Cushing, Oklahoma – Part Two
2012.12.22
There’s virtually nothing left of the original downtown on Main Street, although it remains a commercial district as OK-33 passes through town. The “new” downtown started around 1902 on Broadway is more intact, if a little sad.
In 1922, Tennessee-born C.R. Anthony sold his shares of the J.P. Martin Company to open his own department store in Cushing. In his agreement with Martin, he could not use his own name, so it was called the Dixie Store. A year later he had six stores, and by 1926 there were thirty. In 1947 the stores were renamed Anthony’s and the chain continued to expand throughout the West, with 325 locations by 1972. After decades of family leadership, the company was sold to investors in 1987, filed bankruptcy in 1991, and became part of Houston-based Stage Stores in 1997.
The tallest building downtown was originally built as a hotel in 1928. After some years of vacancy, it was remodeled in 1983 as senior apartments and renamed the Cimarron Tower.
We were a little surprised that the health food store is still there. Obviously not part of that national chain.
Cushing