"American Legion Post 65" - Ardmore, OK - Legion Posts and Branches on Waymarking.com

The American Legion's website notes that this post was established on October 19, 1919. They lease this building from the City of Ardmore, and their home has some history to it. This old depot is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is a bit more than special, given its rare, direct tie to John Ringling. From the National Register's Nomination Form:

The Ringling Road Depot in Ardmore is significant because it is the only building in Oklahoma directly associated with John Ringling of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

John Ringling's railroad building efforts led directly to the establishment of three towns in southern Oklahoma: Ringling, Wilson, and Healdton, as well as the Healdton oil field.

Ringling and the city of Ardmore built this depot in 1915 with Ringling's Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Pacific Railroad Company. Construction of a line west from Ardmore had been begun in 1913 and was supposed to reach Lawton, Oklahoma. By the time builders finished the depot, the line extended 25 miles to the west, the present site of Ringling, Oklahoma. The depot built there no longer exists.

The Ringling Road never extended further west than Ringling because of the discovery of oil at Healdton, Oklahoma. The oilfield at Healdton was vital to the Allied effort in World War I. It supplied 50% of all the oil the Allied powers used during the war. The Ringling Road made this output possible.

The Santa Fe Railroad Company purchased the Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Pacific Railroad from Ringling in 1926. Santa Fe used the line until 1976, when they closed the 25-mile stretch.

Street address: 301 N Washington St, Ardmore, OK Year the building was constructed.: 1915 Activities: Family activities Hall rental: Don't know Can headgear be worn inside?: Yes Web-link for this "Legion": [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/01/2017 hamquilter visited it