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1925 – Ponca City had 15,000
citizens and 18 miles of brick or concrete streets, three fire trucks,
five grade schools, and more than twenty hotels, with nine in two blocks
of South First and Second Streets.
The Soldani family tore down the house at Central and Ninth Street where
they had raised their 10 children. The new house was built over the
original basement and the cut sandstone blocks at the original porches
were kept intact with the new house designed around them. The architect
was George F. Cannon and the contractor was O.F. Keck. They paid $92,000
for the new 8,000 square foot residence.
Architect John Duncan Forsyth learned that oilman E.W. Marland was
planning to build his "Palace on the Prairie." After following Marland
clear to Estes Park, Colo., Forsyth was finally able to talk to Marland,
and he received the commission to design the mansion.
The Marland gatehouse, located at 747 North Fourteenth Street, was the
first building on the Marland Estate. Forsyth and his staff of
architects used the building “as their office. It was also Mr. Marland's
very private office.
The C.R. Anthony store - opened in Ponca City.
The new Gill Funeral Home I building was completed. Located on the
southwest corner of North Second Street and East Cleveland, the two
story structure cost $35,000.
The Ponca City Lions Club 'built a model home in the recently developed
Acre Homes Addition. Located at 144 Fairview, it was built on land whose
original covenants - included "the ownership of only one mule." Sid and
Birdie May Dellaplain were the first owners.
The National American Legion organization allocated $75,000 for Oklahoma
to provide help for the needy children of World War I veterans. Marland
convinced them to start a Home School in Ponca City for these children.
He donated 120 acres of land, and he and Bill McFadden each donated
$35,000 to build the first two billets.
In March, the D.A.R. raised $5500 to build the War Memorial Water
Fountain at the Civic Center. The names of all the people who donated
were placed in the cornerstone of the fountain. Nov. 11, 1925, Armistice
Day, the fountain was dedicated and Mayor Callahan accepted the fountain
for the city. Jack and Jim Trout uncovered the bronze marker with the
names of 293 area men who had served in World War I.
The hospital fund drive raised $250,000 and construction began on a new
hospital at Fourteenth Street and Hartford, on land donated by E.W.
Marland.
In the 1920s, the military leaders at Fort Sill, Okla., deemed the
original state flag unacceptable. They, with other concerned citizens
and organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution,
sponsored a state-wide contest for a new state flag design. Louise
Fluke, a Ponca Citian, was urged to enter the state flag contest.
She actually submitted two designs, and one of them was unanimously
selected. The new flag was adopted by the state legislature.
The new "101 Ranch Great Far East and Real Wild West Show" took to the
road once again in 30 new steel railroad cars including a magnificent
private car for the Miller brothers. An Arabian troupe, Scottish and
Russian bands and several new circus acts were added to the show. |
NOTE:
This site is provided by the Ponca City Publishing