Longview sub Fair Acres

[TURobY]

I just recently purchased a house, and it says that the neighborhood is "Longview sub Fair Acres". It is over by TU, and I love the location and the look of the neighborhood.

However, I wanted to do a little bit of research on the area to find historic architectural styles, type of neighborhood and historical presence that might exist, and anything else I could want to know when I move in and decorate. I'm trying to keep landscaping styles and interior decor as close as I can (with occasional exceptions given my personal style preferences).

I know that the house was built in 1929 in the Craftsman/Bungalow style, and I can go off of that. But I'd also really like to incorporate some of the neighborhood elements as well.

Does anyone know any information or be able to direct me to where I can find some info?

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

Does anyone know any information or be able to direct me to where I can find some info?

The first place I would start is the property abstract for your house.  If you don't know where your abstract is housed, just call any of the downtown title companies, tell them the legal description of your house (Lot X, Block X, Longview subdivision of Fair Acres) and they can look it up on the computer system and tell you where yours is located.  You are the abstract owner, so you can check it out free of charge for as long as you like.  Just don't lose it or damage it and return it to storage promptly; rebuilding an abstract can be VERY expensive and would be your responsibility when the property is resold.

I checked out mine (from Tulsa Abstract & Title on Denver) and found a wealth of information on the history of my neighborhood.  My house is in block #3 of the Lortondale addition.  My abstract had the land ownership documents going all the way back to the Creek tribal lands, allotment of the land to Creek citizen Frances Perryman, sale of the land to Eugene Lorton in 1925, sale of the land to Meadowbrook Country Club and Maurice Sanditen of OTASCO, and eventual sale of the land to Howard Grubb & the Lortondale Construction Co. Inc., the developer that built my house in 1954.  All the records of the previous owners of my house were there, even court probate documents when a previous owner had died.  Fascinating stuff.  My abstract was about 2 inches thick, packed with every deed, lien, mortgage, and transfer of ownership of my land since around 1850.

Oklahoma is one of the few states left that still requires real estate abstract maintenance for property sales.  Some think it is an unnecessary expense, but it is a great source for research on the history of your property.