Tuton's Drug Store - Arcadia, OK - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The town of Arcadia is situated about 15 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. Opened for non-Indian settlement with the Land Run of 1889, Arcadia immediately became a successful farming area, located in the rich Deep Fork basin. When the railroad came through the area in 1903, a commercial district was established here. One of the earliest businessmen was Benjamin Franklin Tuton who entered into the drug store business with George Blake. They first used a small frame building on the east side of town.

In 1917, with the town experiencing prosperity, the First State Bank of Arcadia purchased the land on the northwest corner of First and Main and constructed this building. Sandstone was cut on a farm southwest of Arcadia and hauled to the site by horse and wagon. This simple, rectangular building was constructed which is two-story and 25 ft. by 70 ft.

A double-arched doorway at the southeast corner was the main bank entrance, with two large arched windows to either side. The arched windows on the east and south sides have brick headers with keystones. All windows have stone sills and headers. The second floor is an apartment which was the residence of the Tuton family for many years.

The bank occupied this building for less than two years, at which time, it was sold to Tuton and Blake for $3,400. In 1921, Tuton bought out Blake and operated the drug store with his son, Thomas. In June of 1924, a devastating fire destroyed all of the downtown business district, with the drug store being the only remaining building still standing.

Thomas Tuton continued the drug store business until his death in 1934, at which time his wife, Ethel continued the operation until 1941. The building stood vacant until 1945 when it was leased to a grocer and operated as John's Grocery Store. The building has been altered on the interior, with wallboard covering the original plaster, and the ceiling replaced. In the late 1990s the daughter of Ethel and Thomas Tuton operated an antique mall on the first floor. The building is currently the location of Chesrow Brown Real Estate.

This historic building is one block north of the famous Arcadia Round Barn, also on the Historic Register. The building lies one short block north of historic Route 66.

Street address: 201 N. Main Street Arcadia, OK US 73007 County / Borough / Parish: Oklahoma County Year listed: 1980 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Person Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Commerce/Trade Current function: Commerce/Trade Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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