What changed?

[Conan71]

Conan, the pillars may be the entrance to the ranch, but the aerial photos I have seen of the development in its early stages show nary a tree. You could cut it down and count the rings to be sure.

Ironic you say that, WB.  My neighbor just had his river birch cut down last week and had the American elm all trimmed up.  There was still debris in that tree from the ice storm of aught-seven.  I'm debating taking out my river birch, they were all planted way too close to the front of the houses that got them, though I'm concerned the root system might be one of the things that prevented settling in my foundation...LOL!

[Steve]

Oh, since Steve brought it up, my little slice of Perryman/Lorton/Sanditen/Grubb bliss is a late '55 model.  My neighbor has a giant American Elm which I imagine was there well back when it was the Lorton ranch still.  Next time you drive down Yale, glance east between 27th Pl. and 27th St.  There are some brick columns which look totally out of place.  My understanding is that was the entrance to the Lorton ranch.

The four brick columns at 27th Street & Yale are indeed the original entrance to the Eugene and Maud Lorton country estate which they christened "Lortondale."  Lorton built a grand country estate house on the property, which was later retained and became the first clubhouse for Meadowbrook Country Club.  Just inside these four brick columns was the original Meadowbrook CC riding stables, which homebuilder Howard Grubb converted into his millwork and carpentry shop, producing all the custom mahogany woodwork and cabinetry for the Lortondale homes on site.

The 2007 Lortondale architectual survey that is being used for Lortondale's National Historic Register nomination (I have a copy), specifically cites these 4 surviving columns as a significant surviving relic from Lortondale's past.  I am gratefull that the homeowner at 27th & Yale has not destroyed this historic neighborhood element and I hope these columns will still stand long after I am gone.   

[Conan71]

Steve, I'd always assumed those were on public land and not owned by a home owner.  Hmmm, learn something new every day...

[Steve]

Steve, I'd always assumed those were on public land and not owned by a home owner.  Hmmm, learn something new every day...

Of course there is a city and utility easement on the east side of Yale just as there is on all our properties, but that land is part of the property deeds for the houses directly along Yale.  As such, those homeowners are responsible for maintenance, mowing, trash pickup, etc. of that land as it is part of their property.  Some "get it," too many do not.  The 4 brick columns are technically owned by the homeowner on the SE corner of 27th & Yale.  Lortondale restrictive covenants forbid any of these owners along Yale from constructing driveways which open directly onto Yale Avenue.

[buckeye]

Harumph.  I always daydreamed that those were the vestige of a grand old estate but cynically figured they were some kind of abortive hillbilly installation, something to skin coyotes on or a still of something.  Nice to know that the more romantic idea matches reality...

[Steve]

Harumph.  I always daydreamed that those were the vestige of a grand old estate but cynically figured they were some kind of abortive hillbilly installation, something to skin coyotes on or a still of something.  Nice to know that the more romantic idea matches reality...

They are the surviving vestige of a grand old estate.  In John Brooks Walton's 3rd book on historic Tulsa homes "Many More Historic Tulsa Homes," there is a section devoted to Lortondale and I recall there is a photo of the original Lorton family house.  Back in the 1930's, 26th & Yale was far out in the country, and wasn't incorporated into the Tulsa city limits until 12-17-54, with the passage of city ordinance #7177, after most of the homes in the original Lortondale tract were completed.

[Conan71]

I shall now refer to the brick columns as "Lortonhenge" 

[Red Arrow]

I shall know refer to the brick columns as "Lortonhinge" 

Kind of like Stonehenge?

[Conan71]

Kind of like Stonehenge?

edited to correct my spelling errors.

Now can you picture me hosting some sort of pagan sun ritual in the midst of that with a keg of Marshall's beer and wearing a hoodie? 

Steve, Mobboss, Theron, Hoodlam (aw hell, Townsend should come too, he's close enough) you guys all coming down to Lortonhenge for a winter solstice observance? 

[Townsend]

Steve, Mobboss, Theron, Hoodlam (aw hell, Townsend should come too, he's close enough) you guys all coming down to Lortonhenge for a winter solstice observance? 

This has block party potential.  I'm in.

[Steve]

I shall now refer to the brick columns as "Lortonhenge" 

I have never seen a photo of what these columns looked like back when they were the original entrance to the Lorton estate or the original Meadowbrook Country Club.  I am sure there was fencing down Yale surrounding the property.  The original entrance gate is long gone, and maybe had fancy wrought iron or such surrounding the columns.  The brick columns were probably originally plastered or stuccoed over; what remarkably survives today is just the structural shell of the original feature.  It is quite remarkable that they survive today.

[FOTD]

Just been wondering what the housing development will look like where the current Meadowbrook CC exists....

Lortonadale South?

[Conan71]

Perhaps the Lorton or Sanditen families would be so kind as to dig into their personal archives to find some footage.  Perhaps even the holders of Honn or Grubb artifacts could find it.

[Steve]

Just been wondering what the housing development will look like where the current Meadowbrook CC exists....

Lortonadale South?

We could never be so lucky.