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| ID Number |
SG100002544 |
| Historic Name |
REVEREND L.W. THOMAS HOMESTEAD |
| Description of Significance |
THE ALL-BLACK TOWNS OF OKLAHOMA REPRESENT A UNIQUE CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY. NOWHERE ELSE DID SO MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN COME TOGETHER TO CREATE, OCCUPY, AND GOVERN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. FROM 1865 TO 1920, AFRICAN-AMERICANS CREATED MORE THAN FIFTY IDENTIFIABLE TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS; SOME WERE OF SHORT DURATION AND SOME STILL EXIST TODAY. THE ALL-BLACK TOWNS IN OKLAHOMA WERE, FOR THE MOST PART, SMALL AGRICULTURAL CENTERS THAT GAVE NEARBY AFRICAN-AMERICAN FARMERS A MARKET PLACE. PROSPERITY GENERALLY DEPENDED ON COTTON AND OTHER CROPS. REVEREND L.W. THOMAS ARRIVED IN SUMMIT IN JULY 1922 WHERE HE ENVISIONED CREATING A MODEL COMMUNITY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS; SUSTAINED AND GOVERNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS. INVESTING OVER $100,000 OF HIS OWN MONEY, HE PURCHASED THE TOWN SITE OF SOUTH MUSKOGEE AND THE SURROUNDING LANDS (576 ACRES), AND NAMED IT SUMMIT. HE DIVIDED THE LAND ADJACENT TO HIS HOME INTO AVAILABLE LOTS TO BE PURCHASED FOR FUTURE HOMES TO BE BUILT BY THOSE MIGRATING TO SUMMIT. THEREFORE, THE REVEREND L.W. THOMAS HOMESTEAD IS ELIGIBLE UNDER CRITERION A FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FORMATION OF SUMMIT, AN ALL-BLACK TOWN, AS WELL AS ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK. IT IS ALSO ELIGIBLE UNDER CRITERIA B AS IT BEST REPRESENTS REVEREND L.W. THOMAS' PRODUCTIVE LIFE. LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER 06/07/2018. |
| Current Name |
SAME |
| Address |
5805 OKTAHA ROAD |
| City |
SUMMIT |
| County |
MUSKOGEE |
| Lot |
|
| Block |
|
| Current Section |
|
| Township |
|
| Range |
|
| Type |
BUILDING |
| Historic Function |
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING WITH SECONDARY STRUCTURES/OUTBUILDINGS |
| Current Function |
VACANT/NOT IN USE |
| Area Significance 1 |
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT |
| Area Significance 2 |
ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK |
| Date Prepared |
FEBRUARY 2018 |
| Year Built |
1922 |
| Original Site |
YES |
| Architect/Builder |
REV. L.W. THOMAS |
| Architectural Style |
CRAFTSMAN/BUNGALOW |
| Roof Material |
ASPHALT SHINGLE |
| Wall Material |
WEATHERBOARD |
| Window Material |
WOOD |
| Door Material |
WOOD |
| Decorative Details |
CRAFTSMAN DETAILS |
| Condition |
POOR (IN NEED OF REPAIRS) |
| Comments |
|
| Restricted |
|
|