‘Preserving the Past, Building for the Future’

The Henryetta Historical Society announced this week that the First National Bank and Trust Company of Henryetta and Okmulgee have generously donated $2,000 to support the organization’s buildings program.

These funds, along with a gift from First Family Federal Credit Union, should allow all, or almost all, of the outstanding work at the schoolhouse site to be complete.

According to a representative of the Society, work was expected to begin this week to replace the rear entryway and door, construct a ‘period appropriate aw- ning’ over the door, and The Society is also to lay the last tranche of considering installing bricks. new decorative lighting that will also enhance security at the schoolhouse.

Once those repairs and upgrades are complete, HHS will then be fully focused on a new home.

The board is seeking a space to adequately meet the museums needs.

Many of the artifacts cannot be displayed due to lack of space, along with the lack of a modern, climate-controlled storage. The museum also needs the ability to catalog and access materials in a timely manner.

The Historical Society board is looking at a space at 6th and Main, formerly home of the Patty Ann Restaurant, as a possible site.

In the March issue of the Henryetta Historical Society Exchange, Editor Brad Sellers wrote that Patty Ann space “is suitable as a new museum as it meets our main goals of offering a more visible and accessible site, it will offer space for expansion, and it would preserve a very interesting historical building.”

The Patty Ann opened in 1954, according to Sellers, and was “one of the best” eateries in Eastern Oklahoma.

“With the acquisition of the former restaurant and pawn shop building, the Historical Society will be able to more effectively teach area youth of the significance of Henryettas rich history and roots as well as share the efforts of our foreparents, who labored hard and sacrificed to help make Henryetta the tremendous city it has become,” HHS board secretary Marcus Whitworth Sr. stated.

The fundraising goal for Phase 1 is to raise $100,000 to acquire and open a new and larger museum.

Phase II is planned for another $200,000 which will fully renovate the new building and bring it up to state-of-the art standards and preserve the city’s history Anyone who would like to make a donation, those can be mailed to Henryetta Historical Society, PO Box 220, Henryetta, 74437, or dropped off at the Church of the Nazarene, 8th Street and Trudgeon.

Also, anyone that would like a new or renewal membership can also do so: Membership – Individual, $35; Family – $50; 3-Year $125; Business Bronze – $200; Business Silver – $300; and Business Gold is $400.