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THE MAIN PAGE
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DESIGN SERVICES
Main Street's mission is to serve as a base for design improvements of
historic buildings
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PROJECTS
Main
Street's Projects
consist of the
--- Golf Tournament at Roman Nose State Park
--- "Pioneer Days"
--- "Black Dog
Night"
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TOUR MAIN
STREET
Learn the history behind these
beautiful buildings.
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PROPERTY
AVAILABLE
We've Got Room For You! |
News and
Information about Watonga's Main Street
by Bob Shoemaker
What's
Happening on Main Street
April, 2008
Watonga Main Street's Business of the Month
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S & L Building Supply
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I
like doing business with
S & L -- mainly for the
free coffee! no no, I'm
kidding!
I
really do appreciate S &
L; they always have the
products that I need for
whatever job I'm working
on from start to
finish. Also, I
appreciate the
information they
supply. Sometimes I
present them with a
special problem I'm
having on the job, and
they are always able to
supply me with an
answer. And I sure
wouldn't want to have to
drive to the city for my
supplies. What a
hassle! And the big
city guys probably
wouldn't give me a free
cup of coffee.
S & L is the only
full-service lumberyard
in Blaine County.
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They offer free
estimates and
measuring on a
variety of
products,
including doors,
windows and
roofing
supplies. They
also sell all
types of
building
materials plus
replacement
windows,
hardware,
gardening and
paint products.
In addition to
serving as the
local
representative
for Overhead
Garage Doors and
Waller Glass, S
& L Building
Center also
serves as the
local agent for
Beaver Express.
Steve Tinsley, a
contractor in
the Weatherford
area, bought
this lumberyard
(at the 222 N.
Noble location)
in 2001 from
Charlie and
Laurel Poarch,
longtime
residents and
business people
in Watonga. |
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Charlie and
Laurel had named
their business C
& L, so when
Steve bought the
business, he
changed the name
to S & L for
Steve and
Linda. The name
change was
smooth; but the
location change
was a little
rougher. In
2003, Steve
bought the
building at 120
N. Weigle and
the business was
moved at that
time. Charlie
continued on as
manager until
just last year
when Mike
Holliman began
to manage the
lumberyard.
Other local
employees
include Dennis
McLaughlin,
Curtis Stein and
Carol Wight. |
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The 222
N. Noble location had
first began as a
Long-Bell Lumber Company
which opened for
business in Watonga in
1908 and operated at
that location for nearly
50 years. In 1956,
International Paper Co.
took ownership of the
business. Charlie Poarch
began working at the
lumberyard in 1958 and
was named manager in
1974. In 1986,
International Paper
decided to close all
their lumberyard
operations in Oklahoma.
Charlie purchased the
business with his wife,
Laurel, renaming it C &
L Building Center.
I
don't know what Watonga
would have done last
year after the inland
hurricane hit without
this Watonga business.
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Charlie said that dealing with
all that damage was quite
challenging, but he said that
the terrible storm that hit
Watonga in 1967 was certainly
the most memorable and
exhausting experience for all
the employees working at the
lumberyard during that time.
A number of homes in Watonga and
surrounding area were destroyed,
plus a devastating rain and
hailstorm meant all houses in
the area had to be
re-shingled.
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At that time, all lumber
came in on railroad cars
and had to be unloaded
by hand, trucked to the
lumberyard and put in
bins. There weren’t
forklifts available in
those days to make the
job easier.
I know that Watonga is
grateful to have S & L
Building Center in our
town. They provide a
strong tax base for this
area as they take care
of the building and
remodeling needs of the
citizens of Blaine
County. Thank you, S &
L, for the good service! |
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