Prairie Song, Oklahoma is located 5
minutes east of downtown Dewey, Oklahoma (NE of Bartlesville). Kenneth &
Marilyn Moore-Tate recreated a 1800s Old West Town that features a Saloon, Post
Office, General Store, Jail, School House, Chapel, Doctors Office, Stables and
much more. They had a dream they wanted to express in Prairie Song. Now after
nearly 30 years of work you can benefit from a dream come true. All of the
buildings were designed and built by Kenneth. Marilyn filled each building with
beautiful 19th century antiques, designed the interior and arranged the displays
areas. What started out as a cottage turned into the old west town of Prairie
Song. No blueprints used to build Prairie Song. A one of a kind experience you
won't want to miss. Round up the kids and head to Prairie Song today. I know I
look forward to visiting Prairie Song, Oklahoma someday soon just to step back
into time.
http://www.prairiesong.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4kCFqifVqk
A lady in Duncan sent me the photo
below. Her great grandfather is in the photo and has Hewitt, Oklahoma written on
it. I guess the "H" stands for Hewitt and not Healdton? Maybe someone has
seen a photo like this or has info on this particular photograph?
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/HewittBaseballTeamCirca1910.jpg
Webb's Cafe at Wynnewood, Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/WebbsCafeWynnewoodOK.jpg
Fairfax, Oklahoma 1920s
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/FairfaxOKMainStreet1920s.jpg
Hobart, Oklahoma 1908
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/HobartOK1908.jpg
Monroe, Oklahoma post office
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/MonroeOKpostofficeCirca1910.jpg
More pictures of Engine 1108 at the
Hardy Murphy Coliseum, getting it ready to move to the depot.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/Locomotive1108PaintBox102716.jpg
This is a picture of the steam
locomotive after some of the
sandblasting had been done.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/Locomotive1108PaintBox102616.jpg
October 1932
After months of experiments with
various chemicals F. C. Carson, a local Bertillon expert, has perfected a new
system of taking fingerprints from the object on which they were left by the
criminal onto a printing negative. Applications for a patent have been made, and
Carson believes his invention will be worth thousands of dollars.
One of several bricks I sandblasted this
week.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/HopeRabbitPaver.jpg
You can find current gas prices for a
particular Oklahoma town by entering the name or zip code in the GasBuddy search
box.
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/
Q. What Oklahoma county touches
four other states?
A. Cimarron County in Oklahoma's panhandle is the only county in the
United States that touches four other states: New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and
Kansas.
Q. What is Oklahoma's official state insect?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That
newsletter archives of November 2, 2002
This Halloween I had very few kids come by
for trick or treats. Maybe 20 at the most. And it made me think back to around
1960 on 3rd NE when my mother would spend all day making popcorn balls to give
away on Halloween night. I think the most she ever made was 200 popcorn balls,
and some years those would all be given away and we started giving out penny
candy of some kind. We had a gas stove and she'd shake that pan for what seemed
like hours popping enough popcorn to make 150 to 200 popcorn balls. She grease
her hands with butter and mix the popcorn with caramel so it would all stick
together, then wrap each popcorn ball in wax paper. She placed them in big wash
tubs to hold them all. It was hard work but my mother loved doing it for the
kids. People just don't do that here anymore, for obvious reasons. I'm sure some
of you have some stories to tell about Halloween and trick or treat night as a
kid. I would imagine some parts of the country do it a little differently then
other parts of the country.
----------------------------------------------------
Here is an interesting email I received
this week. I checked it out and it is bonafied.
"I have an old leather suitcase belonging
to Frank A. GANZ that has been stored in a Forest Service warehouse it Sitka,
Alaska for several years. No one is really sure how we came in possession of it,
however, we would like to see a living family member get it. Inside are several
photos, letters, bank statements, and other documents. Frank appeared to be a
fisherman and possibly miner and had addresses in Craig and Sitka, Alaska. Names
mentioned are: From Jennings, Oklahoma, Charles and Esther GANZ, Mrs. Hanna Jane
GANZ, Henry GANZ, LoRena I. KEENAN, John H. KEENAN; from Healdton, Oklahoma John
H. and Ruth GANZ; from Gladewater, Texas, Charles E. and Lorena Keenan McCHESNEY
and their son Ronald Max who was born June 20, 1935; from Buckeye, Arizona, Mary
S. ROBERTS, among others. Dates range from 1916 to 1940. Please explain your
family connection and show GANZ in the subject line." -Terry Butler,
Resource Specialist Tongass NF, Sitka Office 907-747-4280
----------------------------------------------------
I got a surprise email this week from
Antlers, Oklahoma with 5 bells attached. Antlers is in Pushmataha county,
everyone calls it Push for short, and Teresa Young is the Pushmataha County
Assistant Coordinator for GenWeb at Antlers, Oklahoma. She took the bell pics
for me. Push is a beautiful part of the state. I love to go through there on the
way to Arkansas. Mountains and pine trees everywhere! Here are the bell pics
Teresa sent.
Bell at Antlers Library
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pushlib.jpg
Bell at St. James Episcopal Church in Antlers (This is
a beautiful bell)
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pushepis.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/pushepis2.jpg
Bell at First United Methodist Church in Antlers
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pushmeth.jpg
Bell at Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Antlers
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pushcath.jpg
Bell at First Presbyterian Church in Antlers
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pushpres.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
I remember back as a kid when we came
across a horse apple tree, we thought we'd really found something but really
didn't know what to do with them. I don't know of one thing horse apples are
good for, do you? When I was out at King Lake southeast of 3rd and P NE a while
back, I happened across a horse apple tree with horse apples everywhere. Seems
like someone told me when I was a kid that horse apples were not good for
horses. Anyone know?
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/horsea2.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/horsea3.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, The following is from Bill Geiss.
He is the grandson of Ellsworth Collins, the man that used to own the whole
Turner Falls area. Collins built the "little buildings" for tourists to visit as
sort of a tourist trap. He wanted them to stop and look. The buildings are not
tall enough for even Bill to stand up in, and he is only about 5' 8" tall. They
never served any other purpose. The only buildings that were used are on the
east side of Honey Creek. And there was never a ranch there. Ellsworth Collins
was Dean of Education at OU for a while and he was a collector. The Cowboy Hall
of Fame Museum has a huge barbwire collection. It is now one of their prime
permanent exhibits. It was largely donated by the heirs of Collins. Collins
heirs gave Turner Falls to the city of Davis. Also donated the land that became
Camp Classen."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/tfalls10q.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"Funny you should mention those little
rock buildings up in the hills of Turner Falls. I was up there just a couple of
weeks ago during the craft fair. I took a walk up to the falls and also took
some time to climb up to the buildings. The buildings were once the headquarters
for the Collins Ranch. On one old rock gate is a sign that says "Wyld Acre".
(There's a story behind that name, but I can't remember it.) There is also a
sign that tells a little about Mr. Collins and about the architectural style.
The structures are really fascinating. They are all separate from each other,
connected only by pathways. Several are multi-story structures with stairways
barely wide enough for a medium-sized person to climb. Most of the buildings
have a fireplace, and the ceilings are not much more than 6 feet high. It's hard
to tell which rooms were living quarters and which were for sleeping. I'm sure
they were probably multi-functional. I found nothing that resembled a kitchen,
but there were several outdoor cooking areas....fire pits, rock fireplaces, and
rock picnic tables. What made the biggest impression on me was not the
fascinating old buildings, but the TERRIBLE state of disrepair!! The buildings
were filled with trash, doors were either barely hanging on rusted hinges or
completely torn off, and the effects of vandalism were evident throughout.
Graffiti is everywhere! I think the city of Davis (if they are still in charge
of the park) should be ASHAMED!! These buildings are a part of local history,
and are being destroyed by lack of care and supervision. I would hate to see
them made off limits to the public, but perhaps that is what it will take to
preserve them. Maybe that's not the answer, but something most definitely needs
to be done before it's too late. So much for my soap box lecture of the day. I'm
curious if anyone else has been there recently and has the same impression.
Turner Falls, in general, is still one of the most beautiful places in our
area."
----------------------------------------------------
"The mention of car "boots" made me think
of a story a friend told me about his visit to Australia. Instead of garage
sales, they have what they call "car boot sales". Everyone packs up their
unwanted junk, loads it in the "boot" of the car and heads to a local field
where they have what resembles a big flea market. No prices are marked. You just
sit around and dicker all day to get the best bargain. My kind of place!!!"
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, someone in your T&T today inquired
about oil companies during 1919. My older brother, the late Richard D.
Fronterhouse, wrote a research paper about oil development in Carter County
during the 1920's. A copy is located in the Healdton Oil Museum in Healdton, OK,
and it was published last year in the Healdton Herald's Oilpatch Mania. I don't
know if this would help your reader or not, but the research article does
contain references."
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Butch, most of us who go camping or R/Ving
don't realize that we are already on Indian time. It's
just too simple. Who cares about a time schedule. Just
enjoy what there is out there to see. Keep up the simple
life and enjoy." -Okiefenokie in GA
"Hi Butch, I saw the picture of the old padlock. I have an old combination
padlock from when I was in the 9th grade. It was for my wall locker. The parents
had to buy the lock for $1.50. Believe it or not, I still remember the
combination. I put a tag on that old lock so that my son will know later on. The
year was 1960. We were living in Hurst, Texas. Hope all is well." -Cecil
"A short tidbit regarding Miss Muncy Reece (comments in newsletter on 10/27/16).
She began teaching in AHS in 1924, the year my Mom Wilda Willingham Davis
graduated. Muncy's last year to teach in AHS was 1960, the year I graduated.
Cool!" -George Davis AHS Class 1960
"Seeing the old railroad engine has brought an old memory back to
me. In 1965 I climbed up to the operating platform area in the engine. I will
not tell how I got beyond the fence except to say the gate was locked and I did
not climb over the fence. It was awesome, all the gauges, levers, and valves.
Then I opened the firebox and looked in. It was a big space with enough room to
stand up in and move about a little. I opened the door as wide as possible then
went through the opening into the firebox. The wall toward the front of the
engine was unique in that it consisted of a wall of open ended pipes, as if the
pipes were stacked on top of each other laying lengthwise the same direction as
the engine. Somehow the steam and heat transfer happened in those pipes. I
thought it was so cool that I had found a new clubhouse. I went back a few more
times, brought candles and matches to try out the clubhouse. It was kind of
scary thinking someone could shut and lock my only way out. After that I never
went back. Now 51 years later, it is nice to know that old engine will be seen
and enjoyed, and is being repainted." -Randy Day, Slaughterville, OK
"Butch: Once again thank you for all the articles on old Ardmore.
I have read with much interest the articles on old Washington Elementary School.
I attended there from about 1947 thru 1952. I also remember some wonderful
teachers including Miss Davis, Mrs Sankey our music teacher, and principal
George Connely. I'm writing today about the wading pool that was in the park
just west of the school. It was round and about 30 feet in diameter with a depth
of about 3 feet in the center. There was another one just like it in Whittington
Park. I remember many wonderful summer days splashing around in those pools. I
know they were both filled in many years ago, but I was wondering if any of your
readers still had a photo or two of them. Thanks again and keep up the good
work." -Jim
Lost Guns & Fiddle by Robert McCrory
"In grade school 1930s, walking home (in the days before the school bus) I got
acquainted with a little old lady who sat on her porch swing. She'd give me a
cookie & tell me of growing up in post Civil War Mississippi. She showed me her
guns, all in fine condition, a .44 shotgun (dating before the .410), a .38 Colt
PP & a Saturday Nite Special. She also showed me a fiddle she said dated from
the 1600s from a famous Italian maker, Amati, worth $7000 --- I also got
acquainted with her grandson who introduced me to making crystal sets & one tube
radios --- Time goes by, 1981, I'm retired from simulating work out in the
world, now back home in Oklahoma. Thinking of the guns, I visit aforementioned
grandson, 13 years older than me, retired after a career of commercial radio, he
doesn't remember the guns nor the fiddle. He, a church deacon, I suspect he gave
the guns the deep six. The only other heir, his twin brother, a bank clerk.
More time, ca. 2010 visiting my friend at his motorcycle & ATV
dealership, former detective Los Angeles homicide, introduces me to one of his
customers. "You must be Mac's son, his gunshop? You probably never heard this
but in his shop a man tried to sell this fiddle for $25. Mac told him not
interested. I asked Mac if OK for me to buy it & I did. Months later I went in &
told him I owed him $10.000 because I sold the violin for $20K & he deserved
half, having made it possible. He wouldn't take a dime." True I'd never heard it
but not surprised. Whatever he was or wasn't, honest to a fault, not a trace of
envy, etc.
I remember, 1960s, radio was talking about poverty, percent of
population in poverty, the new minimum wage, etc. Dad say's "I'm in poverty
right now, been in poverty all my life except when I worked on building
submarines during the war. Poverty can't be so bad, here I am, a house, two
cars, business property & a gunshop, all paid for, don't owe a dime."
My apology if this strays too far from the Colt Forum centerline
-- but now & then something emerges from back down memory lane."
At the link below are 10 more scans of old photographs this week.
-Robert Hensley
http://oklahomahistory.net/postcards
Don't Laugh At Me by Mark
Willis, Country Singer 2002
"I'm a little boy with glasses
The one they call the geek
A little girl who never smiles
'Cause I've got braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels
To cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground
Who's always chosen last
A single teenage mother
Tryin' to overcome my past
You don't have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask
Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm the cripple on the corner
You've passed me on the street
And I wouldn't be out here beggin'
If I had enough to eat
And don't think I don't notice
That our eyes never meet
I lost my wife and little boy when
Someone cross that yellow line
The day we laid them in the ground
Is the day I lost my mind
And right now I'm down to holdin'
This little cardboard sign...so
Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me
I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm
tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all
Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2MMeD2SCZI
See everyone next
week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443