world skyscraper mcmahon building commonly referred world skyscraper located corner seventh streets downtown texas late style red brick cast stone structure tall exterior dimensions deep wide interior dimensions approximately approximately steep narrow internal leading upper floors occupy roughly percent interior area reportedly result fraudulent investment scheme confidence man mcmahon building source great embarrassment city residents completion 1920s featured believe syndicated column world skyscraper nickname stuck depot square historic district falls texas historic landmark background large petroleum reservoir discovered west city small town texas surrounding communities experiencing explosive growth populations economies estimated new settlers taken residence lucrative oil field residents wealthy virtually overnight people streamed local communities search high paying jobs nearby city began grow importance initially lacked necessary infrastructure sudden increase economic industrial activity natural choice serve local logistical hub seat office space lacking major stock transactions mineral rights deals conducted street corners tents served makeshift headquarters new oil companies proposal mcmahon building story brick building located near railroad depot downtown built director oil rig construction firm petroleum structural engineer philadelphia seven tenants offices based original according local legend mcmahon announced build annex building solution newly wealthy city urgent need office space investors eager invest project mcmahon collected investment capital group naive investors promising construct office building street key mcmahon successful defense ensuing lawsuit verbally stated actual height building feet proposed skyscraper depicted distributed approved investors clearly labeled consisting floors inches construction ensuing legal battle mcmahon construction crews build mcmahon building small unused piece property building obtaining prior consent owner property lived oklahoma building began shape investors realized purchasing story tall structure expecting brought lawsuit mcmahon dismay real estate construction deal declared legally binding local judge mcmahon built exactly according approved legal remedy investors recover small portion investment elevator company refused honor contract learned confidence trick installed building initial completion included original ladder employed gain access upper floors time construction complete mcmahon left texas taking balance investors money early occupancy subsequent abandonment completion opening mcmahon building immediate source great embarrassment city residents ground floor representing different companies occupied building original tenants 1920s building housed firms 1920s featured believe syndicated column world skyscraper stuck oil industry ultimately prove resource curse ended years later building vacated boarded virtually forgotten great depression struck office space relatively inexpensive lease purchase fire building rendering number years great depression building housed succession tenants including barber shops building changed hands times scheduled demolition occasions escaped fate apparently sufficient number local residents came defense eventually city building continued deteriorate city gave building hope eventually restored making viable depot square historic district purchase renovation mcmahon building proved excessive burden limited capital reserves following year city council hired local architectural firm stabilize structure amid steadily growing talk building partners fascinated history legacy building arranged partnership local business purchase building december city council voted allow sell building june storm swept bringing gusts wind strong mph foot metre section brick wall mcmahon building complex knocked damage storm repaired restoration building adjacent delayed late june year city_council granted funds city invested restoration mcmahon building restoration building estimated cost remainder paid owners current status passage time mcmahon building monument long gone era survived tornadoes fire decades neglect stand monument greed genius oil boom days building currently depot square historic district falls declared texas historic landmark listed national_register_of_historic_places building met criteria definition skyscraper building aside serving local tourist attraction building home opened ground floor floor converted artist studio historic buildings featured documentary film future past retrospective analysis city architectural past produced public information officer city
World's littlest skyscraper