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Nickel-McClure Mansion, Alva:

The Nickel-McClure Mansion was featured on last year’s Endangered Historic Places list. 

This past January, the Nickel-McClure Mansion in Alva, OK was named to Preservation Oklahoma’s 16^th annual list of the state’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.  The mansion, built in 1904 for George E. Nickel, was first known as Buena Vista was sited prominently on Locust Street and is an important piece of Alva’s history.  After years of vacancy and neglect, however, the house suffered from water damage, roof failure, and other physical decay, causing preservationists to fear for its survival, and prompting its inclusion on the Endangered Historic Places list.  

Shortly after the announcement of the Endangered Historic Places list, Mark Bellah, who has been fascinated by the Mansion since his childhood, began the challenging process of acquiring the property.  After four difficult months of working with realtors, banks, and others, Mr. Bellah closed on the house in July.  Restoration work continues to progress at the site, with roof repairs and interior work well underway.

Meadow Gold Sign along Route 66, Tulsa:

Using a grant from the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor, the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture began the restoration of the landmark Meadow Gold sign that hung on top of a small brick building near the intersection of 11^th and Lewis in Tulsa. The project ran into trouble when ownership of the building upon which the sign perched changed, and the new owners expressed the desire to demolish the structure. After several years of struggle, aid from the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, as well as countless articles about the need for preservation of the sign, the Meadow Gold sign was officially restored and erected on a new one-story support pavilion at 11^th and Quaker, just down the road from its original location and dedicated to the public on May 22, 2009. Through this hard work and eventual accomplishment came an enthusiastic movement to save other historic neon signs across Tulsa. Funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation allowed the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture to complete a study of Tulsa’s neon signs, both operable and non-operable, paving the way for the future preservation of many of these historic resources.

Mayo Hotel, Tulsa:

Once the tallest building in the state at 18 stories, this luxury hotel was built in 1925 by pioneer Tulsa brothers John D. and Cass A. Mayo, with the help of architect George Winkler who wanted to model if after the Plaza Hotel in New York. In the excitement to open its doors, the hotel began operations with only half of the construction complete. During its original heyday the hotel housed guests like Will Rogers, Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Babe Ruth. After a failed renovation attempt in the 1980’s, the building sat empty for twenty years, much to the dismay of Tulsa residents. In 2001, the hotel was purchased by the Snyder family with the goal to restore it to its original grand elegance. With assistance from Tuls’as Vision 2025, as well as state and federal tax credits, a $40 million dollar rehabilitation project was completed.  Today, the Mayo once again serves as a Tulsa landmark, a luxury hotel and residence tower, and has truly been able to come full circle.

Sieber Hotel, Oklahoma City:

Built in1922 and operated as the Sieber grocery and butcher shop on the lower floors, and Sieber Motor Hotel space in the upper floors, this grandly appointed structure was on its way to ruin after a failed attempt at a renovation during the 1980’s. Purchased at auction in 1997 by Marva Ellard, Mike Meye, and a group of investors, the Sieber Hotel has had a long and arduous road to renovation. Because the building had been vacant for almost 25 years prior to their purchase, the work needed to accomplish this lofty goal must have at times seemed impossible. However, nothing proved impossible for Ellard and her team and today the Sieber has reopened as thoroughly modern apartments within a historic atmosphere.