Wilson, J. L., Building
202 W. Evergreen St., Durant, OKErected in 1901, the J. L. Wilson Building is significant because of its multiple uses by the community. Although Durant existed as a railroad depot and small agriculture settlement after 1872, it was not platted as a town-site until 1901. Even then it was still situated in the old Choctaw Nation and subject to the laws of the tribe. The fact that it was officially platted, however, provided an impetus to its economic and demographic growth. Because the town's population increase and commercial expansion occurred before the demise of Indian government, the White residents were without traditional legal protection. To remedy the situation the United States government established a federal court within the community. The first site of the court was the second floor of the J. L. Wilson Building, a facility that was used from 1902 through 1904.
When the Court discontinued use of the structure, Mr. Wilson converted the building into an opera house. In 1908 new owners purchased and remodeled the building, making it
a modern, up-to-date entertainment place." For the next several decades it was frequented by such famous actors as James K. Hackett, Frederick Warde, Sir Henry Beresford, Dorothy Sherrod, Tim Murphy, Robert Mantell, and Al Wilson.
In the late 1920s and 1930s, the upper floor of the Wilson building was utilized as a drill hall by the Oklahoma National Guard. When the theater closed, the first floor was converted into a ''Double-Dip Ice Cream Parlor." Later it also was used as a furniture store. For the last two decades it has been a dry goods store.
In addition to its varied usage, the J. L. Wilson Building is significant because of its architecture. First, the tin facade is unique to the community, or at least no structure survives with a similar front. Second, it remains virtually unaltered from its original design. Third, it is the single best example within the community of an Indian Territory/ pre-statehood commercial structure.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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.