Some of El Reno’s First

SOME OF EL RENO’S FIRST

The FIRST BANK was established in 1889 by S. W. Sawyer and called the Bank of El Reno.  THE FIRST BRICK BUILDING was the two-story city hall owned by Jake Schweitzer.  THE FIRST HOTEL was the Hotel Del Monte with W. H. Tusten as proprietor.  It was later renamed the Anstine.  The FIRST GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE was the Eltermen and Company, located at 105 So. Bickford.

The FIRST DRUG STORE was operated by Dr. J. M. Patterson at 106 So. Bickford.  The FIRST PHYSICIANS were Dr. J. O. Sandercook and Dr. A. H. Jackson.

The FIRST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE was J. G. Bierwalter and Company.  It was owned by Joseph Wierwalter and William Esser and located about 205 So. Wade.  The FIRST BAKERY was in a dugout about 507 So. Choctaw and run by William Emms.  The Price’s Market was the FIRST MEAT MARKET and was located about 109 W. Woodson.

The FIRST ARCHITECT was W. H. Riley.  The FIRST LIQUOR DEALER was Jake Schweitzer.  The FIRST ATTORNEY was William R. Kirkpatrick.  The FIRST BLACKSMITH was Tom Dowell.

Kelso’s Department Store

The FIRST DEPARTMENT STORE was Kelso’s owned by James E. Kelso about 109 No. Bickford in a frame building 20 by 60 feet.  The FIRST HARDWARE STORE was operated by J. W. Hughes on the corner of Bickford and Hayes.  The FIRST LIVERY was owned by C. W. Beers, named Bon Ton Livery on No. Barker.  The FIRST BUS AND TRANSFER was located at 101 So. Barker and owned by Felix Willan.

In 1889 El Reno had an opera house.  It had board sides with a canvas roof.  It was used for almost any kind of gathering, such as school, church and political convention.  Most of the seats were boards laid across empty beet kegs to form benches.  Most of the contents had been consumed by the public.

Tom Jensen had El Reno’s FIRST MILK ROUTE.  He served his patrons from a milk can tied onto his saddle horn.  The FIRST CHILD BORN in El Reno was El Reno Clayton, daughter of W. G. and Lucy Clayton.  She was born in March 1890.  The FIRST BOY born in El Reno was J. Gilbert Tompkins, son of James G. and Lillie Tompkins.  He was born later in the same year.

The FIRST TINSMITH was A. F. Newell.  In 1891 he used ox teams to transport the first post office building from Reno City to 116 So. Rock Island and used it for his business.  The FIRST WHOLESALE GROCERY was the Greathouse Wholesale Grocery Company in 200 block of So. Rock Island.  The FIRST JEWELER AND WATCHMAKER was Ben Wurm.  The FIRST MILL was the El Reno Mill and Elevator Company with Ed Humphrey as proprietor.

Attributing research and compilation too: Carolyn Marquardt Barker (1939–2018)