National Register of Historic Places listings in Payne County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Hey there! Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places in your community? Many of them have amazing stories to tell! In Payne County, Oklahoma, there are lots of these cool spots. This article is all about the places in Payne County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list kept by the United States government. It includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important because of their history, architecture, or what they mean to a community. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our country's past and should be protected for future generations. In Payne County, there are 32 such places! Let's explore some of them.
Historic Treasures in Payne County
Payne County is home to many buildings and sites that have been around for a long time and hold special significance. These places help us understand what life was like in the past and how our communities grew.
Homes with History
Many of the historic places in Payne County are old houses that belonged to important people or show unique styles of building from different eras.
The Bassett House
The Bassett House, located at 1100 E. 9th Pl. in Cushing, was added to the National Register on December 3, 2009. It's a beautiful home that tells a story about the people who lived there and the architectural styles popular at the time.
James E. Berry House
In Stillwater, you can find the James E. Berry House at 502 S. Duck St. This house became a historic landmark on November 21, 1980. It's a great example of older homes in the area.
Luke D. Berry House
Another historic home in Cushing is the Luke D. Berry House, found at 621 E. Broadway St. It was listed on December 11, 2007, showing its importance to the town's history.
Hamilton Cross House
The Hamilton Cross House, at 1509 W. 9th in Stillwater, joined the list on June 9, 2014. This house adds to the collection of historically significant residences in Stillwater.
William Frick House
The William Frick House, located at 1016 S. West St. in Stillwater, was recognized on September 8, 1980. It's another example of the historic homes that dot the landscape of Payne County.
Murphy House
At 419 S. Monroe in Stillwater, the Murphy House was listed on September 18, 1986. It's a charming old home that has been preserved for its historical value.
Pruett House
The Pruett House, at 155 Redwood Dr. in Stillwater, was added to the Register on September 7, 2016. It's one of the more recently listed historic homes.
Josephine Reifsnyder Lustron House
A very unique home, the Josephine Reifsnyder Lustron House at 2119 Sherwood in Stillwater, was listed on February 23, 2009. Lustron homes were special prefabricated (built in a factory) steel houses made after World War II.
Christian K. Usher Lustron House
Another interesting Lustron House, the Christian K. Usher Lustron House, is located at 1135 E. Moses in Cushing. It was also listed on February 23, 2009, highlighting the importance of these unique homes.
Important Public and Community Buildings
Beyond homes, many public buildings and community centers in Payne County have played a big role in the lives of its residents.
Campus Fire Station
The Campus Fire Station at 600 W. University Ave. in Stillwater was listed on December 7, 2004. This building served the community and the university for many years.
Citizens Bank Building
The Citizens Bank Building, located at 107 E. 9th St. in Stillwater, became a historic site on February 24, 1981. Banks are often important landmarks in a town's development.
Cottonwood Community Center
Northwest of Stillwater, the Cottonwood Community Center was listed on March 13, 1980. Community centers are places where people gather, learn, and celebrate, making them very important to local history.
Cushing American Legion Building
The Cushing American Legion Building at 212 S. Noble in Cushing was added to the Register on June 5, 2003. American Legion posts are important for veterans and community events.
Cushing Armory
The Cushing Armory, found at 218 S. Little Ave. in Cushing, was listed on May 20, 1994. Armories are buildings used by military reserves or national guard units.
Gillespie Drilling Company Building
In Cushing, the Gillespie Drilling Company Building at 317 W. Broadway was listed on December 12, 2012. This building is a reminder of the oil industry's importance in Oklahoma.
Hoke Building
The Hoke Building at 121 W. 7th Ave. in Stillwater was recognized on September 12, 1983. This building likely played a role in the commercial life of Stillwater.
Payne County Courthouse
The Payne County Courthouse, located at 606 S. Husband St. in Stillwater, was listed on August 23, 1984. Courthouses are central to a county's government and history.
Selph Building
Another historic building in Stillwater is the Selph Building at 119 W. 7th Ave., listed on September 12, 1983.
Stillwater Santa Fe Depot
The Stillwater Santa Fe Depot, at 400 E. 10th St. in Stillwater, was added to the Register on March 3, 1980. Train depots were once bustling hubs of travel and trade.
Walker Building
The Walker Building, at 117 W. 7th Ave. in Stillwater, was listed on September 12, 1983. It's another example of the historic commercial buildings in the city.
University and Educational Sites
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater has several buildings and sites that are historically significant.
Magruder Plots
The Magruder Plots, located at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, were listed on August 29, 1979. These are important agricultural research plots that have contributed to farming knowledge for many years.
Oklahoma A & M College Agronomy Barn and Seed House
At 2902 W. 6th St. Building #610 in Stillwater, the Oklahoma A & M College Agronomy Barn and Seed House was listed on May 27, 2004. This building was part of the university's early agricultural studies.
Oklahoma A&M College Dairy Barn
The Oklahoma A&M College Dairy Barn, at 2624 W. McElroy Rd. in Stillwater, was added on December 10, 2014. It represents the university's history in dairy farming and education.
Old Central, Oklahoma State University
Old Central, located on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, is a very important building. It was listed on July 27, 1971, and is one of the oldest and most iconic buildings at the university.
Pleasant Valley School
The Pleasant Valley School, at 1901 S. Sangre Rd. in Stillwater, was listed on January 25, 1991. Old schoolhouses often have many stories about education and community life.
Other Unique Historic Places
Payne County also has some unique sites that don't fit neatly into other categories but are just as important.
Hopkins Sandstone House and Farmstead
Northeast of Ripley, the Hopkins Sandstone House and Farmstead was listed on May 7, 1979. This site includes a house built from sandstone and the surrounding farm, showing early farming life.
Irvings Castle
About 2.5 miles south of Ingalls, you'll find Irvings Castle, listed on February 17, 1978. The name itself makes you curious about its history!
Long Branch Creek Bridge
The Long Branch Creek Bridge, located about 1/8 mile north of the junction of N3300 & E0540 near Stillwater, was listed on September 10, 2014. Bridges are important for transportation and often show interesting engineering from their time.
Perkins Downtown Historic District
The Perkins Downtown Historic District includes the 100 block of Main St. bounded by Stumbo and Thomas Sts. in Perkins. It was listed on December 28, 2000. Historic districts preserve the look and feel of old downtown areas.
Jim Thorpe House
The Jim Thorpe House, at 704 E. Boston St. in Yale, was listed on March 24, 1971. Jim Thorpe was a famous Native American athlete, and his home is a significant landmark.
White Cloud Lodge
The White Cloud Lodge, at 820 E. 146th St. in Perkins, was listed on September 3, 2010. Lodges often served as meeting places or community centers.