VIEWS FROM THE TOP

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The Aldridge Hotel is a landmark here in McAlester. The 11 story building can be seen from just about anywhere in the downtown.

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Once grand, it still whispers of it’s opulent past. The hotel opened in 1930; when Carl Albert Parkway was called Grand Avenue.

The city once featured two other large hotels; the Co-Mar, which was demolished years ago, and the Busby (which has been turned into the Pittsburg County Court House). The Court House and the Aldridge are grand remnants of the coal mining boom of the last century.

Few people get a chance to see the views from the top of the 11 story building; which has been serving as a 60 unit low income retirement apartment complex for citizens 62 or older, and disabled persons of any age.

Elevated views from the  apartments in the complex, must be stunning. Upstairs, carpet in a green leaf design, looks clean and timeless. A few little dogs can be heard behind some of the doors. The units are pet friendly.

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Although I was unable to view any of the 60 units, I was lucky enough to get a tour of the lobby and the roof with Leslie Barnes; proprietor of Uptown Hair Parlor,

between Lucy’s Two Restaurant and Southeastern Drug Testing, on the ground floor of the building.

The drug testing clinic rounds out the three shops still connected to the former hotel’s grand lobby.

Leslie’s business has been open since November 2012. She is currently the only stylist in her four or five chair salon. It was important to capture some of the images of the iconic building with Leslie today for posterity.

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Leslie has a demeanor which is both professional and kind. I felt she was a wonderful P.R. person to show the building in order to get this photo spread.  She was delighted to show me the lobby and roof, but not alone. I being a man, she took 2 chaperones armed with cell phones.  Before we entered the lobby through the salon door, I took a last look at Leslie’s beautiful salon. I should have taken another picture.

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Click on photo to enlarge.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Click on photo to enlarge.

The girls had their Galaxy phones, and took rooftop pictures in a photography frenzy.

Showing daring to pose for the other chaperone’s Galaxy phone camera, I snapped this shot with my Sony camera. The thought occurred to me that these chaperones could have used a few chaperones. Score another one for young invincibles.

 

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Click on photo to enlarge.

 

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