The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-01-29
,THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSE IN
THE STATE. THE OLDEST AND
ALSO MOST HISTORICAL.
HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1854
was Formerly used as headquarters
for Officers Of the Old Fort--some
Of the Notable Msn and Women
Who Have Lived There.

Fort Gibson. Okla. Jan. 2N-Fort
Gibson can boast Of not only the old
est but the most costly dwelling
house I'm the state Of oklahoma,
which was formerly used as head
quarters for the commanding officers
of the old fort here, which cost tlcI
United States government 100000
which is, Of course, higher price
than such house could be built at
the present time, but the workman
ship is of the best quality.
The building is three stories high
Of the best cut sandstone. the walls
of the first story being twenty inches
In thickness. and the other stories
eighteen inches. The woodwork of
the buiIling is of solid black walnut.
hand made and finished. the outside
door being two and one-half inches
in thickness. The walnut lumber
used In this house. In a raw state,
is estimated to he worth $1,000.
There are large fire places in the
house all finished in solid walnut.
The house was built In 1854, and
was occupied up To 1891 by com.
manding officers of the fort. Here the
present wife OF Admiral Dewey lived
after her marriage with General lla-
zen. and number OF persons now
here remember her well then \
! beautiful young maiden from Cincin.
natl. Ohio, her maiden name being
Mclean, a sister of John II. Mclean,
! the noted editor.
Here. after the defeat for presi-
! dency by Grover Cleveland, in 1SSL
| James G. Blaine soiourned for time
| with his son.in.law. Colonel COppen-
ger. who was then commander OF tie
! fort at this place. Mr.. Blaine was
sick and confined to the house about
six weeks. spending most of the time
/ in the southeast room of the house
on the second floor, which contains
large fire place in front Of which
| the great statesma nusel 10 sit.
| There was an inscription over th
/ fine place supposed to have J.. en-
written by Mr.. Blaine. now obitcrit-
[ ed, which, as near as can b" re
membercd, read as follows; by the
nroside sadly musing.'
II was a sad time for Mr. Blaine,
who for several weeks was not eX-
pecred 20 live. Bulletins were sent
out from here all over the union.
During the days of his convalescenc
he used to sit on the veranda and
look out on beautiful Grand river
flowing at the foot of the hills ana
on the fine surrounding and pictG-
esque scenery.
But change has come Owe; the
country since that time. Tribal gov
ernment no longer exists. The old
fort has been abandoned. and :he
white Trans GO Cri ment nov rules.
The less substantial mOlern build
Ings that surrounded the old military
post have gone TO decay and have
been torn down and only exist In
!. memory and tradition. With the aban'
. donment OF the old fort here in 1891
. the buildings came into possession
. Of the United States government
. DR.. Rogers, who Is Cherokee de
. scenlant finally coming into pos
. session of this fine stone structure
which he has improved and modern
. lied, eXpending in all about $4,000
. until at present it is one Of the fin
. est residences in the new state, anC
. in some particulars has he fines
and most commanding view The
. Walnut finish has all been overhaul
!, ed and remodeled with polish anC
!, luster like that of piano case. Fin'
!, quarter-sawei oak floors have beel
!. laid, finely polished, \ fine wate
!: heating system has been installed
!. The Blaine room and Cne adioln
!. ing have been thrown into one, wit
!: a laEge fireplace left intact with fin
!: walnut mantel piece. The spaciou
!; dining room is on the lower floor.
,. There is "A lot of scrau walnut luu