Post by Eric Standridge on Oct 19, 2011 10:57:46 GMT -6
Poteau - 1909
![](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6261096810_352c639157_b.jpg)
This image was taken at the end of Fleener Avenue and shows a good overview of Poteau during 1909-1910.
During this time, the McKenna building faced the railroad tracks. This building is clearly seen towards the center of the photograph. The U.S. Federal Courts occupied the entire top floor. On the bottom floor, an Opera house occupied the central unit and was flanked on either side by general stores.
To the left of the McKenna building, you'll see another large building. At this time, this was a boarding house. Until 1908, this was known as the Brighton Hotel, and was the only hotel on the eastern side of the tracks for several years.
To the right of the McKenna building, across Dewey Avenue, some of the first brick buildings can be seen. The first set of buildings were built in 1901, and, in this photograph, housed a Hardware, Furniture, and Undertaker store, a drugstore, a barbershop, a bank, and the post office. Behind that building (barely visible) was another newly constructed brick store which housed a Jewelry store and a grocery store. A few wood business structures appear behind that store, but the rest of Dewey Avenue had not been developed yet.
In front of these buildings, you'll notice a train on the Frisco tracks. The Frisco depot that we all know had not been built yet. The first depot was located at the end of Dewey. In the photograph, a large water tower stands to the right of the McKenna building. Just to the right of this was where the old depot stood.
Across the tracks, slightly to the left of the McKenna building, another complex of buildings can be seen. This would be at the end of Fleener on the left side. The first building off the road was the Cavanal Hotel. In 1899, a massive fire destroyed the old downtown area located on the west side of the tracks. Among those that the fire destroyed were Welch's store, Beards blacksmith shop, and the Fleener Hotel. The site on which the Cavanal Hotel stands in this photograph was the original site of the old Fleener Hotel.
Front view of the Cavanal Hotel:
![](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6261111514_f75e0852f7_b.jpg)
The Cavanal was most likely built in 1905. The photograph above was probably taken in 1906. In this photograph, you'll notice an old telegraph pole behind and to the left of the building. This is also visible in the photograph above taken from Fleener Avenue. The photograph at the end of Fleener was taken a few years after the Cavanal Hotel photograph. Originally, this building did not have electric or telephone service. By 1909, it had full running water, electric, and telephone - which showed that the Cavanal was one of the most updated hotels in the area.
Going back to the overview photograph of Poteau, there are several other buildings immediately to the left of the Cavanal Hotel. These brick buildings housed a Poteau printing company and the Poteau Steam Laundry.
Across the street, to the right of the Cavanal Hotel, a second hand shop and another boarding house occupied most of the block.
One further interesting thing to point out is the horse drawn hack located towards the bottom right of the photograph. This would have been a common sight during the early 1900's.
![](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6261096810_352c639157_b.jpg)
This image was taken at the end of Fleener Avenue and shows a good overview of Poteau during 1909-1910.
During this time, the McKenna building faced the railroad tracks. This building is clearly seen towards the center of the photograph. The U.S. Federal Courts occupied the entire top floor. On the bottom floor, an Opera house occupied the central unit and was flanked on either side by general stores.
To the left of the McKenna building, you'll see another large building. At this time, this was a boarding house. Until 1908, this was known as the Brighton Hotel, and was the only hotel on the eastern side of the tracks for several years.
To the right of the McKenna building, across Dewey Avenue, some of the first brick buildings can be seen. The first set of buildings were built in 1901, and, in this photograph, housed a Hardware, Furniture, and Undertaker store, a drugstore, a barbershop, a bank, and the post office. Behind that building (barely visible) was another newly constructed brick store which housed a Jewelry store and a grocery store. A few wood business structures appear behind that store, but the rest of Dewey Avenue had not been developed yet.
In front of these buildings, you'll notice a train on the Frisco tracks. The Frisco depot that we all know had not been built yet. The first depot was located at the end of Dewey. In the photograph, a large water tower stands to the right of the McKenna building. Just to the right of this was where the old depot stood.
Across the tracks, slightly to the left of the McKenna building, another complex of buildings can be seen. This would be at the end of Fleener on the left side. The first building off the road was the Cavanal Hotel. In 1899, a massive fire destroyed the old downtown area located on the west side of the tracks. Among those that the fire destroyed were Welch's store, Beards blacksmith shop, and the Fleener Hotel. The site on which the Cavanal Hotel stands in this photograph was the original site of the old Fleener Hotel.
Front view of the Cavanal Hotel:
![](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6261111514_f75e0852f7_b.jpg)
The Cavanal was most likely built in 1905. The photograph above was probably taken in 1906. In this photograph, you'll notice an old telegraph pole behind and to the left of the building. This is also visible in the photograph above taken from Fleener Avenue. The photograph at the end of Fleener was taken a few years after the Cavanal Hotel photograph. Originally, this building did not have electric or telephone service. By 1909, it had full running water, electric, and telephone - which showed that the Cavanal was one of the most updated hotels in the area.
Going back to the overview photograph of Poteau, there are several other buildings immediately to the left of the Cavanal Hotel. These brick buildings housed a Poteau printing company and the Poteau Steam Laundry.
Across the street, to the right of the Cavanal Hotel, a second hand shop and another boarding house occupied most of the block.
One further interesting thing to point out is the horse drawn hack located towards the bottom right of the photograph. This would have been a common sight during the early 1900's.