Baum Building

The Baum Building was quite possibly the most ornate ever to stand in Oklahoma City. Modeled on the Doge's Palace in Venice, this five story Solomon Layton-designed structure was part of the first wave of tall buildings on Robinson Ave. One of goals of urban renewal was the widening of the principal streets Downtown. On Robinson, that meant the Baum had to go in the name of progress.

The Baum Building was quite possibly the most ornate ever to stand in Oklahoma City. Modeled on the Doge's Palace in Venice, this five story Solomon Layton-designed structure housed Mose Baum's clothing store on the lower floors and general offices on the upper three floors.

The Baum Building was part of the first wave of tall buildings on Robinson Ave and rose simultaneously alongside the Colcord across the street and the State National (Hales) Building one block north in 1910. These buildings were the anchor of what would eventually be called "Robinson Canyon" when joined by the Cravens, First National, Ramsey and Petroleum Buildings.

One of goals of urban renewal was the widening of the principal streets Downtown, ostensibly to provide speedy access to the new I-40 (1964), but also to erase the "jogs" created by stitching the two city plats together at Grand (Sheridan) in 1889. On Robinson, that meant the Baum had to go in the name of progress.

The Baum's destruction came by bulldozer and sledgehammer rather than explosives in 1972. Although the fall of the Baum was only one of many defeats for the nascent preservationist movement in the city, 24 supporting columns and 4 cupolas were rescued. Some of the columns were used to restore the Goodholm Mansion at the Fairgrounds and at least two cupolas are still extant - one in Florence Park and another in the median southwest of Perle Mesta Park.

"Another Building Doomed." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) October 1st, 1971. , N sec.1.

"Baum's At Your Service." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) May 8th, 1910. .18.

"City to Save Baum Relics." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) June 2nd, 1972. .20.

Dryden, Dave. "New Structure with Old Baum Facade Suggested." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) December 2nd, 1971. .17.