The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-10-29

there was now a spirit of co-opera-
tion among the business men that
was often lacking in the old days,
and this spirit if persisted in, he was
sure would build a great city.
Ardmore within the last year has
undertaken several large things, and
not only has undertaken them, but
has accomplished everything set out
to be done. The year 1915 will be
historic in the annals of Ardmore.
In the early spring a cyclone passed
over the southern portion of the city
causing severe damage and in some
instances rendered people homeless.
One of the large school buildings
was partially wrecked and several pu-
pills badly injured The people had
scarcely begun to steady their nerves
when the greatest disaster in the his
tory of the petroleum industry wreck
ed the greater portion of the business
district, destroyed many residences
and caused the loss of q lives. That
was a blow that would stagger most
communities, and for a time there
was a feeling Of hopeless depression
that bG-dered upon despair. The feel
ing did not long prevail, and soon
the citizens were again working to-
gether to bring order out of chaos,
were willingly working to rebuild
their city and shattered fortunes.
Perhaps it was the fact that two
great disasters coming so closely to-
gether caused the reactionary ones to
reflect. At any rate since that time
there has been a better spirit pre-
vailing and all have learned that in
union there is strength.
Since early in the winter of 1915
there has been such building activity
as was never witnessed before. New
business houses have been built, new
residences erected, contractors and
carpenters have been busy every
hour of the day and yet they are a
long way behind the demand for de-
sirable residence property that is al
ways rented almost before the foun-
dation has been dug. This fact is
not an eXception-it is the rule, and
today there are people waiting until
the contractors finish the house in
which they expect to live in the
future. in the meantime maintaining
themselves and families by 'light
housekeeping"
In the face of the disaster that be-
fell the city last year. the Chamber
of Commerce and the Business Mems !
Association has planned and execut-
ed well In the early spring the big |
gest style show in the history OF the
southern portion of the state was
held here for one week. Thousands |
of out of town visitors were present |
and the sight was one to repay |
them for the time and trouble incl |
dent TO the trip. The greatest mar
vel of all was the changed appear
ance of the main streets of the city. |
Where before the explosion there |
were a few modern fronts, a very :
few. now all are modern, and the mer-
chants were even then wearing the
air Of prosperity that has grown
with the advancing months of the
year.
Ardmore needed a big hotel. has
needed one for some time. The /
Chamber Of Commerce began TO take \
some action Several plans were .
evolved but finally J. r. Sharp, a
capitalist. who owns considerable
here took the matter up and .
agreed to erect under certain condi-
tions a hotel 10 cost az least S150,0O0. /
The plans are now being drawn for
that structure but he has raised the
estimate in the meantime until the
hotel will cost 100000 when finished
and viii be well under way in
thirty DAYS Ardmore has needed a
big auditorium. a place where large
could be taken care Of.
This matter was taken up by the .
Chamber OF Commerce with the re-
suit that a bond issue has been voted
and the money is now available to .
pay ten thousand dollars for the lot