This and That Newsletter
Vol 21 Issue 1054 Circulation 5,000 April 6, 2017
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My permanent email address: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net
580-490-6823
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
Before Oklahoma became a state, Ben Collins was an Indian policeman for the Chickasaw Nation. He lived 5 miles south of Milburn, Oklahoma. One evening around 10pm in August 1906, Ben Collins was standing on the porch with his wife, when he was gunned down by several men from out in the darkness. The Chickasaw Nation offered a reward of $1,000 for info leading to the arrest of his killers. In November that same year deputy marshals and detectives arrested Henry Pruitt, A. Washmood and Ben Tie for Collin's murder. Three years later, at a mob lynching in Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 1909 four men were taken from the jail and lynched. It would become known that these four men and the three arrested for the murder of Ben Collins were all accomplices that dark night in 1906 south of Milburn, Oklahoma. This band of outlaws had killed several people during those years, earning up to $2,000 per killing as hired guns.
March 1933
A rabid dog went on a rampage through the Lone Grove and Enterprise communities. Dick Naylor, a farmer living north of Lone Grove, lost a fine jersy milk cow. Mrs Smith's cow went made and was killed, and Mr. Howell lost a mule.March 1933
A burglary was reported at the L. O. Majors store in Pooleville. Burglars broke into the post office safe and took $5.00 in federal money. Also missing were men and women's shoes. The Majors store has been a landmark at Pooleville for 35 years. It has been robbed 12 times.Remember those little jokes we used to play on people when we were teens? How about the one where you called the nearby grocery store and asked the clerk, "Do you have Prince Albert in the can?" The store clerk would answer "yes", at which you said "well, you better let him out!!" and promptly hung up. You say you don't remember Prince Albert? Please meet Prince Albert in the can.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos17a/PrinceAlbertInACan.jpgSpring has sprung and planting time is here. Ardmore manufactures the only Okie Dirt in Oklahoma. It is miracle working stuff, and its free, available on Fridays only.
http://www.ardmoreite.com/article/20090224/NEWS/302249992
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 background color was the Oklahoma flag from 1911 to 1925 before the present day blue flag with the Indian warrior's shield?
A. The first Oklahoma State Flag adopted in 1911 was a simple affair, its color palette modeled after the red, white and blue of the Stars and Stripes. The 1911 flag displayed a white star, edged in blue, centered on a field of red. Inside the star, the number "46" was shown; reference to Oklahoma as the 46th state to enter the union in 1907.Q. Where was Oklahoma's first commercial long distance phone line installed?
A. Answer in next week's newsletterBelow is from This and That newsletter archives of March 31, 2005
A T&T Reader left a Billy The Kid Casino token on my desk this week. This particular casino is in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Boy, I sure wish I had a 1,000 of these. lol
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/BillyTheKidToken5a.jpghttp://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/BillyTheKidToken5b.jpg
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The movie playing at the Paramount Theater is Nora Prentiss a 1947 film with Ann Sheridan.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/ArdmoreMain1947a.jpghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix3ReOZ717A
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"Butch thanks for all the pictures. They are a lot of enjoyment. The picture of the old Mary Niblack school reminds me that on a couple of occasions the teachers let us take paper airplanes up to the belfry and throw them off the roof. I am afraid that mine did not sail quite as good or as far as the boys in the high school room."
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"Dear Mr. Bridges, My sisters and mother live in Texas and I live in St. Louis. All these years I have been going through your state to get to Texas. I think Oklahoma is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. We were supposed to have a full blooded Cherokee for a great grandmother from Oklahoma, but we are not real sure about it. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your pictures and stories you have posted on your site. I don't know how I found it but I wont lose it. I always wondered why no one will renovate the old train depot in Big Cabin, Oklahoma. It is such a beautiful old building. I get sad when I see it. Thank you for sharing your memories with us." -Bill Nevins, St. Louis, Mo.
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"Butch, happened to find a bell to add to your collection. It is located at the Powell Holiness Church, Powell, Oklahoma, in Marshall County."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/PowellHolinessBell5b.jpghttp://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/PowellHolinessBell5c.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
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"In reference to the Concord Baptist Church. We were invited there to sing when we were traveling back in the mid 70s. We were supposed to be the featured singers that night. As Murphy's Law would have it we got detained and were about 20 minutes late at appearance. When we walked in the door they had all their amps & sound system set up and they begin to applaud for us. There had already been a group or two sing and those people were ready to have service. We got up to sing and when Donnell hit the first verse of the song every body got in there with us and before it was over it was around midnight. I never sang so much and enjoyed it so much in my life. It was a night to remember." -Don Waters
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/ConcordBaptistChurch5a.jpg
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----------------------------------------------------Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Dear Mr. Bridges I saw the picture of Ardmore Main Street and of the Peden's Jewelry Store and get to my mind the 1950-1951 years of the time I played baseball in Ardmore and the wonderful people that I met in this beautiful town. Mr. & Mrs. Peden invited my friend Nodar and me to live in their house during the baseball season he gave to us the room of their son who was in Korea in the Air Force, his house was so beautiful that he puts it in exhibition every year, the house has a room they called The Edison and another with all the furniture and pictures etc. in Chinese. they were so wonderful and I have so good memories that I will kept it all my life, I remember very well Virginia and Eddie Laotz or Latz they used to have an Pharmacy, The Ritz Theatre and so many good people that I met there, I want to thank you and the people from Ardmore of yesterday and today. Your friend Ernie Wallerstein. say hello to your beautiful wife Jill."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos5a/ArdmoreMain1947a.jpg
"Butch, my wife and I shot some video of an eagle nest with the mother and two chicks. This was north of Dougherty, Okla. and close to the Washita River." -C. Dwane Stevens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvugHjsLi4k
You're right. The Colvert building in Durant, Oklahoma still has the old sign next to the street. When I was in Durant a couple of weeks ago the building was being used. It seems there was a thrift store inside, but not sure.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos17a/ColvertDairyDurantOK.jpg
Ft Gibson, Oklahoma Slide show. 3/26/17 -Cecil Elliott, OKC
Click here---- SLIDE SHOW
"Hey, Butch, Friend. Can you ask people that I need a cigar box with the painting "Dutch watch " on the top? My Dad created that and I want one. He was in art advertising in NYC BEFORE HE WENT TO SEMINARY. THANKS, BUTCH!" -Marion Sadler
The largest tornado in the Mannsville area was an F4 in 1957 that caused 6 injuries and 2 deaths.
You could have a hit in California that no one had heard of in Oklahoma. -Wanda Jackson, Oklahoman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_d_l4Dg3b0
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net
Friends Make Life Worth Living
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Oklahoma Bells: http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
Bill Hamm's Cemetery Database
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/carter/cartercm.htm
American Flyers Memorial Fund - Administration Webpage
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/crash66.html
Official American Flyers Memorial Website
http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafm
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
Mirror Site of the Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/airbase/
Carter County Government Website
http://cartercountyok.us
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