Bartlesville Times:
An Outline of Bartlesville History
(click on the small photos to view full size pictures)
| 1868 |
 |
Nelson F. Carr settles in the area and builds a trading post and sawmill on the Caney River. |
| 1870 |
Carr
cuts a millrace at the bend of the Caney River and builds a grist
mill, powered by water, for grinding corn into cornmeal.
|
|
| 1873 |
 |
Jacob H. Bartles settles in the Silverlake area. |
| 1874 |
Bartles
moves to Turkey Creek where he operates a trading post and the
first post office. The Delaware Baptist Church and School, a subscription
school, is built.
|
|
| 1875 |
Bartles
purchases the gristmill and blacksmith shop from Carr for $1000.
|
|
| 1877 |
Bartles
enlarges the mill and converts it to the grinding of wheat for
flour.
|
|
| 1878 |
Bartles
builds a store, with the family home on the second floor, north
of the mill.
|
|
| 1884 |
 |
William Johnstone and George B. Keeler, both former clerks in Bartles' store, establish a general merchandise store on the south side of the Caney River. |
| 1890 |
The
first electric light system is established by Bartles on the north
side of the Caney River.
|
|
| 1895 |
The
first newspaper, the "Weekly Magnet," is published every Friday.
|
|
| 1897 |
 |
Bartlesville
is incorporated as a city of the third class, with a population
of 200, on January 15. The first commercial oil well in Oklahoma, the Nellie Johnstone No. 1, is drilled on April 15. (see photo) |
| 1898 |
The
National Hotel, later known as the Right Way Hotel, opens for
business.
|
|
| 1899 |
|
Bartles
moves his combination store and home to establish the community
of Dewey. The Santa Fe railroad comes to Bartlesville. Keeler builds the town's first stone building at the northwest corner of Second Street and Johnstone Avenue. (see photo) |
| 1902 |
 |
The Oklah Theater is built. |
| 1903 |
One
of the town's earliest industries, Crystal Ice and Storage Company,
is built. The Vitrified Brick Plant opens for business, producing
50,000 bricks a day.
|
|
| 1904 |
The
Great Western Glass Company is established
|
|
| 1905 |
 |
Garfield
School is erected. (see photo) The Almeda Hotel opens for business at the corner of Second Street and Johnstone Avenue. On January 31, the City Fire Department makes its' first run. |
| 1906 |
 |
The
Lanyon-Starr smelter is built. The Phillips brothers incorporate the Lewcinda Oil Company. A 15 bed hospital is built.(see photo) |
| 1907 |
 |
Indian
Territory and Oklahoma Territory are joined as the state of Oklahoma.
Bartlesville Zinc Company and National Zinc Company are constructed. (see photo) On December 12, Governor Haskell proclaims Bartlesville "a city of the First Class." The city is comprised of 85 blocks with some 850 lots and 4,215 residents. |
| 1908 |
 |
Frank
Griggs, photographer, arrives in Bartlesville. (see photo) Seven black students attend the newly established Douglass School. The Interurban street cars begin running loops. |
| 1910 |
 |
The
City Hall and Fire Department is built at the northwest corner of
Fourth and Dewey Streets. (see photo) The first Bartlesville High School is completed. |
| 1911 | Bartlesville Country Club (later known as Oak Hill Country Club) is organized. | |
| 1912 | Douglass School building is erected. St. John Catholic School is established. The first Boy Scout troop is organized. | |
| 1913 | Bartlesville's first public library opens with approximately 300 books. | |
| 1915 | A "swimming beach" is constructed above the natural rock dam across the Caney River. | |
| 1916 | Bartlesville becomes the first town in the state to establish a junior high school. | |
| 1917 | Phillips Petroleum Company is incorporated with 27 employees. | |
| 1918 |
 |
The Bureau of Mines is established. |
| 1921 | H. C. Price opens a small electric welding shop which becomes the H. C. Price Company. | |
| 1922 | The American Legion baseball team is formed. Memorial Hospital opens. On May 24, the Seventh Street Bridge is dedicated to the men and women of Washington County who served in World War I. | |
| 1926 |
 |
Frank Phillips
builds his ranch, Woolaroc. |
| 1927 | The "Woolaroc" airplane, piloted by Art Goebel and fueled with a new Phillips gasoline, wins the Dole San Francisco-to-Honolulu race. | |
| 1929 |
 |
H. V. Foster, president of the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company, builds his town home, "La Quinta." |
| 1930 | REDA Pump is organized by Arutunoff. The first Garden Club is established. | |
| 1934 |
 |
Wiley
Post, wearing the first space suit, makes the first stratospheric
flight. (see photo) There are 64 days above 100 degrees and 25 consecutive days above 100 degrees. On August 14th, Bartlesville is the hottest spot in the nation at 107 degrees. |
| 1940 | The Senior High School and Junior College, commonly called "Col-Hi," is dedicated. | |
| 1941 | Cities Service Company becomes a major oil company with the purchase of I.T.I.O. for $70 million. | |
| 1942 | REDA employees make aircraft parts under World War II defense contracts. H. C. Price Company foremen and welders work in shipyards building Liberty ships, tankers and LST's. | |
| 1945 | The S. S. Bartlesville Victory ship is christened. | |
| 1946 | Hilltop Drive-In opens on Nowata Road, "three miles east of Bartlesville." Murphy's Original Steak House opens on West Third Street. | |
| 1947 | The city celebrates 50 years of existence with a parade and commemorative currency. | |
| 1950 | The Westside Community Center Association is founded. | |
| 1951 | The Hulah Dam is completed. Phillips Petroleum Company scientists invent polyethlyene, which becomes one of the most widely used plastics in the world | |
| 1952 |
|
Jane
Phillips hospital is dedicated. The Phillips 66er's basketball team win the first of two Olympic trials championships in New York. Third Street is renamed Frank Phillips Boulevard. |
| 1954 | Phillips Petroleum Company develops and introduces the industry's first all-season motor oil. | |
| 1955 |
 |
The Price Tower designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is completed. |
| 1956 | Douglass School goes from 12 to 8 grades as integration of the school system begins. | |
| 1962 | Work begins on Sooner Park and Adams Municipal Golf Course. | |
| 1963 | Bartlesville is named the "All America City." | |
| 1965 | Eastland Shopping Mall is constructed. | |
| 1966 | Sooner High School holds its first classes. Bartlesville is the only city in Oklahoma to endorse Daylight Savings Time. | |
| 1968 | Tri-County Vocational Technical School opens. Cities Service announces plans to move its operations and 900 employees to Tulsa. | |
| 1970 | The Bartlesville Civic Ballet gives its first performance. | |
| 1971 | The last passenger train leaves Bartlesville. Douglass School closes. | |
| 1976 | Bartlesville completes its United States Bicentennial project with the opening of Pathfinder Parkway. | |
| 1982 |
|
The ultra-modern Bartlesville Community Center opens. |
| 1983 | On August 29, Bartlesville reaches the highest temperature in the state, 111 degrees. | |
| 1984 | Washington Park Mall opens. In December, T. Boone Pickens makes a hostile takeover attempt on Phillips Petroleum Company. | |
| 1985 | The premiere season for the OK Mozart International Festival. | |
| 1986 | The Caney River crests at a record high of 29 feet above normal on October 4. | |
| 1987 | Indian Summer begins as an annual celebration of the city's Native American heritage. | |
| 1992 | The new Bartlesville Public Library and History Museum dedicated. The first annual SunFest festival takes place at Sooner Park. Alta Photographic, Inc. (also produces Kalioka bottled water) joins Bartlesville's industrial park. | |
| 1994 | The First Fantasy Land Forest lights up Johnstone Park. | |
| 1996 | I.T.I.O., once one of the most prominent oil companies in Bartlesville, returns as a downtown shopping mall. | |
| 1997 | A hundred years in the making, Bartlesville celebrates its' Centennial! | |
|
These
events and dates were taken from a variety of sources and are
by no means an inclusive history of Bartlesville.
|
||
