Celebrate a Blast from the Past

The Hotel Lowrey in Poteau was built in 1922 and it’s days as being a hotel are long gone, the building which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings is still standing tall today, as the Leflore County Museum.

It was in the mid 1960’s the hotel closed and was sold and later was taken over by the county and housed county offices. During that transition, county workers as well as volunteers were clearing out the inside décor and one such item being taken out of the building, were wall phones that graced the walls of the hotel guest rooms.

It was in the mid 1970’s when Poteau Attorney Ted Knight, came into the iconic building, just to see what was being done. He noticed a pile of old telephones, that were going to be discarded. He asked the workers what was going to happen to these phones and discovered that they were just going to be thrown away. So he asked could he have one. So, he took one and held on to the phone for just the right moment.

Knight’s wife Sharon, is a board member of the LeFlore County Historical Society and noticed a photograph of one of hotel rooms depicting how the guest rooms at the hotel looked when it was in full operation as a hotel. In the photo shows a phone, hanging on the wall, a phone identical to the one that Ted had collected when he visited the hotel many years earlier, when Sharon Knight told her husband about the photo they decided it was time to give the phone to. Poteau resident Bob Lowrey, the great nephew of WW Lowrey and a great supporter of the LeFlore County Museum, he often visits and tells great stories about the iconic building.

Lowrey was so excited and honored to be presented with the phone that will be displayed at the LeFlore County Museum.

The phone has come a long way over the years. From having them in hotel rooms, mounted on our walls at home and pay phone booths, to having access to a phone anywhere at any time.

“The LeFlore County Historical Society is pleased that to have one of the original phones that was in the building,” said David Deaton” Director. “It’s a great way for us to preserve history of Poteau and LeFlore County.”

If anyone has any artifacts from the Hotel Lowrey or any business that was in downtown Poteau contact the LCHS at 918- 647-9330.

The Museum is open Tuesday Through Saturday from 11am until 3pm and afterhours by appointments. They are located at 303 Dewey Avenue, across the street from Warehouse Willie’s.

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