All-Around Service
®
All Around Oklahoma
journal Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Volume 54 No. 3
(ISSN 1091-921X)
April 2002
A blushing B&B One-time brothel now is a bed and breakfast By Mike Nichols Guests at the Pallmer Inn Bed & Breakfast in Holdenville might blush if the history of the rooms were posted. The unassuming inn resides in the same structure that once was home to fancy women and their paramours. The name Pallmer is the original owner’s incorrectly spelled surname – descendents claim the name should have been Palmer, but the man was illiterate and did not recognize the spelling error. He operated the brothel in the Roaring 20s, specifically between the time the structure was erected in 1923 and sometime before the end of the roguish era. The brothel closed with a bang — actually the repeated reports from a gun Palmer used to shoot and kill a customer he argued with over one of the fancy women. Legend says when Palmer and the customer argued over a woman, the customer became so angry he left to get his gun to settle the dispute. Palmer sent word to police, but armed himself. The customer returned with his gun before police arrived, and Palmer shot him once. The man wasn’t fatally wounded by the single gunshot, and begged Palmer not to kill him. “Palmer emptied his gun in him,” says a soft-spoken Bill Johnson, who along with his wife, Meryl, own and operate the bed and breakfast along with the adjoining Lamplighter Dinner Theater. The Johnsons completely restored the former Holdenville “Rat Row” buildings to their original 1920s style, focusing on the elegance and simplicity of that bygone time. It was about a two and one-half year project. The old brothel, which also had
been a hotel, and the adjoining building were in such a dilapidated state that the roofs were too unstable to be walked on safely. Johnson, who has been a painter, remodeler and plumber in addition to being an educator and missionary, didn’t own the buildings. He was first contacted by the previous owner to do some repairs. The previous owner showed him the buildings, and he remembers thinking they were “kinda neat” with potential. After some serious consideration, the decision was made to purchase the property and begin the lengthy reincarnation. The Johnson’s inspiration for the project came from recent restorations of old Harvey Houses that once thrived along the railroads of the southwest at the turn of the century. There once were 84 Harvey Houses scattered between Oklahoma and California along the railroads, offering travelers a breath of civilization as they traveled through the Wild West. With a coy grin, Johnson says the undertaking was “crazy, I think.” He and his wife and a friend did all the renovation themselves, turning a proverbial sow’s ear into today’s silk purse. “I think it’s a good thing,” he says. “We’re doing a service for our community.” Part of Johnson’s pride in the business relates to his sense of history. He believes Oklahoma is just now becoming old enough to take interest in its history, and that “we should do all we can to preserve it. “Holdenville was a thriving community during the oil days. Things around show to grander days.” The bed and breakfast takes guests back (Bed and breakfast, Page 3)
A GRAND PURCHASE — Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Blue & Gold Sausage teamed up to purchase Jarod Cole’s grand champion crossbreed barrow during the March 18 auction of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, the world’s largest junior livestock show. The 11-year-old El Reno 4-H member received $25,000 for his barrow. Pictured, from left, are Coach Barry Switzer, OFB Director Scott Dvorak, Blue & Gold’s Brett Ramsey, First Lady Kathy Keating, Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, OFB President Steve Kouplen, OFB Director Henry Jo VonTungeln and Cole.
SUPPORT RECOGNIZED— Oklahoma Farm Bureau was honored March 18 at the Oklahoma Youth Expo for being the volume buyer during the 2001 premium auction. OFB President Steve Kouplen and Director Henry Jo VonTungeln hold the special trophy, which was presented by Bob Funk, left, and First Lady Kathy Keating and Gov. Frank Keating. See related story on Page 2.