A.W. Patterson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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A. W. Patterson House
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A.W. Patterson House
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1320 W. Okmulgee St., Muskogee, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | McKibban & McKibban |
| Architectural style | Richardson Romanesque |
| MPS | Territorial Homes of Muskogee TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003322 |
| Added to NRHP | May 02, 1984 |
The A.W. Patterson House is a special historic home in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It's located on a hill near downtown Muskogee. This house was built in 1906, which was just before Oklahoma officially became a state in 1907. Because of its history and unique style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The house shows off a cool architectural style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style uses big, strong-looking stone walls, large door and porch openings, and special arched windows and doorways. These features give the house a very grand and solid appearance.
Contents
A Group of Historic Homes
The A.W. Patterson House is part of a special group of five historic homes in Muskogee. These homes were all nominated together for the National Register of Historic Places. This group was called "Territorial Homes of Muskogee."
The houses in this group are:
- A. C. Trumbo House
- J.C. Welch House
- A. W. Patterson Home
- Coss Home
- Murphy Home
All these homes were built around the same time, between 1904 and 1907. This was just before the "Indian Territorial Period" ended and Oklahoma became a state. It's amazing that all these houses are still in great shape and are used as homes today. They haven't been changed much, so they still look like they did a long time ago.
Why These Homes Are Important
These homes are important for a couple of reasons:
- They were owned by some of the most important businessmen and leaders in Muskogee. These people helped shape the city during the time it was a territory and when it first became a state.
- Even though they were built at the same time and in the same neighborhood, each house has its own unique design. They use different decorations and building materials. They are some of the best examples of fancy, well-designed homes in northeastern Oklahoma that still look original.
What the House Looks Like
The A.W. Patterson House was designed by a company called McKibban & McKibban. This architectural firm also designed many of Muskogee's early business buildings.
The house has three stories. The first two floors have rooms, and the third floor used to be an attic but is now used for storage. The house is about 55 feet (17 m) wide and 85 feet (26 m) long. The outside of the house is made of beautiful limestone blocks. This limestone came all the way from Missouri, and special builders from Missouri came to put it in place.
The house has a gently sloped roof and many features of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. These include:
- Strong limestone walls.
- Round arched entryways and windows.
- A low-pitched red clay tile roof with gables.
The house was built with four covered porches. The main entrance on the south side has a big porch with many steps. There's also a side entrance from the garage on the north. Two other covered porches are inside the house. One of these stretches across the entire east side of the home, giving a great view of downtown Muskogee. There's also a covered porch on the second floor on the south side. The large east porch even had its own water supply! It was big enough for a full-sized hammock and had five arched window openings.
Inside the main entrance, there's a large foyer (entryway). It has clear lead-glass windows with beveled (slanted) panes next to carved stone benches. The front porch, with its many steps, has been the setting for many old family photos and pictures of local groups.
The house also has a full walkout basement with several separate rooms. A separate garage, about 25 feet (7.6 m) by 45 feet (14 m), is located near the house.
Who Lived Here
First Owner
The Patterson home was first owned by two important Muskogee businessmen. The first was A. W. Patterson. He helped start the Bank of Muskogee in 1901, and later became its president. Mr. Patterson was also very active in promoting the Arkansas River for boat travel. He was key in building Muskogee's Convention Hall, where a big business meeting was held in 1907. Patterson lived in the home until he passed away in 1916. His wife continued to live there until her death in 1934.
Second Owner
In 1941, the Pattersons' daughters sold the home to L. R. Kershaw. He was another important leader in Muskogee. Mr. Kershaw was a lawyer, banker, farmer, and rancher. He also helped manage many banks during the Great Depression. He was one of the people who started the Eastern Oklahoma Electric Traction Company. He became famous for raising special Angus cattle and also developed many neighborhoods in the city. The Kershaw family owned the home until 1973.
Current Owners
In 1978, Dr. Phil Couch visited Muskogee and fell in love with the Patterson House. But it wasn't for sale then! The third owners, Sam and Mary Lou Caldwell, were still living there. Even though they couldn't buy the house right away, the Couches decided to move to Muskogee. In 1979, they learned the house would be for sale soon. So, they rented an apartment and bought the house as soon as they could in 1979.
The house was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Couches say the house needed some big updates to fit their needs. These included:
- Replacing all the old pipes and electrical wires.
- Adding heating and air conditioning to the basement and all three stories.
- Adding insulation to the house, as it had none before!
They are very happy with how the house turned out.
Images for kids
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A postcard view of the A.W. Patterson House.
