Gillette Historic District facts for kids

The Gillette Historic District (often called GHD) is a special neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It's a residential area, meaning people live there in homes. This district includes houses on Gillette Avenue and Yorktown Place. It's bordered by 15th Street to the north and 17th Street to the south.

This area has 31 single-family homes and 6 duplexes. These houses were built between 1924 and 1941. The district is named after James Max Gillette. He was a merchant, real estate developer, and oilman. Mr. Gillette built his own home here in 1921.

What Makes This Area Special?

The Gillette Historic District is the smallest historic district in Tulsa. It has 31 homes for one family and 6 duplexes (homes for two families). These original buildings give the district its unique look and feel. A few newer homes have been built there in recent years.

The houses in this district are usually large. They are traditional, two-story buildings. They sit on big lots along South Yorktown Place, which is a wide, boulevard-style street. These homes were first built for important business executives.

The Gillette Mansion

The most famous building is the Gillette Mansion. J. M. Gillette built this mansion. It set the style for many other homes in the district. Many later houses have similar designs and details.

Another important house was built by John H. Hopping in 1922. He started the Fourth National Bank in Tulsa. His house is southeast of the Gillette Mansion. He first called the street in front of his house Norvesta Avenue. Later, it was renamed South Gillette Avenue.

Different Home Styles

The houses along South Gillette Avenue are generally smaller. They are often one- or two-story homes. These houses are built in the cottage and bungalow styles. They are on narrower lots. These homes were designed for middle managers, who were not as wealthy as the executives.

Architecturally, the district has some standout homes. These include the Gillette Mansion at 1521 South Yorktown Place. Also notable are the McGay residence at 1551 South Yorktown Place. Another is the 1923 Tulsa World Model Home at 1546 South Yorktown Place. These homes are important for their history and design. The other homes, especially on South Gillette Avenue, show how home styles changed. They moved from the bungalow style to the cottage style.

Becoming a Historic Place

In 1978, a group called the Tulsa Preservation Society looked at the neighborhood. They decided it met the rules to be called a Historic District. In 1979, the Gillette Historic District Association was formed. This group helped protect the neighborhood. They also helped prepare the application for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The Association voted to ask the City of Tulsa to give the district special zoning. This "Historic Preservation Zoning" helps protect the area. It stops improper new buildings, demolitions, or bad renovations. The district was added to the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory on January 17, 1979.

The Gillette District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1982. This means it's recognized as an important historical area in the United States.

• National Register of Historic Places Nomination-Gillette Historic District. United States Department of the Interior; National Park Service. 1982. Retrieved November 9, 2014.