Fidelity Bank

[Doug Loudenback]

Blog post: Doug Dawgz Blog: Fidelity Bank

While looking for some "vintage" okc maps at Doug Hamilton's booth in Antique Avenue, http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49...iqueavenue.jpg , roughly 53rd & Western, I ran across a little book telling the history of Fidelity Bank from 1908-1978. It was cheap so of course I bought it.

Little did I know that it would contain some good stories and a few good pics telling the history of Fidelity Bank ... I added some additional text about how it came to be absorbed into Tulsa based Bank of Oklahoma and a few other items.

But, here are the pics ...

Book Cover


1st Location ... in the Lee Building (now Oil & Gas building) at Robinson & Main ... then, it was called First State Bank ...



In 1913, it moved to the Colcord, until 1923. In 1921, the bank went "national" and became Fidelity Bank. I didn't show a unique Colcord pic ... the one in the book wasn't remarkable. In 1923, it moved into the Baum Building (which I didn't know) ... and this nice image of the Baum Building is in the book.



Then, in 1957, it built its new bank in what we call the Park Havey today. It was the 1st post WWII "skyscraper" built downtown ...



In 1972, it moved to its new (and last) facility, what we call BOK today. During that time, Jack T. Conn, father of the "Conncourse," was the chief executive.



In the Conncourse, Fidelity had this nice little "historic" walk-up booth ...



Conn was also very involved in the design and furnishings of the Whitehall Club which occupied the top 2 floors until it closed in 1987. The club's opulent furnishings were auctioned off in that year and the club ceased to exist. Now, the space is occupied by a law firm.

For a little 88 page book, it was well worth what I paid ... under $5.

[Pete]

I remember that teller station in the Conncourse!

I was also a member of the Whitehall Club for a few years in the mid-80's and it was a really nice space. I believe it's now occupied by a law firm that kept (and perhaps enhanced) the opening between the top two floors.


As always, thanks for the memories Doug!

[Doug Loudenback]

I remember that teller station in the Conncourse!

I was also a member of the Whitehall Club for a few years in the mid-80's and it was a really nice space. I believe it's now occupied by a law firm that kept (and perhaps enhanced) the opening between the top two floors.

As always, thanks for the memories Doug!

Thanks, Malibu!

Personally, I think that it's unfortunate and sad (particularly with Okc's "new-found-interest" in its downtown heritage/histotry) that the newly-named "Underground" stripped away the historic reference to Mr. Conn ... that project would not have occurred but for him. I'll still remember it as the "Conncourse!"