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Lowrey, Jensons make initial donations |
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Wednesday, 22 April 2009 |
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PDN photo by Jenny Huggins 
The first of many founders made their donations recently to help the LeFlore County Museum. Susan Jenson, Randy Bridgman, and Bob Lowrey stand in front of the soon-to-be museum and are proud to be a part of such an historical event.
By Jenny Huggins
News Reporter
The LeFlore County Historical Society received its first two Founders Donations for the future LeFlore County Museum.
The museum will be housed in what many know as the old Lowrey Hotel on Dewey Avenue in downtown Poteau. The office for Poteau Main Street Matters is currently housed in the building.
Making the donations were Bob Lowrey and Susan and Jerry Jenson. The donations were in the amount of $2,000 each.
Lowrey's grandfather and great uncle built the hotel.
The first founders that donated $2,000 each to the new museum are Bob Lowrey, who's grandfather and great-uncle built the hotel, and Susan and Jerry Jenson.
Lowrey made his donation on behalf of his family. The Jenson donation was made in memory of Hansford and Leela Jenson, parents of Jerry,
This grand building was built in 1922 by Steven and Wylee Lowrey, who also built the immigration office which now houses the Chocolate Moose.
Together the two men brought people and business into Poteau and LeFlore County.
The hotel remained open until the town began to expand and there was no longer a need for a central hotel with all the amenities including a cafe, barbershop, and numerous small shops.
This unique building was custom tiled by artisans of the time and most of the original woodwork and all of the original tile is still intact.
Those making donations to the museum project will have a dedication plaque placed in the front foyer of the museum. Plans are for the donation program to fund all the renovations and repairs necessary to make the space as beautiful and educational as it should be.
The building is on a long term lease from LeFlore County, according to Karla Ochoa, Poteau Main Street Matters Director.
Randy Bridgman, President of the LeFlore County Historical Society, attained a grant which was matched by the Eastern Oklahoma Historical Society to hire architect Paul Hill to asses the building and draw up plans for its future use.
Susan Jenson is now writing a grant to help restore the coffee shop and museum.
The bottom floor of the building will be re-established as the cafe and coffee shop while the second and third floor rooms will be renovated to reflect the history of LeFlore County, each room will depict a different time period and display a different theme.
Tours of the building will be conducted by one of the local Red Hat Society groups during the Bluegrass Festival to be held May 2 in downtown Poteau.
A clean up day is planned for Saturday at 8 a.m. Anyone wishing to volunteer their time and/or talents to Poteau Main Street Matters and the LeFlore County Historical Society are invited to help with this project. For more information contact Ochoa at 918-647-8648. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 April 2009 )
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