Capitol Hill Booklet

Capitol Hill Booklet

Past Present & Future CapitolHill Center Oklahoma City Community College

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

1889-1999 The Past

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1905-1906

1921

Capitol Hill’s population grows to 5,000 residents. 1916

The Capitol Hill Theatre movie house renamed Yale Theatre.

The Capitol Hill News (later the Capitol Hill Beacon ) is established as the town’s newspaper. Police and fire services are added. The home of Dr. W.C. Hottle serves as the first hospital in the south metro.

1909-1910

Oklahoma becomes the 47 th state in the Union. November 16, 1907

The Morris Packing Plant opens, establishing Capitol Hill as a center of commerce. It’s often referred to as “Packingtown.” Lee Elementary is built. It’s the first public school in the area. Approximately 2,500 residents call Capitol Hill home.

1923

1919-1920

May 3, 1904

A significant flood of the North Canadian River and Lightning Creek occurs, destroying many homes and businesses in Capitol Hill and surrounding south OKC areas.

Capitol Hill Junior High and Capitol Hill Elementary are established.

The town of Capitol Hill is incorporated. Mount St. Mary’s Academy is built the same year.

T he history of Capitol Hill is unique to its After the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889, Benoni R. Harrington saw the value of the land south of what is now downtown Oklahoma City and the North Canadian River. His hopes were that this area would eventually be the site of the State Capitol. He purchased the land from Miss Tryphosa Boyd, who claimed the 160-acres in the Land Run. In 1900, Harrington begins the process of platting this area for development and four years later, Capitol Hill is incorporated as a town. geographic boundaries, but is also an integral part of the rise of and expansion of Oklahoma City today.

The town of Capitol Hill is annexed by neighboring Oklahoma City and in six years, its population doubles to 5,000 residents. This growth continues into the roaring 20s with the establishment of three more schools, Capitol Hill General Hospital, and Capitol Hill Savings and Loan Association. In the late 1920s, Little Flower Church, a monastery and school, opens with a mission to serve the numerous Mexican-American residents of the area. Over the next 100 years, this population sees significant growth. Two significant events occur in this era: a flood destroys homes and businesses in the area and the discovery of oil near S.E. 59 th and Bryant.

The latter creates a second economic boom for the area.

The early part of the 20 th century is measured by the growth of the area. Mount St. Mary’s Academy, the area’s Capitol Hill News (later known as the Capitol Hill Beacon) , the town’s first newspaper, are established. The area also gains police, fire, and hospital services. In 1909, the opening of the Morris Meat Packing Plant and the town’s proximity to the stock exchange puts Capitol Hill on the map as a thriving business district. During this time, Lee Elementary is built. This is Capitol Hill’s first public school and one of the first public schools in the area. By 1910, Capitol Hill has approximately 2,500 residents. This same year, the Oklahoma state capitol is permanently moved from Guthrie to northeast Oklahoma City.

However, the 1930s brings the Great Depression and a decade of survival for the residents of Capitol Hill. It is not until World War II, that the district regains its economic momentum along Commerce Street. This era marks the rise of Tinker Air Force Base, the growth of brand new suburban areas, and the beginning of the “Baby Boomers”. As the 1940s close out, the early 1950s bring several notable new additions to the area: Southeast High School, Capitol Hill Library, Katz Drug Co., Langston’s

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1965-1969

1930s

WWII creates a new wave of economic prosperity for Capitol Hill. This era marks the beginning of the “Baby Boomers” and the rise of the suburbs. 1940s

Oil is discovered near SE 59 th and Bryant December 1928

Katz Drug Co. closes the Capitol Hill location. Area leaders begin talks about creating a junior college. South Community Hospital (later INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center) also opens during this time.

The Great Depression and Dustbowl hit Oklahoma especially hard. Many leave Oklahoma for better opportunities out west, but Capitol Hill persists during these tough times.

Photo Credit: Roger Klock

1929

Capitol Hill General Hospital is built on the corner of South Harvey Ave. and SW 23 rd Street (called A Street).

1949-1953

1926-1927

A wave of new additions to the Capitol Hill area include: Southeast High School, Capitol Hill Library, Katz Drug Co., Langston’s Western Wear, and U.S. Grant High School.

Capitol Hill Savings and Loan Association and Little Flower Church, monastery, and school opens.

September 25, 1972

1928

South Oklahoma City Junior College opens.

Capitol Hill High School is established.

Western Wear, and U.S. Grant High School. Suburban growth continues in the south metro, as does the demand for automobiles. These factors lead to major road construction across the area replacing right-of- way trolley lines. These projects eventually lead to the construction of I-240. The 1950s and 60s are marked with tremendous social upheaval across the country. Segregation was the norm and the fight for equality swept across the nation, bolstered by the landmark case Brown v. the Topeka, Kansas Board of Education. The case found school segregation to be unconstitutional.

lunch counter located in downtown OKC. In the days following, Katz changed their store segregation policy nationwide. This event is considered a catalyst for civil rights demonstrations around the country. Similar sit-ins would continue in Oklahoma City for four more years before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. With downtown residents leaving for the suburbs and an overall decline in the city’s downtown area, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority commissions the Pei Plan to revitalize 528 acres of downtown Oklahoma City. Through the 1970s and 1980s, this plan does little to improve the city’s revitalization, causing a reverse effect and the transition of commerce, workers, and residents to the area’s suburbs and beyond.

In 1968, the idea for a junior college in the south OKC metro is pushed forth by civic and political leaders. On March 20, 1969, a committee of the Greater Capitol Hill Chamber (later named the South Oklahoma City

Capitol Hill struggled during the 1970s and 80s. The area’s once thriving business district took a substantial hit with the opening of Crossroads Mall in 1974. J.C. Penney and John A. Brown decide to move their Commerce Street stores to the mall. In 1987, Langston’s Western Wear in Capitol Hill closes their doors as well. Another economic hit comes with the 1980s national oil downturn. Coupled with an agricultural price decline, Oklahoma City begins to see major financial institutions collapse and a substantial increase in real estate foreclosures and bankruptcies, beginning a recession that would last much of the early part of the decade.

Chamber of Commerce) was organized to circulate petitions asking the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish a junior college in south OKC.

Shortly thereafter, the district was formed and a board of trustees was appointed. On September 25, 1972, South Oklahoma City Junior College opened for classes.

In 1958, Oklahoma City civil rights activist Clara Luper led 13 children in a sit-in at the Katz Drug Co.

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1987

1980’s

Langston’s in Capitol Hill closes. OCCC is flourishing with thousands of students and an economic impact of $500 million each year.

The downturn in the oil industry causes a long period of recession.

1992-1997

Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick introduces the MAPS plan to revitalize downtown OKC and the surrounding inner urban neighborhoods. Capitol Hill becomes a Main Street District.

1989

1974

Oklahoma City celebrates its centennial with

Crossroads Mall opens and several Capitol Hill retailers including J.C. Penney and John A. Brown leave the area for prominent anchor locations.

1 million residents.

Photo credit: Jim Argo

1983

South Oklahoma City Junior College is officially renamed Oklahoma City Community College.

Before 1985, OKCPS students were bused across the metro to create more diverse and less segregated schools. This practice becomes optional in 1985 and urban schools return to a near-segregation period with disproportionate racial demographics reflective of the neighborhood populations. In then blighted areas such as Capitol Hill, this becomes a huge equity challenge for funding the district’s schools. One bright spot was the success of South Oklahoma City Junior College, officially renamed Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) in 1983. By 1987, it’s estimated that OCCC contributes nearly half a billion dollars in economic impact to Oklahoma City, offering broad access to higher education opportunities for over 22,000 students in the metro.

By the beginning of the 1990s, Oklahoma City celebrates its centennial with a population of 1 million residents. In 1992, Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick develops the novel MAPS capital improvement plan to catalyze growth and development in OKC’s withered downtown and the surrounding inner urban neighborhoods. In 1997, Capitol Hill becomes a Main Street district. Main Street districts are located throughout the United States and are overseen by nonprofit foundations aimed at revitalizing economic and community development in aging or blighted historic areas. These groups focus on historic preservation, cultural diversity, placemaking, and growing businesses. Capitol Hill Main Street is at the heart of much of the area’s renewal efforts today and is comprised of community leaders from around the Oklahoma City metro.

2000-2012 The Present

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2010

The OCCC Capitol Hill Center relocates to the heart of historic Capitol Hill at the former Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, now known as The Well. 2012-2017

OCCC receives $50,000 of the SBC Excelerator Grant in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. 2003

2007-2012

The U.S. Census shows 17.2 percent of Oklahoma City’s population identifies as Hispanic.

The OCCC Capitol Hill Center relocates to the Latino Community Development Agency on South Walker.

October 2008

2007 Oklahoma celebrates 100 years of statehood.

OCCC purchases the building at the corner of SW 25 th and Hudson Avenue. The site was formally home to Katz Drugstore and Langston’s Western Wear. Most recently, it was occupied by Christmas Connection.

OCCC opens a satellite education facility known as the OCCC Capitol Hill Center at Capitol Hill Elementary School. This is made possible with a 3-year $443,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The world enters the new millennium. 2000

T he OCCC Capitol Hill Center first opened its doors in the fall of 2000 inside Capitol Hill Elementary School and has been located in the heart of the Hispanic community ever since. From 2007 to 2012, the center temporarily relocated to the Latino Community Development Agency, and then moved into the temporary location at The Well, formerly known as the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, until opening its doors at the new permanent location on Commerce Street in 2017. The OCCC Capitol Hill Center started with a U.S. Department of Education community technology grant that helped establish the initial goal to address the most basic educational needs via non-credit courses in English Language, basic reading and writing instruction, and an introduction to computer skills.

Programming was later expanded in 2003 with the support of a SBC Excelerator grant in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. Throughout the years, many adult education and literacy classes have been funded through various federal funding grants. With the goal of serving the urban, predominantly Hispanic community of Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City, the OCCC Capitol Hill Center continuously explores ways to enrich its programming and better serve community residents. The center is recognized as a leader in building on the social assets of its diverse community and collaborating with other community organizations to promote educational development and economic growth.

In addition to its programs that focus on adult and family literacy, work readiness, and early college awareness, the OCCC Capitol Hill Center also serves as a community center open to the public to use its computer labs and facilities for meetings and events. O ne community program that has had tremendous success at the OCCC Capitol Hill Center is College for Kids. College for Kids is a dynamic, fun, and enriching cultural summer program offered to 5th through 8th graders in the Oklahoma City metro. Classes include science, technology, engineering, art, math, music, dance, language, humanities, theater and much more. This program is sponsored in collaboration with Oklahoma City Public Schools.

In October 2008, the college purchased the historic buildings at the corner of SW 25th Street and Hudson Avenue, formerly occupied by the Christmas Connection and the past locations of Langston’s Western Wear and Katz Drug Co. The OCCC Capitol Hill Center remains at the heart of the community and continues to expand educational opportunities and community engagement.

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Alejandro Rendon Sanchez Scholarship Recipients 2012 Roberta Thompson 2013 Andres Perilla Alexandra Torres 2014 Roman Alcantara Jhonnatan Gonzalez Gabriela Jimenez 2015

Alejandro Rendon Sanchez Alejandro Rendon Sanchez was devoted to the mission of Oklahoma City Community College and to the community. Sanchez served as the Director of the OCCC Capitol Hill Center from 2000-2010. He lost his battle with cancer in May 2010. He was the beloved husband of Teresa Rendon for over 35 years and a devoted father to his children, Gabriel Eduardo Rendon and Gloria Rendon Mahaffey. Upon his death, his family established The Alejandro Rendon Sanchez Memorial Scholarship in his memory. The scholarship awards $750 to a Latino student who has completed at least 12 hours at OCCC, has a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and is involved in the community. Dozens of students have benefited from the scholarship since its inception.

Felicitas Guzman Mario Jimenez Jr. Maria Ramires Sara Ramirez

Nancy Reyes Raquel Rosa Carlos Villanueva-Chavez 2016

The Future 2013-

Angelica Butanda Aaron Cardenas Sarai Chavez Jennifer Martinez Karen Martinez

Bianca Medina Santos Sergio Mendez Aceros 2017

Esteban Young Mariela Claudio Nancy Reyes Wendy Ibanez Yadira Pedraza

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August 2015

stairwells and elevator, reinforcing and adding building structural components, running groundwater pumps and drainage piping, establishing electrical and >Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21 Page 22-23 Page 24

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