In the oil boom days of 1919 Wichita Falls, Texas, a bold con by J.D. McMahon gave the city one of its most bizarre landmarks: the Newby-McMahon Building, famously known as the “world’s littlest skyscraper.” This four-story, 40-foot-tall building became a monument to both investor gullibility and the power of fine print.
The Pitch: A Texas-Sized Skyscraper
As the oil rush transformed Wichita Falls into a bustling business hub, office space was in high demand. J.D. McMahon, a petroleum landman and structural engineer from Philadelphia, saw an opportunity. He pitched investors on a grand skyscraper project—an annex to the existing Newby Building—promising a towering 480-foot structure that would rival the tallest buildings in Texas and the world.
Investors, flush with oil money, eagerly bought in. McMahon raised $200,000 (worth over $3 million today) to fund the project, showing blueprints for a modern high-rise. But there was a crucial detail: the plans were labeled “480” with a double-prime symbol (″), denoting inches, not feet.
The Construction: Inches, Not Feet
When construction began, the reality quickly set in. Instead of a monumental skyscraper, workers erected a narrow, four-story tower just 40 feet tall—precisely 480 inches. The building was so small that it lacked an elevator or even stairs; ladders were needed to reach the upper floors. The structure was just 10 feet wide and 16 feet long, with about 118 square feet per floor.
The Fallout: A Legal Swindle
Enraged, the investors took McMahon to court, accusing him of fraud. But McMahon’s defense was airtight: the blueprints and all legal documents clearly specified 480 inches, not feet, and he had never verbally promised otherwise. The judge ruled in McMahon’s favor, and the investors’ signatures on the plans sealed their fate. McMahon promptly vanished from Wichita Falls, taking most of the $200,000 with him.
The only consolation for the investors was a partial refund from the elevator company, which canceled its contract after realizing the building’s true size.
A Building with a Legendary Legacy
The Newby-McMahon Building quickly became a source of embarrassment and local lore. It was featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! as “the world’s littlest skyscraper” and remains a quirky tourist attraction to this day. Despite its odd origins, the building survived the Great Depression, fires, and multiple threats of demolition, thanks to local preservation efforts.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- The building is only 40 feet tall, with four floors and no elevator or stairs—just ladders at first.
- Investors lost almost all of their $200,000, equivalent to over $3 million today.
- The scam was so clever that it held up in court: the plans said “480 inches,” and that’s exactly what was built.
- The building is still standing in downtown Wichita Falls and is now a historic landmark and tourist attraction.
- The Littlest Skyscraper was once featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!.
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Conclusion
The tale of the Newby-McMahon Building is a classic reminder to always read the fine print. J.D. McMahon’s audacious con left Wichita Falls with a unique piece of architectural history and a cautionary tale for investors everywhere. Today, the “world’s littlest skyscraper” stands as both a monument to Texas ambition—and a legendary example of the devil being in the details.
