Abbott Mansion

Built in 1917
550 N Frisco Ave. W, Tulsa

::A Victim of Urban Legend::

The only reason we include this location on this page is because the P.I.T.T. team use to get e-mails daily on this location and we want to help dispel the rumors that surround it. Legend says that a man (Mr. Abbott) went crazy and killed his wife and 5 children however this story is simply FALSE. We have done extensive research on this location and each time came up empty handed when trying to validate this story. Back in the 1930's (when the murders were said to happen) this incident would have been BIG news however we have been unsuccessful in trying to substantiate this urban legend. Therefore, in our opinion, without a proper and true paranormal investigation, we do not believe this place is HAUNTED.

***NOTE:  The house caught fire in 2004 and has since been demolished.  

Here is the true history of the home:

Source - One Hundred Historic Tulsa Homes
by John Brooks Walton

"In its day, North Frisco Avenue was a beautiful street lined with tall shade tress and many lovely homes both large and small. The N Frisco Italian Villa was built by L.E. Abbott. In 1916 Abbott and his partner, E.R. Halliburton purchased one of Tulsa's older mercantile stores, the Harlow Dry Goods Company. Mr. Abbott and Mr. Halliburton changed the name and called it the "Halliburton-Abbott Dry Goods Company". The store was described as "the leading store in Tulsa, beautiful in its arrangement, attractive in the line of goods carried and in every way a credit to the city". When the store opened in 1918 it was reported to have 2 elevators run by war innovation and elevator girls, a first in Tulsa. At the grand opening Abbott described the store as "Built in the Tulsa Spirit with its great conveniences, facilities and modern comforts" which was a realization of his lifelong dream.

In 1943, Luella Fourtner Whitnack purchased the nearby Gus Springer Mansion and opened one of Tulsa's early nursing homes. As a registered pharmacist with a good knowledge of medicine, Luella had great credentials to oversee such an operation. In 1945, Luella's son Carsel and his wife Loretta purchased the Abbott Mansion and opened a similar type of nursing home. The family would continue operating the facility until 1970, when it was sold but continued as a nursing home until 1976.

During the 1980's the house served as an Italian Restaurant for a brief period. At that time, several of the second floor partitions were removed, causing severe structural damage. Today, the Abbott Mansion, once the finest house on the block, looks out at the city that grew away from her and surrounded her with expressways and inner dispersal loops".

Many websites have this house on their site making FALSE claims of being haunted. PITT finds this action careless and unethical. Anyone that claims this home is haunted does not have facts to substantiate it.

Tulsa Hex House

The House - 1944

::A little known secret in Tulsa::

Now a lonely parking lot located at 10 E 21st Street, the once occupied property was the site of some rather bizarre events of Tulsa in the 1940's. A lady name CarolAnn Smith held two women in "religious slavery" for nearly 8 years in the basement of her home. The women were Wiletta Horner and Virginia Evans. They claimed to be "mesmerized" by Mrs. Smith saying she had placed some type of "spell" on them. (Hence, how it got nicknamed "The Hex House"). When the police found the women they were sleeping in the basement on egg crates, dressed scantily amongst enough make-up to fill up an entire drug store and over 200 pairs of shoes. This was during the war, a time where these items were rationed. The women worked at Public Service Company on Cherry Street and brought their paychecks home to Mrs. Smith of which she lived a very lavish lifestyle off the girls.

Mrs. Smith's husband was laid off his blue color job during the depression and was found on Riverside Drive with a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. An apparent suicide in which the trigger was pulled with a stick behind his back.  Mrs. Smith was living off the insurance policy from the death of her husband and father when she met the two women whom later became her "roommates". During this time Mrs. Smith housekeeper aimlessly walked out into traffic on 21st Street and was killed by oncoming cars. Mrs. Smith now had her 3rd insurance policy to collect from her housekeeper. (In the 30's you did not have to be related to someone to carry an insurance policy on them). Police reports claim there were also insurance policies on the women and believed that Mrs. Smith was intending to kill them for insurance money, as well.

Today the parking lot belongs to a property management firm and there was talk of building an apartment complex on it but that was not approved due to neighbors filing a petition against it.  The Akdar's owned the property for a time and claimed that vehicles parked on the lot would mysteriously move on their own. Other strange reports have been made such as windshield wipers, lights and stereos coming on in parked cars that had no keys in the ignition. Interestingly enough the parking lot is the basement where the women were held captive for 8 long years. When the Akdar's acquired the property, they filled in the basement with dirt and paved over it so the eerie basement still exists under the asphalt. The public library downtown use to have a file on the Hex House complete with all the Tulsa World articles ever written but unfortunately someone has recently stolen it. 

This is a really creepy and interesting story that very few Tulsan's know about.  It was especially strange for the time period in which it took place! 

Tulsa Garden Center

The Italianate-style villa was designed by noted Tulsa architect Nobel B. Flemming.  The house was built with 21 rooms and 10 bathrooms.  Construction began in 1919 and completed in 1921 at a cost of more than $100,000.00.

It was built by David R. Travis (originally known as David Rabinowitz), a Russian immigrant who moved his family to Tulsa in 1913 from Ohio where he had been successful in the oil field equipment salvage business.  The Ballroom (lower level) was the location for Jewish services during the time the Travis' were in residence.  His brother, Samuel Travis built the house immediately south of the Garden Center which is currently the headquarters for the Tulsa Historical Society.   When the brothers ran out of money towards the end of construction they laid the cobblestone driveway by hand themselves.  The Arboretum parking lot was originally a swimming pool. 

n 1923 J. Arthur Hull purchased the home and the 10 acres surrounding the house.  He is responsible for building the "Lord & Burnham" Conservatory and its accompanying sunken garden between 1924 and 1926.  His wife Mary fell ill and died shortly after they had moved into the home.

In 1934 Mr. George Snedden purchased the distressed mansion and his family remained in the home until 1949.  Mr. Snedden then sold the home to W.G. Skelly in 1950. 

W.G. Skelly purchased the villa for his daughter, who never lived there.  4 years later, in 1954, he sold the house and property to the City of Tulsa for use in providing a meeting place and resource center for horticulture and environmentalist groups. 

This is not the history that you would expect to create a haunted location.  So what spirits still reside at the Garden Center?  Could it be Mary, Arthur Hull’s wife, who died in her beloved home so quickly after moving in?  Could she be the one that still walks the halls of the lovely mansion?  Mary's body was laid out for viewing prior to her funeral in the south arboretum room as was the custom of the day.  Today, this room remains much cooler than any other area of the entire mansion.  Since that room is mainly windows and located on the south side the mystery remains on why it's so much colder than the rest of the house, even during the summer months.  

The former caretaker has recounted hearing running footsteps on the second floor upon entering the mansion in the mornings.  A thorough check of the property on numerous occasions turns up no intruders.  He would also find the door going up to the attic unlocked after having locked it the night before. Many times when getting into his car in the parking lot in the evening, the lights in the library would come on by themselves.  He would find them off the next morning upon his return.  He was called in one evening around midnight by the Tulsa police to find all the French doors on the first floor wide open and the motion detectors on the 2^nd floor going off, even in rooms that were locked.  They found no one there and could never explain this occurrence. 

Decorative bulbs and wall sconces have exploded for no apparent reason.  Lights that worked minutes before will mysteriously stop working.  All electrical wiring has been checked and rechecked by electricians, passing all tests. 

We've had guests on the Tulsa Ghost Tour who reported hearing breathing or loud sighs on the second floor.  Tour participants have also noted the feeling of something brushing past them while walking through the villa, giving them a chill.  Employees often have the feeling of being watched and have heard footsteps on the tile roof above the former servant quarters located in the attic.  Furniture on the second floor near the elevators is found to be moved at night while no one is there and the elevator itself has been known to function on its own.  Even though the history seems rather benign, make no mistake about the Garden Center being a very haunted location. 

The mansion is open to the public and houses an amazing collection of horticulture books in its extensive library.  They have a Master Gardener on staff that is very willing to help you with any questions you might have.  The grounds surrounding the center are beautiful.  They host many splendid weddings and events there throughout the year as well as plant sales and the Tulsa Farmer’s Market in the back parking lot during the summer months.   You may contact their events coordinator to check for availability and cost to schedule events there.  We hope that you will visit this amazing Tulsa resource, wander the floors and gardens and decide for yourself if you believe that it is indeed haunted.    

Coming soon.....

Tulsa Little Theater