THE GALLERY OF THE PLAINS INDIAN
Built
1927
original occupants
The United States Post Office
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The Old Post Office was used to store feed by Payne’s store for many years. It was given by John Kauger to his daughter, Yvonne. She converted it into the Gallery of the Plains Indian in 1982 and refurbished it in 2017. It is considered to be the genesis of The Red Earth festival held annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The spectacular door was designed and executed by Kyle Shifflett.
Flossie Melton, who lived in the parsonage now owned by Lonnie Yearwood, was the Colony postmistress for years. She was followed by Thelma Beckham and Lavonne Maddox. Sharon Shipp is the current postmistress.
(Reminder: Please buy your stamps in Colony to help keep it open.)
The present post office was built by Harvey Weichel and includes the Colony café buildings. Belle and Truman Smith ran the café, which was noted for its tasty Belleburgers, for many years.
Currently, the Gallery features a permanent exhibit of the Colony Pow Wow, which was first exhibited in 1986, at the Omniplex in Oklahoma City, and dedicated to John and Alice Kauger by preeminent photographer, Terry Zinn. His photographs of the first Red Earth festival are also on display. Zinn has two photographs on display as part of the art collection at the Oklahoma Judicial Center in Oklahoma City. As a consequence of serendipity, Ann Shadlo, the mother of Harvey Pratt, appears in full regalia in one of the photos.
What we’ve accomplished:
1.
Since being restored in 1982, 1993, and 2017, the Gallery looks like it has been lifted from Santa Fe, New Mexico. In fact, The Gallery of the Plains Indian rivals galleries in Santa Fe.
2.
After a significant design process, the door was installed in 2017 and has bright the facade of the building back to life.
3.
The exterior and interior have been repainted and new windows have been installed
