Triangle Building - Pawhuska, OK
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 39.832 W 096° 20.416
14S E 737714 N 4060881
"The grand flatiron Triangle Building, from which attorneys appointed as “guardians” of Osage wealth mismanaged accounts to their own benefit, is abandoned to pigeons and last season’s Christmas decorations." ~ Atlas Obscura
Waymark Code: WMZM1P
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 11/28/2018
Views: 4
Couinty of bldg: Osage County
Location of bldg: E. Main St. (US-60) & Ki-He-Kah Ave., Pawhuska
Built: 1913
"48. TRIANGLE BUILDING, 101-107 Main Street, 1913. This freely-standing five-story
building is bordered by Osage Avenue on the east, Ki-he-kah Avenue on the west, and Main Street on the south. The north tip is clipped, giving it a narrow,
from fourth facade which makes it appear as a "flatiron" building. Except for a few cosmetic alterations, namely wood siding applied to the ground floor on the
southwest corner, this building is in original condition inside and outside.
It is a classic early day "skyscraper" as it is designed as a column with a base,
shaft, and capital.
"The "base"is approximately fourteen feet tall. A high, concrete watertable encircles
the base of the building and is only interrupted by doors. The red
brick on the first floor is evenly "grooved" with one course of bricks recessed
every fifth course. These horizontal bands help break the overall verticality
of the building. Two projecting stringcourses define the top of the base. The
upper course of cast stone has alternating circle and diamond decorations placed
into squares whereas the lower course is a variation of egg and dart details in
cast stone. The east and west sides have nine bays; the south, four; and the
north, one. Other details in the base include the centrally located entrances
on the east and west sides. Though not identical, they are similar. A wide
band of cast stone (approximately two feet wide) defines the sides and top of
the entrance and causes the watertable and stringcourses to project slightly.
The ornamentation of this cast stone is very "Sullivanesque" with an intricate
geometric pattern of intersecting circles, triangles, and squares. An inset
band of cast stone has a simpler geometric pattern. Further inset is the single
wood door encased in ribbed glass blocks. The doors and blocks are later additions
(circa 1930) but are not offensive to the overall design. The storefronts, four
to each side of the entrances, are large pieces of glass with a single vertical
division. Leaded ventilator glass with operable panels makes the transoms.
"The "shaft" of the column is flush red brick with no details. The double-hung
wood sash windows (1/1 lite pattern) have separate stone window sills and no
other ornamentation. The central bay on the east and west facades has a group
of three windows while all other "bays" have paired windows separated by brick
strips.
"The "capital" of the column displays much ornamentation. A projecting cast stone
stringcourse ties all fifth floor windows together as a continuous window lintel.
In the frieze of the architrave are cast stone inserts. The cross-shaped pieces
have projecting "triangles" and mark the corners of the building as well as the
bays. A projecting cast stone cornice caps the parapet. For each inset in the
frieze, a semi-circular capped element punctures the horizontal line of the
cornice. Above the central bay of the east and west facades, the cornice is
raised and a variation of a cartouche with an inset triangle projects from the
facade. The cast stone detail is flanked by the words "TRIANGLE" and "BUILDING".
"The interior of the TRIANGLE BUILDING is untouched. Stained woodwork, operable
interior windows and transoms, and doors are intact. The first floor lobby has
an elaborate mosaic tile floor. An irregularly-shaped, monumental stair
(reflecting the triangular shape of the building) is contructed [sic]completely of
marble with a marble wall wainscot."
~ NRHP Nomination Form