Municipal Community Building – Mangum

Address:	201 West Lincoln, Mangum, Oklahoma	County	Greer
Started	1935	Completed	1936
Agencies:	FERA, WPA	NRHP:	March 17, 1995

Current Usage:

Community Library

Description:

Mangum Community Building is a 2 ½ Story, rectangular building with a full divided basement. Built by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and finished by the Works Progress Administration in 1936. The building exhibits many of the standard, vernacular characteristics evident in the New Deal buildings throughout Oklahoma, such as the use of roughly squared, polychromatic, native limestone. The building’s outside dimensions measure 60’ 6” x 70’ 3”. The gambrel roof was originally wood shingled, but has been recovered with asphalt shingles. On a cold day, January 13^th, 1935 the ground was broke at the site of the old Davis Wagon Yard for the newly designed Community Building. Designed by E. Paul Prins in a rustic Craftsman style, its original purpose was to house the Mangum Public Library, a Pioneers’ Museum, Clubrooms for various civic organizations, an auditorium, kitchen, public lavatories, a nursery and an apartment for the building caretaker. Behind the building, a 30’ x 50’ Boy Scout hut was planned with a large fireplace. Construction was slow due to the requirements of FERA, the work crews were alternatively employed so as to provide as much work for as many as possible. Due to these requirements and the need to employ more people with a call for a revamped relief system, the FERA was phased out in the mid to late 1935. With to creation and implementation of the Works Progress Administration in 1935, the WPA received approval to complete the Mangum Community Building with approved expenditures of $15,686 dollars from WPA funds and $4,943 dollars from the city of Mangum. The project estimated to employ 69 persons from August 6, 1935 to its completion on July 15, 1936.[1]

The building still standing with pride is still used as a community building, library, and museum.

Entered into the National Register of Historic Places March 17, 1995.