First, do you know where this is?
This land once belonged to one of Poteau Switch's first wealthy families. In The Birth of Poteau, we share a story about how he personally moved the old courthouse from Cameron to Poteau in a wagon. During his days in Cameron, he was a very prominent lawyer while that town thrived. As businesses moved towards Poteau, he was instrumental in getting the Court moved here as well. After he arrived, he immediately set up his office here and set about building a fine house for himself and his family. He was involved in many land and business dealings in town, and, because of that, became very wealthy for the time.
Have you guessed who it is?
Ok, here's the answer:
This photo shows the land on the corner of Church and McDonald. When Poteau was Poteau Switch, this area was one of the richest in town, as can be seen by the ornate walls that line the street. His original house is still standing on the next lot, however, it's hard to get a good photo of it since it is still private property. The house and walls date back to the very early 1900s, probably around 1900 to 1905.
So who was he?
The owner of this land was none other than T. T. Varner. After his death, the land was divided and passed down. According to some sources, the house that was build on this particular lot was built in 1921, however, this is still unverified.
T. T. Varner's house is in serious disrepair. While it was once a beautiful home, it hasn't been kept up and is in danger of being lost forever. We have been trying to get in contact with the owner of the land, however, we haven't had much luck. With the amount of history that this home has, and the important role that it played in Poteau's development, it would be a serious loss to history if it isn't restored soon.
