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Doug Loudenback

05-13-2009, 02:22 PM

I've got the pictures part of an article done now ...
Doug Dawgz Blog: Historic Capitol Hlll (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2009/05/historic-capitol-hlll.html).
I'll be adding quite a bit of text in the next few days
but I've pretty much exhausted the photos I could
find which I thought worthwhile to include ...
I left out some gas stations, etc., but not much.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_intro_000_composite.jpg

Have a look and see if you have suggestions
as to how the layout or photos might be improved,
certainly if I've gotten anything wrong. If any of
you have photos to add, I'd be more than glad
to do so. Just let me know.

Enjoy!

Generals64

05-13-2009, 04:56 PM

Doug Loudenback

05-13-2009, 05:51 PM

Oh my gosh....you've got it nailed dude...that would be great....I do however think you should check the date on the Kress Store.....the current building (houses DHS) was a reopen in about '63....My mother worked there during the Grand Opening....I do have a brick from the Old REDSKIN Theater that I would give up if that is anything of value...just let me know....Anyone reading this should definitely take the time to enjoy the work that Doug has done on Capitol Hill research. Come Saturday if you have the time like for you to meet the group....We enjoy ourselves..Generals64:......see ya next time...
The date on Kress came from several Oklahoman articles (I think - I may have been relying on dates of pics at the OHS website which I've found to be wrong, sometimes) but I'll double check just to be sure.

About Saturday, Steve has invited me to come along with him so, yes, I'll be there and I look forward to meeting you guys! Maybe southside will rub off on me, who can say?

When I get back to the text part of the blog article that is not yet done, it has occurred to me to wonder out loud if one or both of Rodney Dangerfield's parents may have lived there ... you know, "I ain't got no respect." :doh:

Doug Loudenback

05-13-2009, 06:30 PM

Generals64, following up on Kress point, here are a pair of Oklahoman articles/ads ...

November 10, 1960
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_kress_1960_11_10.jpg

March 29, 1961
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_kress_1961_03_29.jpg

That seems to nail Kress' opening in late 1960, don't you think (per the OHS photos that I copied in the article).

papaOU

05-13-2009, 06:45 PM

The date on Kress came from several Oklahoman articles (I think - I may have been relying on dates of pics at the OHS website which I've found to be wrong, sometimes) but I'll double check just to be sure.

About Saturday, Steve has invited me to come along with him so, yes, I'll be there and I look forward to meeting you guys! Maybe southside will rub off on me, who can say?

When I get back to the text part of the blog article that is not yet done, it has occurred to me to wonder out loud if one or both of Rodney Dangerfield's parents may have lived there ... you know, "I ain't got no respect." :doh:

Do you get that impression from "our" comments or words of others?

Just curios.

I'll be there saturday as well.

Doug Loudenback

05-13-2009, 09:12 PM

Well, actually, I was thinking of some of your comments. :tiphat:

papaOU

05-13-2009, 09:59 PM

Well, actually, I was thinking of some of your comments. :tiphat:

That's okay:tiphat:

Generals64

05-14-2009, 08:18 PM

Doug, there may have been a resurgence or remodel as about the time my mom worked there was during the "Family Center" boom for TG&Y. In the early to middle 60's TG&Y began trying to make their Small Variety stores into "Expanded Variety" Stores. I just know that I had been with TG&Y for a few years when she went to work at Kress.....But, I'm sure the ads are correct.

Oh, by the way, The southsider Kids all just want to have fun. We are excited to think that a northsider group is coming across the river to our Place...Just kidding....PapaOU can't help himself since he actually admits to going to the building on 36th and Walker called "Capitol Hill High School". Oh well halucinations come in different packages....When you get to Coit's (Southside), you have to order a #2/Fritos and a Frosted Root Beer.....don't panic as you eat this cuisine as you will still be in OKC (Southside) and you didn't die and go to Heaven.....See Ya next time ....Generals64...................

Doug Loudenback

05-14-2009, 08:31 PM

Generals64

05-14-2009, 08:44 PM

As a matter of fact, I love frito chili pies and frosted root beers and have for decades ... I've eaten many fine lunches in the Capitol Hill area, though mostly long ago, and I cannot remember the names of them. You guys will help me out with that, I am sure!

That aside, the store was initially a Kress. Did that change to TG&Y? When?

I've added a good bit of text to the article even though it's undone, but I'm going to stop for the night. More to follow.

I'm guessing that PapaOU might look just a little like the guy whose picture appears below the downtown floats in my blog article ... I look forward to meeting all of you and having some fun.
************************************************** ***********

No, I think that Kress and Co. was feeling the "Heat" that was coming in every direction. K-Mart (Kresge Co.) had moved into Oklahoma (Tulsa) and everyone was a little "Spooked" about the new concept of Discount merchandising. I'll try and talk to one of the "Old"...TG&Y guys tomorrow and ask him what was going on during this time. Kress shut down the store in Capitol Hill and the building sat vacant for some time and then the State Services took it over. I remember going into the store and riding the escalator downstairs but, that was about it. I was too enamored
with TG&Y to really think anyone could create a retail problem with TG&Y...Still think that TG&Y could be "fighting" with the Big Boys had the parent company not sold them off. another story another time.....See ya next time:....Generals64...

papaOU

05-14-2009, 10:37 PM

From Wikipedia:

Tiendas Kress is a Puerto Rican chain of stores dedicated in particular to the sales of women's clothes. Tiendas Kress has about 50 stores countrywide in Puerto Rico.

After being founded in the 1950s, massive expansion took place during the 1970s. The 1980s saw the arrival of the Kress Kids line and other Kress trademarks. Kress was one of the stores that opened at Plaza las Americas before the shopping center expanded into the Caribbean's largest mall in 1980.

Tiendas Kress is a derivate of S. H. Kress & Co., or Kress Stores, an American five and dime chain.

Tiendas Kress was never affected by the economic problems that led to their parent company's demise in 1981.

Doug Loudenback

05-18-2009, 03:53 AM

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_schilling_rummies.jpg

In continuing my Capitol Hill research, one of if not the most interesting (to me, at least) stories to come out of the 1900s was/is the story associated with one of Capitol Hill's ex officio mayors, H.C. Schilling.

So, I decided to make a separate article about him called Doug Dawgz Blog: The Curious Case of H.C. Schilling (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2009/05/curious-case-of-hc-schilling.html).

Go there to read about the developer of East Capitol Hill and Capitol Hill's mayor from 1905 until he was removed from office in 1907.

Doug Loudenback

05-21-2009, 02:32 AM

Here are some additional photos I took on Saturday, May 16, which will be incorporated into my main Capitol Hill article:

210-214 Commerce

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_210_214sw25.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_210_214sw25m.jpg

222 Commerce

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_222sw25.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_222sw25m.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_222sw25crop.jpg

228 Commerce

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_228sw25.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_228sw25m.jpg

Davis Building (I didn't write down the address, but 119 Commerce, I think)

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_davisbuilding.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_davisbuildingm.jpg

Questions for you Capitol Hill buffs: judging by the above photos, 1928 must have been a building year for Capitol Hill. Questions for you:

Are you able to confirm that?
Why was 1928 particularly significant?

I'll be researching the Oklahoman archives for Capitol Hill in the 1920s shortly, but I thought you might be able to give me a heads up.

Mount Saint Marys

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_msmarys2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_msmarys2m.jpg

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_msmarys1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_msmarys1m.jpg

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_sacredheart.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_sacredheartm.jpg

Concerning Mount St. Mary's, the January 19, 1904, Daily Oklahoma article below said that it would be the largest structure in Oklahoma Territory, when completed:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1904_01_19.jpg

As to the Catholic endeavors, I found some articles indicating that a school for men studying for the priesthood was to be built. For example, a March 23, 1906, Daily Oklahoman article appears below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1906_03_23.jpg

That could possibly relate to the addition where Mt. St. Mary's is located being called "College Hill Addition." But I have been unable to locate any articles or other source material indicating that such a facility was ever done. Possibly, it was included as part of Sacred Heart, but that's just a hypothetical guess on my part.

Question for Capitol Hill buffs: Do you known anything about such a seminary and if it was ever built?

For quick reference, the questions I pose to you Capitol Hill buffs are:

Are you able to confirm that 1928 was an unusually significant building year for Capitol Hill?
Why was 1928 particularly significant?
Did the Catholic seminary ever get built?

papaOU

05-21-2009, 02:52 AM

Doug Loudenback

05-22-2009, 08:19 AM

I'd still like more answers to the above questions from any that know.

In the meantime, I'm going to take a few more pics today particularly of any public school buildings that still exist. Here is my current list of public schools which would be located within the 1910 boundaries:

Lee Elementary (424 SW 29) 1910-today
Capitol Hill Jr. High (now elementary, 2717 S. Robinson) 1921-today
Capitol Hill Sr. High (500 SW 36th) 1928-29 - today
Shields Heights Elementary (301 SE 38), 1911-2003 or so
Wheeler Elementary (501 SE 25) 1910-today
Lafayette Elementary (500 SW 44) 1928-2003 (technically, on the south side of SW 44th, not in Capitol Hill but close enough to count)

Have I missed any public schools?

Martin

05-22-2009, 08:29 AM

how about...

heronville elementary, 1240 sw 29th (se corner of 29th & blackwelder)
shidler elementary, 1415 s. byers (just north of capitol hill, so maybe this doesn't count)

-M

papaOU

05-22-2009, 09:55 AM

Wheeler, 501 se 25th. I am not sure of the date and it is in the East Capitol Hill/Schilling Addition. Shidler, mentioned by mmm would also fall under the same addition.

Doug Loudenback

05-22-2009, 02:34 PM

mmm and papaOU,

I'm intending to include every school in or very close to the 1910 boundaries of Capitol Hill ... which includes all of Capitol Hill as it stood when annexed by Oklahoma City in 1909-1910 ... see the 1910 map below. So that would include schools outside the 1910 boundaries, such as Capitol Hill High School, Wheeler, and, yes, Shilder (which I didn't think about as being on the north side of that definition, but this was just because I wasn't thinking "north." I did think "south" to include Lafayette, I just missed a step. Thanks for pointing this omission out to me, and it will be included.

In my 2-3 hour drive through this morning, I did happen across Heronville School ... in my drive, I tried to pass through almost every area included within the 1910 definition which accounts for me noticing Heronville ... and I see from the OKC schools website that Heronville School was established in 1928. papaOU, the date I used for Wheeler was from the Oklahoman archives and other sources and I am confident that it opened in 1910 immediately east of the Capitol Hill 1910 boundary. Before I left for my photo-drive-by this morning, I did some research in the Oklahoman's archives and found that quite a history is associated with Wheeler ... oil, gas, oil & gas danger, pollutants, back in the 1930s when the school board leased oil and gas rights to plant wells right on school property which resulted in the school being closed for several months because the State Fire Marshall found that danger existed to students. After the school's closing, parents and students even marched in protest for their school not being open and a good bit of litigation was involved, too. Sort of a fun little history story, which I'll be telling in the blog article.

But, as I said, I did miss Shidler School in my thinking. To be sure, 1415 S. Byers is slightly north of the Capitol Hill boundary, but, since I've also included Lafayette and Capitol Hill High School, both of which were south of the Capitol Hill 1910 boundary, Shidler should also be included.

I'd earlier taken a pic of Shidler when working on the Okc Vintage Map project, so I've got a contemporary photo already.

Today I took about 50 pics ... not just schools ... if you are not aware of a new school being built, Educare, is a new school being built diagonally northeast from the old Shields Heights School (now a charter school called Saints Santa Fe South), and this new facility will amaze you. Today, the workmen on-site told me that it is scheduled to open this August and is for kids under 5 years old. Pics will be up shortly.

I'll post thumbnails of the photos later after I finish working on schools. I was glad to find that all of the schools, even if closed as Okc schools, have found another life and that all of the old buildings still exist.

The "school" map I've put together is presently as is shown below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/ch_sanborn1922_schools.jpg

Thanks, guys!

Generals64

05-22-2009, 05:31 PM

Doug Loudenback

05-22-2009, 05:47 PM

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doug, wouldn't Shidler be considered part of East Capitol Hill?
Of course. But so was the legal boundary of Capitol Hill both in 1904 and 1910. The legal boundary of Capitol Hill (plus a slight fudge factor on the outside) is what I'm going by.

papaOU

05-22-2009, 07:41 PM

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doug, wouldn't Shidler be considered part of East Capitol Hill? If in your driving you probably went down (be careful) central....You will notice a small business district that is mostly boarded up right now. that was where an attempt to re-establish another part of town. My wife had some friends that came up from Texas in the Early 40's maybe late 30's and they had a laundromat there on Central. Their were part of the attempt to establish another part of town. this wasn't a rebellion, it was just expansion. Also, if you will go east of Central on 15th you'll see a large amount of "shotgun" houses that were originally built for the oil and Gas business. And there were quite a few neighbohoods cropping up but, you will also find areas began to appear on the river area.....If you'll check one of the postings by rickster, you'll see that a large amount of people began to use the city land for property to build shanties....this was around 1928 also...Hmmmmmm

The area from Lightning Creek east to (?) was a direct result of the oil fields. The majority of the inhabitants were worked the fields. If you would notice the buildings along S.E. 29th from the railroad tracks to Sunnylane are all metal corrugated structures. At one time there were several of the buildings east of 29th. SouthSide Girl said she worked at the company just east of the RR tracks until the oil business went belly up. The area being a part of the OKLAHOMA CITY OILFIELD.

That is why Bent Stick (As Crooked Oak is known on the "Hill) is home of the RUF-NEX (They can't even spell it correctly)

Doug Loudenback

05-23-2009, 01:57 AM

Below are small versions of the photos I took yesterday during my 2 1/2 - 3 hour Capitol Hill photo shoot. Since there are so many, I've reduced the size of images shown to 400 px wide and paired 2 pics to a row but you can click on any photo for a 1024 px wide view.

Shields Heights School, 301 SE 38. The school was built in 1911, Layton & Smith, architects. I've not pinned down the date it closed but it was 2003 or shortly after. It is still used, though, as the Santa Fe South charter high school school.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

The 2nd photo below looks northeast to a pedestrian bridge going over the Santa Fe tracks into an exciting new school being built for 4 year olds and younger, Educare -- strictly speaking, not Capitol Hill but close enough to count.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shieldsheights_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

The next group shows Educare, a new facility under construction at Byers & Grand Blvd. According to its website (http://www.okceducare.org/), "Through a collaboration of Oklahoma leaders and organizations, Oklahoma City Educare will serve 200 at-risk children, prenatal to five years old, with year-round educational programs and developmental childcare. In addition to serving children enrolled in the program, family support staff will also ensure that pregnant women and newborns receive health services."

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_05s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_05.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_06s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_06.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_07s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/educare_2009_05_22_07.jpg)

Driving north of the above area at SE 25th and Byers (501 SE 25th) one reaches Wheeler School, another school by Layton & Smith, architects, built in 1910. Located in the Oklahoma City oil field, the school board allowed wells to be built right on the school grounds and that caused the school to close for a little less than a year because of hazards to the children. Much controversy, but I'll not write about that here.

Here are photos of the school and its surroundings today. It sits in a pastoral area today, all cleaned up from oil field days gone by, next to Schilling Park which I'll show after the school.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

The 2nd view below is taken from Byers approaching SW 25th.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

I was curious about remnants of the Oklahoma City oil field, so I drove over to High from Byers and then drove north on High to SE 22nd. An aerial view is shown below ... the ovals show the pics taken along High of oil field remnants.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/wheeler_aerial.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_05s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_05.jpg)

Reaching SE 22nd, I turned west and drove back to Byers. Before reaching Byers, there was a turn-in and that's where the photos of Schilling Park were taken, below. In a couple, you can see Wheeler School in the background.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_02.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_03.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/schillingpark_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

Although I didn't do it today, driving further north on Byers one would reach Shidler School at 1415 S. Byers, also barely outside the Capitol Hill 1910 definition. The photo below was taken in March 2009. The school is not much to look at.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shidler_2009_marchs.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/shidler_2009_march.jpg)

Lafayette School is another that sits barely outside the edge of 1910 Capitol Hill. It is located at 500 SW 44 and had a lifespan from 1928 to 2003. Its current occupant is shown in the photos below.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lafayette_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lafayette_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lafayette_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lafayette_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

I returned to Lee School at 424 SW 29 built in 1910 and still operating today. The pair of photos I took last Saturday didn't capture the east part of the school, added at a date I don't presently know. So I took another to show that part better. The 1st 2 below were taken on May 15 or 16, I don't recall which. The 3rd was taken on May 22.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_hudson_29th_2009_1s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_hudson_29th_2009_1.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_hudson_29th_2009_2s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_hudson_29th_2009_2.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_westbound_2009_05_22s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/lee_westbound_2009_05_22.jpg)

The last school covered in these pics is Heronville School at 1240 SW 29th (southeast corner of Blackwelder & SW 29th). The school's website says that it was built in 1928 and named for a "Mr. Heron," according to the School Board's website (http://www.okcps.k12.ok.us/Region2/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10) for the school. Apparently the school board isn't sufficiently proud of Mr. Heron to give his first name ... I'll have to find that on my own. It simply reads, "School is named after Mr. Herron, an Oklahoma City educator, who donated the land for the school in 1928." In addition to not having his 1st name, his last name is spelled incorrectly, also. The Board of Education's website is also most probably incorrect as to the date of the school, since a September 11, 1928, Daily Oklahoman article evidences that the school existed at least by the 1927 school term. In another article, December 27, 1925, the school principal of "Heronville schools," Nina Lee Gill, won a $5 prize for best letter to the editor.

The front of the school is barely visible because of the temporary buildings which face north on SW 29th. The 2nd photo was taken from Blackwelder looking at a side entrance. The school has been majorly expanded to include new facilities, shown below.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/heronville_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

I've previously covered Mount Saint Marys and Capitol Hill Jr. & Sr. High Schools and I'll not repeat them here.

The remainder of the photos I took yesterday were various parts of Capitol Hill today.

First, Andrews Square, a facility owned by the Oklahoma City Housing Authority at 2101 S. Harvey. It appears to be very well maintained from what I observed.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/andrewssquare_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/andrewssquare_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/andrewssquare_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/andrewssquare_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

Nearby, here are a pair of images a bit further south but around SW 23rd and Hudson:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/hudson_23rd_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/hudson_23rd_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/hudson_23rd_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/hudson_23rd_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

When coming north on Walker after taking the Lafayette School photos, I passed by this pretty park which wasn't proud enough to show a name ... but from MS Maps the name is shown as Hosea Vinyard Park ... just a bit south of Capitol Hill High School ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/parkonwalker_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/parkonwalker_2009_05_22_01.jpg)

I cut over to Harvey and drove north toward downtown Capitol Hill. The street scenes below follow that track.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

In the main, it was a charming well-kept neighborhood of modest homes flanking a nice boulevard. But, like the rest of Capitol Hill, it wasn't always pretty.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_05s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/drivingonharvey_2009_05_22_05.jpg)

Getting back to downtown, I took a few more street scene pics, including the Capitol Hill branch library at 334 SW 26th. The others below generally proceed east on Commerce from Walker.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/library_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/library_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/library_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/library_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

They don't call it "the hill" for nothing!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_01s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_01.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_02s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_02.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_03s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_03.jpg) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_04s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_04.jpg)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_05s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/commerce_2009_05_22_05.jpg)

The last pic I'll show doesn't really fit logically well in the above sequence but it's of a house that I found interesting on SW 27th near Blackwelder when taking pics of the Heronville School.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/sw27nearblackwelder_2009_05_22s.jpg (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/sw27nearblackwelder_2009_05_22.jpg)

papaOU

05-23-2009, 11:57 AM

The bldg. at 23rd and Hudson, white with the rounded corners, and glass tiles was a doctor's and/or a medical office.

Generals64

05-23-2009, 12:01 PM

The bldg. at 23rd and Hudson, white with the rounded corners, and glass tiles was a doctor's and/or a medical office.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All right, let's help him some more....The original Southside library was on 42nd and May until they built the one where it is now....I was in the Fourth grade...and that would be about 1955-56.....the Love Ministries building is where TG&Y stores were....The area that is cleared by the TG&Y was C.R. Anthony's it burned down quite sometime ago. The upstairs of the TG&Y building was the regional headquarters....That store was there I know in the middle 50's and probably sooner.....

papaOU

05-23-2009, 12:04 PM

A few years back Wheeler did have a fire..............

Doug Loudenback

05-23-2009, 12:26 PM

Thanks, guys ... please keep the info coming!

I see from the name of the Love/TG&Y building that it was built in 1928 as the Capitol Hill Building & Loan. Do you know (1) when that use stopped and/or (2) where the building & loan moved it (if it moved as opposed to shutting down)?

And what's the story on these apartment buildings near SW 23 & Hudson?

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/today/hudson_23rd_2009_05_22_01s.jpg

papaOU says he's going to e-mail some photos he's taken, and I invite anyone else who wants to do the same. I'll naturally credit any photos I use in the blog article ... which, I'm thinking, I'm going to make radical changes to by breaking it into parts with links to each other instead of dumping most everything in the same article. Hopefully, that will make it less unwieldy. But, I'm not ready to do that yet since I've got more research yet to do.

Please, keep filling me in! Send me a PM if you want my e-mail address.

Doug Loudenback

05-23-2009, 12:31 PM

And, for sure, if you notice something you think I've missed that should be included, point me in the right direction and I'll take more photos.

Generals64

05-23-2009, 02:18 PM

USG '60

05-23-2009, 03:09 PM

Oklahoma National Bank to be exact.

Doug Loudenback

05-23-2009, 03:42 PM

Thanks USG '60 ... I knew it was a bank (since the building's exterior contains that info) but not the name.

And what about those apartments? Are they new, old, what?

USG '60

05-23-2009, 04:27 PM

papaOU

05-23-2009, 09:07 PM

As you know Doug, I'm perty old, so I'm not SURE, but I think those Apts have been there for decades but they just sat there so "silently" that no one ever noticed. I worked in the 200 block of commerce at 2 locations over many years so I SHOULD know for sure, but I don't. Regarding the CH Savings and Loan, again, I Think that it moved a block or two west on the same side of the street into a "modern" bldg. Some time in the 70s its name change to Great Western S&L. It closed along with all S&Ls when the laws allowed banks to make home loans. This all needs to be verified, but I'm FAIRLY sure.

I had many school chums and friends who lived in the apartments during the '60's and '70's and they were there longer than that. Nothing other than that.
You are correct about the bank. Moved to S. Robinson between S.W. 26th and 27th. It is now used as government offices.

Doug Loudenback

05-24-2009, 01:46 PM

Earlier in this thread, I inquired whether, and if so, why, 1928 seemed to be a "building year" in Capitol Hill. Researching the Oklahoman's archives gives the answers:

First, it wasn't just 1928 ... the period of expansion began a few years earlier in anticipation of the Walker viaduct (aka bridge), that being the initial impetus for a substantial period of Capitol Hill growth.

Second, based on my review of Oklahoman articles, my conclusion is that three main reasons for the expansion existed, listed below in their order of probable importance:

The Walker Viaduct. Viaduct was a popular term in the early days. I'll just call it a bridge. It was approved by city-wide bond election vote on November 30, 1923, following the two worst floods city had known in May and October of 1923. During those major floods, Capitol Hill was basically cut off from the north parts of the city for quite a period of time and damage was huge in Capitol Hill as well as on the north side of the North Canadian. Before the Walker bridge, Robinson was the only direct non-trolley point of connection from north to south (I think), and Robinson south of Reno wasn't much of a road in those days in any event (I'm pretty sure that a Walker private vehicle bridge didn't exist at this point in time). South of Reno, Robinson was relatively narrow (30 to 40 feet wide depending on the point of measurement) and unpaved. See this December 1, 1923 article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1923_12_01_walker.jpg) for the vote. Anticipating that construction, construction began booming -- see this December 31, 1924, article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1924_12_31_walker.jpg). The Walker bridge formally opened on April 20, 1926, and looked like this pic in an article of the same date:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1926_04_20_pic.jpg

See these articles for more about that: April 20, 1926 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1926_04_20_walker1.jpg); another April 20, 1926 article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1926_04_20_walker2.jpg); and yet another in this same issue, shown by the full page ad below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1926_04_20_walker.jpg

Even today, Walker is the superior and more beautiful connection between Capitol Hill and downtown Oklahoma City, much more so than Robinson.

Earl. Oil, that is. With the discovery of oil and gas in and around Capitol Hill, particularly East Capitol Hill, new residences, and businesses emerged to serve both those citizens as well as the oil operations. I list this factor as 2nd since the boom was already well under way after the Walker bridge announcement.

Capitol Hill High School. Constructed in 1928-1929, it was ready for official opening in August 1929, per this August 6, 1929 article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1929_08_06_highschool.jpg). City leaders and the Oklahoman touted the new high school as "the best in the state," per this January 5, 1930 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1930_01_05_highschool.jpg) article. The new and great school was doubtless invaluable in attracting new residents to Capitol Hill -- nothing remarkable about that -- schools are always a big draw when people are deciding where to live, and now Capitol Hill could rightly boast that it had the very finest high school in all of Oklahoma City, and the entire state.

Honorable Mention -- the Robinson Widening. Not making "win, place, or show," it is nonetheless noteworthy that Robinson became paved and widened from Reno to SW 15th, but not until after the Capitol Hill construction boom was already underway or almost done. Hence, I've not listed this as a "major" reason for the building boom because it was constructed basically after the fact. Much talk had been given to widening Robinson for several years, but its widening was not approved by the Oklahoma City council until August 29, 1928, per this August 30, 1928, article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1928_08_30_robinsonexpa.jpg). When the expansion actually got built I've not yet pinned down, but it was probably not until 1929, if then ... I'm still working on the date of construction. By this action, from Reno to Ash (SW 15th) Robinson became paved and widened. See this May 11, 1926, article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1926_05_11_robinsonexpa.jpg), discussing the prospects and city's general intentions. Note that this is NOT the Rock Island railroad underpass ... that wouldn't come until 1931, per this June 19, 1931 article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1931_06_19_robinsonunde.jpg).

Here are some articles evidencing growth during this period:

12/31/1924 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1924_12_31_walker.jpg) (already mentioned above)

8/26/1928 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1928_08_26_boom.jpg) (largely about residential construction)

9/23/1928 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1928_09_23_boom.jpg) (tripling of population over the past 2-3 years)

12/9/1928 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1928_12_09_boom.jpg) (higher rental rates and absence of residential vacancies)

12/16/1928 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1928_12_16_construction.jpg) (new commercial and residential construction)

7/7/1929 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1929_07_07_construction.jpg) (new businesses)

9/28/1930 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1930_09_28_newbuildings.jpg) (new construction/businesses) ... a reduced size image of the article appears below http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1930_09_28_newbuildi-1.jpg

There are other articles, but this should give the scope of what occurred between 1925-1930 or so. Probably not until the late 1940s, when John A. Brown's established its presence on Commerce Street, would downtown Capitol Hill see another influx of comparable growth but, that said, not as remarkable as the growth that occurred from around 1925 to 1930. I've not finished looking at the 1930s or 1940s yet, but, if Capitol Hill mirrored downtown Oklahoma City during that time frame, if it wasn't done by 1931, most plans just didn't get done during those two decades. Actually, John A. Brown's March 5, 1948, formal opening of its Commerce Street store probably ran against the grain of downtown Oklahoma City's general malaise, period of inactivity, or whatever you want to call it, at that point in time.

papaOU

05-24-2009, 02:39 PM

papaOU

05-25-2009, 01:32 PM

USG '60

05-25-2009, 03:25 PM

Without the intent to "compete" with anyone I took some photos of the "Hill". I incluced the addresses and the name of the business associated with the building as best can be remembered. There are others I will add later.

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket (http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/papaOU/Businesses%20on%20the%20Hill/?albumview=slideshow)Hey, Papa OU, I can help out some here. The building you designated as Mosher-Adams was actually build as a Peyton-Marcus women's wear store --highend for Capitol Hill. The picture that you designate as 200 Blk of Commerce goes like this: the far left (right against the alley) from '63 to '73ish was David's Menswear, the next was JD Brown and Son (Floyd) Jeweler from after the war until well into the 70s. THEN Captitol Hill Bakery (of eclair fame :dizzy:) which sometime in the mid 60s turned into Bob's Hot Dog Stand. Stangely I'm drawing a blank on the next two slots (I think Jerrie's record shop was actually in the next block near Mr. Bucks) The last one is just the east end of Cecil's Womans Wear whose entrance was diagonal on the corner with Harvey.

papaOU

05-25-2009, 03:45 PM

Hey, Papa OU, I can help out some here. The building you designated as Mosher-Adams was actually build as a Peyton-Marcus women's wear store --highend for Capitol Hill. The picture that you designate as 200 Blk of Commerce goes like this: the far left (right against the alley) from '63 to '73ish was David's Menswear, the next was JD Brown and Son (Floyd) Jeweler from after the war until well into the 70s. THEN Captitol Hill Bakery (of eclair fame :dizzy:) which sometime in the mid 60s turned into Bob's Hot Dog Stand. Stangely I'm drawing a blank on the next two slots (I think Jerrie's record shop was actually in the next block near Mr. Bucks) The last one is just the east end of Cecil's Womans Wear whose entrance was diagonal on the corner with Harvey.

Thanks. I'll make the changes. So where the Coney Island is now was Cecil's?

USG '60

05-25-2009, 04:18 PM

If it is on the SE corner of the intersection of Commerce and Harvey, yes. If not, no. :tiphat:

USG '60

05-25-2009, 04:28 PM

Opps, another correction. The White bldg you are calling CH S&L was Oklahoma Nat'l Bank. The Savings and Loan was a block or 2 west. I don't see it among your picts.

papaOU

05-25-2009, 04:29 PM

If it is on the SE corner of the intersection of Commerce and Harvey, yes. If not, no. :tiphat:

Since you have answered the question I think I take new pics showing each individual storefront. Thanks again.

Doug Loudenback

05-25-2009, 05:45 PM

papaOU, that's a great job! The more the merrier, particularly when it comes from Capitol Hill people who have actual memories, as opposed to those who only have a book-newspaper-larnin' knowledge like me. Keep up the good work!

papaOU

05-25-2009, 08:58 PM

Opps, another correction. The White bldg you are calling CH S&L was Oklahoma Nat'l Bank. The Savings and Loan was a block or 2 west. I don't see it among your picts.

The CH S&L was bordered on one side by an alley. I'll take a photo and post it as such and if incorrect we'll change it.

I have seen an article with pictures concerning the Drive-in bank on the northeast corner of 26Th and Harvey. The windows were are made of bulletproof glass and a bank official was inside and a police officer fired a weapon at the man. Publicity and peace of mind.

USG '60

05-26-2009, 07:18 AM

"I have seen an article with pictures concerning the Drive-in bank on the northeast corner of 26Th and Harvey. " That was their NEW location. First Interstate took them over along with First National. What is THAT bldg now?

Heck, I just need to drive over there myself and take some pictures for my own reference.

Doug Loudenback

05-26-2009, 09:36 AM

Here are some articles on the Robinson "viaduct" crossing the North Canadian, and the opening of the Walker & Robinson underpasses under the Rock Island relocated tracks.

Robinson Viaduct: April 29, 1929

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1929_04_29_robinson.jpg

Some of the detail from the above article, good for researching:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1929_04_29_notes1.jpg

Businesses Identified (not all in Capitol Hill)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1929_04_29_notes2.jpg

Walker Underpass: June 8, 1931

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1931_06_08_walker.jpg

Robinson Underpass

Under Construction: November 19, 1931

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1931_11_19_robinson.jpg

Grand Opening: February 9, 1932

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1932_02_09_robinson.jpg

USG '60

05-26-2009, 10:48 AM

The list of businesses was very interesting. It tells me that 228 W Commerce actually did start out as Capitol Hill Bank. It was Oklahoma National by '63 when I began working at Waintroob's down on the corner. Also I noticed that they listed Stock Yards Bank at Agnew and Exchange as being Capitol Hill.

This list should give us even more food for thought as we have time to mull over it.

SOUTHSIDE GIRL

05-26-2009, 11:49 AM

The house at 27th and Blackwelder(my childhood neighborhood) , must had a major renovation. It didn't always look like that.

papaOU

05-26-2009, 03:19 PM

USG '60

05-26-2009, 04:36 PM

It was a family clothing store. At 200 W Commerce was Robinson's Jewelry. Waintroob's was the next store and took up the rest of the setback space that is now the Thrift store and the place with the green awning. In '63 the Waintroobs moved their portion of the business to AMC and became its clothing dept. The menswear portion was owned by David Hecker and he moved his portion up the block to 230 to become David's Menswear. Rather than stay middle of the road, he chose to go "high fashion." It became famous for stage wear and generally FAR OUT clothes. I worked there for most of it's 10 year run and due mostly to the efforts of Henson Cargill and Ron Nance of Satellite Ticket Agency we sold clothes to people as varied as Hank Jr, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers as well as Phil Harris and Buddy Knox. All the local folks from Conway Twitty, Anthony Armstrong Jones and Johnny Hughes to every local band of the 60's and early 70's. Opps, nearly forgot Seals and Croft, KC and the Sunshine Band and the OJays. Not bad for a tiny little Capitol Hill Store.

I may have over-answered you question but I want the Hill to get all the credit it deserves. :tiphat:

gen70

05-27-2009, 08:25 AM

I use'ta buy clothes and shoes at David's in Capitol Hill. I guess I was pretty far out. Was there another David's on N. May?

Doug Loudenback

05-27-2009, 09:59 AM

This morning, I'm trying to fine-tune data about the Capitol Hill theaters. I'll report on one of them now, the old Circle Theatre.

As has been noted, it was located at 2510 S. Robinson and became the Capitol Theater after a theater by the same name in downtown Okc ceased its operations, and that occurred in 1941, by 12/23/41 (the 1st ad I located using that name).

The theater continued as the Capitol Theater as late as 8/26/1966, and it was apparently closed and sold soon after that.

By April 1967, the theater reopened under a new name, the Capri, and it exhibited "adult" fare. The earliest ads identify it as formerly the Capitol Theater (see this 4/4/1967 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1967_04_04_circlecapri.jpg) and this 4/5/1967 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1967_04_05_circlecapri.jpg) ad) and quite a number of ads appeared in the Oklahoman for the Capri and like the June 14, 1967, ad below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1967_06_14_circlecapri.jpg

Alas, the then owner became an object of affection by then DA Curtis Harris in late 1967 as shown by this 12/19/1967 article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1967_12_19_circlecapri.jpg), the DA's interest culminating in arrests in early 1968. The owner also owned the downtown Mondo Arts Theater. Two articles reflect that the new owner was charged with exhibiting obscene movies. The first article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1968_02_16_circlecapri.jpg), 2/16/1968, had to do with the downtown Mondo. The second article (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1968_02_17_circlecapri.jpg), 2/17/1968, shows that a similar charge was filed associated with a movie being shown at the Capri.

After that pair of articles, no further mention of the Capri or any other business at 2510 S. Robinson appears in the Oklahoman's archives, or, if it does and I looked as thoroughly as I know how, I could not find the same.

Martin

05-27-2009, 10:10 AM

^
any idea when/how the structure met its demise?

-M

Doug Loudenback

05-27-2009, 11:08 AM

^
any idea when/how the structure met its demise?

-M
No, I couldn't find anything in the Oklahoman archives about that, although I looked. That doesn't mean that it's not there ... the Oklahoman's on-line archive software's search features are only average at best. For example, if you search for "Capri" or worse yet "Capri Theater" or Capri Theatre", you'll get very few hits, even though "Capri" probably appears in a couple of dozen, maybe 3 or 4 dozen (I wasn't counting) ads that I eventually found. Instead of searching for "Capri" or variations thereof I finally searched for "2510 s. robinson" or variations on that. Despite the annoyance that "south" was ignored as a search word (and if you can force the search engine to include excluded words I've not figured out how), just plain "2510 robinson" turned up the Capri ads and related information, like the pair of criminal charges.

Maybe some Capitol Hill old-timers can fill us in on when the building was destroyed. As papaOU shows in one of his photobucket pics, some of the former sidewalk tile is still present:

Credit: papaOU at his photobucket account (http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/papaOU/Businesses%20on%20the%20Hill/)

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/papaOU/Businesses%20on%20the%20Hill/ncaaday1042.jpg

USG '60

05-27-2009, 01:32 PM

I use'ta buy clothes and shoes at David's in Capitol Hill. I guess I was pretty far out. Was there another David's on N. May? I was the one withthe long hair and beard. The 2nd one was at 50 30 N May. We moved the CH store to North Park. It did not do well there and was closed after a couple of years. The Mayfair store lasted into the 80s.

gen70

05-27-2009, 02:07 PM

I was the one withthe long hair and beard. The 2nd one was at 50 30 N May. We moved the CH store to North Park. It did not do well there and was closed after a couple of years. The Mayfair store lasted into the 80s.

Thanks! Now I remember the N. May store at Mayfair. I bought a few things there....didn't know about the store at North Park. David's had some cool clothes.

papaOU

05-27-2009, 02:30 PM

I was the one withthe long hair and beard. The 2nd one was at 50 30 N May. We moved the CH store to North Park. It did not do well there and was closed after a couple of years. The Mayfair store lasted into the 80s.

Now why doesn't '64 and Prunepicker rag you about your hair and beard?

papaOU

05-27-2009, 08:53 PM

Okay gang. Check this site out. I say the information for the Capitol theater is incorrect. But it is a good site for photos and information about other theaters.

Cinema Treasures (http://cinematreasures.org/)

gen70

05-28-2009, 06:42 AM

gen70

05-28-2009, 08:06 AM

I remember going to the Knob Hill theatre with a neighborhood friend to see King Kong vs. Godzilla and the line to get in was all the way down the block.

Doug Loudenback

05-28-2009, 08:09 AM

Do none of you Capitol Hill guys know when the Circle/Capitol/Capri Theater was torn down?

Doug Loudenback

05-28-2009, 02:09 PM

I've pretty much finished researching the Knob Hill theater.

A couple of brief articles described its development: May 1, 1946 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1946_05_01_knobhill.jpg) and September 22, 1946 (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1946_09_22_knobhill.jpg).

Here's the ad for its October 10, 1946, grand opening:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1946_10_10_knobhill.jpg

Owned by the same fellow, Lewis Barton, who was opening the downtown Home Theater around the same (he also owned the Redskin),
the Knob Hill even co-hosted a "Southwest Premiere" of at least one movie (although their were many other 1st runs), at least once,
as shown by the December 24, 1946, ad below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1946_12_24_knobhill.jpg

As late as 1964, the Knob Hill was still showing 1st run movies, even if some might call them "B" (maybe B+) movies.

October 28, 1964:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1964_10_28_knobhill.jpg

December 16, 1964:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1964_12_26_knobhill.jpg

In the above ad, note that it says "all new seats," so some attempt was being made to keep the theater viable.

The last ad I could find for the Knob Hill as a movie house was the 9/28/1973 ad shown below.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1973_09_28_knobhill.jpg

Between October 19 through October 27, 1973, instead of showing movies the facility hosted
a Baptist Revival, per the October 19, 1973, article below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1973_10_19_knobhill.jpg

So, late-September early-October 1973 may have been the end point for the facility's use as a motion picture theater.
I found no movie ads for the Knob Hill after September 1973. According to the 1980 article, below, the theater
had been closed "for years." Perhaps some of you Capitol Hill guys can help pin down the closing date.

The demise of the Knob Hill is not at unique -- city-wide, suburban theaters were closing in all parts of town.

The reopening of the Knob Hill as the Oklahoma Opry was greeted with much fanfare and hope for revitalization
of Commerce Street in the April 15, 1980, article below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1980_04_15_opry.jpg

Other than the Knob Hill, Barton also developed the property west of the theater, and had plans to
develop east from the theater, as shown by the December 5, 1954, article below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/capitolhill/capitolhill_1954_12_05_construction.jpg

How much, if any, of the property east of the Knob Hill got developed per the above article, I've not yet researched.

From papaOU's photobucket pages (http://s664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/papaOU/Businesses%20on%20the%20Hill/):

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/papaOU/Businesses%20on%20the%20Hill/CarpetStore.jpg

His comment about this building at 420 Commerce, west of the Knob Hill, is:

While growing up this was a carpet store. The grocery catered to Latino's. After the ice storm of 2007 it never reopened.
As you can see from the above 12/5/1954, Oklahoman article, he nailed the initial tenant.