Welcome

The Wichita County Heritage Society is pleased to announce our newest members, those not featured in our Membership Directory. They are as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Bundy

Dr. and Mrs. Justin Levasseur

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Patterson, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Richie

Dr. and Mrs. Earl Singleton

Look for there information in our Spring Newsletter and on behalf of the Wichita County Heritage Society Board of Directors and Staff we thank them for their support!

Wichita Falls’

First Post Office Building

Research by Leon Mueller

Compilation by Lita Watson

The lot at 801-03 Ohio first housed the Souter Opera House as the inhabitants of the new town on the Texas prairie sought culture.  With the demise of the opera, the broom factory moved in.  A fire destroyed that business in the spring of 1907.  Owners then rebuilt the factory two blocks away with better access to the railroad.¹

By1908 a new building stood at the corner of Eighth and Ohio and housed the post office.²  In December of that year, the Federal government purchased land at Ninth and Ohio to build a new post office.³

A search of Worley City Directories shows the Post Office at that location from 1909 to 1913.  In 1914, the building is referred to as Old Post Office and is occupied for the next ten years by The Globe, “Men’s Furnishings, Hats, Shoes”.  In 1925, United Cigar Stores Co #1591 is listed at 801-03 and remains there until 1930 at which time the lower floors remain vacant until 1934 when Magnolia Petroleum Co Station occupies the spot for two years, then in 1937 the name changes to Weldon W. Porter Filling Station.  In 1940: Otis C. Hickey Filling Station, in 1941, Tillman’s Filling Station.

In 1924, A&A Taxi is listed there until 1954 when listings cease until 1975.  Also associated with the taxi company through the years are Safeway Cab, City Cab, Yellow Cab and Checker Cab call stands.

In 1975, Gene’s Pain and Body Shop is listed until 1982 when listings cease.  The building has been used for storage in recent years.

Prior to 1920, rooms were listed with numbers.  Apparently, these served as offices.  In 1920, the Maryland Hotel is listed at 801½, apparently the upstairs portion.  That listing remains until 1942 when it becomes Plaza Hotel and remains so until 1957.  Interesting Note:  Rilla Watson, Rilla Marchese, and Rilla Dixon is the manager from 1937 to 1963.  In 1957, the name is Dixon Hotel, then it changes to Swan Hotel and remains so until 1974 when it becomes the Jackson Hotel in 1975 and 1976 and then listings cease.

¹Wichita Daily Times, June 6, 1907; March 8j, 1936, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1898

²Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, July 1908

³Wichita Daily Times, May 12, 1957

A Generous Gift

The Wichita County Heritage Society Board of Directors and Staff are pleased to announce that we are now the proud owners of the property located behind the Carriage House on Ninth Street.  This land was a gift from one of our most faithful and longtime members.  She is active in all aspects of the Kell House and a vital member of the Wichita County Heritage Society.

As we are sure you all know that we are speaking of Ann Funston.  Upon the final determination to pursue the purchase of this land, Ann offered to purchase the land for us.  Over the next several years we will be in the process of determining what type of facility we need to serve as offices, as well as a state-of-the-art collection facility.  There is a pressing need to properly catalog and store the valuable collection the Kell House is so lucky to have.  These items are irreplaceable and have been placed into our care for preservation.

In the future this property will be referred to as the Dean Funston Property.  We are so very grateful to Ann for her generous gift and for years to come all who visit the Kell House will benefit from it as well.