The Oil Capital Historic District (OCHD) is an area in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma that commemorates the success of the oil business in Tulsa during the early 20th century. During this period, Tulsa was widely known as "The Oil Capital of the World." The area is bordered by 3rd Street to the north and 7th Street to the south, Cincinnati Avenue to the east and Cheyenne Avenue to the west.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Oklahoma emerged as a major producer of oil and gas. Many companies will become famous in the energy industry located either in their home offices or major regional offices in Downtown Tulsa, often building significant architectural buildings to accommodate them. Supporting companies such as equipment suppliers, banks, insurance companies, utilities and even hotels quickly followed suit. However, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the domestic oil business began to decline and companies began to consolidate in other cities, the former office building became a surplus. Some buildings are converted to other functions, but some are torn down for parking lots or toll roads. Tulans who became concerned about the loss of this historic and cultural landmark began to work adapting them to more recent and more recent economic functions. The creation of the Oil Capital Historic District was implemented as a way to slow down losses while the plan was realized.
Video Oil Capital Historic District (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Building classification
As part of the application process, all important buildings within the proposed region boundaries are labeled as "Contributed" or "not contributed". Buildings in the previous category must meet certain criteria:
- Built between 1910 and 1967;
- Engage in some aspects of the oil business during that time;
- Do not lose its historical character via remodeling or conversion to other uses
The application states that the district contains 72 resources (69 buildings, 2 sites and one object). This is further classified as 40 contributions, 18 not contributing and 14 previously listed in the National List.
The table presented here identifies the building contained by OCHD, as defined in the NRHP application. Data mostly comes from text description in the app. They are listed by street address, starting in the northeast corner of the district (3rd Street and Cincinnati.Avenue). Several architectural styles are represented in the district: Art Deco, Beaux Arts, Classical Awakening, Commercial Style, Greek Revival, Italy, and Modern Movement. Some buildings do not fit a particular style.
Maps Oil Capital Historic District (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Decrease of Oil Industry
The importance of Tulsa in the oil industry, as well as the impact of the oil industry in Tulsa, declined as the United States began to rely more on offshore oil and cheaper imports. Major international companies reduce or eliminate their offices in Tulsa and move to cities near the coast, especially after foreign countries begin to use more control over their own oil resources. Arab Oil Embargo accelerated the trend. The International Petroleum Exposition, which has attracted the number of visitors recorded in 1966, faded in interest and happened less frequently until it was permanently canceled after the 1979 show.
District buildings destroyed 1967-2010
Important buildings at or very close to the OCHD destroyed during oil business setbacks and district establishment include:
- Bliss Hotel 2nd & amp; Boston, Built in 1929 and leveled in February 1973.
- Hunt Building, 4th and Main, better known as the Brown-Dunkin Department Store, was destroyed in 1970.
- Medical Art Build 6th and Boulder. Destroyed in July 1970.
- Hotel Tulsa, 3rd and Cincinnati. Dismantled 1972.
- Skelly Building, 23 West 4th, Office 9 floors from Skelly Oil company, destroyed.
- The Orpheum Theater, 12 East 4th Street, opened in 1917 as a vaudeville theater, then switched to the film in 1931. Closed in March 1970 and destroyed in May 1970. Replaced by the Tulsa Building & Building Loan at 10-12 East 4. (originally Edwards Building, built in 1926.)
Current status of selected surviving buildings
First Place Tower
The building was completed in 1973 and previously housed, respectively, the First National Bank of Tulsa and the Citicorp branch. Citicorp vacates premises in 2012. ONE Gas, Inc. plans to move its headquarters to this building in 2014.
Sinclair Building
According to Tulsa World article, Tulsa District District Judge ruled that Tulsa City and Central Park Owners Association Inc. may close the Sinclair Building because the current owner is in arrears at $ 270,000 for taxes, fees and penalties. Sales may be sold at a sheriff's auction, after a 30-day appeal period, unless the owner reaches a settlement agreement with the city and other creditors.
Tulsa Club Building
The Tulsa Club was founded in 1925 as a social club for wealthy businessmen. The 11-storey building, designed by Bruce Goff, was built in 1927 at the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Cincinnati Avenue, next to the Philtower Building. The Tulsa Chamber has 40 percent of the buildings and the club has 60 percent. The Chamber of Commerce and other organizations use five floors down, while the Tulsa Club occupies the top six and the roof garden. Space sold his interest to the club in 1952, while building a new building in 616 South Boston. The club left the building in 1994.
It is unclear when California investor C. J. Morony acquired the building. Even less obvious why. Space was never rented, but the building was left undamaged. Squatters moved and some fires were deliberately set inside. The city has been trying for seven years to fix it code violations, pay taxes and fees in arrears.
Bruce Garrett bought the building for $ 400,000 in April 2013 with a sheriff's sale. He has announced plans to renovate it, while preserving the early 20th century design.
633 South Boston Building
The building was designed by architect Robert Buchner to become a Tulsa office house of the Savings Company and Loan Ponca City, but remained vacant for several years. The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture is interested in acquiring the building, intending to create a museum of blueprints and other images. However, the foundation was unable to raise sufficient funds and the idea was canceled.
8 East 3rd Street Building
The 10 storey building on 8 East 3rd Street has been named as Holarud Building, McBirney Building and Parker Building. It was built in 1929 as the headquarters for the Parker Drilling Company, and is known as the Parker Building. The company extensively reshuffled it in 1975, then sold it and moved to Houston in 2001. Apparently the building remained empty until Parker Drilling Company bought back in 2012, as a result of foreclosure. The company then sold the building to the Anish Hotel Group, which announced that the building would be converted into a hotel. Since its recent sale, it has been renamed to 8 East 3rd Street Building.
In March 2014, the 3rd Road Construction project was detained. Since a large number of hotel projects are being considered for Downtown Tulsa, some concern has arisen about whether there will be enough demand for all of this to survive. In an interview, founder Anish Hotel Group, Andy Patel, said that the company also thought about changing the former Parker Building to a residence or office space.
Palace Building
Also known as the Excaliber Building and 324 South Main Building, this structure is reportedly owned by Tulsa World in 2012. For several years, the building was empty except for the Arby restaurant on the ground floor.. Rumors that the building will be destroyed are rejected by the newspaper.
Petroleum Club Building
The Petroleum Club Building at 601 South Boulder in Tulsa earned its name from a private club that moved to the top three floors when it was built in 1963. The building is 196 feet (60 m) high, has 14 stories, and contains 118,000 square feet (11,000 m 2 ) of floor area. In 1994, a major fire damaged the top two floors, forcing the club to close, and causing serious smoke damage throughout the rest of the building. Club facilities were rebuilt and facilities stayed open until 2011. The decline in the oil business in Tulsa accompanied the loss of members at the club, and contributed to substantial financial losses. The club closed in July 2011. However, the building is still called locally as the Petroleum Club Building.
Gallery
Street views
Donate building
Buildings that do not contribute
Additional information
Register Register National Historic Site Register Retrieved 19 June 2014. (Also available here.)
Note
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments