My Old Stomping Grounds

[RecycleMichael]

Ramon King did some quality work in this town.

He was the father of Sharon King Davis, who now builds nice shopping centers.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

Ramon King did some quality work in this town.

He was the father of Sharon King Davis, who now builds nice shopping centers.

Ramon King built about 40% of the houses in my childhood subdivision, Leisure Lanes, and Jim Nuckolls built about 60%.  They were all very well built homes with quality materials, although over time soil conditions have caused foundation problems.  But no neighborhood in Tulsa is immune to that.  They were all built to the highest standard of the time, and in my old neighborhood there are still many original owners/residents.

I live in Lortondale at 26th & Yale, a neighborhood developed by Tulsa's most prolific 1950's builder, Howard Grubb with architect Donald Honn.  After 1960, Grubb focused on custom homes, custom multi-family dwellings, and one-of-a-kind homes, mostly by architect Donald Honn.  The Grubb/Honn team built the  Esplanade Condos on S. Lewis, the Garden Park Condos, and many custom modern design homes in Tulsa.  Donald Honn also designed Meadowbrook Country Club, Tulsa Country Club, Park Elementary School, and many other commercial mid-20th Century modern buildings in Tulsa.  Donald Honn died in Tulsa around 2000.

[mr.jaynes]

I have also noticed that the old-school (but no less timeless) Sears store at 21st and Yale was apparently demolished to make way for the current store that occupies that space. The old building had character, this one does not.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

I have also noticed that the old-school (but no less timeless) Sears store at 21st and Yale was apparently demolished to make way for the current store that occupies that space. The old building had character, this one does not.

Sadly, the old Sears at 21st & Yale was imploded about 6-7 years ago, and replaced with the current Sears.  My understanding was that the old building was not up to current code and not handicap-accessible, and the cost to retrofit it was prohibitive.  I too miss the old building with its wonderful orange neon signs, the Sears coffee shop, the great Sears candy counter, the smell of chocolate & popcorn when you walked in, etc.

On a positive note, they replaced the old Sears with the new building, and I read this was the first "stand alone" Sears built in the U.S. in many, many years.  (Not built as part of a major shopping mall.)  Apparently the 21st & Yale Sears was a very profitable store for the chain, and they did not want to leave this location.  Every major appliance in my own home I purchased at the 21st & Yale Sears, and I will continue to do so when the need arises.  The Kenmore & Craftsman brands have always been "best buys" for me, never a disappointment.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

I have also noticed that the old-school (but no less timeless) Sears store at 21st and Yale was apparently demolished to make way for the current store that occupies that space. The old building had character, this one does not.

Sadly, the old Sears at 21st & Yale was imploded about 6-7 years ago, and replaced with the current Sears.  My understanding was that the old building was not up to current code and not handicap-accessible, and the cost to retrofit it was prohibitive.  I too miss the old building with its wonderful orange neon signs, the Sears coffee shop, the great Sears candy counter, the smell of chocolate & popcorn when you walked in, etc.

And so disappears another part of Tulsa's past. When was that built, 1930s, 1940s?

The old shopping center on the southwest corner seems to have given way to the Walmart chain, when previously, it was a small center yet had just what you need at the time.

I have also seen some changes to the fairgrounds. Seems an few buildings that were once there are no longer there. Ya know, sometimes progress ain't always a good thing!