Jeremy Stevens
The Express-Star
CHICKASHA
Sat, May 17 2008
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Sitting on the corner of Fourth Street and Chickasha Avenue, the Petroleum building is filled with mystery. When driving down Fourth Street, it is easy to spot the tall five-story building in downtown Chickasha, but not many people know exactly what goes on inside its walls.
“There is a lot more that goes on in this building than the average person would know,” said Coy Bush, who is the current owner.
The Petroleum Building began construction in 1907 as the original First National Bank of Chickasha. J.D. Sugg, who was a cattleman, banker and landowner from Mississippi, was the first owner of the building, and at the time of his death in 1925, he was president and principal stockholder of the bank.
After First National Bank moved to another location, the Petroleum building’s first floor became the home of the Rexal Drug store. The remaining four floors were used as offices for doctors and lawyers around the area for over 50 years.
In 1993, Bush and his wife Gail bought the building with a partner as a place to move their quilt shop.
“I wanted to move in and own my own building,” said Gail about the reason for buying the building.
The Bush’s bought the partner out in 1999 to become full owners of the building.
They now have a quilting store on the second floor and have rented about 90 percent of the remaining area to different businesses.
“The money we make on the building we have invested back into re-modeling it,” said Gail.
Coy has re-modeled most of the building on his own, including a residence for him and his wife on the second floor, where they have lived for three years. Walking through their living area you will find many antiques, including a couple of couches and a hat rack that came from the Dixie store in Anadarko.
“I’ve never lived any place that I love better than this,” said Coy, who also runs his own plumbing business.
On the third floor there are many businesses that rent with the Bush’s, including Salon 220. Not only is it a salon, but it also showcases art from local artists that customers can buy while they are there.
Rryon Drawbridge is the owner of the salon, and like the Bush’s also lives in the building.
“This building has so much character,” said Drawbridge. “It’s an amazing building, Coy has done such a great job with it.”
The Petroleum building also houses other businesses on the fourth floor as well.
Gail said that the fun thing about living in the building is the friendship between everyone that rents with them.
"One thing we have going for us is everyone in the building gets along," she said. "We all are just one big family. When we have events, we all have events together."
Looking back on it, the Bush’s agree that buying the building was the best thing that has ever happened to them.
“We’ve lived a lot of places, but we have never enjoyed living anywhere more than here,” said Coy
In the future, Bush plans to continue re-modeling the interior of the building, including the elevator and rooms on the fifth floor. He also plans to improve the outside of the building as well.
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