NE Corner of East Ute Place and North Kingston Place
Dawson was one of many small communities established after the land rush in 1889. It was annexed into the city of Tulsa in 1948. Present day Dawson is bounded by Apache on the North, Pine on the South, Yale on the West and Sheridan on the East. It was the location of the Smith Brothers coal Pit, a strip mining operation.
The Dawson School was constructed in 1908 and served as both school and community center for Dawson. The Dawson School is a sandstone, Romanesque style, two-room building. It is an excellent example of a schoolhouse built after the post-statehood school building boom.
Originally, there was a bell tower atop the porch, however, it was removed at an unknown time. Decorative details include an arched partial porch, two semicircular windows flanking the porch, a boxed cornice and gable returns. Dawson School was an important center for Dawson community activities. The school was the only municipal building in Dawson until 1942 when the firehouse was built. (Excerpted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)
The oversized scale of the arch entry is a nod to the architecture of H.H. Richardson. This is a wonderful little structure.
ReplyDeleteI could find no reference to the architect for the school. Richardson's article in Wikipedia calls his influencial style "Richardson Romanesque". No doubt this little school was drawn from that.
ReplyDeleteThis school is now scheduled for demolition...please help preserve it by signing the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/city-of-tulsa-parks-department-let-the-dawson-park-community-center-remain-open-in-north-tulsa..
ReplyDeleteThank you!
this is a new comment..is that school still there?..or has it been demolished already?
ReplyDeleteIt is still there. Just went by.
ReplyDeleteIt is still there. Just went by.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any information about mayors of Dawson? I am looking for some names and dates. If you do please email me kng9088@gmail.com Thank You
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any information about mayors of Dawson? I am looking for some names and dates. If you do please email me kng9088@gmail.com Thank You
ReplyDeleteMy grandad Lloyd Melvin Hudgens Sr. was Mayor of Dawson my dad thinks back in the 20’s…my says we have a photo of my grandad standing with the attorney that incorporated Dawson into Tulsa. The Attorney’s firm still exist today (ran by his descendants)…can’t remember his name right now.
DeleteThat was are wrestling building
ReplyDeleteThat was are old wrestling building some of the best Tulsa had to offer came out of that building
ReplyDeleteI GREW UP IN Dawson I also went to wrestling practice in that building some of my best memories as a child happened in and around that building
ReplyDeleteIt isnt going anywhere, i was raised in Dawson, my family is from there and i ended up moving back to Dawson and there is a very good chance i will die there...its amazing how things work out.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was Melba Broaddrick. She grew up in Dawson and my grandparents continued to live there until the 1970s. They lived on North Joplin. As a child I had fond memories of playing at Dawson park and buying penny candy at a small family owned grocery store Jingles I think???
DeleteYes dad says it was Jingles. His grandmother lived on Joplin also…Hudgens (her house is still there). We don’t know if Jingles still stands but we plan to go by and look before winter.
DeleteThe building in Dawson was constructed by my Great Grandfather and his 6 stone Masons, Irish, Scottish and Cherokee. He was owner of Flatrock creek quarry in Dawson and married to my Great Grandmother, Cherokee, Sarah Burgess.Apache was through her allotment land. His name was Winfield Williams and was with Wood Workers of the World. in Starr's book and Oklahoma history. In 1890 s he charged $2 a ton of sandstone rocks pulled on wagons pulled by 16 to 20 mules. Many stone buildings in Tulsa and
ReplyDeletenear railroads furnished by his quarry. lktyson277@gmail.com
The building is a church last time that I checked. They're demolition in Chelsea now. They are letting my daughter bring me some stones this weekend.
DeleteHe also built one room 1st grade, and a boy scout building. My Grandfather planted cherry trees for high-school in 1934. He also painted murals on buildings inTulsa and areas, like coke ads during Depression. He was Thomas Anderson.
DeleteMy Cherokee Great Grandfather, William Burgess and his brother in-law, William Sunday were the first Indian Police in Tulsa. After the Civil War.
DeleteThis sandstone building is currently on historic site and is currently a church with Hispanic services in Dawson.
ReplyDelete