National Register Record for NICKLES MACHINE SHOP

Historic Name: NICKLES MACHINE SHOP
Current Name: SAME
Address: 600 SOUTH 1ST STREET
City: PONCA CITY            County: KAY
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE NICKLES MACHINE SHOP AT 600 SOUTH 1ST STREET IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE UNDER CRITERIA A FOR INDUSTRY FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE HISTORY OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN OKLAHOMA AND THE UNITED STATES. IN THE 1940S, THE SURGE IN NEED FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS DURING WORLD WAR II, LED NICKLES MACHINE SHOP TO FIND ANOTHER INDUSTRY IN WHICH THEIR EXPERTISE IN DIESEL ENGINES AND COMPRESSORS BECAME IMPORTANT. DURING WORLD WAR II THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY PUMPED THEIR PRODUCT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE GROWING WAR INDUSTRY. THE COMPANIES CHANGED FROM THE OIL- FIRED ENGINES TO NATURAL GAS FUELED COMPRESSORS. THE NICKLES MACHINE SHOP PROVIDED SERVICES AND PARTS FOR THE NATURAL GAS ENGINES THAT POWERED THE COMPRESSORS. THIS ALLOWED COMPANIES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY TO MOVE THEIR RESOURCES FROM PLACES LIKE TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND LOUISIANA TO THE MIDWEST AND EAST COAST. THE NICKLES MACHINE SHOP IS ALSO ELIGIBLE UNDER CRITERION C AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR ITS EARLY 20TH CENTURY COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AS APPLIED TO AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING. IT IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF COMMERCIAL DESIGN ON A MASSIVE SCALE, CONSUMING AN ENTIRE CITY BLOCK. THE SIMPLE BUT DISTINCT SECTIONS HAVE FALSE FRONTS WITH APPLIED BRICK ORNAMENTATION GIVING THEM A STYLE THAT REFLECTS THE EARLY CONTEMPORARY COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE STARTS IN 1946 WHEN THE FIRST SECTION OF THE BUILDING WAS BUILT AND ENDS IN 1964 WHEN THE FINAL ADDITIONS TO THE BUILDING WERE COMPLETE. THIS IS ALSO THE PERIOD THAT THE COMPANY AND BUILDING WERE MOST INVOLVED WITH OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AT THIS LOCATION. LISTED 09/15/2020.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: INDUSTRY/PROCESSING EXTRACTION: MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Current Function: INDUSTRY/PROCESSING EXTRACTION: MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Area of Significance 1: INDUSTRY
Area of Significance 2: ARCHITECTURE
Architectural Style: EARLY 20TH CENTURY COMMERCIAL STYLE
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1946-1964            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD-EXCELLENT
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: MAY 2019