National Register Record for LYONS, SIDNEY AND MARY, HOUSE AND COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

Historic Name: LYONS, SIDNEY AND MARY, HOUSE AND COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
Current Name: None
Address: 300-304 NORTHEAST 3RD STREET; 316 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
City: OKLAHOMA CITY            County: OKLAHOMA
Section: 34           Township: 12N           Range: 3W          
Description of significance: THE SIDNEY AND MARY LYONS RESIDENCE AND COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERION A AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR COMMERCE AND ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK, UNDER CRITERION B AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR ITS AFFILIATION WITH SIDNEY AND MARY LYONS AND WITH MELVIN F. LUSTER, AND UNDER CRITERION C AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR ARCHITECTURE. THE PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION IS FROM 1912, THE APPROXIMATE CONSTRUCTION DATE OF THE BUNGALOW AT 304 NORTHEAST 3RD STREET, TO MARY LYONS’ DEATH IN 1957. THE DISTRICT FEATURES A GRAND, ITALIAN RENAISSANCE REVIVAL STYLE RESIDENCE AT 300 NORTHEAST 3RD STREET KNOWN TODAY AS THE MELVIN F. LUSTER HOUSE (NRIS #83002101). THE HOUSE WAS BUILT FOR SIDNEY LYONS IN 1926 SHORTLY AFTER HIS MARRIAGE TO MARY JENNIE LUSTER. ANCILLARY BUILDINGS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT REFLECT THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE LYONS/LUSTER FAMILY, MOST NOTABLY COSMETICS AND REAL ESTATE. THE EAST INDIA TOILET GOODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY BUILDING AT 316 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE, BUILT IN 1922, SOLD HAIR PRODUCTS AND COSMETICS TO AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE BUNGALOW AT 304 NORTHEAST 3RD STREET WAS A RENTAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE LYONS/LUSTER FAMILY FOR OVER SEVENTY YEARS. TOGETHER, THESE RESOURCES REPRESENT A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND REFLECT THE COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL VITALITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN OKLAHOMA CITY DURING THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY.

Type: DISTRICT
Historic Function: DOMESTIC: SINGLE-DWELLING; DOMESTIC: SECONDARY STRUCTURE; COMMERCE/TRADE: SPECIALTY STORE; INDUSTRY/PROCESSING/EXTRACTION: MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Current Function: VACANT
Area of Significance 1: COMMERCE; ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: ARCHITECTURE
Architectural Style: ITALIAN RENAISSANCE; CRAFTSMAN; COMMERCIAL STYLE
Architect: None
Year Built: 1912-1957            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 2020