McAllister House

311 N. Locust St., Seiling, OK
The McAllister House is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance as an excellent local example of a Bungalow/Craftsman style home. Although there are several stucco buildings in Seiling, Oklahoma, the McAllister House is the only example of textured stucco and is therefore unique in Seiling. It was built in 1920 by the prominent McAllister Family of Seiling; James McAllister being the first mayor of the Town of Seiling.

When the McAllister House was built in 1920, it was the most expensive house being built at the time. Together Pat and Belva McAllister used the $10,000 she had received from the military for the loss of her first husband during World War I to build the fourteen-room home. Interviews with Ms. Josephine Goss, a neighbor to the McAllister for over fifty years, and Mr. Ernie Hussman a personal friend of the McAllisters for over sixty years, stated that the McAllister House is the second finest home in Seiling. A pond was built in the backyard for Belva McAllister. She was thrilled about this pond and wanted some goldfish. Mr. Hussman and a buddy surprised her by putting goldfish in the pond. The cement pond remains in the backyard today.

Belva McAllister died of cancer and the McAllister House was sold to Lillie Perkins in the early 1940s. Ms. Perkins ran the six-bedroom home as a boarding house until 1985. Ms. Perkins died in September of 1994, with the current owners having purchased the home the month earlier, in August of 1994.

The McAllister House is an outstanding example of a Bungalow/Craftsman style home. It is the only two-story textured stucco home in Seiling. There are 378 dwellings in Seiling, of which 50 are stucco homes. All the stucco homes are "flat" stucco, one-story, two-bedroom homes. The artistry in building a stucco home has become extinct in the Seiling area. No stucco homes have been built in Seiling since the 1940s. Thus, the architectural significance of the McAllister House is of great importance to the Seiling area being the only two-story textured stucco home in the Town of Seiling.
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

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 is the only state in the United States whose name is derived from a Native American word. "Oklahoma" comes from the Choctaw words "okla" and "humma", which together mean "red people."
Dewey County, Oklahoma, located in the western part of the state, has a rich and diverse history. It was originally home to several indigenous tribes, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho, who inhabited the region for centuries. In the mid-1800s, European settlers began to arrive, attracted by the promise of fertile land and natural resources.

The land that became Dewey County was initially part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation. However, as settlers and railroad companies moved westward, pressure mounted to open up additional land for settlement. In 1892, the federal government opened the area for homesteading, leading to a rush of settlers staking their claims.

The early years of Dewey County were marked by agricultural development, with farms and ranches dotting the landscape. Wheat, corn, and cattle became the primary sources of income for the residents. The construction of railroads, such as the Rock Island Railroad, further spurred economic growth and allowed for the transportation of goods to markets across the country.

However, the county also faced significant challenges throughout its history. During the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s, severe drought and soil erosion caused widespread devastation in Dewey County. Many farmers were forced to abandon their land and seek opportunities elsewhere. The county, like many others in the region, experienced a period of economic decline until the 1950s when oil and gas exploration brought a new wave of prosperity.

Today, Dewey County continues to be an agricultural and energy-producing region. Its history remains intertwined with the struggles and triumphs of early settlers, Native American tribes, and the challenges of the changing economic landscape. The county's rich heritage is celebrated and preserved through various historical sites, museums, and community events.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Dewey County, Oklahoma.

  • 1892 - Dewey County is established on November 16th
  • 1893 - Taloga is designated as the county seat
  • 1901 - The Great Western Cattle Trail passes through the county
  • 1902 - The construction of the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad begins in the county
  • 1907 - The town of Seiling is established and becomes an important railroad center
  • 1911 - The Oklahoma City and Northwestern Railroad is completed in the county
  • 1920 - Oil is discovered in the county, leading to a boom in population and economic growth
  • 1922 - The town of Leedey is incorporated
  • 1930 - Dewey County reaches its peak population of over 17,000 residents
  • 1953 - The Dewey County Courthouse is built in Taloga
  • 1980 - The population of Dewey County decreases to around 5,000 residents
  • 2009 - A wind farm is constructed in the county, capitalizing on its windy prairie landscapes