| Address: | 115 N. Fowler St. Meeker, OK 74855 | County: | Lincoln |
| Started: | Completed: | 1935 | |
| Agencies: | WPA | NRHP: | April 4, 1996 |
Current Usage:
Description:
“One of only 27 municipal buildings constructed by the WPA in Oklahoma…
The old town hall of Meeker is located at 115 N. Fowler, a half-block off the main street. This is a one-story rectangular, native sandstone building, which is currently a private residence. The west-facing facade has a centered, 12-pane door, flanked by two deep-set window openings. One has a pair of metal-framed 6-over-6 windows, while the other has a single window and a partial infilling. The gable roof currently is covered with metal siding. A cloth awning has been added to the facade. This town hall is 29′ x 40′ and was constructed in 1935 with an appropriation of $2517.
On the south side at the rear, a large garage door opening has been partially infilled with wood paneling, and a single window. On the north side, a large garage has been constructed, adjoining this building. The town hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and is listed in the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory database.” (waymarking.com)
The town of Meeker, Oklahoma, was founded in 1903. Similar to many Oklahoma towns, the impetus for the town came from the railroad. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, in constructing a branch road from Arkansas City, Kansas, to Shawnee, Oklahoma, required a depot in the vicinity. Land for the townsite was ceded by homesteaders Julian Meeker and Walter Fowler. As the railroad already had a Fowler on the line, the town was named Meeker in honor of Meeker’s donation. The first bisecting street was named Fowler in honor of Fowler’s contribution to the town. Offered at auction on 16 March 1903, many of the town’s lots were brought by residents of the nearby town of Clifton. Bringing their buildings with them when they moved, the Clifton residents essentially moved their town, lock, stock and barrel to Meeker. A small, agricultural community, Meeker never experienced a major population explosion. By 1930, the town boasted a population of 562, ranking it fifth in terms of population in Lincoln County. Constructed in 1935, the Meeker Town Hall was one of the earliest projects undertaken by the WPA in Lincoln County. It was, however, not the first Depression era, federally aided project in the town. The Federal Emergency Relief Act provided labor and much of the material for improvement to the Meeker Community Building in the years preceding the WPA. Other WPA projects in the town included improvement to the streets and cemetery. The WPA received an appropriation of approximately 2,500 dollars for the Meeker Town Hall project, 8,000 dollars for work on the streets and 3,000 for the cemetery project. Combined the three WPA projects boosted the local economy by nearly fifteen thousand dollars in a three year period. Beyond helping the local residents and community economy, the construction of the town hall also facilitated the workings of the town government. Similar to the school buildings, many Oklahoma government buildings had become obsolete or, in some instances, were nonexistent. Due to their inability to procure sufficient funds, especially during the trying economic times of the Great Depression, many counties and towns were not able to construct the necessary improved facilities. However, with the assistance of the WPA and usually the sponsorship of the benefitting governmental entity, several city halls, jails and county courthouses were constructed to improve the quality of local government in many Oklahoma towns. The construction of new city halls by the WPA allowed the respective community government to function with a new efficiency. The improved facilities centralized the seat of city government and also allowed for an expansion of city records and services. Additionally, the new building enhanced the community identity. The city hall, often the identifying building of small towns, was critical to the town’s self-image.
The Meeker Town Hall continued in use as the town hall until about the late 1970s. At that time a new, modern, metal town hall was constructed on the northeast side of town.
The building is now a private residence.
Sources:
Supported Documents:
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Bibliography
- Lincoln County. Oklahoma History. Claremore, OK: Country Lane Press, 1988.
- “Meeker Town Hall.” Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory, Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma City.
- Meeker’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. Meeker Chamber of Commerce, 1978.
- United States Community Improvement Appraisal Report, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Okmulgee, OK: State of Oklahoma, Department of Government, 1938.
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