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
$4,295,000
Active
1606 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
6 Beds 6.3 Baths 12,007 SqFt 2.300 Acres
$3,950,000
Active
1303 Bedford Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 6,126 SqFt 0.720 Acres
$3,250,000
Active
1501 Drury Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.2 Baths 6,811 SqFt 0.710 Acres
$3,100,000
Active
2307 NW Grand Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
7 Beds 7.2 Baths 8,708 SqFt 1.740 Acres
$2,895,000
Active
1708 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 5.3 Baths 9,674 SqFt 1.660 Acres
$2,850,000
Active
6908 NW Grand Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
6 Beds 4.3 Baths 7,778 SqFt 1.590 Acres
$2,695,000
Active
1603 Elmhurst Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 6.2 Baths 7,024 SqFt 0.490 Acres
$1,950,000
Active
1705 Randel Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,551 SqFt 0.693 Acres
$1,899,999
Active
1115 Cumberland Court Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,481 SqFt 0.207 Acres
$1,795,000
Active
7007 Nichols Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,723 SqFt 0.810 Acres
$1,750,000
Active
6514 Hillcrest Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.3 Baths 6,418 SqFt
$1,695,000
Active
6621 Hillcrest Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.2 Baths 7,194 SqFt 1.025 Acres
$1,595,000
Pending
1609 Guilford Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.1 Baths 5,150 SqFt
$1,575,000
Active
7309 Nichols Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,799 SqFt 0.600 Acres
$1,499,000
Pending
1500 Dorchester Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 6.4 Baths 9,293 SqFt 0.810 Acres
$1,495,000
Active
1503 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,132 SqFt 0.790 Acres
$1,375,000
Active
1501 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 5,381 SqFt 0.752 Acres
$1,294,995
Active
1121 Tedford Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,585 SqFt 0.207 Acres
$1,290,000
Active
1703 Kingsbury Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.2 Baths 5,148 SqFt 0.440 Acres
$1,228,000
Pending
1608 N Queenstown Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,464 SqFt 0.372 Acres
$1,200,000
Active
1819 Drury Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,382 SqFt 0.390 Acres
$1,200,000
Pending
1815 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,691 SqFt 0.255 Acres
$1,195,000
Active
1709 Camden Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.2 Baths 4,820 SqFt 0.420 Acres
$1,184,950
Active
1902 Bedford Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,938 SqFt 0.417 Acres
$1,175,000
Pending
1205 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.2 Baths 5,360 SqFt 0.460 Acres
$1,149,000
Active
1207 Huntington Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.2 Baths 4,546 SqFt 0.407 Acres
$1,149,000
Active
1209 Larchmont Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 4,774 SqFt 0.620 Acres
$1,145,000
Pending
6413 Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 3 Baths 2,759 SqFt
$1,099,000
Active
1834 Drakestone Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 4,352 SqFt 0.300 Acres
$1,050,000
Active
2010 Elmhurst Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.2 Baths 5,337 SqFt 0.595 Acres
$999,900
Active
1317 Kenilworth Road Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,990 SqFt 0.428 Acres
$999,000
Active
6409 Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 3 Baths 2,689 SqFt
$990,000
Active
1121 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,446 SqFt 0.249 Acres
$985,000
Active
1607 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,800 SqFt 0.475 Acres
$956,000
Active
7913 Nichols Gate Circle Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,098 SqFt 0.210 Acres
$950,000
Active
1118 Tedford Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,179 SqFt 0.224 Acres
$949,000
Pending
1212 N Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.2 Baths 4,172 SqFt 0.540 Acres
$945,000
Active
1612 Camden Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 5.1 Baths 4,652 SqFt 0.360 Acres
$899,950
Active
1204 Belford Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,598 SqFt 0.224 Acres
$897,000
Active
1418 Sherwood Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,860 SqFt 0.346 Acres
$895,000
Pending
1301 Glenbrook Terrace Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 4 Baths 3,105 SqFt 0.302 Acres
$895,000
Active
7605 Dorset Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,895 SqFt 0.370 Acres
$875,000
Active
1119 Glenwood Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3 Baths 3,429 SqFt 0.249 Acres
$865,000
Active
1107 Hemstead Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,942 SqFt 0.227 Acres
$849,000
Pending
1300 Glenwood Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
5 Beds 4.1 Baths 3,792 SqFt 0.437 Acres
$845,000
Pending
6407 Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,201 SqFt
$799,900
Active
1801 Elmhurst Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 4,019 SqFt 0.481 Acres
$750,000
Active
1717 Windsor Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,944 SqFt 0.210 Acres
$749,500
Active
7325 Waverly Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,627 SqFt 0.440 Acres
$724,000
Active
1612 Norwood Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,965 SqFt 0.296 Acres
$699,000
Active
1703 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,635 SqFt 0.194 Acres
$679,000
Active
6400 Briarwood Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2 Baths 2,201 SqFt 0.234 Acres
$654,900
Active
1114 Hemstead Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,706 SqFt 0.436 Acres
$649,900
Active
1105 Tedford Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 2,886 SqFt 0.207 Acres
$639,000
Active
1813 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,351 SqFt 0.410 Acres
$599,000
Active
6447 Grandmark Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,600 SqFt
$595,000
Active
1804 Guilford Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3.1 Baths 3,253 SqFt 0.411 Acres
$549,000
Active
1104 Tedford Way Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 1.1 Baths 1,556 SqFt 0.210 Acres
$547,800
Active
6408 AVALON Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,405 SqFt 0.220 Acres
$495,000
Active
1709 Dorchester Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,558 SqFt 0.257 Acres
$480,000
Active
1730 NW 63rd Street Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 3.1 Baths 2,671 SqFt 0.261 Acres
$469,000
Pending
1714 Windsor Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
4 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,583 SqFt 0.330 Acres
$399,900
Active
1727 N Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 1.1 Baths 1,530 SqFt 0.177 Acres
$398,000
Active
1100 Bedford Drive Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,892 SqFt 0.241 Acres
$398,000
Active
1819 Drakestone Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,633 SqFt 0.269 Acres
$359,900
Pending
1813 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,635 SqFt 0.171 Acres
$355,000
Active
1716 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,945 SqFt 0.226 Acres
$349,990
Active
1112 W Wilshire Boulevard Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,421 SqFt 0.239 Acres
$325,000
Pending
1109 Hemstead Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 1.1 Baths 1,392 SqFt 0.227 Acres
$324,900
Active
1720 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,723 SqFt 0.227 Acres
$309,000
Active
6401 Avalon Lane Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,809 SqFt 0.250 Acres
$294,500
Active
1705 Westminster Place Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,606 SqFt 0.196 Acres
$269,900
Active
1101 Belford Avenue Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
3 Beds 2 Baths 1,603 SqFt 0.288 Acres