Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025

1. J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park Marker, Side One

Inscription. A sense of community has always flourished in Norman. The Norman City Park was established with the filing of the official town plat in the early 1890's. The park has been in existence for over a century and its features have changed with the times.

At the turn of the century and as Oklahoma became a state, the park served as a place for outdoor gatherings. The 1920's saw construction of a tourist camp to meet the needs of weary automobile travelers. To provide for their needs, a brick structure with showerheads (cold water only) and toilets was completed in August 1923. Four outside brick ovens were also installed. On August 20, 1923 the Norman Transcript reported that the park had provided travelers with “everything for his convenience except food, fuel, and bed.” In 1926, the City of Norman hired a young man to maintain and supervise its parks. J.A. “Abe” Andrews was the City of Norman Park Superintendent for thirty years. During his tenure the park saw many improvements including further development of the tourist camp and the creation of a zoo.

In the mid-1930's the use of the park became dominated by local residents

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rather than passing tourists. During the month of July 1934, almost thirty thousand visitors were documented to have used Norman City Park for various events including daylong festivals complete with swimming, watermelon feasts, and picture shows. Evidence of the zoo and camping facilities have faded from the park, although not from city residents' memories.

The 1930's and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) brought construction of an amphitheater that is still on the grounds today. The WPA, the Federal Relief Administration (FERA), the National Youth Administration (NYA) and other New Deal Programs under Franklin D. Roosevelt helped the park continue its role as a community focal point by funding construction of numerous recreation facilities that have allowed the park to thrive as an entertainment and leisure center for more than one hundred years.

In 1956, the City of Norman honored Mr. Andrews for his years of dedicated service by renaming this park for the retiring Norman Park Superintendent.

On December 28, 2000, J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park (the Norman City Park/New Deal Resources District) was placed on the National

J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025

2. J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park Marker, Side Two

Register of Historic Places.

Erected 2001 by Norman Historic District Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1934.

Location. 35° 13.412′ N, 97° 26.913′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It can be reached from North Park Avenue 0.1 miles north of West Daws Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is next to the amphitheater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 W Daws St, Norman OK 73069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers.

J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 19, 2025

3. J.A. “Abe” Andrews Park Marker

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Annexation and Lake Thunderbird (approx. 0.2 miles away); National Football Championships and City Growth to the West (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bank Troubles Amid Continued Growth (approx. 0.2 miles away); Excellence in Education and a New City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); The End of the Century and the Beginning of Legacy Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Legacy Years (approx. ¼ mile away); Moore-Lindsay Historic House Museum (approx. ¼ mile away); Norman and Oklahoma's Centennial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norman.

Also see . . . Norman City Park New Deal Resources (PDF). National Register nomination for the amphitheater, entrance gates and other park features built by New Deal agencies. (Prepared by Cynthia Savage, 2000; via State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma) (Submitted on July 10, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

James Adron “Abe” Andrews (1884-1957) image. Click for full size.

via Norman History Club (Public Domain)

4. James Adron “Abe” Andrews (1884-1957)

He was the city's parks superintendent from 1926 to 1956.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 228 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 10, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.