My son found another gem of a photo at a local antique store; a tender moment between a grandmother and grandson captured in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to the information on the back. Charles Benton Burry (or Charles Benten Barry) is 6 weeks old and probably born between 1910-1930. That’s a wide date range and could be wider given the nondescript surroundings.

Grandmother & Grandson

What’s different about this photo description is that an address is listed: “329 W. Golden St. Tulsa, Okla.”

And since I wasn’t getting very far looking for little “Chas,” I decided to pursue the address. Places have interesting histories too.

Here is where 329 West Golden St, Tulsa is located on today’s map:

To find out what was going on at 329 West Golden around the time that baby Chas might have been born I turned to newspapers. To my surprise the actual full address including house numbers is mentioned numerous times in the local papers. In January of 1913, The Morning Tulsa Daily World, reported that “A pleasant home at 329 West Golden is in readiness for the bride and groom who have issued announcements that they will be ready to receive friends at the above address after February 3rd.” The bride and groom in question were Dr. Charles A Marshall & Miss Esther Agnes Runyan. Too bad it wasn’t the Barry family. Tulsa city directories confirm the Marshall’s 329 address in 1913, but in 1914 they are listed as living at 319 West Golden.

Just 18 months later the Golden residence is in the paper again. June, 1914, The Morning Tulsa Daily World as an advertisement “FOR RENT – Five-room and bath all modern and cistern. 329 West Golden…Worth $35 at $25 per month.” Were the Marshall’s renting it out? There was a birth of sorts at the home. In September of 1916 another ad ran in the same paper, “FOR SALE – pair of thoroughbred Boston Terrier puppies at 329 West Golden.”

In April of 1917 a portion of the house was for rent, “FOR RENT – 2 light housekeeping rooms; modern; by month only. 329 West Golden.” But only a few months later, it was for sale again. June, 1917, “$2,650 buys 5-room modern, with cistern. No. 329 West Golden. $1,000 cash will handle this.” A similar ad was posted in September of the same year. Were they having trouble selling it? In November things seemed to be getting serious. “FURNITURE – Five rooms of household furniture for sale. 329 West Golden.”

After that the Golden property falls out of the news. Was the Barry family one of the many renters? Did they own it? So far I haven’t found a Barry family living on West Golden street in any of the Oklahoma censuses or the Tulsa directory. A fun exercise none-the-less. And a lesson, don’t forget to google those addresses!