Miner's Shacks
Remains of miner's houses can still be found at Picher and other mining towns in Ottawa County. This old house at Picher slowly caves in on itself. As people move out of the town or die of old age, the houses are abandoned and succumb to the ravages of vandals and weather. This house, which was probably built prior to 1920 was one of the better houses of the time. Most of the first houses were uninsulated shacks with no modern conveniences. Photo courtesy of Ken Neal of the Tulsa World
Here is an example of another early miner's shack that is still standing. This decaying old structure was later insulated with some kind of siding. This building can barely be seen during summertime due to the heavy growth of brush around it. Much of the mining area and areas of former towns are now covered with heavy undergrowth of vegetation and the structures of the mining era are no longer to be seen. Buster Cooper, a gangster during the 1920s, was shot to death in the yard next to this house.
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I photographed this old miner's shack back in 1967. All of this style of house are now gone.
Update: All of the above houses are now gone as of May 2007.
