Historic Guthrie landmark continues restoration: deed handed over to Guthrie Tomorrow Coalition group

In the heart of Guthrie’s historic downtown, a century-old gem is set to shine once more. The State Capital Publishing Museum, a majestic four-story relic from 1902, is about to embark on a transformative journey. This architectural marvel, which witnessed Oklahoma’s birth into statehood, is not just a building; it’s a time capsule filled with past stories. Now, thanks to a groundbreaking agreement by the Guthrie Tomorrow Coalition Inc., it’s poised for a grand revival.

The Guthrie Tomorrow Coalition Inc. agreed on the four-story, 50,000-square-foot building in 2018. The structure was one of the first buildings in Oklahoma to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 116-year-old building, located on the corner of 1st Street and Harrison Ave., was donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) in 1975 by the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce.

A 2016 law required the Oklahoma Historical Society to first offer to sell surplus property to the original donor (Chamber). However, in 2017, the Chamber board of directors voted to relinquish the building, paving the way for the nonprofit to take over.

The coalition was granted the deed to the building in a ceremony outside the museum in a June 26 ceremony. Mayor Steve Gentling presented a proclamation to former Senator AJ Griffin for her work in helping the case for the coalition.

As part of that deal, The State Capital Publishing Museum has committed to spend a minimum of $262,000 towards repairing, preserving, and restoring the building. This amount was agreed upon based on two assessments of the building’s current worth. That “initial” investment of $262,000 represents a fraction of what it will take to completely restore and renovate the building.

It will take an enormous investment of capital and labor to accomplish the long-range goals of the building. At the beginning of the negotiating process, OHS President Dr. Bob Blackburn was clear that he was taking “the long view” of the building’s future. This plan sets out the roadmap for accomplishing the first steps towards repair, restoration, and preservation with the long-term goal of having the building open as a museum. Additional use has yet to be determined, but the State Capital Publishing Museum Board understands the need to develop a sustainable and steady source of income to support the museum and the building long term.

“Everything you see in it today, the colors, the furniture, all of it is original to the building on opening day,” Kord Stockwell, State Capital Publishing Museum board chairman told an Oklahoma City television station. Stepping into the space feels like stepping into the past. “This is where you would come and take care of any license filing you needed to, or any property deeds,” said Stockwell.

The original documents are still in place. “My favorite piece in the wall is a piece that references the war of the great rebellion, which is what the Civil War was called before Abraham Lincoln,” said Stockwell. In 1907, in a window in this building, the telegraph in which President Roosevelt declared Oklahoma the forty-sixth state was received. That telegram was then brought here to the second-story balcony where statehood was officially announced.

“This machine here is one of the oldest in the building,” said Stockwell. The main function of the building was home to the town newspaper, and still intact are the many printing presses. “I mean this is every bit of 120 years old at this point and still operates very fluidly,” said Stockwell. At the time there were two daily editions, and a lot of work went into making that happen. “A lot of people will know of this machine from the Waltons, John Boy did his printing on a Chandler and Price,” said Stockwell. There is a case for the fonts used, capital letters at the top and noncapital letters beneath. “That’s why to this day we call them upper-case and lower-case letters,” said Stockwell.

The plans are to complete the renovations and use the space as a museum, as well as office space and rentable event space.

“Lots of joy will be had in this building,” said Stockwell. For history buffs, especially Oklahoma history, the place is simply amazing. It needs to be completed for the world to see. The fundraising event is October 24.

For more information on the event and the museum visit www.publishingmuseum.org.