The McLish Historic District [†] is significant as an example of a residential area developed between 1902 and 1930. This time period includes Ardmore’s boom years due to petroleum exploration and cotton production in surrounding areas.
A portion of this potential district was platted as the Original Town in 1902 and, in 1905, McLish Place platted much of the area between Third and McLish and Commerce and H Streets. By 1930 most development in the area was complete. McLish Place was originally platted to have islands running down the east-west length of Fourth, Third, Stanley, Bixby, and McLish between Commerce and H Streets. Only Third Street was developed to include these thirty-foot-wide and block long islands, which create a parkway. Within this area, larger residences are interspersed among smaller, upper- middle-class residences. This potential district contains most of Ardmore’s largest and most ornate residences. Architectural styles include Queen Anne, Italian Renaissance, Tudor and Builder’s Foursquare. McLish, Third, and Fourth Avenues have predominately Craftsman Bungalow homes. Approximately 50 percent have retained their original exterior finishes of clapboard or brick. A small number of houses were built in the Colonial Revival style. The district is also home to the Carnegie Library and Franklin Elementary School. McLish Place has retained the visual cohesiveness of its architectural styles, setbacks and landscaping. Approximately 77 percent of its historic resources have retained a sufficient degree of their integrity to contribute to this potential district.
The boundaries of the district are as follows: McLish Avenue from Commerce Street Southwest, east to G Street Southwest, then South on G Street to Stanley Avenue, west on Stanley to C Street Southwest, south on C Street to Fifth Avenue, west on Fifth to Wheeler Street, and north on Wheeler to McLish. All boundaries include both sides of the street except for Stanley between G and C Streets Southwest, where only the south side is included, and Fifth Avenue, where only the north side is included.
&daggerl Ardmore, Oklahoma, Cuty of Ardmore Historic Preservation Plan, 2013, www.ardmorehp.org, accessed April, 2025.
&daggerl Ardmore, Oklahoma, Cuty of Ardmore Historic Preservation Plan, 2013, www.ardmorehp.org, accessed April, 2025.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
3rd Avenue SW • 4th Avenue SW • 5th Avenue SW • A Street SW • B Street SW • C Street SW • D Street SW • F Street SW • G Street SW • H Street SW • I Street SW • K Street SW • McLish Avenue SW • Stanley Avenue SW • Washington Street South • Wheeler Street SW