William Balser Skirvin
Encyclopedia
William Balser Skirvin was an American real estate developer
and oil
millionaire. He is best known for his establishment of the Skirvin Hotel, an Oklahoma City
landmark now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Born near Sturgis, Michigan
, Skirvin left for the Oklahoma Territory
in 1889 as an original 89er
. He and a business partner acquired, and then sold, property in the new territorial capital of Guthrie
, then moved to Galveston, Texas
to engage in the real estate business. Skirvin developed the town of Alta Loma
, and was present in Galveston at the time of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Skirvin also engaged in the oil business with considerable success.
Skirvin returned to Oklahoma in 1906 to engage in both oil and real estate endeavors. In 1910-1911 he built the Skirvin Hotel
; he and his children lived in a suite on the ninth floor. Repeatedly expanded, the hotel became the city's best known, and a center of its political and business life. In 1931 he and his family began a second hotel, the Skirvin Tower
, but due to the economic instability of the era, it was not completed until 1938; it was converted into an office building
in the 1970s.
Skirvin's wife Harriett Reid Skirvin had died in 1908, leaving Skirvin with their three children. His daughter, Perle Mesta
, married a wealthy Pittsburgh businessman; widowed in 1925, she inherited her husband's fortune and became a socialite, political hostess, and U.S. ambassador
to Luxembourg
(1949–1953) under President Harry S Truman.
Skirvin was severely injured in an auto accident on March 12, 1944 and died on March 25.
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
and oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
millionaire. He is best known for his establishment of the Skirvin Hotel, an Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
landmark now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Born near Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
, Skirvin left for the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
in 1889 as an original 89er
Land Run of 1889
The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was the first land run into the Unassigned Lands and included all or part of the 2005 modern day Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne counties of the U.S. state of Oklahoma...
. He and a business partner acquired, and then sold, property in the new territorial capital of Guthrie
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
, then moved to Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
to engage in the real estate business. Skirvin developed the town of Alta Loma
Alta Loma, Texas
Alta Loma, Texas , located in southwestern Galveston County, Texas, was an unincorporated area which became a part of Santa Fe, Texas in 1978.- External links :...
, and was present in Galveston at the time of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Skirvin also engaged in the oil business with considerable success.
Skirvin returned to Oklahoma in 1906 to engage in both oil and real estate endeavors. In 1910-1911 he built the Skirvin Hotel
Skirvin Hilton Hotel
The Skirvin Hotel at the corner of 1st Street and Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City is the city's oldest hotel. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
; he and his children lived in a suite on the ninth floor. Repeatedly expanded, the hotel became the city's best known, and a center of its political and business life. In 1931 he and his family began a second hotel, the Skirvin Tower
101 Park Avenue Building
101 Park Avenue was formerly known as the Skirvin Tower, built in 1938 as a luxury apartment-hotel annex to the Skirvin Hotel.In 1974 the Tower was remodeled into a glass-enclosed office building....
, but due to the economic instability of the era, it was not completed until 1938; it was converted into an office building
101 Park Avenue Building
101 Park Avenue was formerly known as the Skirvin Tower, built in 1938 as a luxury apartment-hotel annex to the Skirvin Hotel.In 1974 the Tower was remodeled into a glass-enclosed office building....
in the 1970s.
Skirvin's wife Harriett Reid Skirvin had died in 1908, leaving Skirvin with their three children. His daughter, Perle Mesta
Perle Mesta
Perle Skirvin Mesta was an American socialite, political hostess, and U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg ....
, married a wealthy Pittsburgh businessman; widowed in 1925, she inherited her husband's fortune and became a socialite, political hostess, and U.S. ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
(1949–1953) under President Harry S Truman.
Skirvin was severely injured in an auto accident on March 12, 1944 and died on March 25.