State Capitol Company Building, 301 West Harrison Avenue, Guthrie

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OKLA,42-GUTH,1G-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This turn of the century structure is a very fine example of functional industrial architecture of the period. Designed by an architect of local prominence to meet the very specific needs of a newspaper, it housed what is considered to have been the most important and influential publishing house of Territorial Oklahoma. It is further an integral part of the physical commercial image of Guthrie as Capital City, and is both paradigmatic in its use of materials, style, and conception of commercial space, and unique in being designed for a specific function, as opposed to the speculative nature of building which was the rule in Guthrie at the time. PART I. HISTORICAL INEORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: The date of first occupation has not yet been determined.

The corner stone was laid "with great ceremony" on August 7, at which time enough of the structure had been completed to accommodate two thousand people at the dedication (ref.: Oklahoma Daily State Capital, August 8, p. 1, col. 6). 2. Architect: Joseph Ebucart and partner, Villeroy. 3. Original and subsequent owners: The following is a complete chain of title to lots 1, 2, and 3, block 60, Guthrie Proper, the land on which the structure now stands, from to the present. Reference is to the Clerk's Office of the County of Logan, Oklahoma. STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 2) Trustee deed August 2, recorded February 12, lot 3, Book A page 291 Trustees to J. B.

Newcomb Bill of sale November 28, recorded December 3, lot 1, Book 4 page 71 Blubaugh et ux to J. E. Clundy int.) Trustee deed December 7, recorded December 9, lot 1, Book E page 275 Trustee to David Blubaugh Warranty deed December 23, recorded January 6, lot 2, Book 1 page Lottie Condit (nee Simmons) to F. R. McKennon Warranty deed June 9, recorded March 25, lot 1, Book 11 page David Raines et ux to J. R. McKennen Warranty deed January 9, recorded January 11, lot 1, Book 12 page David Blubaugh to H. P. DeBois (David & Harriet) Warranty deed January 9, recorded June 9, lots 1, 2, 3, Book 28 page Daniel Blubaugh et ux to H. P.

DeBois Trustee Deed May 9, recorded May 28, lot 2, Book E page Joseph Saunders to Lottie Condit Ritter Warranty deed May 3, recorded May 3, lot 2, Book 13 page Lottie Condit Ritter to Edward Ritter Tax deed August 10, recorded August 11, lot 2, Book 9 page F. Ritterbusch, County Treasurer to F. H. Greer Warranty deed September 18, recorded September 22, lot 1, Book 13 page John D. DeBois, et ux to Greer Warranty deed May 10, recorded May 17, lot 2, Book 14 page E. J. Ritter et ux to F. H. Greer STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 3) Administration of deed August 1, recorded August 3, lot 2, Book 15 page 32, T. F. McKennon for F. R. McKennon, deceased to Frank H.

Greer Quit claim deed October 25, recorded November 9, lot 3, Book 7 page Isaac Newcombe to F. H. Greer Tax deed January 26, recorded January 26, lot 3, Book 15 page County Treasurer to U. C. Guss Quit claim deed January 31, recorded February 1, lot 3, Book 7 page U. C. Guss et ux to F. H. Greer Warranty deed August 5, recorded August 9, 1902,lots 1, 2, 3, Book 26 page Greer et ux to State Capital Company Warranty deed December 21, recorded January 4, lots 1, 2, 3, Book 53 page Minna Gehner to Cooperative Publishing Warranty deed November 4, recorded November 4, lots 1, 2, 3, Book 482 page Iou Ann Barman Ellis et al to Myrtle A. Jackson Conservator deed November 7, recorded November 4, lots 1, 2, 3, First National Bank-Guthrie to Myrtle A. Jackson 4. Builder, suppliers: Unknown. 5.

Original plan and construction: The only description of the original scheme of the building comes from the August 8, edition of the State Capital announcing the corner-stone ceremonies of the new building, page one. The description, reprinted below, pertains more to the use of the building than the actual construction, and corresponds to the layout of the structure and its use today. The overall dimension is given as 75' x The dimensions of the main block are 60' x but a small addition on the first story and basement bring the size up to the larger figure. A drawing appeared with the article in which the structure is shown exactly as it stands today, except that the corner tower was pictured as topped by a balustrade, instead of the cupola with which it was eventually finished.

STATE CAPITAL 03MPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HfiBS No- OK-17 (Page 4) "THE NEW BUILDIN3" This new building is the pride of the State Capital Company and of the employees of the same. It is the best exclusive newspaper and printing house structure in the entire Southwest. It occupies a ground space of 75 by 125 feet and is three stories and a basement in floor capacity. The lighting, ventilation and safety of this structure is most approved. It could not have been made more suitable for the purpose it is intended to serve. The entire basement will be for the press room and the stereotyping department save a room for the engine.

The basement floor will be of cement and it will furnish an ideal foundation for the great presses that grind out the State Capital and the big job work orders of the manufacturing department. There will be the great Goss straight line perfecting press that handles the Daily and Weekly State Capital at a speed of thirty thousand completely printed, folded and trinmed copies an hour. This press is to occupy a conspicuous position on the Harrison avenue side of the basement where the ample window facilities will afford the public an opportunity of witnessing the manufacture of a finished product that has hardly been touched by hands.

THE PRESS HOCM Along the same side of the building will be ranged the large cylinder presses used in making books and large posters and other work of considerable size. There are four of these large cylinder presses in the new plant the size of press that will print sixteen average sized book pages at one impression. These presses make the capacity of the State Capital considerably more than it has ever before been and their high class of workmanship and the new models of them makes them the best battery of book presses in the Southwest. There will be on the Second street side of the basement floor a long row of platen presses. They are the kind of presses that print the small things in a printing office, the letter heads and envelopes and cards, etc.

Tnese are new and in greater number than the old establishment could place. The south side of the basement will be occupied by the rolls of paper that are used on the perfecting press-from which the State Capital is printed. There are great numbers of these rolls at all times in stock. They are purchased in lots of several carloads at a time. The heating and power plant for the entire establishment will be in the STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 5) basement part of the building also. The heat will be made by steam from the boiler and supplied by registers to all parts of the building. The power will be furnished by a thirty-six horse power engine that will occupy the engine room. The stereotyping room is also on the basement floor.

It will occupy the west end of the building and has a thorough equipment of the latest machinery for the making of matrices and casts of metal for all classes of presswork.

The Main Floor

On the main first floor of the new building will be located the business offices and the stock room and the machine composing room, the latter being on the west end of the building. The machine capacity in the new building will be just double that of the old building. The six complete and latest style Mergenthaler linotype machines will be located on the Harrison avenue side of the room and will be just inside a large plate glass window of the front of the building. They are very interesting things to the average person, displaying as they do almost human intelligence. These machines represent with the matrices they employ an investment of thirty-five hundred dollars each.

The value of the six of them is therefore EDITORIAL BOOMS On the Harrison avenue side of the second story of the new building will be found the editorial rooms of the State Capital. They will be eight in number and will be commodious to an extent that the old ones did not approximate. They will be connected with the counting room by private telephones, and pneumatic tubes will be installed to connect with the composing rooms. COMPOSING BOOMS The job printing department will also be located on the second floor and will be much larger and better equipped than the old job room. In the purchase of type fronts for the new job room there has been the most careful selection of faces with a view of giving the work the most modern and stylish effect.

The job department is to be on the south side of the second floor and will be well lighted and well ventilated as well as roomy and conveniently arranged. STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 6) BINDERY The entire third floor of the building will be devoted to the gigantic bindery of the State Capital. The machinery that was burned has all been supplied with the most modern and complete machines that are to be had. The State Capital bindery is going to be the best equipped and most convenient and roomy bookbindery in the Southwest when the new building shall be completed. The capacity of the bindery is easily double what it was before the fire on Easter Sunday wiped it out of existence.

Other Rooms

In the second story of the engine room is a shipping room that opens on the alley of the State Capital. The other room over the engine room is to be used by the machinist of the plant who is to be well equipped for doing all the ordinary repair work for the plant right on the ground. A

Great Story

The growth of Oklahoma has been great. The growth of the State Capital has approximated the growth of the territory. Both have had many things to do. Both have done many of them and have yet before them other things of urgency. The present plant and equipment of the State Capital is far better than any it has had before. Its work is going to be heavier than its work has heretofore been- Perhaps the vast establishment that will be occupied in a short time will in its rapid turn be outgrown. It is the desire of the State Capital to outgrow the plant as it is the desire of all citizens to see the commonwealth of Oklahoma outgrow the conditions that make it a territory, (reference: The Oklahoma State Capital August 8, p. 1 col. 5, 6). 6.

Alterations, additions: The small one story section of the building on the south has the appearance of an addition, not being a continuous part of the greater design of the bulk of the structure and having windows in its north wall which communicate with the main portion of the structure. It was most likely added while construction was still ongoing or shortly thereafter, however, since it fills out dimensions given in the "cornerstone" article (at which time the first story was complete) and appears in the Sanborn map of STATE CAPITOL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No.

OK-17 (Page 7) No other additions were made save the installation of new equipment over the years, and the building stands today as it did in including most of its interior fittings, the "business cage" and the cash register. B. Historic Events and Persons Connected with the Structure: Frank Hilton Greer was one of those intrepid and sometimes disagreeable characters known as "Sooners." Before the connotation of the term had changed for the better, he could be found at his editorial desk inveighing against his kindred. Greer had arrived in Guthrie a day before the opening, with a few friends on a railroad car loaded with telephone poles conveniently arranged to accommodate several stowaways.

He had been publishing his newspaper, called from the first the Daily State Capital, since March 15, through his brother, Edwin P. Greer, who owned a newspaper in Winfield. This was a single sheet, printed in red, with an immense eagle at the masthead and the motto, "I scream for Oklahoma," distributed with considerable success among the settlers who were beginning to gather at the line from which the run was to commence on April Also appearing in this edition was the righteous proclamation that "The State Capital is Law-abiding, therefore it will not locate in Oklahoma until it is lawful to do so." The first local edition was legal enough, distributed at on the day of the run, printed still in Winfield, as it would continue for about a month.

The first true "all-home-print" newspaper was the Guthrie Get-up, owned by a friend of Greer, but criticized by him for (among other things) its undignified title. Between the several newspapers which managed to make a foothold in Guthrie (t^ Get-Up lasted only a few weeks, and was absorbed ty the Capital), mutual criticism was severe. The two most important daily organs, the "Capital" and the "Leader," were divided along strictly partisan lines, the former being stanchly Republican, and the latter, child of Leslie G. Niblack, published with a severe Democratic bias.

The two leading (and rival) towns of the territory were similarly divided, Guthrie as Republican, being settled mostly by people of the northern states, and Oklahoma City Democratic, which accounts in part for the wider ascendancy gained by the Capital over the Leader in Guthrie. Tne two things which characterized the Capital more than anything were its Republican bias and its fierce loyalty to Guthrie. In the same first edition a "platform" was presented: "Tne Oklahoma State Capital is no wild venture. It has come to stay. It starts at Guthrie because it believes that will be the biggest city in Oklahoma and the capital of the new Territory.

This is the first paper published in Oklahoma Territory and everybody STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No- OK-17 (Page 8) should preserve a copy of it as a historic relic . . . (the publishers) will expend their business abilities in building up Guthrie and Oklahoma, knowing that with their growth will grow up, a great newspaper. The State Capital will be for the Republican Party first, last and forever.

Allowing nothing to interfere with its main object, the advancement of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Capital, it will not forget that republicanism is one of the chief essentials, as America's history has proven, to progress of the most desirable and substantial type." Greer was true to his self-avowed principles, a fact which is demonstrable icy a look at nearly any issue of the Capital. His editorials vary between glittering praise and extravagant prophecy for Guthrie, and bitter attacks upon those he thought to have a destructive influence upon the town which he was instrumental in founding. With respected opposition, such as Niblack and his democractic Leader, he was civil, but to the point. He was occasionally moved to scathing rhetoric, as in the case of Winfield S.

Smith; Snith was on one occasion praised and encouraged in his assumption of a newspaper in town, the Daily News which had been established by one Col. Thompson. Within a week he was the subject of an editorial which today could be considered nothing less than libelous.

Ebr actions which are not readily apparent from the article (we must assume that they were of such a scandalous nature that they were common knowledge throughout the town if not the territory) and involved speeches made before the school board and town council, he was called an "anarchistic skunk," a "caluminator," and his past behavior was described thus: "Two thirds of the hell which has been raised in this town, and always in behalf of bad causes, has been raised by this mouthy egotist whose actions have always been as small as his brains.

Having found a man who would loan him money enough to erect a building on lots he gained through the misfortune of a poor widow whose husband happened to be a sooner (and which poor widow and her children Smith traduced in the vilest manner) he has since been bloviating to the disgust of all modest people on 'what I have done for this town!' when everybody knows that if the town had no better ballast than men like Winfield Smith, who . STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (page 9) One can sense the man's rage in the length of the run on sentences alone. The ultimate irony came when, in Greer published the State Capital "Art Edition," in which an entire page is devoted to Smith and his great benefit for Guthrie.

The two most likely reasons for this turnabout are that Greer never painted less than a glowing picture of Guthrie, especially when that picture was likely to be circulated to potential immigrants, and that it was very likely that Smith paid to have his article included in the volume, a common business practice in early promotional literature, much of which was published by Greer. The illustration is intended to point up not vacillation but pragmatism; when the good of the city or the paper was at issue, Greer would not hesitate to reverse a stand, diametrically if need be. The paper operated out of a tent for the first six days in Guthrie, and moved into a small wooden building on April 28. The tent was at Broad and Cleveland, the building at 14 E. Oklahoma Ave.

It moved to the first floor of the McKennon Block in August of on the site of the present building. The Capital was incorporated on the of that month, and soon expanded until it filled (and owned) the entire building, which it occupied until Easter Sunday, when the entire plant burned and all materials and equipment were lost. The public estimate of the financial loss was at (which was covered by insurance amounting to little more than a tenth that figure) and Niblack, the sympathetic if rival publisher, thought the figure to be conservative, speculating that Greer's personal loss alone was greater than that. It was a tribute to Greer's stature that many prominent businessmen, banks and private citizens subscribed immediately to a gift of to begin anew.

This Greer could not accept, but offered to take the sum on as a loan at 6% interest. His loyalty to Guthrie is conspicuous in the fact that he was offered the indefinite use of a printing plant in Oklahoma City if he would locate permanently there. At this point in Greer"s career his paper was unquestionably the most powerful in the territory. Niblack opened the facilities of the Leader to Greer, and only one issue, Sunday, was missed, Monday being the day off for the plant, and the paper was back on the streets on Tuesday, April 1. Temporary headquarters were established in the Merton Block on south on April 16, and by August 8 enough of the new building had been completed to accommodate people for the dedication and cornerstone ceremonies.

This building, the subject of this study, still stands and is occupied by the Cooperative Publishing Co. Successor to the Capital, it is remarkable on several accounts. First, it was one of the few buildings in territorial Guthrie designed to fulfill a specific function, and one with an unusually large number of stringent requirements at that. Secondly, by the time it was completely STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 10) outfitted it was the largest and best equipped operation of its kind west of Chicago. The fortunes of both Greer and Guthrie came to a crisis point simultaneously. The town on which Greer had staked the sum of his resources met the roost energetic challenge to its position as the seat of government.

This came in during the administration of Governor Haskell who assumed office on November 16, the first day of statehood. Haskell, a Democrat, had been the subject of numerous editorial attacks by Frank Greer and had become greatly annoyed, to the point where he threatened "to see grass grow on the streets of Guthrie" unless Greer1 s actions were curbed by his publishers. Greer's position in the town and at the newspaper had seldom been stronger than at this point and there was little hope of having Haskell's request granted. Greer embarked on an exhausting propaganda campaign to ensure the retention of the capital at Guthrie using his editorial position and general appeals on page one of The Capital as a vehicle for his pleas and exhortations.

The balloting was held on June 11, with two options: no change in the site of the capital or a choice between Guthrie, Oklahoma City, and Kingfisher as permanent seat of government. The vote as reported was in favor of Oklahoma City although it has been said that the actual ballots were never seen by anyone other than the official tabulators. The capital was to be located beginning in at Oklahoma City, this period being selected to allow time for the erection of the capitol building. The capital was moved prematurely, however, in The story behind the fact, whether true or apocryphal, is that Haskell, while visiting Muskogee, wired his secretary to remove the state seal and certain files from his office at Guthrie.

This was done by- wrapping the articles to resemble the Governor's personal belongings, and simply walking off with them. Appeals on Guthrie's behalf to return the capital were to no avail, although the situation was hopeful when Haskell informed the leaders of Guthrie that only Greer stood in the way of reinstatement. Greer would not be budged, nor would anyone care to budge him. The final blow came when the United States Supreme Court denied the alleged illegality of the move in the decision of Coyle vs. Smith, The financial situation of Guthrie took almost immediate reverses, Greer's not the least among them. He sold The Capital to Niblack and the Daily Leader.

"She building became the property of the successor firm, the Cooperative Publishing Company, and Greer moved to Tulsa where he became involved in the oil business to remain there until his death in m STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 11) Precisely how much responsibility can be laid to Greer's vituperative attacks on Haskell in the loss of the capital for Guthrie and the loss of Tne Capital for Greer can only be speculated upon. Tne only thing certain is that the emotional connections between the newspaper, Guthrie, and the republicanism held by Frank Greer was sufficiently strong that the demise of one was inevitably connected to the dissolution of the other. C. Sources of Information: 1. Old views: a.

Tne first drawing to appear in print was in the State Capital of August 8, page one, where it appeared without its cupola. b. A revised drawing appears on all subsequent Capital letterheads, advertisements, calendars, etc. c. Photographs of the old building appeared in the Art Edition of the State Capital of along with interior views of several of the business rooms. d. Tne '89er edition of the Guthrie Daily leader contains a rare old photo of the first building on the present site and the adjoining frame structure* Source: April 18, page 6C, Mr. Helen Boulton. 2.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OKLA,42-GUTH,1G-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

a. Primary and unpublished sources: 1. "Cornerstone Laid With Much Ceremony," The Oklahoma State Capital, August 8, page 1. 2. Deed Records, Office of the Clerk of Logan County. 3. Guthrie City Directory, 4. Interview with Myrtle Jackson, June, 5. Miscellaneous Records, Office of the Clerk of Logan Gounty. 6. Mortgage Records, Office of the Clerk of Logan County, Book 26 page 14. STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 12) 7. Oral History of Oklahoma Transcripts, Indian Archives, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City.

Volume Subject Page XVI editor State Capitl, newspaper 50 71 newspaper established by 510 73 newspaper owner 18 74 newspaper at Guthrie owned by 247 78 editor, State Capital 143 82 newspaper man 36 85 residence of, location 447 101 printing shop owned by 325 8. Records of the Congregation of Trinity Episcopal Church. 9. Sanborn Maps: a. "Insurance Maps of Guthrie, Oklahoma Logan County, August Copyright by the Sanborn Map Co. (reproduction, in part). b. "Insurance Maps of Guthrie, Oklahoma Logan County, September Copyright by the Sanborn Map Co. (reproduction in part). c. "Insurance Maps of Guthrie, Oklahoma Logan County, July Copyright by the Sanborn Map Co. (original, complete). d. "Insurance Maps of Guthrie, Oklahoma Logan County, July Copyright by the Sanborn Map Co.

(original, complete). 10. "State Capital Is Again As Before," The Oklahoma State Capital April 16, page one. 11. "State Capital Plant Destroyed By Fire," Guthrie Daily Leader, March 31, page one. 12. "State Capital Plant Destroyed By Fire," Tne Oklahoma State Capital, April 1, page one. 13. Weuner, Fred L. M. S., Guthrie History, Guthrie Verticle File, Library of Oklahoma Historical Society, b. Secondary and published sources: 1. "A History of the State Capital, " Art Edition of the Oklahoma State Capital, May 20, STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 13) 2. Chronicles of Oklahoma, index Volume Page VII 422 XIX XXII 108 XXVI 4 XXVIII XXX 346 XXXIII 426 136 3. Forbes, Gerald, Guthrie, Oklahoma's First Capital.

Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 4. Greer, Frank Hilton, "Early Romance of Oklahoma," Sturm's Magazine, {vol. 10, 5. McMaster' Oklahoma Magazine, vol. 3 no. 1, January pp. 6. Oklahoma, A Guide to the Sooner State, Writer's Program of WPA. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 7. Oklahoma Illustrated. Leader Publishing Co., 8 - Souvenir, Published by the State Capital Publishing Company. A souvenir pamphlet of the St. Louis World's Fair, P. 11. 9. Tnoburn, J. B. "Frank H. Greer," Chronicles of Oklahoma, vol. XIV pp. 3. Likely sources not yet investigated: There is reason to believe that the files of the State Capital Company as well as those of its successor, the Cooperative Publishing Company, are largely intach and remain in the vaults of the building.

These are not as yet available for examination, but should they become so, would prove an invaluable resource. STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No. OK-17 (Page 14) Appendix: Mortgage, August 11, recorded August 11, Book 26 page 14, State Capital Company to Mississippi Valley Trust Company (witnessed by Henry Asp, signed by Frank Greer).

Containing a list of the building's fixtures as of the date of the Mortgage: 1 15 Otto gasoline engine 1 35 Ball automatic steam engine 1 Double revolution #3 Century Campbell book and job press 1 Double revolution Pony Campbell book and job press 1 #8 Optimus book and job press 1 #3 Optimus book and job press 3 10 x 15 Chandler and Price job presses 1 8 x 12 Chandler and Price job press 1 Goss Straight Line perfecting newspaper press with full newspaper stereotyping outfit 1 Job stereotyping outfit including drying box, melting box, furnace, steam saw, shaver, router, planer, and other machinery belonging thereto ink rollers 2 Hickox ruling machines with Collins striker 1 paging and numbering machine 2 wire stitchers 1 perforator 2 drying book presses 1 advance power paper cutter 1 book stand 1 embossing machine wood and metal type imposing stones proof presses cases stands racks tools and implements 5 duplex Mergenthaler linotypes fitted for job and newspaper work 1 large blank book Singer sewing machine 1 Hickox paper shears 1 electric dynamo & light plant Prepared by John Hnedak Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey STATE CAPITAL COMPANY (Cooperative Publishing Company Building) HABS No.

OK-17 (Page 15) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION This three story brick building has a corner entrance surmounted by a square tower. Turrets are located along the parapet and at the four corners of the tower. Three recessed brick panels are found on the first floor, one on the west facade and two on the north. The second and third story windows are all double sash while the first floor windows vary between shop windows and double sash. For additional information, see Town of Guthrie (OK-10). PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION This project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey in cooperation with the Oklahoma Historical Society, which provided funds.

Under the direction of John Poppeliers, Chief of HABS, the project was completed during the summer of at the Historic American Buildings Survey field office, Guthrie, Oklahoma, by Prof. John C. Haggard (Syracuse University) , Project Supervisor; John D. Hnedak {Cornell University), Project Historian; William E. Barrett, Project Photographer; and student architects: Barry (Iowa State University), John Robbins (University of Virginia), Julian Smith (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Howard Takenaka (Unviersity of Oregon).