The Beauty Underneath: Main Street Watonga Gets a Facelift

  • The Beauty Underneath: Main Street Watonga Gets a Facelift
    The Beauty Underneath: Main Street Watonga Gets a Facelift
  • Members of the Watonga Foundation (above) removing siding applied to the front of LaWayne Flaming’s building in the 1960s or so, revealing the original paint underneath. A file photo (lower right) shows the building as it was before the craze to ‘modernize’ storefronts swept through town, covering up vintage graphics, windows and advertising.
    Members of the Watonga Foundation (above) removing siding applied to the front of LaWayne Flaming’s building in the 1960s or so, revealing the original paint underneath. A file photo (lower right) shows the building as it was before the craze to ‘modernize’ storefronts swept through town, covering up vintage graphics, windows and advertising.

Building owners in Watonga continue to look at their past to step into the future, with a little help from neighbors and organizations.

It may have started when the Phoenix Circle received grant money from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful and Fresh Paint Days to begin rehab of a former dry cleaner’s building into an art center. Then the building across the street got a fresh coat of paint. Both buildings are in the 100 block of East Main.

That was followed by a renovation of unused space into store fronts – including the freshly-painted building – with industrial style lofts upstairs. Those lofts are almost ready for occupancy and some already have tenants waiting to move in. That work was undertaken by Montie Stewart with guidance from the Watonga Foundation.

The Foundation took things a step further this week, Stewart said, when it removed the old façade off a building in the 200 block of West Main. The building is owned by Doreen and LaWayne Flaming. A shingled awning had been removed earlier. The Flamings gave permission for the old false front to be removed from the building and the Watonga Foundation provided the manpower.

Underneath, they found the original front, complete with signs advertising appliances and Massey Ferguson, a brand of tractor. There has been no word as to whether the building will be repainted or left as-is.

The important thing, Stewart said, is for building owners to recognize there is help available to renovate, paint or otherwise dress up the structures. Anyone who is interested in the programs offered by the foundation can contact the Watonga Foundation Inc. via social media or call the Watonga Chamber of Commerce at (580) 623-5452.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com