Cronkhite Ranch House
N of Watonga off OK 51A, Watonga, OKInitially a part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation, what is now Blaine County, Oklahoma, was opened to white settlement in a famous land run in 1892. Because the canyon country in the western portion of the county was unsuitable for farming, that region was utilized principally for cattle ranching. Allotments reserved for the Indians were frequently located in that area as well. White ranchers generally entered one 160 acre tract according to the Homestead Laws, built a home on that tract, and then put an extensive cattle range together by leasing surrounding Indian allotments. This was the pattern followed by Will Cronkhite. Thus his Ranch House is suggestive of the settlement and agriculture patterns typical at the turn of the century in western Oklahoma. Moreover, it is the only remaining imposing structure associated with the ranching industry dating from that era in Blaine County.
The Cronkhite Ranch House is significant architecturally not because of its design as much as its method of and materials used in its construction. To the north of the house lies one of the purest deposits of gypsum in the United States. Will Cronkhite and his brothers pioneered in the exploitation of the mineral in 1904 by establishing a mill and quarry some two miles northeast of the house site. Material from the mill formed the cement blocks from which the house was fashioned. Only one other house is known to be constructed from similar materials, and it is located several miles south in the community of Watonga. The Cronkhite House, therefore, is a prime example of early inhabitants of a region using uniquely local materials for construction purposes.
Local significance of the building:
The Cronkhite Ranch House is significant architecturally not because of its design as much as its method of and materials used in its construction. To the north of the house lies one of the purest deposits of gypsum in the United States. Will Cronkhite and his brothers pioneered in the exploitation of the mineral in 1904 by establishing a mill and quarry some two miles northeast of the house site. Material from the mill formed the cement blocks from which the house was fashioned. Only one other house is known to be constructed from similar materials, and it is located several miles south in the community of Watonga. The Cronkhite House, therefore, is a prime example of early inhabitants of a region using uniquely local materials for construction purposes.
Exploration/settlement; Architecture; Agriculture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
About National Register Listings
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.
Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.
About Blaine County
Blaine County Timeline
Blaine County is located in the state of Oklahoma, USA, and has a rich history that dates back to its early settlement by Native American tribes. The region was originally inhabited by various groups of Native Americans, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, who roamed the area for centuries before the arrival of European settlers.
In the 19th century, the land that would become Blaine County was part of the vast territory designated as Indian Territory. During this time, the United States government forcibly relocated Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the East to the western territories, including present-day Oklahoma. The establishment of Indian Territory opened up opportunities for non-Native settlers to homestead in the area.
Blaine County was officially established on November 16, 1892, when it was carved out of several neighboring counties. It was named in honor of James G. Blaine, a prominent politician and statesman of the time. The county seat was initially located in Watonga, which had been settled in the late 1880s.
The early economy of Blaine County revolved around agriculture, with farming and ranching playing a vital role. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century brought significant changes to the county's economy. Oil wells were established, attracting new industry and boosting the local economy. Today, Blaine County continues to be an important agricultural region, as well as benefiting from industries such as oil and gas production.
In the 19th century, the land that would become Blaine County was part of the vast territory designated as Indian Territory. During this time, the United States government forcibly relocated Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the East to the western territories, including present-day Oklahoma. The establishment of Indian Territory opened up opportunities for non-Native settlers to homestead in the area.
Blaine County was officially established on November 16, 1892, when it was carved out of several neighboring counties. It was named in honor of James G. Blaine, a prominent politician and statesman of the time. The county seat was initially located in Watonga, which had been settled in the late 1880s.
The early economy of Blaine County revolved around agriculture, with farming and ranching playing a vital role. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century brought significant changes to the county's economy. Oil wells were established, attracting new industry and boosting the local economy. Today, Blaine County continues to be an important agricultural region, as well as benefiting from industries such as oil and gas production.
Blaine County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Blaine County, Oklahoma.
- 1884 - Blaine County is established as part of the Oklahoma Territory
- 1906 - The town of Watonga becomes the county seat
- 1912 - Longdale, Canton, and Okeene are incorporated as towns
- 1947 - The Roman Nose State Park is established
- 1993 - The Blaine County Museum is opened in Watonga
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