National Register Listing

First Methodist Church Building

105 W. 1st St., Atoka, OK
The First Methodist Church building is primarily significant because of its unique architectural style, but also because it demonstrates the religious development and evolution of a major Protestant denomination within the region. Although Methodist missionaries had worked among the Choctaw Indian residents of the community, no church was actually organized in Atoka until 1885. The congregation's first minister was James Young Bryce, and its membership was composed of some Choctaw Indians but primarily of railroad workers who followed the Katy to the community. The first resident minister came in 1887, and it was under his direction that the congregation's initial house of worship was constructed at the corner of Pennsylvania and Court streets. Situated in the interior of the Choctaw Nation and beyond the jurisdiction of United States law, the church was one of those institutions that provided the white residents of Atoka a sense of community and the link with the "states." With Oklahoma statehood in 1907, the Methodist church grew rapidly, a fact that permitted it to construct and move to its present building. This same type of growth permitted the addition of an educational wing in 1954. The growth pattern of previous years, however, has not been maintained. Atoka has suffered a decline in population, a decline reflected in church membership. Moreover, the tendency of Atoka residents to identify with more evangelical Protestant groups has also caused a decrease in church roles.

The principal significance of the Methodist Church building is its architectural style. With a modified Palladian design that might pass for Greek Revival, it is totally unique to the community, and even to the region. There is, for example, nothing that compares with its dome, its Doric columns, or its stained-glass Palladian windows. Fortunately, the building is well maintained and recognized as a regional landmark.
Local significance of the building:
Architecture; Religion

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

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.

architecture religion
Oklahoma is such a great place for young players.
Scott Brooks in Interview with The Oklahoman
Atoka County, Oklahoma has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Caddo and Choctaw nations. These tribes enjoyed a prosperous and harmonious existence in the region, focusing on agriculture, trade, and communal living. However, their way of life was disrupted in the early 19th century with the arrival of European settlers and the subsequent Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forcibly relocated many tribes to present-day Oklahoma.

In 1854, the Choctaw Nation signed a treaty with the United States government, establishing their own government and jurisdictional boundaries. Atoka, originally known as Atoka Station, became an important stop along the Butterfield Overland Mail route, a stagecoach line that connected St. Louis, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. This led to the development of Atoka as a trading post and transportation hub, boosting its economy and attracting settlers.

The county was officially established on October 13, 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. Atoka served as the county seat, and the surrounding area flourished with agriculture, particularly cotton farming, and the lumber industry. The discovery of oil in the 1910s also brought economic growth, attracting oil companies and leading to the establishment of oil wells and refineries in the county.

Throughout the 20th century, Atoka County experienced ups and downs in its economy, with periods of prosperity and hardship. The Great Depression and the decline of the cotton industry hit the county hard, but it managed to recover with the construction of infrastructure projects like roads and bridges through government programs such as the Works Progress Administration. Today, Atoka County stands as a reflection of its resilient past, with a mix of agricultural, industrial, and recreational activities shaping its economy and culture.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Atoka County, Oklahoma.

  • Atoka County was established on October 25, 1907.
  • In 1911, the first courthouse in Atoka County was built.
  • During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Atoka County was heavily affected by economic hardship.
  • In 1948, Atoka Dam and Reservoir were completed, providing water and recreational opportunities to the area.
  • In the 1950s, coal mining became a major industry in Atoka County, leading to economic growth.
  • In the 1980s, the completion of the Indian Nation Turnpike improved transportation in the county.
  • In 2009, Atoka County celebrated its centennial anniversary.
  • In recent years, Atoka County has seen growth in tourism and outdoor recreational activities.
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