Tulsa Historians can you help me with Deco House?

[Trent]

Greetings all,

I've just noticed the thread about the historic park(s) and was wondering if anyone has data about my house? It is the Whenthoff Residence:

http://www.tulsalibrary.org/research/artdeco/whenthoff.htm

I'm attempting to figure out what it looked like historically without much luck. I know that the carport was not there originally and that there was probably a garage.

The inside is the same story. Most of it is original but the kitchen has been redone in the 80s and there isn't a thing original about it that I can tell.

If anyone has pictures or any information on this great old house I would love to hear or see them.

Thanks -Trent

[carltonplace]

Oh wow, nice house. I know it is on College, was built in 1935 by Joseph R. Koberling who also worked on Will Rogers High School, Central Library and the Chamber of Commerce building.

Here is some info from the Tulsa Architecturewebsite:

JOSEPH R. KOBERLING, JR., AIA (1900-1991)  

Born: Budapest, Hungary
Training: Armour Institute, Chicago, Illinois, B.A. Architecture, 1925
Oklahoma License: 1928-91
Tulsa Practice: 1925-91

[Hometown]

I believe it would be more correct to call this house "International" style instead of Deco.  International buildings have those glass brick walls, corner windows, and a look that was a bit more pared down than Deco.  I love these houses.  Tulsa has a number of very nice International homes and commercial buildings.  I saw a wonderful International style fire house on, I think it was, Apache.  Sounds like you are going to restore it to its original condition.  Very smart move.

[PonderInc]

Have you talked to anyone at the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture?

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I believe it would be more correct to call this house "International" style instead of Deco.  International buildings have those glass brick walls, corner windows, and a look that was a bit more pared down than Deco.  I love these houses.  Tulsa has a number of very nice International homes and commercial buildings.  I saw a wonderful International style fire house on, I think it was, Apache.  Sounds like you are going to restore it to its original condition.  Very smart move.

I would respectfully beg to differ. International Style refers to a specific Post-Modern style of the late 1950s and 1960s which was all hard edges and right angles -- very boxy -- which often featured exposed ground-floor structural steel columns and an overhanging second story. Our airport terminal is International Style. The International Plaza building at 13th & Boulder is a beautiful example of International Style. City Hall is International Style (just not a very good example).

The Whenthoff Residence is most definitely Streamline Art Deco.

[Hometown]

I think "International" is used in reference to various schools of architecture and that is where the confusion is.

Here's a definition of International Style from Answer.com:

An influential modernist style in architecture that developed in Europe and the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized chiefly by regular, unadorned geometric forms, open interiors, and the use of glass, steel, and reinforced concrete.

Here's an International style home in Hammond Indian:



Here are more International structures I found with a google search of International style architecture:



But I also took a look at Streamline Deco and you are absolutely correct Average Joe.  Streamline is more curvilinear.  The house in question is definitely Streamline Deco. Thank you for pointing out my error.  Apologies to Trent.

[Trent]

Yes I'm trying to get it back to "right" which to me means as much historic accuracy as possible. It isn't easy and it isn't cheap, I can tell you that. The flat roof is also a challenge.

In answer to the Foundation for Architecture question, yes. I went to the open house just a few weeks ago. They don't have anything in the archives but gave me a few leads. I was just fishing on TulsaNow for someone who might have personal info on the property.

According to my research and the Deco society the house was designed by Fredrick Kershner who also did the Fire Alarm building. If anyone knows anything different I'd love to hear it.

-Trent

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Trent

Yes I'm trying to get it back to "right" which to me means as much historic accuracy as possible.

One bit of trivia about the house. For many years it had a 1929 Studebaker sitting in its driveway. Completely unrestored.(Maybe he bought it at the same time the house was built?) I knocked on the door to inquire, but no one answered.

[Steve]

I too would not call this house international style, but streamlined art deco.  Here is a quote about this house from the "Tulsa Art Deco" book, reissued in 2001 by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture:

In the neighborhood near the University of Tulsa is another house built in the Streamlined ship style for William D. Whenthoff in 1935.  It is two stories built of brick laid over tile and painted to look like stucco.  There are two porthole windows, one on the first floor by the entry, the other above the entry on the second floor.  
A second-story balcony serves as a canopy for the entry and wraps around the house.  Its triple railing creates the illusion of a ship's bridge, enhanced by the exterior ladder to the flat roof.  The interior of the house breaks with the modern and becomes a traditional center hall plan.

There is only one color photo of the house in the book which was taken in recent years; no vintage photos in the book.

[AMP]

I remember the Studebaker sitting there, which was not too long ago. Or perhaps there is another home similar to it with an old Studebaker beside it.  

I recall another home with a large Round Window in the front.  And others that some people I know have owned and lived in.  Reservoir Hill has some interesting homes there as well.
 
Anyone have any photos or links to photos of unusual homes in Tulsa?

[AMP]

Greg Wilhoit owned one of those types of homes in Tulsa prior to his murder conviction.  But I thought it was on a street where it was a T in a road.  

Wilhoit was wrongfully convicted of the murder of his X-Wife in 1987.  He was released from Death Row in 1993.  I'm reminded of the famous DNA expert Barry Sheck working on his case.

Could that of possibly been his home and Studebaker?

http://www.ocadp.org/news/stories/wilhoit.html

[Hometown]

To follow up on earlier conversation:

I found this old streamline building on Apache.  I think it used to be a thrift store back in the 70s.  I wonder if it was originally a nightclub?  If only Tulsa had angels that would save old places like this.



Then I located what had thought was an International Style fire station.  It's on Admiral between Harvard and Lewis.  But now I'm sure about anything anymore.  It's certainly safe to say its old and it's Modern.