Wagner, J. H., House
521 N. Prouty Ave., Watonga, OKThe J. H. Wagner House is primarily significant because of its exterior architecture. Not only is it a good example of the Queen Anne, prairie Victorian style, it is the single remaining example of that style in Watonga, Oklahoma and the region of Blaine County. More to the point, its two-story eight-sided tower with cupola is wholly unique within the area. The structure's steeply pitched roof and sheer bulk also give it added distinction. Furthermore, the Wagner House is especially well preserved and after eighty years, retains its architectural integrity. Finally, the recent restoration of the structure has attracted considerable attention and stimulated interest in historic preservation.
De But the house is also significant for what it suggests about the settlement of western Oklahoma. Initially the reservation of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, what is now Blaine County, Oklahoma was opened to white settlement in 1892. Among the first settlers was J. H. Wagner, who established a mercantile business in a tent on Watonga's Main Street. One of the most successful businessmen in the community, his fortune grew with the success of Oklahoma Territory. In 1900 he married, and three years later he had built for his bride the grand residence on Prouty Street. Not until four years later did Oklahoma become a State. The J. H. Wagner House, therefore, symbolizes the unique settlement, rapid development, and economic growth of Oklahoma Territory. Literally, within eleven years tepees were replaced by Victorian towers.
Altogether, then, the architecture and historical circumstances of the J. H. Wagner House make it particular significant.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.