The late H.B. “Heinie” Bass and his D.C. Bass & Sons Construction Co. had a hand in the building of many of Enid’s landmark downtown buildings, some of which still rank among Enid’s finest.

But Bass was thwarted in his efforts to build what is still a prominent business office address — the seven-story One Grand Center — on the northeast corner of the downtown Square.

It originally was home to the American National Bank, and later H.H. Champlin’s First National Bank, before becoming strictly an office building.

Bass tells about it in his book, “Building for a Rugged Individualist.” In the beginning, the land belonged to Champlin, who established a lumber yard there in the town’s early days.

After a few years, Champlin sold the 100 square feet on the corner to J.B. Ferguson for $30,000. Then in 1920 he watched Ferguson sell the lot to American National Bank for $100,000. According to Bass, Champlin never got over this and vowed to never again sell a piece of Enid real estate.

According to Bass, the bankers persuaded Ferguson to come to Enid from his California home to consummate the real estate deal.

You need to know Mr. Ferguson must have been a rather caustic gentleman, and may have been a little carried away with finding himself as the centerpiece of what in those days must have been an immense and important downtown real estate transaction.

After he arrived in Enid the bankers sent a messenger in a Ford automobile to the Oxford Hotel to pick up Ferguson.

According to the story told by Bass, Ferguson scoffed at being transported in a Ford, and said: “The idea of sending a Ford on a big deal such as this. Either they take me in Tom Vessel’s Cadillac, or there will be no deal.”

It didn’t get any better after he arrived at the appointed place to close the deal. Ferguson had this to say as he entered the room: “Such a combination as awaited me — a Jew, a Catholic and a horse thief” — referring to Albert Hirsch, Tom Vessels and the eminently respectable Pete Randolph, Enid’s veteran dealer in horses and mules.

Later, bids were taken on the construction of what was to be one of Enid’s most beautiful downtown bank and office buildings — the American National Bank building. It didn’t turn out well for Bass’s construction company. When the bids were opened, Bass had submitted the lowest bid.

French Gentry offered a motion Bass’ bid be accepted. But, before a vote could be taken, one of the bank’s directors, in what Bass describes as “a dramatic gesture” strode to the door, and placing his hand on the door knob announced, “If Bass is awarded this contract, I am walking out and never coming back.” Bass never identifies the dissenter by name, but he does identify the man as the bank’s largest stockholder, requiring his attitude demanded careful consideration.

When a vote was taken on awarding the contract, it ended in a three-to-three tie.

Alternate bids were requested, with Bass and Warren Bellows of Oklahoma City both vying for the contract. According to Bass, each time alternate bids were requested, one of Bass’ friends told him of the bids, and apparently Bellows associates got the same information from someone else. Bass said the impasse went on for two weeks.

Finally a seventh director — Dr. Fred Hudson — was elected to break the tie. He studied the situation, and recommended all the bids be rejected and the contract be awarded to Grant Buxton on a cost-plus basis.

So it was, and the building first housed American National Bank. Champlin acquired the property and moved his First National Bank into the building, which stood on ground he once upon a time had regretted selling.



Brown is a retired News & Eagle editor.