Parriott Mansion, 1929-1930

2216 East 30th Place (older photo courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society)


This elaborate Colonial Revival style residence was owned by oilman Foster Brooks Parriott. Designed by the Kansas City, Missouri, architectural firm of Boillot and Lauck, the house exhibits many of the characteristics of the style, including a hipped roof with gabled dormers, dentils, modillions and a simple frieze. It has an elaborate entry surround, including a swan-neck pediment. The house and outbuildings are situated in a fenced lot of 50 acres and the overall estate is most impressive.

The black and white photo was taken not long after the house was built. Since that time the grove of small trees has been cleared and an elaborate street side entry has been added. The Christmas decorations are in place for the season.


Parriott, a Standard Oil employee in 1898, was later involved with Leader Oil Company, Carter Oil Company, and was elected a director of Sunray Oil Company in 1937. He was elected chairman of the board of Sunray Oil Company six years later.
(Excerpted from Tulsa Preservation Committee)

Moore Manor, 1918

228 West 17th Place (older photo courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society)


The Moore Manor, built only eleven years after Oklahoma’s statehood, is significant for its association with the oil boom of Tulsa. Frank L. Moore started business as a small drilling contractor and parlayed a few drilling interests into an oil empire. With his new-found wealth, he purchased a prime lot within the new Buena Vista Park Addition and built Moore Manor. Such oil industry giants as the Sinclairs, Cosdens, Roesers, and the McFarlins resided in this addition.


The house is the finest example of Colonial Revival residential architecture constructed during those early oil boom years. It is also an outstanding example of excellence craftsmanship and detailing. Its four stories consist of a full basement, first and second floors and a finished attic. Brick veneer is of rough red-brick, laid in very light gray mortar, with coursing of a common running bond. Building corners are done with brick quoins while all trim is of light gray limestone. The four-way hipped roof is covered with slate shingles, pierced with wall dormers on the entire perimeter.


This tract of land includes the famous Creek Council Oak Tree. Of the many opulent homes built on the block containing the Council Oak Tree, only the Moore Manor remains today to remind us of a glorious episode of American history. (Excerpts are from Tulsa Preservation Committee)


The Moore Manor and the Creek Nation Council Oak are on the same block of land. Moore Manor on the northwest corner and the Council Oak on the southeast corner. To see my earlier post on the Creek Nation Council Oak click HERE.

Phoenix Cleaners, 1947

125 East 18th Street


Built in 1947, this white, two-story, brick building features a curved front corner and a smooth black metal canopy extending across the front facade and around the corner. Various window sizes adorn the upper level which is bordered above and beneath by bands of projected brick courses. An unusual curved-front window bay composed of fitted, flat-glazed frames is bordered by glass block "sidelites." (Excerpted from Tulsa Preservation Committee)

Carl K. Dresser House, 1919

235 West 18th Street


Designed by New York City architect Albert Joseph Bodker, the Carl K. Dresser House is a multi-story, stucco dwelling. Constructed in 1919-1920, the house is an excellent representation of the Spanish Eclectic style in Tulsa.


Located south of downtown Tulsa, the Dresser House is located in the historic Riverview neighborhood and was historically one of two houses on the block. Originally an exclusive neighborhood for Tulsa’s society, primarily oil tycoons, the neighborhood has been built up in modern times with apartment and condominium complexes.

Privately held, the Dresser is available for weddings and elegant receptions. Their website is HERE. (Excerpts are from Tulsa Preservation Committee) (older photos courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society)

Tribune Building, 1924

20 East Archer Street

The Tribune Building, at 20 East Archer Street, was built in 1924 and housed Tulsa's evening newspaper the Tulsa Tribune until 1942. It was the first building in Oklahoma built as a newspaper plant. Built in Tulsa’s original business district, the Tribune Building is similar in style, scale, and materials to other 1920s buildings that were constructed several blocks to the south in what was to become the central business district. Designed as an efficient newspaper plant, its large, elaborately detailed interior also reflected the Tribune’s importance to the growing community.

In 1942 the Tulsa Tribune became part of the Newspaper Printing Company and was printed at 315 South Boulder along with the morning newspaper the Tulsa World. Following the trend of most evening newspapers the Tribune's subscribers declined causing it to be unprofitable and it ceased publication in September, 1992.

The Tribune Building subsequently served as a storage facility and as a mission for the homeless. The photograph above was taken in about 1945 when it was a warehouse for The Aldridge Moving and Storage company. Notice the streetcar rails turning the corner of Boston and Archer.


The building lay largely vacant from 1971 until 2001, when it was renovated and converted into loft apartments under the name Tribune Lofts.


In the early sixties until its abandonment in 1971, the building housed John 3:16, a mission and shelter for homeless men. Notice that statues of two small owls originally sat perched above the entrance. The owl being a symbol of wisdom and appropriate for a newspaper.


The main lobby retains its terrazzo floor, marble wainscoting and stairway, and dentiled molding. Original elevators, call buttons, and brass mailbox remain, as does the iron catwalk that surrounded second floor presses. The Tribune Building has become the cornerstone for revitalization of Tulsa's oldest commercial district.

(Excerpts are from Wikipedia and Tulsa Preservation Committee) (older photos courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society)

Gypsy Oil Company 1920 / Gypsy Coffee House 2009

303 North Cincinnati Avenue

The Gypsy Oil Company was an affiliate of Gulf Oil and was in business before 1910. This building housed their Tulsa Offices until the early 1930s.


For the past 10 years Gypsy has been reincarnated as the Gypsy Coffee House and Cyber Cafe. I have not patronized them but the fact that they have been in business for 10 years tells me they are doing something right. I like to see old buildings turned into new businesses. This one not only provided space, but a catchy name.

They have a website in progress, look HERE. A satisfied customer has a blog post HERE.

Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa 1929 / 2009

1324 South Main Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Opened in 1929, this elegant hotel catered to the leaders of Oklahoma's early oil industry.


n 1929, General Patrick Hurley introduced the Ambassador Hotel to Tulsa. One of the first "extended stay" hotels, the Ambassador was created to provide upscale temporary housing for oil barons and their families while their own mansions were built. The ten-story Mediterranean style building is one of Tulsa’s most beautiful structures, graced with Italian terra cotta relief panels and limestone cornices. Hurley never got to bask in the elegance of his hotel. About the same time as the opening, Hurley was appointed to the Secretary of War post, the first Oklahoman cabinet member.

Tulsa’s oil business continued to grow. In 1960, Kewanee Oil and its subsidiary Delbert Development Company purchased the Hotel Ambassador. A $1.25 million overhaul was undertaken to create an apartment hotel, primarily targeting commercial occupancy.

After the oil business decline, the hotel became senior retirement housing, and closed entirely in 1987. In 1997, developer Paul Coury and a group of civic-minded citizens purchased the property to begin the $5.5 million renovation to restore this historic structure to its early day elegance.

The Ambassador is also the location of The Chalkboard, one of Tulsa's finest restaurants.

For more information see the website for the Ambassador Hotel


Here is Patrick Hurley with Oklahoma's favorite son Will Rogers.
(photos courtesy of the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society)

Day 9 - Home Again, Home Again

Today we drove back home to Tulsa. We had a great week and I tried to sum it up in this last post from our trip to Santa Fe. To join us and look at today's photographs, please link to my other blog.

Please visit TulsaGentleman

Route 66 Roadtrip: Day 8, Santa Fe, NM to Guymon, OK

We started back and after a side trip to the Black Mesa State Park stopped in Guymon, Oklahoma. To join us and look at today's photographs, please link to my other blog.

Please visit TulsaGentleman

Route 66 Roadtrip: Day 7, Santa Fe, NM

We spent the day exploring Santa Fe and wished we had much more time to enjoy the city. To join us and look at today's photographs, please link to my other blog.

Please visit TulsaGentleman