The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Local news

Related Photos

  • House at 8th and East Maine that is scheduled to be moved to Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

    Southern_Heights_House_1_BH.jpg

Discussion

July 13, 2010

Southern Heights seeks to move old house into district

By Chris Dell, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — One east Enid housing district is looking to welcome a new — err, old — neighbor.

Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum, just south of Government Springs Park, is in the midst of its “Move This House” campaign, which seeks to take a 19th century pre-Victorian home on 801 E. Maine and place it among many other historic houses in the Southern Heights neighborhood. In order to make the move happen, all the necessary funds — totaling about $50,000 — must be raised by Sept. 8, when a city of Enid hearing is set regarding whether to demolish the old house or move it.

Barbara Finley, heritage center executive director, said $20,000 still is needed to cover the cost of moving the house, and they are seeking the funds through private donations.

If moved, the house will need to be renovated. Finley hopes it eventually will hold Leona Mitchell’s memorabilia collection. Mitchell is an Enid native and international opera star.

“We still are fundraising very hard,” Finley said. “We’re trying to work on creating our historic district and expanding the museum to create the best atmosphere to show our exhibits.”

The old house on Maine currently has numerous city code violations, including cracks in the foundations and walls, unsecured doors and windows and rotting stairs. The city is calling for either transportation or demolition. The house has been on death row since it was donated to the heritage center about a year ago by Enid resident David Daugherty.

Finley said it will cost about $35,000 to move the home, which would need to be virtually taken apart and put back together at the new location. Then, cable and electricity and other utilities would need to be hooked up, and basic repairs would be made. The renovation likely would take about a year to complete.

“Hopefully they’re able to raise the full amount,” said Enid City Planning Administrator Chris Bauer.

The old home relocation is only the first phase of a Southern Heights community upgrade that would cost about $3 million. Finley said she has plans for expansions at Burns Place — an old home that shows how typical families lived during the Great Depression area — and the museum. It also calls for construction of a new walkway linking the historic sites in the neighborhood and a new pavilion for performances.

With such a steep price tag, Finley said she would need help from the city of Enid and from government grant money. However, Finley said the city hasn’t done much to pitch in yet and seems to be in a wait-and-see mode. Southern Heights requested $70,000 in April for the house relocation project, but Enid City Commission rejected the proposal because it did not receive assurance the home could be fully restored.

“What is the city doing besides waiting to see what everyone else is doing?” said Finley, who added Continental Resources’ donation of $5,000 is the only contribution received by a government agency or business.

Text Only
Local news