National Register Record for WHITE CLOUD LODGE

Historic Name: WHITE CLOUD LODGE
Current Name: WHITE CLOUD LODGE
Address: 820 EAST 146TH
City: PERKINS VICINITY            County: PAYNE
Section: 13           Township: 17N           Range: 2E          
Description of significance: WHITE CLOUD LODGE ON THE OKLAHOMA LIONS BOYS RANCH NEAR PERKINS, OKLAHOMA IS NOMINATED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE UNDER CRITERION C BECAUSE IT IS THE DESIGN OF ARCHITECT ELMIRA SAUBERAN SMYRL. THE CONTEMPORARY BUILDING WAS THE 1955 MASTER’S THESIS PROJECT OF THIS PIONEER WOMAN ARCHITECT AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST, WHO SERVED AS A PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE FROM 1956 TO 1986. SMRYL TAILORED THE DESIGN TO MEET THE SPECIFIC CONSTRUCTION CONSTRAINTS OF THIS PHILANTHROPIC PROJECT. SHE ALSO INCORPORATED HER BELIEF THAT PSYCHOLOGY SHOULD GUIDE ARCHITECTURE, PARTICULARLY IN DESIGNING THIS GROUP HOME MEANT TO SHELTER CHILDREN JUDGED DELINQUENT WHILE STEERING THEM TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE. WHITE CLOUD LODGE, A “SCHOOL FOR FAMILY LIVING” THAT PROVIDED FUNCTIONAL, DURABLE GROUP HOUSING AND CLASSROOM SPACE, IS NOMINATED UNDER CRITERIA CONSIDERATION G BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 1966, MAKING IT LESS THAN FIFTY YEARS OLD.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: DOMESTIC: INSTITUTIONAL HOUSING
Current Function: VACANT/NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: ARCHITECTURE
Area of Significance 2: None
Architectural Style: CONTEMPORARY
Architect: ELMIRA SAUBERAN SMYRL
Year Built: 1966            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 2010