Midgley House: Enid, OK

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to tell you about a historic house museum I visited a few years ago, but realized I never wrote about. Let’s get started!

Who were the Midgleys?

Libbie Midgley was born in Fredericktown, Ohio and moved to Kansas in 1880. She graduated school in Republic, Kansas. She married Dan Midgley in 1895. The couple settled in Pond Creek, Oklahoma. They had a farming and ranching operation there. They retired in 1945 and moved down the road to Enid, Oklahoma.

The Midgley home was built in 1947 in Enid by the Midgleys. It was designed and built by Dan. He constructed the home out of wood and petrified rock. Locals in Enid call it the “Rock House.” The interior of the home was designed to be spacious and had ten rooms.

“Designed for Comfort.” *The Enid Events* (Enid, Oklahoma), July 22, 1948.

Inside the home is a unique collection of artifacts collected by the couple. It includes wild game trophies, gems, minerals, and more. Over a thousand rocks are housed in display cases.

“Midgley Hunting Collection Reminiscent Of Many Thrilling Experiences In Field.” *The Enid Morning News* (Enid, Oklahoma), August 6, 1950.

“Trophies Bring Memories Of Big Game Hunting Trips.” *The Enid Daily Eagle* (Enid, Oklahoma), January 9, 1953.

“Fossil Turtles Found By Midgleys.” *The Enid Morning News* (Enid, Oklahoma), September 20, 1953.

In the photo below, Dan Midgley is checking the portable generator on his truck and rolling home. This was the vehicle he and Libby took on their hunting adventures. He was nearly 80 years old in this photo!

“Getting Ready For the ‘Nth Hunting Trip.” *The Enid Morning News* (Enid, Oklahoma), September 13, 1953.

Dan Midgley passed away in October 1953 while on a hunting trip in Colorado. Libbie Midgley passed away in her home in December 1963. The Midgleys passed the home to their daughter, Eva Midgley Fothergill upon their death.

“Death Claims Dan Midgley, 79.” *The Enid Morning News* (Enid, Oklahoma), October 31, 1953.

Midgley House Museum

Today, the Midgley House Museum is operated by the Northwest Oklahoma Masonic Lodge. The internet says the museum is currently “temporarily closed” so please call ahead before trying to visit.

The photos below are probably from around four years ago.

7,000 pound petrified tree stump from Woodward area.

Visit

1001 Sequoyah Drive

Enid, OK 73703

Sources

Secondary Sources

“Midgley Museum.” Visit Enid Oklahoma.

“Midgley Museum.” TravelOK.

Primary Sources

Newspapers

“Garden Club Makes Enid Tour Monday.” The Enid Daily Eagle (Enid, Oklahoma), June 15, 1948.

“Designed for Comfort.” The Enid Events (Enid, Oklahoma), July 22, 1948.

“Midgley Hunting Collection Reminiscent Of Many Thrilling Experiences In Field.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), August 6, 1950.

“Trophies Bring Memories Of Big Game Hunting Trips.” The Enid Daily Eagle (Enid, Oklahoma), January 9, 1953.

“Enid Couple On TV.” The Enid Daily Eagle (Enid, Oklahoma), January 29, 1953.

“‘My Trophy’ Dan Midgley Trailed Mountain Goat 8 Hours Before Big Shot.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), September 6, 1953.

“Getting Ready For the ‘Nth Hunting Trip.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), September 13, 1953.

“Fossil Turtles Found By Midgleys.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), September 20, 1953.

“Death Claims Dan Midgley, 79.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), October 31, 1953.

“Mrs. Midgley Feted.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), May 27, 1960.

“Mrs. Libbie Midgley.” The Enid Morning News (Enid, Oklahoma), December 5, 1963.

“Enid Museum Contains Heavyweight Collection.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), January 7, 1996.

The Active Historian