Description:
In 1900 George Frederickson spent $120 to buy a half-share (with Roscoe Kroh) in a musical instrument store which had done reasonably well since being founded in 1897 at 114 N Robinson. The store became Frederickson-Kroh and would move twice before landing at 221 W Main. The store was the Oklahoma distributor of Kimball organs and installed many of the pipe organs (including the first one) in the state. The new home of the music store housed the beautiful recital hall pictured here on the third floor of the three-story building. Frederickson hired a French painter to decorate the room which features the names of famous composers along the walls. The hall was a popular venue for intimate concerts and recitals by music students and accomplished musicians alike. The room was gutted by fire in 1917 and the decorations and 21 grand pianos were destroyed. The store remained in the building until 1925 when it moved to 407 W Main. Frederickson became a prominent businessman and president of the Chamber of Commerce. Oklahoma City University’s landmark arena, Frederickson Fieldhouse, was named for him.