Central Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
City Hall by Forfeiture
— The ‘89er Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 21, 2019
1. City Hall by Forfeiture Marker
Inscription.
City Hall by Forfeiture. . , Always short on revenue, the City eventually acquired its own building by evicting a saloon.
The Mayor and City Council of Oklahoma City first met on May 3, 1889 in the law office of councilman Ledru Guthrie on the south side of Main Street, mid-block west of the Santa Fe tracks. The City had very little revenue to pay rent or salaries. Its revenues were limited to sales of lot certificates, fines, licenses, and the like.
Fifteen months later, after the election of a new mayor and city council in August, 1890, the council voted to lease council chambers, a police courtroom, and clerk's office in the Kuhlman Building at 13 N. Broadway for $25 per month. The Black and Rogers saloon occupied the first floor.
Nearby, on the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway, Joe and James T. Hill, who had arrived as sooners on April 22, were operating a boarding house, saloon, and billiard hall, all duly licensed by the City. In October, 1893, the townsite trustees determined that the Hill brothers were sooners and in the absence of other claimants, delivered a deed for the two lots to the City. A few days later, the Hill brothers were arrested for allowing gambling and liquor on the same premises, their property was seized, and the City offices promptly moved into the vacant building.
Photo captions: Left: In 1890, Oklahoma City council chambers, police courtroom and the city clerk's office moved to the Kuhlman Building, 13 N. Broadway. Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society , Right: When the city moved from the Kuhlman Building to the Hill Brothers' saloon on the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway, the Turf Club Exchange saloon shown here moved into the Kuhlman Building. Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County
Always short on revenue, the City eventually acquired its own building by evicting a saloon.
The Mayor and City Council of Oklahoma City first met on May 3, 1889 in the law office of councilman Ledru Guthrie on the south side of Main Street, mid-block west of the Santa Fe tracks. The City had very little revenue to pay rent or salaries. Its revenues were limited to sales of lot certificates, fines, licenses, and the like.
Fifteen months later, after the election of a new mayor and city council in August, 1890, the council voted to lease council chambers, a police courtroom, and clerk's office in the Kuhlman Building at 13 N. Broadway for $25 per month. The Black and Rogers saloon occupied the first floor.
Nearby, on the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway, Joe and James T. Hill, who had arrived as sooners on April 22, were operating a boarding house, saloon, and billiard hall, all duly licensed by the City. In October, 1893, the townsite trustees determined that the Hill brothers were sooners and in the absence of other claimants, delivered a deed for the two lots to the City. A few days later, the Hill brothers were arrested for allowing gambling and liquor on the same premises, their property was seized, and the City offices promptly moved into the vacant building.
Photo captions:
Left:
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In 1890, Oklahoma City council chambers, police courtroom and the city clerk's office moved to the Kuhlman Building, 13 N. Broadway.
Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Right: When the city moved from the Kuhlman Building to the Hill Brothers' saloon on the northwest corner of Grand Avenue and Broadway, the Turf Club Exchange saloon shown here moved into the Kuhlman Building. Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County
Erected 2018 by Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Wiggin Properties. (Marker Number 10.)
Location. 35° 27.983′ N, 97° 30.867′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in Central Oklahoma City. Marker is at the intersection of West Sheridan Avenue and North Broadway Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Sheridan Avenue. Located at the north side of the Cox Convention Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: West Sheridan Avenue, Oklahoma City OK 73102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
