Three sites on Route 66 in Tulsa were among the 13 honored today by the Tulsa Preservation Commission‘s Outreach Committee, according to an article in the Tulsa World.
The annual awards are given to projects that “demonstrate good stewardship of a historic resource, increase awareness and access to a historic resource, or save a historic resource that is in decline.”
This year’s Route 66-related honorees include the Campbell Hotel, at 2636 E. 11th St.:
“Their careful rehabilitation project included restoration of the original windows and returning the facade to its original look, including awnings and the blade sign above the entrance,” DeCort said.
Aaron Meek, president of Group M Investment, said he bought the building in 2008 with the thought that it could be turned into loft apartments.
“But after we started looking into it, we thought, ‘We can turn this back into a hotel,’ ” he said. “It was more fitting for what it was set up for.”
The 1927 hotel now serves as an upscale boutique establishment, near the University of Tulsa campus.
The second award goes to the historic Meadow Gold sign at 11th Street and Quaker Ave., which was dismantled and saved in 2004 when its owner threatened to demolish it. The letters and neon tubing were refurbished, and the sign was re-erected at its current location in 2009.
Finally, the Frisco Meteor 4500 steam locomotive at Route 66 Village at 3700 Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66) also was recognized. Preservationists beautifully restored the steam engine and moved it to its current location a few months ago, along with a caboose and a passenger car. The video below shows the day when it was moved to its final spot: