Globe Life Building

The Globe Life Building began its life as the Terminal Building in 1910. Despite the ominous name, this building was the headquarters and offices for the Oklahoma Railway Co. which operated the city's streetcar lines under the leadership of Anton Classen and John Shartel. The ground floor contained the offices of The Classen Co. real estate firm and the second floor the law offices of Shartel and Wells. The actual streetcar terminal was attached to the west side of the building and was the central point of all streetcar routes in the city. The Globe Life Building was demolished in June 1975.

The Globe Life Building began its life as the Terminal Building in 1910. Despite the ominous name, this building was the headquarters and offices for the Oklahoma Railway Co. which operated the city's streetcar lines under the leadership of Anton Classen and John Shartel. The ground floor contained the offices of The Classen Co. real estate firm and the second floor the law offices of Shartel and Wells. The actual streetcar terminal was attached to the west side of the building and was the central point of all streetcar routes in the city.

The building was designed by architect William A. Wells who had trained in Frank Lloyd Wright's studio and who was a protege of Louis Sullivan. Wells was the brother of Shartel's law partner, but given Classen's reputation for the utmost in quality and public image, Wells was a likely choice anyway. Many Wells buildings fell in urban renewal, but we still have the Colcord Building one block east and the Pioneer Building at McGee and Broadway.

With the post-war demise of the streetcar system, the terminal was converted to auto parking and the building became the offices of upstart insurance company Globe Life in 1953. By 1973, Globe had become a major insurance company and prompted by the Galleria site clearance, the company purchased the Petroleum Building and City Bank Building (Mid-First Building) for offices.

The Globe Life Building was demolished in June 1975.

Donovan, Kevin. One Loud bang Turns Globe Life Building to Rubble, Daily Oklahoman. June 29th, 1975. Accessed September 2nd, 2022.

Swain, Paul . "Insurance Firm Buys Terminal Building in City." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) May 16th, 1953. .5.

"Temporary Depot Will Be Builded." The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City) April 29th, 1909. .8.