The Story of Nichols Hills
The story of Nichols Hills
Mrs. Bixler
May 16, 1957
(The real story of Nichols Hills has never been told. This beautiful and unusual community of homes, just over 25 years old, is one of the show places of the country, but to some 5,000 residents, it’s just home. It’s a planned community – planned for quiet, gracious living, and it has a dignity and charm and character which is found in very few places in the country.
No one could be better qualified to tell this story of Nichols Hills than Mrs. George R. Bixler, 6707 Avondale Drive. The Bixlers moved to Nichols Hills in October 1930, and Bixler has been town clerk for 24 years.
Much of the information on which this story is based comes from files of “Town Talk,” a publication which began in 1934 and was abandoned when World War II broke out. This publication was first typed, then mimeographed and later printed. The first editor of the paper was Mrs. Clayton B. Pierce, 1600 Guilford Lane, and Mrs. Bixler was the second editor. Another installment of the story of Nichols Hills will appear next week and each week thereafter, written expressively for Ye Town Cryer by Mrs. Bixler. – Editor’s Note)
History Of Nichols Hills
Back of every venture is a dream of some individual. One man who had accumulated sufficient worldly goods turned a few years back from building just houses and decided to express his idea of a community where homes – and only homes – would be the paramount issue. This man, the late Dr. G.A. Nichols, had one ambition back in 1929, and this was to develop an area near Oklahoma City which would be an ideal place for homes and families.
Every home in the community was to be protected against the encroachment of undesirable surroundings by permanent building restrictions. The streets, he decided, would be laid out with the express purpose of slowing down people with that deadly mania for “getting someplace fast.” The streets were not to be thoroughfares. They were, rather, to invite leisurely travel. It was the founder’s idea that no one should want to travel at an excessive speed through the hills. They were to be the “hills of homes,” to be enjoyed by all who passed that way. Such, then, was the founder’s conception of Nichols Hills.
Dr. Nichols bought 2,700 acres of rolling prairies and farmland north of Oklahoma City. From Kansas City, he brought in a firm of engineers to lay out the streets as he visualized them. The old-fashioned “checker-board idea” of cut and dried straight streets and square blocks had no place in this new development. The streets were to follow the natural terrain of the countryside, with the entrance to be at N.W. 63rd and Western. The long graceful sweep of the curving streets, he decided, were not to go anyplace particular – but were just to roam around the hills past the homes.
The natural prairie was attractive and effective. But, it was decided, that where homes were to be built there must be trees and lots of them. Consequently, a whole forest of trees were moved in from distant places. In that first year, more than 5,600 large shade trees and 35,000 smaller ones were transplanted to the new community of Nichols Hills. There also were hundreds of different kinds of pine, spruce and junipers planted. Plots for small parks dotted the whole community, and there were larger park areas in every available space.
The entrance at Northwest 63 and Western was marked by two stately towers of true Normandy architecture, and Avondale Drive took off from there in a northwesterly direction. All street names at that time were scooped from the English countryside. While the new streets were still a gleam in the developers’ eyes, people who wanted to get away from the corner drug store and the hustle and bustle of the city bought the lots from a piece of paper. They began to construct their homes, and before they were finished the paved streets rolled past their doors and everyone was very happy.
In early 1930, E. Highfill built and occupied the very first home in Nichols Hills, although the town did not even have a name at that time. This home, located at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Bedford Drive, is occupied today by the William A. Norton family, the address being 6516 Northwest Grand Boulevard.
At about the same time a home was built at 1108 Wilshire Boulevard, and the name of the builder is unknown. This home is occupied today by Mrs. Hazel D. Bogue. The late Lewis Wahl and family moved to their home at 1208 Marlboro Lane shortly afterward.
In October of 1930, Dr. Omar L. Jordan moved with his family into his home at 6709 Avondale Drive. The W.R. McWilliams family moved into their home on Avondale Drive, and the George W. Bixlers completed their new home at 6707 Avondale Drive that month, the paving beating them by one week.
Moving into the new community in 1930, and still occupying their homes, were Dr. and Mrs. G.A. Nichols, who built their home at 7006 Nichols Road. Dr. Nichols has since passed on. Mr. and Mrs. John A. Brown built their home that year at 1601 Guilford Lane, and Brown has passed on.
Others who built that year were Judge and Mrs. C.B. Cochran, who built at 1605 Drury Lane; the J.Steve Andersons, 1606 Drury Lane; the H. Dorsey Douglas family, 1503 Drury Lane; and the George Fredericksons, 1604 Camden Way. All are still living in their homes. The Ray J. Spradlings built their home at 1504 Camden Way that year but later moved to 1124 Huntington Avenue.
For the rest of this story…click here
To find out more about this beautiful historic neighbor: click here
Homes for sale in Nichols Hills
$4,750,000
Active
1505 Guilford Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 6.2 Baths 8,179 SqFt 1 Acres
$3,795,000
Active
1606 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
6 Beds 6.3 Baths 12,007 SqFt 2.300 Acres
$2,999,000
Active
6713 NW Grand Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 6.2 Baths 6,468 SqFt 1.250 Acres
$2,780,000
Active
6908 NW Grand Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
6 Beds 4.3 Baths 7,778 SqFt 1.590 Acres
$2,500,000
Active
1203 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.2 Baths 7,224 SqFt 0.466 Acres
$2,350,000
Active
6638 Avondale Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 6.1 Baths 8,292 SqFt 0.564 Acres
$1,958,000
Active
7305 Nichols Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,681 SqFt 0.420 Acres
$1,890,000
Active
1115 Cumberland Court Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,481 SqFt 0.207 Acres
$1,850,000
Pending
6405 N Hillcrest Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,427 SqFt 0.270 Acres
$1,799,000
Active
1415 Sherwood Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,157 SqFt 0.259 Acres
$1,725,000
Pending
2001 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,346 SqFt 0.340 Acres
$1,695,000
Active
7007 Nichols Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,723 SqFt 0.810 Acres
$1,650,000
Active
1114 Cumberland Court Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,900 SqFt 0.200 Acres
$1,650,000
Pending
1711 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,238 SqFt 0.319 Acres
$1,650,000
Active
1913 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,640 SqFt 0.389 Acres
$1,600,000
Active
6704 Avondale Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,842 SqFt 0.480 Acres
$1,499,000
Active
6415 N Pennsylvania Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.2 Baths 4,964 SqFt 0.390 Acres
$1,450,000
Active
1107 Larchmont Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.3 Baths 4,214 SqFt 0.270 Acres
$1,300,000
Active
6715 Avondale Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,811 SqFt 0.523 Acres
$1,299,000
Active
1120 Hemstead Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,626 SqFt 0.284 Acres
$1,295,000
Active
7305 Lancet Court Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,462 SqFt 0.560 Acres
$1,295,000
Active
1704 Guilford Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,960 SqFt 0.462 Acres
$1,289,000
Active
6406 N Hillcrest Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 5 Baths 4,138 SqFt 0.604 Acres
$1,200,000
Active
6606 N Pennsylvania Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,568 SqFt 0.600 Acres
$1,199,000
Active
1802 N Elmhurst Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 5.1 Baths 4,298 SqFt 0.470 Acres
$1,125,000
Active
1819 Drury Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,382 SqFt 0.386 Acres
$1,095,000
Active
6437 N Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 3 Baths 2,759 SqFt
$1,093,000
Active
1501 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,381 SqFt 0.752 Acres
$1,075,000
Active
1814 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 3,482 SqFt 0.525 Acres
$1,049,000
Active
1300 Larchmont Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 5.2 Baths 5,430 SqFt 0.410 Acres
$1,020,000
Active
1711 Camden Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,093 SqFt 0.502 Acres
$925,000
Active
1118 Tedford Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,179 SqFt 0.224 Acres
$919,000
Pending
1105 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,919 SqFt 0.265 Acres
$900,000
Active
6400 N Hillcrest Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,890 SqFt 0.599 Acres
$899,000
Active
1523 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4 Baths 4,380 SqFt 0.496 Acres
$895,000
Active
1228 Marlboro Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 4 Baths 3,440 SqFt 0.224 Acres
$839,000
Pending
7712 Dorset Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,426 SqFt 0.570 Acres
$805,000
Active
1811 Coventry Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,246 SqFt 0.280 Acres
$799,000
Active
6443 N Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2 Baths 2,185 SqFt
$749,500
Pending
7325 Waverly Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,627 SqFt 0.440 Acres
$739,000
Pending
1107 Hemstead Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,942 SqFt 0.227 Acres
$699,000
Pending
7009 Trenton Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,958 SqFt 0.355 Acres
$640,000
Pending
1600 Randel Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,804 SqFt 0.300 Acres
$625,000
Pending
1715 Dorchester Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,969 SqFt 0.350 Acres
$615,000
Pending
1811 Dorchester Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,336 SqFt
$600,000
Active
2708 Somerset Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,472 SqFt 0.346 Acres
$599,000
Pending
1114 Sherwood Lane B-1 Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,326 SqFt
$550,000
Pending
7005 Trenton Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,107 SqFt 0.367 Acres
$549,000
Pending
1206 Belford Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,092 SqFt 0.229 Acres
$549,000
Active
1309 Glenbrook Terrace Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,599 SqFt 0.295 Acres
$545,000
Active
1101 Larchmont Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,524 SqFt 0.415 Acres
$539,900
Active
1611 Drakestone Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 3 Baths 2,196 SqFt 0.278 Acres
$529,000
Pending
1709 Dorchester Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,555 SqFt 0.257 Acres
$525,900
Active
1736 NW 63 Street Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 2 Baths 2,237 SqFt 0.233 Acres
$479,900
Active
1109 Marlboro Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,874 SqFt 0.207 Acres
$479,000
Active
6500 N Trenton Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 2,659 SqFt 0.250 Acres
$475,000
Active
1123 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 2,683 SqFt 0.265 Acres
$445,000
Active
1718 Drakestone Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3 Baths 2,835 SqFt 0.279 Acres
$400,000
Pending
1100 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,423 SqFt 0.283 Acres
$392,000
Active
1721 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,164 SqFt 0.191 Acres
$389,000
Active
1210 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 2,107 SqFt 0.264 Acres
$349,000
Active
1726 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,903 SqFt 0.238 Acres
$260,000
Active
1837 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 1 Baths 1,155 SqFt 0.164 Acres
$259,900
Active
1734 NW 63rd Street Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 1 Baths 918 SqFt 0.261 Acres
$194,995
Pending
1733 NW 63rd Street Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 1.1 Baths 1,398 SqFt 0.256 Acres