Lawton
birthday festivities continue this Saturday afternoon with free tours of the historic Mattie Beal Home’s 14-room mansion from 12noon – 3pm. The Mattie Beal Home, located at 1008 SW 5th Street, is owned and maintained by the Lawton Heritage Association and is on the National Register of Historic Places.Mattie Beal was a 22-year old telephone operator in Wichita, Kansas, who decided to register for the land lottery in the Lawton area in 1901. Mattie Beal’s name was the second one drawn and her life changed. Now “land rich” she received hundreds of marriage proposals but married Lawton businessman, Charles Payne. Together they built a mansion in 1907-1909 that became the social center and architectural highlight of the young city of Lawton. For more information, call 580-678-3156.
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