Elk City's history dates back to the days immediately following the opening of all surplus land of the Cherokee Outlet in 1892, when the first men made their appearance. Prior to this time many early settlers had driven cattle over the "Great Western" trail from Texas going north, through the present town site of Elk City, to Dodge City, Kansas.
Probably the most important day in Elk City's history is March 20, 1901, the date the first lots were sold by the Choctaw Town site and Improvement Co., which had a few days earlier purchased the site for the business district from Mr. Allee.
By the date of the sale of the lots, March 20, hundreds of prospective purchasers had built a tent city. A legal document in the county clerk's office certifies that the city was surveyed and platted into lots, blocks, streets, and alleys on March 18, 1901.
Originally called Crowe, the townspeople, eager for industry, renamed the town Busch, hoping to woo the favors of Adophus Busch, so that the town might get a brewery. However, when the brewery did not materialize, the name Elk City was officially changed in 1901. Elk City was named after Elk Creek, which in turn had been named after an Indian Chief, Elk River, who lived in this vicinity years before.
The Company's officials knew that the Choctaw and Gulf Railroad was coming this way and determined that Elk City's present location would be an ideal spot for a town.
On August 13, 1901, the Choctaw Railroad laid its last rail on the Choctaw route, connecting Elk City with the outside world. The first regular train service commenced seven days later and cityfolk rejoiced, predicting that the dugouts, claim shacks and prairie stables would soon disappear and be replaced by handsome residences, commodious barns and graineries.
By January 1902, Elk City boasted more than 60 businesses and a population exceeding 1,000. Paving with bricks began in 1902 due to an effort from the many the city employed. Though not yet a year old, the town had become one of the largest in western Oklahoma. It boasted two hotels, many boarding houses, a church, two milling and elevator companies and two cotton gins.
* Excerpts taken from "Prairie Fire" a book published by the Western Oklahoma Historical Society and from information shared by Pat Sprowls, Director of the Elk City Carnegie Library. Photos courtesy of Mr. Don Nichols
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Ten -K Building
Corner of Broadway & Jefferson
Elk City, Oklahoma
In March of 1907 The Elk City Record reported that the Ten Thousand Club would erect a new two-story brick building, in Elk City, as soon as a site was located.
The Ten Thousand Club was a commercial organization made up of Elk City business leaders who were dedicated to improving the community. The name Ten Thousand Club reflected the charter of this organization to grow the population of Elk City to 10,000 residents.
In May 1907 the Ten Thousand Club acquired Lot #18 in Downtown Elk City from D.A. Meyer and J.N. Cook. This lot was located at the corner of Jefferson and Broadway and was to become the building site of the Ten Thousand Club building. The Ten Thousand Club building was completed and opened for club business in September 1907, two months prior to Oklahoma statehood and only five months after the property was acquired. The September completion of construction makes this building a Territorial building
The German State Bank purchased the property and the Ten Thousand Club building in January 1908 and the bank opened for business with capital assets of $50,000 on February 1, 1908. This new bank was the fourth bank to open in Elk City and the capital it provided was instrumental in the continued growth of Elk City
The German State Bank sold the building and lot on January 2, 1914 to J.N. Cook who then leased the building back to the Bank. This lease had a specified duration of one year. In 1915, J. G. Scott leased the lower floor of the “German State Bank” building , from S.J. Williams, for an unknown business.Starting in December 1917, the United States Post Office leased most of the bottom floor of the Building for ten years.W.M. Jefferson established a barbershop in the leased floor front room in November 1927 for a period of five years. W.B. Hedlund purchased the Ten Thousand Club building from Silas J. Williams on June 13, 1929.
In 1943 the United States Government leased the entire 2nd floor of the Ten Thousand Club building to be used as government apartments to support the military war activity taking place at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base. This lease was to run for 7 years but was dissolved early in June 1947, because of no further need.
Lloyd and Willie Davis purchased the Ten Thousand Club building from W.B. Hedlund in 1946. They sold the building to Fredrick and Georgia Jackson in 1956. The Jackson’s operated the Jackson Office Supply store at this site for several years.
The heirs of Fredrick and Georgia Jackson are Grant and Mike Jackson. They sold the Ten Thousand Club building to Kerry and Maria Powell and Randy and Kandi Powell in December of 2002. The Powell’s have restored this building to as close to its original design as possible, including adding the exterior balcony that had been previously lost, and by salvaging the tin ceiling on the lower floor.
The name of the building has been modified to the Ten-K Building. The intent is to modernize the name while paying homage to the original Ten Thousand Club name. Randy and Kandi Powell have moved the Apple Annies Gift Emporium from a previous location to the lower floor of the building and the upper floor is being used as office space.