Downtown Norman, Ponca City train depot, Custer County archeological site land on National Register of Historic Places
Some of y’all know that my inner child wants to grow up to be a historian. My inner lad, in fact, took control of my mind and body from 2001-2004 and had me get an M.A. in history from the University of Central Oklahoma. (I’ve used it, too.) So, historic preservation hits me inside (inner child) and out (day job).
That’s why I love hearing about new additions to the National Register of Historic Places. This just in (and the archeological site in Custer County is the coolest one to me!):
The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce three new National Register of Historic Places listing. The newest listings from Oklahoma include: one historic district, an archeological site and a railroad resource. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
The Downtown Norman Historic District, located in Norman, Cleveland County, is significant for its association with historic commercial activities in Norman. As the core of the central business district, this area has been the center of commercial development in Norman from shortly after its founding in 1889 to the present. The vast majority of construction in the area was completed by 1960, with most commercial construction activity after this time being in the form of renovations and a small number of infill construction projects. The buildings in the Downtown Norman Historic District reflect the commercial growth of this community, growth spurred by agricultural prosperity, proximity to transportation routes, and the University of Oklahoma. The nomination was prepared by Kelli Gaston for the City of Norman.
The Heerwald site, located in Custer County, is significant as it represents a village of the incompletely understood Turkey Creek phase, A.D. 1200-1450. The presence of intact cultural deposits and subsurface features indicates this site has the potential to provide important information on the subsistence, trade, site structure, and other socio-economic activities of groups in the Washita River basin of west-central Oklahoma 600-800 years ago. From the investigations of 34CU27, the site can provide additional information concerning diet, tool industry, town layout, and other aspects of Plains Villager life leading up to the precontact coalescent or “protohistoric” period. The Heerwald site has the potential to answer many basic questions concerning the Turkey Creek phase and the lifestyle of these people during the 13th through early 15th centuries.
The Santa Fe Depot in Ponca City is significant for its association with rail transportation in Ponca City from its construction in 1911 until its remodeling at the end of World War II. It is also significant as a notable and unique example of a modified Mission/Colonial Revival style combination passenger and freight depot. The nomination was prepared for the City of Ponca City by Kelli Gaston.
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Story on the Santa Fe Depot in Ponca City, by my friend Beverly Bryant at the Ponca City News:
http://www.poncacitynews.com/local/santa-fe-depot-on-National-Register—asked-Rolf-to-get-photo–2013-03-25