;)

From what I understand, they've sealed it off making it impenetrable to all...

I'm sure the homeless will quickly unseal it.

From what I understand, they've sealed it off making it impenetrable to all...