Noble-Bird Building

Noble-Bird Building. 200 Dewey, Built: 1900. , The Noble building was built in 1900 out of native rock. Built for the Noble and Bird drug store, this building is the second oldest in downtown Poteau. , George B. Noble got his start in the drug industry in 1888 in Denison, Texas. While living in Cameron in 1891, he was appointed deputy United States Marshal and retained that position after moving to Poteau a few years later. After arriving in Poteau, Noble teamed up with Dr. Felix W. Bird to build one of the largest drugstores in this part of the country. In 1907, Noble was elected the first sheriff of LeFlore County, which he served until he retired from office in 1913. , Dr. Bird has an equally fascinating background as well. He is credited with the formation of the first political organization, of any size, ever formed in what is now LeFlore County, Oklahoma, despite the fact that in Indian Territory white men did not have a vote. Cleveland and Hendricks were the nominees of the National Democratic Party at that time. Dr. Bird formed a club of four hundred members who worked for their election. Prior to moving to Poteau as a young man Bird served in the Spanish-American War as Corporal, first Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Company D at Camp George H. Thomas, Atlanta, Georgia, and was discharged in 1898. , The Noble-Bird Drugstore continued operation until 1910. That year, the store was sold to the Kidd Brothers. Burton Kidd was both a druggist and Oklahoma legislator. Affectionately known as “The Unkissed Kid”, he served in the Twelfth Legislature of the House of Representatives. The Kidd family would later come to have a profound effect on Poteau. In 1932, Mr. Noble and Dr. Bird once again purchased their old building and reopened the Noble-Bird Drug Store. It remained in operation until 1946. , In the late 1920's, this building also housed Poteau's telephone exchange which provided telephone service, both local and long-distance, to the surrounding areas.