Thursday, August 27, 2009

Midwest Marble and Tile Building, 1945


507 South Quaker Avenue

This building was designed by Robert E. West. This simple, white rectangular-plan building has an interesting facade. Its small radiused corners are highlighted by two separated bands of black marble tile at the cornice. The smooth walls curve inward at the entrance, topped with a projected concrete lintel. (Excepted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)


The building designed for the Midwest Marble and Tile company was itself an advertisement for the company's product. The alternating bands of black and white marble make a simple but striking appearance. After over 50 years the marble is smooth, shiny, and as rich in color as when it was new. Few materials are as permanent as marble.

The current occupant is Sharp Typesetting & Graphics.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Day and Nite Cleaners, 1946


1012 South Elgin Avenue


This streamline art deco commercial building sits on the curve where 10th Street in the downtown grid resolves into 11th Street. It is across the street from the Warehouse Market Building featured last June. See HERE.

Constructed in 1946 by architect William H. Wolaver it is very typical of the style presenting a flat roof and strong vertical lines even though only a one story building, it has rounded corners and glass block is used prominantly.

Possibly the most interesting thing about it is that it was used as a dry cleaners when it was built and continues to do business under the same name. Other than the City Veterinary Hospital I'm not sure what other Tulsa building can make that claim.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

TV Channel 2, KVOO (KJRH) in Tulsa, 1954


3701 South Peoria Ave

KVOO radio broadcast at 50,000 watts for many years and has a rich history in Tulsa radio. IN 1954 KVOO opened a new broadcast facility in the heart of the Brookside neighborhood and went on the air with television channel 2.

Above is a fine artists drawing of the new station. It really is not possible to get far enough away to get that good a perspective.

Tulsa TV Memories has a good history of both the radio station (HERE) and the TV station (HERE).


Television Channel 2 is the NBC station in Tulsa. Located in the tower is a live web cam which shares the view of Brookside. On a good day you might see my house. The station's website is HERE.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tulsa Fire Station No. 7, Old 1946, New 2000


601 South Lewis Avenue

The first fire station number 7 was opened in this location July 1, 1921. It was remodeled in 1946 and again in 1967. (old photo courtesy of City of Tulsa.)


The original Fire Station No. 7 building was sold and remodeled and is now used by a landscaping company.


Old No. 7 from the rear. The original glass block panels are still in place in this view.


3005 E. 15th Street

The new Station No. 7 opened in 2000 at 15th and College.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Cities Service Oil Company Station, 1933


1502 East 11th Street


This two-bay service station was designed by M. R. Pettingill. Its design includes an office which is recessed from the larger service area. The brick building remains painted white but the office now features a full-glazed aluminum-framed storefront which was added later. The station is still utilized in the automotive service business, but no longer contains the pump island. (Excepted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)

This building is on the list of historic art deco buildings so I will include it in this collection. However, I have to think that with the roll up doors and store front windows, the original style has been somewhat diminished.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

City Veterinary Hospital, 1942


3550 South Peoria Avenue


The City Veterinary Hospital was designed by Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. and built in 1942. It was built to be a Veterinary Hospital and has been in continual use as such to this day. It is a little streamline art deco jewel box.


It is a one-story, buff brick building with rounded Streamline corners, and large, full curved glass block windows. It has a flat roof with a banded parapet and a curved, smooth metal-faced canopy above the entrance. The "3-bar modern" parapet is similar to those seen earlier on the Tulsa Monument Building (HERE).


The rounded Glass block sections are very attractive and provide excellent interior illumination. The front of the clinic faces east toward Peoria.


Looking back out from the lobby through the front entrance.


The solid walls and terrazzo floors are attractive and very durable. Although the building is essentially in its original condition it has been brought up to date with additional lighting and central heating and air conditioning.


The surgery is in the Southeast corner. Although modern lighting is in place the glass block wall floods the room with natural light.


I have used this clinic for my pets since moving to Tulsa in 1993 when it was operated by the late Dr. Rick Pickard. It is now operated by Dr. Chet S. Thomas who was kind enough to give me a tour.


A kennel extends to the west and has several sets of cages like this one. The door faces north and connects to outside dog runs.


The dog runs are on the north side out of the sun. Full boarding services are provided for dogs and cats.
(Partially excepted from
Tulsa Preservation Commission)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Jesse D. Davis Residence, 1936


3231 South Utica Avenue

This residence was designed by Frances Davis. Constructed of brick and wood on concrete, its prominent glass bay is suggestive of the ship imagery popular in Streamline residences. Corner windows and horizontal ribbon windows emphasize the streamlining, and a porthole window carries out the ship motif.



The most unusual element of the house is a three-story structural column of hollow fluted wood, extending from the basement through the second floor. It is 2 feet in diameter, 26 feet high, and was the largest of its kind in Oklahoma when built. It is the central feature in the house and is enclosed by a spiral staircase. This house also boasts the distinction of being the first all-electric home in Tulsa. (Excepted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Hawk Dairy Building, 1948


2415 East 11th Street

The original Hawk Dairy building was built in 1937 and stood immediately east of the "new" building built in 1948. That original building and related resources were demolished in 1962. The remaining building is historically significant in its own right.


The Hawk Dairies is an excellent example of post-World War II Modernist architecture as applied to a dairy processing plant. Constructed in 1947-1948 by Tulsa contractor Jack Owen Stegall, the building was designed by Kansas City, Missouri, architect Gerad W. Wolf. The construction of the building dramatically boosted the production capabilities of Hawk Dairies, allowing it to expand its product lines, trade territory and the number of farmers from whom it purchased milk. In addition to processing milk using the latest production means, the company incorporated a retail outlet for their product in the new building. (Excepted from a report prepared by historian Cynthia Savage for the Tulsa Preservation Commission)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Milady’s Cleaners Building, 1930


1736-38 East 11th Street


This two-story building housed Milady’s Cleaners. The first floor is covered with buff colored terra cotta. The second floor is covered with cream colored stucco which blends with the terra cotta.


Detail of Terra Cotta tile on facade.

The building’s windows are surrounded with sculptured terra cotta depicting flowers, various fruits, and leaping stags. The building had cold storage for furs and utilized an underground spring for its cleaning process. (Excepted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)

Since 1967 this building has housed La Maison Inc., which sells residential lighting fixtures.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Guaranty Laundry Building, 1928


2036 East 11th Street Original architects drawing.


The building has been Page Moving and Storage for many years. View from North East.


Photograph of original entrance showing the Zig Zag Art Deco design. (drawing and photo from bruce-goff-film.com)


Remodeled Entrance of Page Moving and Storage. View from North.


Service entrance from West.

This commercial building was designed by Bruce Goff (Rush, Endacott & Rush). Projecting sills and lintels form horizontal bands on the building. The front entry way door was orginally accented with diagonal mullions. Bands of diamonds extend to the top windows. A fur storage addition designed by Koberling & Fleming was added in 1940. (Excepted from Tulsa Preservation Commission)