Boley Historic District facts for kids
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Boley Historic District
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Antioch Baptist Church, Boley NHLD
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boley, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1903 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001568 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHLD | May 15, 1975 |
The Boley Historic District in Boley, Oklahoma is a special area. It shows what life was like in an all-black town. This town, Boley, was started in 1903. It grew a lot and became very successful. Many African Americans moved to Boley to escape unfair Jim Crow Laws in other states. These laws made life hard for them. Boley was known as the biggest and best of all the all-black towns.
Boley did very well until the Great Depression began. This was a time when the economy was very bad. Farm prices dropped a lot in the late 1920s. This made many people who worked on farms move away. Because of this, Boley started to become smaller.
What is the Boley Historic District?
The Boley Historic District was named a National Historic Landmark in 1975. This means it is a very important place in American history. The district covers about 34.5 acres (14 hectares). It is located roughly between Seward Avenue, Walnut and Cedar Streets, and the southern city limits of Boley.
The district includes 14 important buildings and structures. All of these were built between 1903 and 1921. They show what the town looked like when it was first built. Many people who live in Boley today say the district still looks much the same.
Important Buildings in the District
Many buildings in the Boley Historic District have interesting stories. They show how the town grew and changed over time.
- Antioch Baptist Church: This church was first built in 1905. It was rebuilt in 1929 in the same spot. It is a very important part of the community.
- Oliver Building: Built in 1910, this building was first a grocery store and a place to buy animal feed. Today, it is used as a Masonic Lodge.
- Watson Building: The lower part of this building was built in 1915. It was a grocery store. The upper part was added in 1920 and was a hotel. Now, the whole building is the American Legion Hotel.
- Cozine Building: This building from 1910 started as a grocery store. Later, it became a pool hall.
- T. L. Wood Building: This building was once a dry goods store, selling many different items. Now, it serves as the Boley City Hall.
- Masonic Hall: Built in 1915, this building originally had three stories. Later, the top two floors were removed. It is now the Boley Post Office.
- Farmers and Merchants Bank Building: This bank opened in 1920. In 1932, a famous gang tried to rob it. After that, the bank changed its name to Farmers State Bank. It stayed in the same building until 1962. Then, it became a warehouse.
- Turner's Pharmacy Building: This building opened as a pharmacy in 1910. It was empty when the district was recognized as historic.
- T. M. Haynes Building: Built in 1909, the first floor of this building was a store. The second floor had a telephone office and rooms for rent.
- Boley Bank and Trust Building: This two-story building was built between 1906 and 1907. It first held a bank. Later, the bottom floor became a cafe, and people lived on the top floor.
- Frame Church Building: This building from 1904 was the first church and school in Boley. Both Baptist and Methodist groups used it. Later, it became home to the Christian Church.
- Tieul Clothing Store Building: Built in 1921, this building has always been a clothing store.
- Utility Plant Site: This was the location of a building that made electricity for the town. It also held the town jail and a garage for the fire truck. The building is no longer there.
- Water Tower: This tall, silver water tower was built in 1921. It was 80 feet (24 meters) high. It was still standing when the district was recognized, but it was no longer being used.
