Victor Block, 202 West Harrison Avenue, Guthrie

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

The Victor was among the most handsome and celebrated business blocks of early Guthrie, as well as the largest. Erected for one of the most successful developers of the commercial district, the building is an excellent example of the type of structure built in territorial Guthrie as a speculative venture. PART I. HISTORICAL DEFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: Joseph Foucart. 3. Original and subsequent owners: The following is a complete chain of title from to the present, of the land on which the structure now stands: Warranty deed September 30, recorded October 20, Book A page Smith, Winfield S. and Bradley, Stephen H. to Smith, Frances A. Quit claim deed March 11, recorded March 12, Book A page 72, Galloway, Binnie G. to Galloway, Elizabeth C.

Warranty deed August 30, recorded September 1, Book 5 page Smith, Frances et mar Winfield to Taylor, G. w. Quit claim deed September 2, recorded September 2, Book A page Taylor, George W. et ux to Smith, Frances A, Trustee deed September 1, recorded September 2, Book 7 page Trustees for the Townsite of Guthrie of Smith, Frances A, VICTOR BIOCK HABS No. OK-13 (Page 2) (NOTE: RE: The foregoing transaction: Resolution of conflict over original claim to the property between John M. Galloway and Winfield Smith & Stephen H. Bradly. Galloway died during the proceedings, willing his claim to Binnie who quit that claim to her mother, Elizabeth. Smith & Bradly passed their claim to Frances Smith, in whose favor the final decision was made).

Warranty deed April 6, recorded April 6, Book 7 page Smith, Winfield to Bliss, Mary L. (Note: Ihe property "Victor Block" is mentioned in the deed). Quit claim deed September 8, recorded September 17, Book 7 page Smith, Norman A. to Rhaner, John G. Warranty deed September 8, recorded September 17, Book 13 page 76, Smith, Winf ield S. & Smith, Mary L. to Rhaner, John G. Sale, March 1, recorded March 7r Book 2 page Rhaner, John G. to Tearney, John L. & Selstrom, John Warranty deed March 1, recorded March 15, Book 24 page Rhaner, John G. to Tearney, John L. & Selstrom John Warranty deed March 16, recorded March 17, Book 3 page Selstrom, John to Selstrom, Julia (NOTE; "an undivided 1/2 interest . .

.") Quit claim deed June 10, recorded June 11, Book 10 page Selstrom, Julia to Selstrom, John (NOTE "an undivided 1/2 interest * ) Warranty deed June 11, recorded June 11, Book 42 page 50, Tearney, John J. et ux Maud to Selstrom, John (NOTE: "an undivided 1/2 interest . . .") Warranty deed June 15, recorded June 16, Book 42 page 75, Selstrom, John et ux Julia to Tearney, John J. (NOTE: "an undivided 1/2 interest . . .") VICTOR BLOCK HABS Mo. OK-13 (Page 3) Warranty deed January 24, recorded February 2, Book 45 page Selstrom John to Selstrom, Julia (NOTE: "an undivided 1/2 interest . . .") Warranty deed June 20, recorded June 21, Book 51 page Selstrom, Julia to Selstrom, John (NOTE: "an undivided 1/2 interest . .

.") Warranty deed January 27, recorded February 11, Book 52 page Selstrom John to Selstrom, Julia (NOTE: "an undivided 1/2 interest . . .") Warranty deed April 20, recorded April 23, Book 52 page Tearney, John J. & Tearney, Maud Selstrom, John & Selstrom, Julia to Grand Lodge of Oklahoma Ancient Order of United Workers Warranty deed February 20, recorded February 25, Book 123 page Grand Lodge of Oklahoma Ancient Order of united Workers to Martin, Charlie Raygan et ux 4. Builder, suppliers: Unknown. 5. Original plans and construction: Unknown. 6. Alterations and additions: A metal and wood awning was placed along the east and south walls above the plate glass windows (i.e., around the shop portion of the first floor).

This is suspended on cables and anchored along the metal window frame which separates the plate glass of smaller, translucent panes and which has been replaced by corrugated metal sheets. This was the charateristic shop window arrangement of the commercial district, and remains intact in very few structures. The other alterations, all on the first story exterior, involve the sealing of a large freight entrance in the east wall and the removal of most of the glass from openings. It is not possible to date these changes at present. The basement has been outfitted as a bowling alley (4 lanes) , but the original configuration of the area has not been determined. # VICTOR BIOCK HABS No. OK-13 (Page 4) B. Historical Events and Persons Connected with the Structure: 1. Winfield S.

Smith: An early Guthrie real estate speculator. Smith was featured in "The Art Edition" of the Oklahoma State Capital published by Frank Greer in The article, which contained pictures of Smith, his wife, three of his buildings (including the Victor and his home), had this to say of Smith: Smithr a native of New York, one of the first day men, always actively prominent in the political, educational and business affairs of Guthrie, has done more, perhaps, than any other man in building the city. In he built the Little Victor, in '93 the Victor, still the finest building in the city, except the Masonic Temple; in '95 the Oswego and in '99 the Triumph. Mr.

Smith as a mantoer of the board of education was instrumental in placing music and drawing on the course of study and has recently set on foot the Guthrie Conservatory of Music. As a member of the City Council he is at present vigorously pushing public improvements and is the father of a successful plan for a new City Hall building. Starting with nothing he illustrates what nerve and opportunity can do." 2. The Victor was for a number of years toward the end of the Century the home of the drugstore of F. B. Lillie, first pharmicist of Oklahoma. C. Sources of Information: 1.

Old views: Numerous photographs of the building from before the turn of the century can be found in the photograph collections of the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Vfestern History Archives of the University of Oklahoma, Norman. These are primarily views of streets, but there are a few pictures exclusively of the Victor. A photograph appears in the "Art Edition" of the Oklahoma State Capital, and a drawing in the City Directory of encaptioned "occupied by Okla Hotel, F. B. Lillie & Co. *s Drug Emporium, and T. B. Reder, Furniture." There is a drawing of the building in Oklahoma Illustrated p. 51. VICTOR BLOCK HABS No. OK-13 (Page 5) 2.

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

a. Primary and unpublished sources: 1. Deed Records, Office of the Clerk of Logan County. 2. Guthrie City Directories. a. b. c. 3. 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 fcy the Sanborn Map Co. (reproduction in part) c. "Insurance Maps of Guthrie, Oklahoma Logan County, October 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). b. Secondary and published sources: 1. Oklahoma Illustrated. Leader Publishing Co., 2. Oklahoma State Capital Art Edition, Saturday, May 20, 3. Likely sources not yet investigated: a.

Records of Foucart, not located. b. Miscellaneous Records of Logan County, Office of Clerk of Logan County. Prepared by John D. Hnedak Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey VICTOR BIOCK HABS No. OK-13 (Page 6) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION This three story brick building has a corner entrance above which looms a two story bay. A detailed cornice, surmounted by decorated turrets, runs the length of the southern and eastern facades. Recessed brick panels, typical in Foucart's work, are found on the first story of the eastern facade, while shop windows are located on the south. The southern and corner fenestration and cornice are more elaborately designed than those on the east. 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. Bhedak (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 (University of Oregon).