1884 - Oklahoma pioneer Frederick Severs founded the first general store in Okmulgee in 1868. In 1882 he rebuilt the place with sandstone and expanded it to two stories.

Citizens National Bank & Trust Co.

**BACKLASH.** The 1950s and 1960s changed the look of old buildings to new. The 1980s changed them right back. Downtowns successfully countered the suburban shopping mall boom by turning themselves into historic theme parks. Through its "Main Street" program, the National Trust for Historic Preservation was able to employ government incentives such as tax credits to get downtown merchants to band together and out-mall the malls. Typical of hundreds of projects, the Severs Block in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was renovated backward to 1906.

High Road continuity, the whole place is highly adapted, complex and mysterious, a keeper of secrets. Since few buildings live so long, it has earned the stature of rarity and the respect we give longevity.

Durability counts for more and more as our decades grow hastier. "One of the things that people like about older buildings," says Clem Labine, "is that they were built to last. They have a sense of permanence about them. Up until the 20th century, people thought that they were building for the ages." Traditional materials like brick, stone, stucco, slate, and wood show age

ca. 1920 - Severs prospered, and by 1906 the old general store had been incorporated in the two-story brick facade of Severs Block—the north side of the 100 block of East 6th Street.

Oklahoma Main Street Program, Oklahoma City, OK

1985 - In 1954 the Citizen's National Bank, which had occupied the building since 1906, modernized and unified their corner structure with stucco, marble panels, and roman brick. Even the windows were radically changed, which is rare.

John Wadley, Oklahoma Main Street Program

1991 - In 1988, motivated by Okmulgee's Main Street project and at considerable expense (sweetened by a 20 percent tax credit), the bank tore off the stucco and marble and roman brick and scrupulously restored the original brick and sandstone to match the 1920 photograph. Even the windows were changed back.

Cay Allen, Oklahoma Main Street Program