Oklahoma's National Register of Historic Places

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ID Number SG100005865
Historic Name FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Description of Significance THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT 500 SOUTH JOHNSTONE AVENUE, BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE UNDER CRITERION C IN THE AREA OF ARCHITECTURE AS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS FACILITIES DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH REPRESENTS FOUR CONSTRUCTION PHASES WHICH OCCURRED OVER A SIXTY-YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 1927 AND 1987. EACH WING REPRESENTS ITS ERA OF CONSTRUCTION THROUGH ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. ALTHOUGH EACH PORTION OF THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED DURING A SEPARATE PHASE, CONTINUITY OF MATERIALS AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS UNIFY THE SECTIONS AND CREATE A COHESIVE COMPLEX. THE 1954 MODERN MOVEMENT A-FRAME SANCTUARY REPRESENTS THE SECOND CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND OPERATES AS THE CENTRAL FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT OF THE CHURCH COMPLEX. THE DRAMATIC FORM SERVES AS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE COMPLEX AND PROVIDES THE DOMINANT ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. SECONDARY COMPLEX ELEMENTS INCLUDE THE 1927 EDUCATION WING, 1956 SNEED CHAPEL, AND THE 1987 ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION WING ADDITION. THE 1927 EDUCATION WING COMMUNICATES A RESTRAINED EXPRESSION OF THE COLLEGIATE GOTHIC STYLE THROUGH BUFF BRICK CLADDING AND SIMPLE CAST STONE TRIM. IN CONTRAST, THE DRAMATIC A-FRAME FORM OF THE 1954 SANCTUARY, WITH ITS BUFF BRICK AND CONCRETE EXTERIOR, WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF AN ARCHITECTURAL TREND THAT MOVED AWAY FROM PREVIOUS REVIVAL STYLES IN RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE DURING THE MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY. THE 1956 MODERN MOVEMENT SNEED CHAPEL EMPLOYS THE SAME MATERIALS TO VISUALLY AND PHYSICALLY LINK THE 1954 A-FRAME SANCTUARY TO THE 1927 WING. THE 1987 ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION WING EXPRESSES A POST-MODERN AESTHETIC THROUGH EXAGGERATED CRENELLATIONS AND POINTED ARCH WINDOWS. AS WITH THE PREVIOUS CONSTRUCTION PHRASES, BUFF BRICK CLADDING IS EMPLOYED TO UNIFY THE 1987 ADDITION WITH THE THREE PREVIOUSLY CONSTRUCTED ELEMENTS OF THE COMPLEX. ALTHOUGH THE 1987 ADDITION IS NOT HISTORIC, IT DOES NOT PREVENT THE COMPLEX FROM CONVEYING ITS SIGNIFICANCE. LISTED 12/1/2020.
Current Name SAME
Address 500 SOUTH JOHNSTONE AVENUE
City BARTLESVILLE
County WASHINGTON
Lot 4-6
Block 46
Current Section
Township
Range
Type BUILDING
Historic Function RELIGION: RELIGIOUS FACILITY
Current Function COMMERCE/TRADE: PROFESSIONAL; VACANT/NOT IN USE
Area Significance 1 ARCHITECTURE
Area Significance 2
Date Prepared APRIL 2020
Year Built 1954-1957
Original Site YES
Architect/Builder ARCHITECTS: (1927) UNKNOWN; (1954) COSTON, FRANKFORT, & SHORT; (1957)BUCK & ASSOCIATES; (1987) FRANK RIEHART
Architectural Style MODERN MOVEMENT; EARLY 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY REVIVAL
Roof Material SLATE TILE; MEMBRANE
Wall Material BRICK AND CONCRETE PANELS
Window Material ALUMINUM
Door Material ALUMINUM
Decorative Details DALLE DE VERRE WINDOWS
Condition EXCELLENT
Comments LISTED IN THE NRHP ON DECEMBER 1, 2020.
Restricted