

I drew a line so you can see where one building ends and the bank begins- roof tops are also different:


The "fire alarm" back then was gunshots fired into the air. A bucket brigade was the only means they had at that time to try to put it out. The Lynch building somehow survived, but the bank and other buildings had to be rebuilt. Here you can see the Lynch building on the left, the spot where the bank was in the middle and where the Gillette store was on the right.

In 1905 the bank moved into a new 5-story building at 2nd and Main complete with modern gas lights and electric fans. The name was changed to First National Bank.

The buildings were still standing until Urban Renewal took them down in 1970.


Jay Forsythe also built Tulsa's first flour mill on West First Street.


Edward Rea, a successful mill owner/operator opened the Rea-Read Mill & Elevator Company on East First Street..
Eugene Coker, an expert in the milling business, managed the mill which became one of the foremost corporations of its kind in the eastern part of Oklahoma.




In 1913 Coker purchased a third interest in the company. In 1916 it was reported in the Tulsa World that the Rea & Read Mill & Elevator Company produced 500 barrels per day.

With the success of the Rea Reed Mill, Forsythe closed his flour mill and, along with C.E. Smiley

reopened it as Tulsa's first ice plant in 1901.


Mr. Forsythe was an active Tulsa civic leader up until his death on August 26, 1936 at the age of 89.
Sources: USGenWeb Archives; OHS Digital Library-by Larry O’Dell; Men of Affairs And Representative Institutions Of Oklahoma -1916 Tulsa World; A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, 1918
2 comments:
fascinating information!!! It's such a shame that Urban Renewal had to take those beautiful, old buildings down.
Thank you, Nancy!
The building on the other side of the bank from the Lynch store had decorative Sheet metal facing on top. It reminds me of the Cobb building in Wagoner which is still a landmark there.
The engineer in me wonders how they produced electricity back then and how they produced ice and kept ice cream frozen. Interesting post, thanks.
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