THE OLD POWER PLANT ALONG THE WASHITA RIVER

ANADARKO – We strolled around Dodge today and got to take some really neat photos to share with y'all. One thing we couldn't help but notice was this old building sitting along the river.

What may initially look like an old abandoned building to some actually has a pretty amazing history behind it. When you stop and look at the bigger picture, it's incredible to think about how far society and technology have come over the years and how different life looked for the townsfolk who called this area home more than a century ago.

So, we're about to take y'all all the way back to 1901. Think of it as time travel, but just without the DeLorean and the flux capacitor.

For those of y'all who aren't from around here, this may not mean much at first glance. But for the locals who know exactly which building we're talking about, we think you'll enjoy this little trip back in time.

If you've ever spent time at Randlett Park in Anadarko, you've probably seen this old building hanging out along the Washita River. Most folks probably drive right past it without really thinking much about it. To some, it may just be an old abandoned structure. But what many people don't realize is that this building once powered the town.

When Anadarko was officially established back in 1901, the town's leaders knew they couldn't build a successful growing community without a way to provide electric power. As more and more people began purchasing lots and building their homes, they selected this spot in what is now Randlett Park along the Washita River and built Anadarko's very first hydroelectric power plant.

Now, what makes this place even cooler is that the dam that's still there today was reportedly the only structure of its kind in the entire state when it was built.

According to the historical marker located near the river, the O'Neil Engineering Company constructed the facility in 1908, and the first water wheel began operating in January 1910. The dam itself stretches approximately 100 feet across the Washita River and was built to support the hydroelectric system that powered the plant.

And from the historical reports we were able to find online, construction took about two years to completely finish. Once it was up and running, its first turbines generated roughly around 300 horsepower. So, for decades, this plant helped provide power to the community and even remained in operation until the 1980’s.

Naturally, as more people moved into Anadarko and the town continued to grow, so did the demand for electricity. By 1921, additions and improvements had been made to the plant to accommodate diesel-powered generators, which helped supplement the hydroelectric system and keep the lights on for a growing community.

How cool is that? Sitting right here in y'all's own backyard is a structure that helped power Anadarko for generations.

It really just goes to show that sometimes the coolest stories aren't found in textbooks. They're found in the places we pass by every day without realizing the important role they played in shaping the community we know today.

Anyways, we thought this was way too cool not to share.

So, the next time you find yourself walking around Randlett Park, take a moment to look at this place a little differently. You're looking at more than just an old building. You're looking at a piece of Anadarko's story and a chapter of the town's history that's still standing more than a century later.

Side note, we’re really enjoying switching things up and reporting more about local things that matter. What are some more places, doesn’t have to be specific to Caddo County, that y’all want us to report on?