1868

Nelson F. Carr settles in the area and builds a trading post and sawmill on the Caney River.

1870

Carr cuts a millrace at the bend of the Caney River and builds a grist mill, powered by water, for grinding corn into cornmeal.

1873

Jacob H. Bartles settles in the Silverlake area.

1874

Bartles moves to Turkey Creek where he operates a trading post and the first post office. The Delaware Baptist Church and School, a subscription school, is built.

1875

Jacob Bartles purchases the gristmill and blacksmith shop from Nelson F. Carr for $1000.

1877

Bartles enlarges the mill and converts it to the grinding of wheat for flour.

1878

Bartles builds a store, with the family home on the second floor, north of the mill.

1884

William Johnstone and George B. Keeler, both former clerks in Bartles' store, establish a general merchandise store on the south side of the Caney River.

1890

This is the Stage Coach that carried the mail from Coffeyville, Kansas to J. H. Bartles' Store, Indian Territory in the early 70's showing the Thayer Brake - patented March 11th, 1890. (See photo.) The first electric light system is established this year by Bartles on the north side of the Caney River.

1895

The first newspaper, the "Weekly Magnet," is published every Friday.

1897

Bartlesville is incorporated as a city of the third class, with a population of 200, on January 15. The first commercial oil well in Oklahoma is discovered and the Nellie Johnstone No. 1 has its first gusher on March 25 and is completed on April 15. (See photo.)

1898

The National Hotel, later known as the Right Way Hotel, opens for business.

1899

The Santa Fe railroad comes to Bartlesville. (See photo.)
 Bartles moves his combination store and home to establish the community of Dewey. Keeler builds the town's first stone building at the northwest corner of Second Street and Johnstone Avenue.

1899

100 Block of W 2nd Street

1902

The Oklah Theater is built.

1903

The Vitrified Brick Plant opens for business, prdoucing 50,000 bricks a day. (See photo.) One of the town's earliest industries, Crystal Ice and Storage Company, is built.

1904

The Great Western Glass Company is established

1905

Garfield School is erected. (See photo.) The Almeda Hotel opens for business at the corner of Second Street and Johnstone Avenue. On January 31, the City Fire Department makes its' first run.

1906

A 15 bed hospital is built. (See photo.) The Lanyon-Starr smelter is built. The Phillips brothers incorporate the Lewcinda Oil Company.

1907

Bartlesville Zinc Company and National Zinc Company are constructed. (See photo.) Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory are joined as the state of Oklahoma. On December 12, Governor Haskell proclaims Bartlesville "a city of the First Class." The city is comprised of 85 blocks with some 850 lots and 4,215 residents.

1908

Frank Griggs, photographer, arrives in Bartlesville. (See photo.) Seven black students attend the newly established Douglass School. The Interurban street cars begin running loops.

1910

The City Hall and Fire Department is built at the northwest corner of Fourth and Dewey Streets. (see photo)
The first Bartlesville High School is completed.

1911

Bartlesville Country Club (later known as Oak Hill Country Club) is organized.

1912

Another addition to the Douglass School building is added. (See photo.) St. John Catholic School is established. The first Boy Scout troop is organized.

1913

Bartlesville's first public library opens with approximately 300 books.

1916

Bartlesville becomes the first town in the state to establish a junior high school.

1917

Fans wait in front of 120 3rd street for the score of the sixth and final game of the World Series played on October 15, 1917. Chicago vs. New York. Chicago won the game 4-2 and the series 4-2. (See photo.) Phillips Petroleum Company is incorporated with 27 employees.

1918

The Bureau of Mines is established.

1921

H. C. Price opens a small electric welding shop which becomes the H. C. Price Company.

1922

Memorial Hospital opens. (See photo.) The American Legion baseball team is formed.

1925

On May 24, the Seventh Street Bridge is dedicated to the men and women of Washington County who served in World War I.

1926

Armais Arutunoff, inventor of the submergible electrical pump and motor, moves to Bartlesville (see photo.) Frank Phillips builds his ranch, Woolaroc. The Civic Center opens on Johnstone Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets. The Caney River crests at 26 feet above normal level.

1927

The "Woolaroc" airplane, piloted by Art Goebel and fueled with a new Phillips gasoline, wins the Dole San Francisco-to-Honolulu race.

1929

H. V. Foster, president of the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company, builds his town home, "La Quinta."

1930

REDA Pump is organized by Arutunoff. (See photo.) The first Garden Club is established.

1934

Wiley Post, wearing the first space suit, makes the first stratospheric flight. (see photo)
There are 64 days above 100 degrees and 25 consecutive days above 100 degrees. On August 14th, Bartlesville is the hottest spot in the nation at 107 degrees.

1940

The Senior High School and Junior College, commonly called "Col-Hi," is dedicated.

1941

Cities Service Company becomes a major oil company with the purchase of I.T.I.O. for $70 million.

1942

REDA employees make aircraft parts under World War II defense contracts. H. C. Price Company foremen and welders work in shipyards building Liberty ships, tankers and LST's.

1945

The S. S. Bartlesville Victory ship is christened.

1946

Hulah Dam Celebration — Senator Kerr looks on at the Crow Eaters banquet, May 3, 1946. The Welty family eat crow after the money was appropriated by the government for Hulah Dam. (See photo.) Hilltop Drive-In opens on Nowata Road, “three miles east of Bartlesville.” Murphy’s Original Steak House opens on West Third Street.

1947

The city celebrates 50 years of existence with a parade and commemorative currency.

1950

Phillips Hotel-Apartments construction begins. (See photo.) YMCA wins the Swimming Championship. The Westside Community Center Association is founded.

1951

The Hulah Dam is completed. (See photo.) Phillips Petroleum Company scientists invent polyethylene, which becomes one of the most widely used plastics in the world.

1952

The Phillips 66er's basketball team wins the first of two Olympic trials championships in New York (see photo). Third Street is renamed Frank Phillips Boulevard. Jane Phillips hospital is dedicated.

1954

Oklahoma recorded weather shows July statewide and hottest July of the century. 1954 was warmest year of the century statewide. On July 14, 1954 the temperature, recorded at 116 degrees at 5:57 p.m. on the Cities Service sign. (See photo.) Phillips Petroleum Company develops and introduces the industry’s first all-season motor oil.

1955

The Price Tower designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is completed.

1956

Douglass School goes from 12 to 8 grades as integration of the school system begins.

1962

Work begins on Sooner Park and Adams Municipal Golf Course.

1963

Bartlesville is named the "All America City."

1965

Eastland Shopping Mall is constructed.

1966

Sooner High School holds its first classes. Bartlesville is the only city in Oklahoma to endorse Daylight Savings Time.

1968

Tri-County Vocational Technical School opens. (See photo.) Cities Service announces plans to move its operations and 900 employees to Tulsa.

1970

The Bartlesville Civic Ballet gives its first performance.

1971

The last passenger train leaves Bartlesville. (See photo.)Douglass School closes.

1976

Bartlesville completes its United States Bicentennial project with the opening of Pathfinder Parkway.

1982

The ultra-modern Bartlesville Community Center opens.

1983

After the Hulah Dam was built the town of Hulah was displaced, and cattle and oil shipping fell off, so Santa Fe closed the feeder line to Hulah. The land and depot reverted to the Mullendores, descendants of the Brown-Buckboren family. In October 1983, Mrs. Kathleen Mullendore gave the depot to the Landmark Preservation Council of Bartlesville and the Council moved the depot to Johnstone Park.

1984

Washington Park Mall opens. (See photo.) In December, T. Boone Pickens makes a hostile takeover attempt on Phillips Petroleum Company.

1985

The premiere season for the OK Mozart International Festival.

1986

The Caney River crests at a record high of 29 feet above normal on October 4.

1987

Phil Phillips and artist Joe Beeler standing beside heroic statue of “Thanks for the Rain” at Woolaroc at the dedication of the sculpture in 1987. The photo is autographed by both men. (See photo.) Indian summer begins as an annual celebration of the city’s Native American
heritage.

1992

The new Bartlesville Public Library and History Museum dedicated. (See photo.)The first annual SunFest festival takes place at Sooner Park. Alta Photographic, Inc. (also produces Kalioka bottled water) joins Bartlesville's industrial park.

1994

The First Fantasy Land Forest lights up Johnstone Park.

1996

I.T.I.O., once one of the most prominent oil companies in Bartlesville, returns as a downtown shopping mall.

1997

A hundred years in the making, Bartlesville celebrates its' Centennial!

2000

2000 — A citywide bond issue in 1998 paved the way for the municipal offices to move to a refurbished five-story office building in downtown Bartlesville, with the top floor set aside for a completely new history museum. The 10,000-square foot, first-class facility, opened in November 2000.

2003

Conoco and Phillips merge to form ConocoPhillips

2015

Civil War Veterans Washington County, OK

This spread sheet reflects 2 years of detailed research, documented by many documents and the findings of several historians records. Sailors and Soldiers Database (National Park Service) Findagrave, Washington County records, newspaper and family history, census records etc.  Every effort has been made for accuracy. There are some individuals that do not belong on this list but have been documented by others as CIVIL WAR Veterans. Some of them are left with notations on this spreadsheet in an effort to avoid this reporting on individuals that are in fact NOT Civil War Veterans. If you have facts on any individual you would like to share with the BAHM, or corrections, we would be happy to receive your documentation in to order update our material. Thank you!

This project has been a labor of love—If you see additions or corrections, please contact our Museum staff 918-338-4290.