Page 22 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

Local
History
When History Repeats Itself

Celebrating the Iconic
Impact and History of The Barfield

by Hannah Lambert

early 100 years after it
originally opened as “The
NCrown Jewel” of Amarillo,
the historic Barfield Building stands
as an icon of culture, technology,
and luxury once again as The
Barfield, an Autograph Collection
Hotel. Built on the foundation
laid by local businesswoman
and philanthropist, Melissa Dora
Oliver-Eakle, the hotel tells the
story of progress that began in
1926 with one woman’s vision of a
better tomorrow. Embracing that
vision with reimagined purpose,
the start of this new era in The
Barfield’s history brings with it an at the hotel and the development of Honoring the legacy of its
unprecedented appreciation for the Amarillo as a whole. matriarch, The Barfield Hotel
uncommon, and unconventional, represents an individual’s desire
story that has shaped the experience With a fortune that exceeded to bring culture to this town
the combined capital of all area during another resurgence in
banks, Melissa Dora Oliver-Eakle the community, introducing the
pioneered progress in the region first luxury travel experience to
when the local economies needed it Amarillo. Housed in the same
most, often under the name of M.D. building that was once named “The
Oliver to distract from the rarity Place to Do Business,” The Barfield
of a woman in business during stands as an icon in Amarillo, where
that time. As her empire expanded business meets pleasure and where
to include one of the city’s first guests can experience West Texas
skyscrapers (The Barfield Building) luxury with deep Amarillo roots.
and land on which Oliver-Eakle Boasting interior décor and an
Park, Memorial Park, and Amarillo architectural style that was designed
College now stand, Melissa Dora to replicate that of its original
Oliver-Eakle was instrumental in beauty, the historic Polk Street
the foundation of Amarillo’s first entrance features marble stonework,
library and the Amarillo Opera original elevators and a grand
House, while sponsoring the local staircase built just like the original.
temperance movement. She left Throughout the 10-story building,
a social, cultural, and economic original tilework can be found in
impact so significant that it would the corridors. Those who venture
carry on nearly a century later. onto the historic 10th floor find that
the doors and woodworking were

22 Amarillo Senior Link