main street

A way to improve Henryetta’s downtown was unveiled Wednesday following several weeks of work by OSUIT students.
Brian Caldwell, the instructor at the Okmulgee school of Visual Communications, along with seven of his students presented the idea to a half dozen Henryetta business and civic officials.
The students took views of downtown along Main Street from Third to Sixth streets and outlined how the buildings, some dating back before statehood, could be restored to their original designs.
Among their suggestions were removal of the aluminum fronts on some of the buildings, adding new but complimenting awnings and restoring the original glass windows instead of the covers that replaced them.
Addition of foliage along the sidewalks and replacing several water hydrants with fountains were also brought up.
Photos of several current businesses were shown next to artists’ renderings showing how the changes would look.
A sample presentation package was given to chamber of commerce executive director Roy Madden that can be used to give to prospective businesses as well as building owners.
Students explained they used store fronts along the north side of Main Street due to the variety of building styles.
That presentation will be discussed by the chamber members in the coming weeks to see how best to put the suggestions to work.