The Active Historian

Hey, Friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to tell you the story of the historic Maney Home in Oklahoma City. Let’s get started!

Who was J.W. Maney?

James William “J.W.” Maney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 3, 1862 to Michael Maney and Johanna Hartnett Maney. His parents were both from Ireland. He attended college in Red Oak, Iowa.

J.W. Maney moved to Oklahoma in 1889 when it opened for the land runs. He built the second railroad in Oklahoma Territory. He settled down in El Reno and was elected the the first town surveyor. This was an office he held for two terms.

He married Alphonsena Marie Gerrer in 1896 in El Reno at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

In 1905, Maney and his family moved to Oklahoma City. Maney had railroad business deals and contracts across the United States at this point.

In 1910, he was an advocate for the El Reno Interurban Electric Line that connected El Reno and Oklahoma City. This line was approximately 26 miles long.

In 1912, he purchased the controlling interest in the railway between western Oklahoma and Clinton.

J.W. Maney was heavily involved in the milling business as well. Some of the companies he was involved with included: Enid Milling, Canadian Mill and Elevator Company, Maney Export, and Weatherford Milling.

Marie Maney passed away suddenly in August 1912 while she was in Manitou, Colorado five days after their youngest child was born. She was 40 years old and was survived by six children, two sons and four daughters. Their names were Marie, Beatrice, Robert, Agnes, Florence, and James W., Jr.

In 1936, Maney was inducted into the Oklahoma Memorial Association’s Hall of Fame. He was one of twelve people honored that year.

J.W. Maney passed away in July 1945 at 83 years old.

History of the Maney Home

J.W. Maney built this three-story, 7000 square foot home in 1904. He decided to move the home in 1909 to the “country” about a mile down the road at the time. Supposedly, the house was split into two pieces during the move. Maney and the moving company were both fined because they made the road impassable while moving the house. J.W. Maney lived in the home until his death in July 1945.

Upon his death, the home was used by Catholic Charities.

Next, a woman ran a boarding house out the home which she was renting until the mid-1970s.

In the late 1970s, Bill Bleakley bought and renovated the home. Over the next decade and a half two law offices and restaurants utilized the space.

In 1979, the Maney Historic District was added the National Register of Historic Places. This historic district includes the Maney Home and two other homes.

In 1985, the Oklahoma Gazette began operating here.

In 1996, Bob and Claudia Wright purchased the home. They opened the Grandison Inn at Maney Park as a bed and breakfast. Today, the home is still operated as a bed and breakfast.

Historic Marker Transcription

The Maney Home

“This beautiful Victorian home was constructed at 917 North Robinson in 1904 at S.F. Lee and was the home of J.W. Maney, a self-made pioneer who came to Oklahoma in 1889. The home was moved to its present location in 1909 because of the build-up of churches and schools near its former site. Mr. Maney who lived in the home until his death in 1945, was influential and active in the growth and development of Oklahoma, as a railroad contractor, builder and developer. This building has a solid oak entrance with oval beveled glass, surrounded on either side with leaded glass windows.”

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1200 N Shartel

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103

Sources

Primary Sources

“Maney Historic District.” National Register of Historic Places. (Reference Number: 79002008)

Newspapers

“Maney-Gerrer.” The El Reno News (El Reno, Oklahoma), May 15, 1896.

“J.W. Maney Moves Here.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), January 21, 1905.

“Street Railway Franchises Given.” The Oklahoma Post (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), April 4, 1907.

“Interurban Is To Build To El Reno.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), March 31, 1909.

“Work On Interurban Started In Earnest.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), April 15, 1909.

“Mrs. J.W. Maney Dies In Colorado.” The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), August 27, 1912.

“Maney Funeral.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), August 28, 1912.

“Mill Director Has Had Most Constructive Career as Builder.” The El Reno American (El Reno, Oklahoma), September 10, 1936.

“Jim Maney, Pioneer Townbuilder, Dies In Oklahoma City.” The El Reno American (El Reno, Oklahoma) July 19, 1945.

“Man Who Built Rock Island R.R. Dies In Okla. City.” The Oklahoma County News (Jones, Oklahoma), July 20, 1945.

“Pioneer Dies.” The Oklahoma Courier (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), July 21, 1945.

“Estate Value Revealed.” Stillwater News-Press (Stillwater, Oklahoma), July 27, 1945.

Beth Gollob. “City mansion to celebrate centennial.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), December 4, 2004.

Secondary Sources

Websites

Grandison Inn at Maney Park – Website.

“James W. Maney.” Class of 1936. Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Gaylord-Pickens Museum.