- City:
- Bristow, OK
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Amphitheaters and Bandshells
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration (WPA), National Youth Administration (NYA)
- Started:
- 1935
- Completed:
- 1937
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
The Bristow town website explains that the amphitheater was “built by the CCC and the NYA, one of the first youth projects completed. Eleanor Roosevelt came to Bristow to dedicate the project in March 1937.”
A 1985 National Register nomination form for Creek County explains that the amphitheater itself is a one-story, flat-roofed, wooden structure (later painted white). The foundation is stone, the seats are concrete, and the whole area was planted around with trees, which are still there today.
The form further explains that: “Architecturally, the structure is unique to the park in terms of type, style, and workmanship. This project contributed to the uplifting of morale in the area. Economically, the project provided badly-needed work at a time when employment opportunities were scarce. Through the construction of the amphitheater, and other park improvements, the WPA infused wages of some 140,000 man-hours of labor into the local economy.”
Source notes
https://www.visitbristowok.com/towntour.htm
https://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/ref/collection/stgovpub/id/17389
Amphitheater - Klingensmith Park - Bristow, OK: https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZX9Z_Amphitheater_Klingensmith_Park_Bristow_OK
Site originally submitted by The Living New Deal on March 10, 2015.
Additional contributions by hamquilter.
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