The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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July 5, 2009

Program will develop list in effort to preserve city’s endangered places

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer

The Enid Historic Preservation Commission is conducting a program that will look to protect some of the historical places in the city.

The program will develop a list of Enid’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. From that list, the commission will make an effort to protect those buildings.

Shirley Marquardt, wife of Donald Marquardt, the commission’s chairman, will be helping to coordinate the effort to make a list of the buildings.

Shirley hopes the 10 locations placed in the list can at least be restored, and if they are beyond repair, at least protect them from being torn down.

“We can’t save all the buildings,” she said, “but there are certain ones worthy of saving.”

Shirley picked out three places in the city she believes need to be included on the list. One of those buildings is Garfield Elementary School, a facility whose structures and systems are much older than that of other Enid Public Schools.

The district, however, had been concerned about the amount of money it would take to restore the more than 90-year-old structure.

That’s just one example of a structure that might make it onto the list.

Other possible targets include Conven-tion Hall and a women’s dormitory on the grounds of the old Phillips University.

Donald Marquardt says the compiled list will be released on or around Jan. 1, 2010.

“The commission hopes the program will emphasize the importance of preservation across Enid and will encourage local groups to rally support for the Enid’s landmark buildings and sites that are in need of help now,” he said in a statement.

The public may nominate any historic, cultural or architecturally significant place within the city. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 1. The nomination form, along with more information on the program, can be found at www.enid.org, under the Community Development Department.

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