Oxford Hotel Fire - Enid, OK - Updated
Here is the latest contribution for our Oxford fire
photo collection. Thanks to Jo Aguirre.

Here is another photo of the Oxford Hotel after the fire.
The hotel burned on July 18th, 1978.




Being a kid growing up in Enid in the 70's, I really only remember
one thing about the Oxford Hotel. It burned down. I also remember
that many of the plastic signs up to a block away melted due to
the extreme heat.
Here are a few great shots after the fire that destroyed the
old Oxford building. Do you have any stories about the
Oxford or the fire!
Pictures courtesy of Michael E Riley
photo collection. Thanks to Jo Aguirre.

Here is another photo of the Oxford Hotel after the fire.
The hotel burned on July 18th, 1978.




Being a kid growing up in Enid in the 70's, I really only remember
one thing about the Oxford Hotel. It burned down. I also remember
that many of the plastic signs up to a block away melted due to
the extreme heat.
Here are a few great shots after the fire that destroyed the
old Oxford building. Do you have any stories about the
Oxford or the fire!
Pictures courtesy of Michael E Riley


















9 Comments:
I have the same memories. By the time we were kids the Oxford was getting to be a run-down old building. I had a nomadic uncle that lived there for a time. I heard that people drove in as far away as Alva to watch it burn. And yeah, the bank sign next door got fried. It was First Nat'l Bank if I recall. We were there while the fire was still going. Exciting times in good old Enid, USA.
Amidst other things the Oxford Hotel was noted for having call girls. I understand the Youngblood had the higher class, i.e., more expensive call girls, and the Oxford was for the poor ol' boy just out on the town for a little fun (and probably went home with a little more than he bargained for.) There was also a pool hall in the basement that was known for being a booking joint for placing bets on football games. I heard someone say the owners name was Bobby and that was around 1960.
Oh the good ol' days....Why, it is downright hard to find a call girl in Enid today...
The Oxford burnt down in the early 80's. The Fire Dept would have a record of it, if you want to know the exact date.
I was working at Enid Data Systems in the First National Bank building on the night the Oxford burned, and although I don't remember the exact date, I believe it was in 1978. I remember going out on the fire escape to see the blaze and you could feel the heat from the fire a block away.
The drive through bank across the street from the Oxford was also pretty much destroyed by the heat from the fire, which literally melted the bricks that the old hotel was built from. The remains of the building smoldered for several days before it finally cooled down.
July 18th 1978
Thanks!
In it's heyday the Oxford was quite the swanky place. The east end of it they held Opera's. Now this was all back in 20's and
30's. Growing up in Enid I remember when it was open. At that time it was nothing more than a Flop house. It's sad to see something start out so good and then end up nothing more than trash. If I remember right the Owner set it on fire for the insurance money.
I still have that Memory in me.Thanks for the pictures it reminds us all of all that happened on that faithful day.
Thanks!
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