Sheridan Village doomed
Ark Wrecking is doing banner business this year. Sheridan Village, a two-story suburban shopping center on the southwest corner of Admiral and Sheridan, is set for demolition.
Construction began on Sheridan Village in September 1953 and the center opened in November 1954. It was once home to a Borden's cafeteria, a J. C. Penney's department store, a Brown's Boot Shop, and (in an out-building) an OTASCO. I can remember going to Penney's for back-to-school clothes in the early '70s -- we'd hit there and the Froug's at Admiral and Memorial. McCune and McCune were the architects.
When it opened, the center included Penney's, Crown Drug, a T. G. & Y. five-and-dime store, a Humpty Dumpty supermarket, Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co. (OTASCO), several business and professional offices, and a branch of the Tulsa Public Library.
Tom Baddley at Lost Tulsa has more Sheridan Village history and a Flickr photo set of the Sheridan Village.
I've got to finish my column tonight, but I have display ads and some text from a story about the center in a June 1957 "Old Fashioned Bargain Days" supplement to post.
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As a small child I lived at 722 north 72nd east avenue. My parents made many trips to Sheridan Village before we moved to Texas. it is still a vivd memory for me. Its a shame to see it go. Tulsa seems to be moving toward a smash first, preserve second era.
These old building can be upgraded and maintained if one will put the effort in. More importtantly, we should do precisely that.
I saw the demolition tape last weekend. I have two fond memories of Sheridan Village:
I remember as a kid shopping with my mother at Froug's. I would climb into the middle of the circle clothing racks and swing. My mother would lose sight of me and see my legs fly out between the clothes.
I also remember eating at Borden's. I loved their fish because it tasted like a Swanson TV Dinner.
I worked in this building for several years and think its time for it to come down. This part of Tulsa could stand having some new commercial development. Any word on what could possibly be built in its place?
Call me cold hearted, but I can't say that the building ever impressed me as being anything special. But then, I was kid in north Tulsa and remember Northland and Suburban Acres shopping center.
I wonder how that part of town is doing in general. The latest armed home invasion was only a few blocks from there at 73rd E. Ave.
I am writing you because I heard they are tearing down the Historic Sheridan Village. I went to the Preservation Conference 2008 last month and learned to preserve the past and fight for something you want to preserve. I think this building can still serve as a functional retail shopping center if they do it right. The owners should not tear it down. It does have some historic landmark status to it first retail shop to have a escalator and allot of memories from the people blogging about it. So please preserve this building so more memories are made and the old memories are kept. My saying is to "Preserve the past, Protect the present, Educate the future".
Jeff, I agree that Sheridan Village might have been saved and revamped, but once the demolition crew is on site, it's too late. Preservationists need to identify threatened properties, educate owners about alternatives to demolition, and find ways to fund restoration and adaptive reuse.