Tulsa::History: February 2021 Archives
The Renaissance Neighborhood History Project
Arena Mueller posts her research into the history of homes of the 1/2-square mile between Lewis and Harvard Avenues, 11th and 15th Streets, just south of the University of Tulsa, and the people who lived in them. The most recent entry is a story about a fatal 1942 drag race on 11th from Peoria to Elgin.
Tulsa People profiled Arena and her neighborhood history project in the March 2019 issue, along with Rachel Shoemaker, who has identified over 30 Sears kit homes in Tulsa.
If you're interested in house history that's a bit more exotic, visit the case files of Marianne Taylor, The House Detective, based in Brisbane, Australia. Her Facebook page is full of interesting stories.
The Pierce Pennant Tavern - Miami, Oklahoma History
From the May 11, 1929, issue of Tavern Talk, a description of the main entrance of the soon-to-open Pierce Pennant Tavern in Miami:
"Upon alighting from his automobile under a massive white pillared canopy and entering the spacious doors of the terminal, the visitor will be immediately impressed by the depth of the main waiting room. Depending upon the season, his senses will react to its cool coziness or satisfying warmth. In the chill days of late spring or early fall, he will find an open fireplace at the end of the room, logs blazing merrily, just the tang of wood smoke redolent of the Ozark backwoods hanging in the air, inviting a relaxing "stretch" before its hearth. Summer, with its heat and glare and dust, is quickly transformed by the refreshing coolness of the well ventilated lounge, huge ceiling fans silently wafting synthetic lake breezes to the massive and comfortable divans and easy chairs. This room is 50 feet long and 35 feet wide, backed by a soda fountain for soft drink and sandwich service, with tables and chairs to accommodate 50 guests."
The building later served as the administrative building for the Royal Air Force flying school during World War II and as home of Winart Pottery in the 1950s.
MORE: The Pierce Pennant chain and the Tulsa location, later known as the Bates Tourist Hotel.
