I understand that the KKK built a gigantic Beno Hall on Main Street north of downtown Tulsa during the teens or '20s.
Is it still there? Does anyone have a precise address of where it was/is?
A historian from out of town asked about it, and now it has me intrigued ...
I've done some research on Tulsa history and have not come across this anywhere. Might have to look into it and see what I can find. Say, wasn't shadows around then?
well, a quick web search turned up a surprising number of things. It was apparantly North of Downtown on Main street
found this site that had a quick mention of it
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/K/KU001.html
QuoteThe Klan's power peaked in the 1920s. In 1923 the Klan built Beno Hall, an enormous, $200,000 building that dominated downtown Tulsa. The organization also played a primary role in Gov. John C. Walton's 1923 impeachment. Appalled by constant violence attributed to the Klan, Walton put parts of Oklahoma under martial law, starting with Okmulgee County, then Tulsa, and eventually the entire state. Although Walton's administration had serious troubles besides the Klan, his vendetta and use of martial law against that group stirred public resentment and became the primary focus of his impeachment. The trial brought unanimous votes to convict on charges of graft and of abuse of the pardon and parole powers. Walton's ordeal, however, also created a public perception of Klan lawlessness. In 1923 the Oklahoma legislature passed an anti-mask bill aimed at curbing Klan violence.
Just found out from a church link that it was in the 500 block of North Main. Checked Google Street View, and that block is almost entirely empty because of nearby I-244.
Gee ... can't imagine why people didn't protest when it was torn down. ::)
okay, did a bit more digging and everything else I can find on it is just a regurgitatoin of the commision report from the race riot that states
Quote
In time, the Tulsa Klan grew so solvent that it
built its own brick auditorium, Beno Hall — short,
it was said, for "Be No ******, Be No Jew, Be No
Catholic" — on Main Street just north of down town.
Might be worth while to spend some time at the library going through news archives of 1923 to see waht can be turned up... Man I wish those things were digital
Quote from: custosnox on March 28, 2010, 03:56:29 PM
okay, did a bit more digging and everything else I can find on it is just a regurgitatoin of the commision report from the race riot that states
Might be worth while to spend some time at the library going through news archives of 1923 to see waht can be turned up... Man I wish those things were digital
I think I found that link about the same time you did. Holy fjuck, what a bad time it was to be anything but a white Protestant in Tulsa.
The city elders had 244 designed specifically with that intent as well as solidifying a segregated area of town.
Quote from: fotd on March 28, 2010, 03:59:50 PM
The city elders had 244 designed specifically with that intent as well as solidifying a segregated area of town.
Yes, I'm sure this was their all encompassing plan for having a highway built.