This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 23  Issue 1,165     Circulation 5,000      May 23, 2019
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My permanent email address:  butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net
580-490-6823

W.O. Duston Dry Goods House - Ardmore

Mr. W. O. Duston one of Ardmore is leading merchants, has been through all of the ups and downs experienced by the young city. His was the first dry goods house established in Ardmore. Twice he has been seen all his goods go up in smoke, but with true Anglo-Saxon grit, he has stuck to his promise to give to this section a store, the equal in appearance in stock, of any in the Indian Territory. In order to accomplish this, he recently erected the spacious brick building which he now occupies, finding that his former place of business, the building now occupied by J. W. Lockwood and Bros., was too small for his purpose. In this splendidly lighted store will be displayed this fall one of the largest stocks of dry goods, clothing, etc., ever consigned to a territory merchant. Mr. Duston spent several weeks recently in the eastern markets, not for the purpose of simply repeating his stock, but multiplying it several times over. While it is true that the mammoth department stores of St Louis, Chicago and New York are enable to buy goods cheaper than our merchants here, on account of the large size of their orders, on his last trip, however, Mr. Duston accompanied several buyers representing these colossal establishments and brought goods side-by-side with them, getting the advantage of the discounts that they were receiving.

Mr. Duston has catered to the people so long, and he is naturally such a close observer, that all may be sure of finding "just the thing" sought. 27 years residence within a few miles of Ardmore is a long time, when one takes into consideration the newness of the country. But this is the length of time, however, that has elapsed since this progressive merchant came here from his native state of Tennessee.

Every fall it is his custom to buy cotton raised within the trading circle of Ardmore; of course, his principal reason for doing this is to get some of the trade from the producer, and we have been regularly informed that the price realized by the farmer for his staple at W.O. Dustin's is sufficiently in advance of the market to justify their selling their whole crops with him, especially when they know that any extra price paid per bail is not equalized by adding to the sale price of any of the goods carried in stock at his store, which they might feel disposed to buy in return. Customers favoring this house with their patronage are assured of fair and courteous treatment in every instance.
-Indian Territory and Carter County Pioneers book 1982

April 1959
Death struck on a Carter County highway when two cars cars hurled together about a quarter-mile of the Bayou Creek Bridge on Highway 70. Dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital was Mr W. G. Reeves, of Rogers Arkansas. Mrs. Reeves, also 65, reported to be unconscious and suffering chest pains. The driver of the other vehicle was Harold Weichbrodt, Ardmore, who suffered head injuries. According to the highway patrol, a truck was passing McDaniel's vehicle. The truck reportedly force the car off the road. That vehicle travel 273 feet before making contact with the Weichbrodt car.

April 1959
A vote was held on April 7th to decide the prohibition issue. It will be the seventh vote on the matter since 1907. Of the 49 states in the Union, only two are dry, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

April 1935
Southern Oklahoma got its first real sample of what the western part has been enduring for weeks when a wave of yellow dust from the windswept plains drifted into the area on Wednesday. Accompanied by a chill Breeze the silt was obscuring everything with a thick layer of sand, sending citizens into coughs and sneezes on every hand. Some sights of the storms include no blade of grass, jack rabbits, starved and sandstone blind, citizens wearing special mask, water muddy or gritty, car engine, full of sand, exploded, holes in headlights, windshield scared, and blistered hands. Crop damage is estimated to exceed 30 million dollars with the 15 million acres ruined, and relief rolls carrying well above 20,000 families.

The 1957 Chevy Bel Air car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QClIrpW6x-Q&feature=youtu.be

Q.  Sequoyah, was an American and Cherokee polymath. In 1821 he completed his independent creation of a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible. This was one of the very few times in recorded history that a member of a pre-literate people created an original, effective writing system. What was Sequoyah's given name?
A.  Sequoyah's given name was George Gist and the cabin he lived in is still standing in Akins, Oklahoma.

Q.  A meteor 1,000 feet in diameter hit Oklahoma thousands of years ago. The meteor created a crater over 8 miles wide, but it is not visible today because over 9,000 ft. of sediment covers up the hole. The crater was discovered during oil exploration 1991. Where in Oklahoma is this crater located?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

Below is a flagstone I made and a brick paver.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/TorqueManDog.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/PlacePackagesOnTable.jpg

And here's another concrete grave marker I made. Turned out beautiful.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/BillShinnGraveMarker.jpg

Below is from This and That newsletter archives of May 24, 2007

"Don't know if y'all fancy onion rings but in Lindsay, Texas they roll their own both at The Smokehouse and in Dieter Bros next door (well, next door if you don't count the liquor & convenience stores between 'em). Highly recommended. Also, Dieter Bros stirs up a mean side of that German tater salad. I like it better than what I've found anywhere else so far.  And, for more "Q", keep on goin' south 'til you get to Tioga, TX. On the east side of the hiway, you'll find Clark's Outpost. Mighty fine eats at all." -Garth
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

Butch, this is a picture of my dad and his two older brothers Left to Right Uncle Roy Holder, my dad Oliver Holder and Uncle Eugene (Gene) Holder. Many of your followers may remember Uncle Gene from the Mobile station next to Franklin School and the huge candy case that Aunt Harriet kept stocked with many, many varieties of candy. Uncle Gene was Tom Arnold's mother's dad. -Dan Holder rdholder@ntin.net
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos19a/OliverHolderRoyHolderGeneHolder.jpg
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Ardmore Confederate Memorial May Service
Our annual Memorial Day service at Rosehill Cemetery in Ardmore will be at 9:30am till approximately 11 AM, Monday, May 27th. Bring a folding chair, and try to arrive by 9:15. Location is to the right when you enter the north gate and to the far west side. Anyone needing further directions may email me at the address below.

Terry Pierce
Sons of Confederate Veterans
terrypierce41@yahoo.com
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Two Ardmore IT photo's, one Durant, IT photo -Robert Hensley
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos19a/YoungManDowningPhotograph.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos19a/UnknownBabyColePhotogaphyArdmore.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos19a/DurantOKmanHoldingRifle.jpg
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Q. Butch, do you know if that WWII plane that crashed in Lake Murray back in the 40s is still in the lake?

A. No. The plane was recovered just days after it crashed in lake Murray

"The BT-13A from Perrin Field 41-22162 while flying 5-10 ft above the water in an easterly direction. (Ardmoreite did not give exact location.) As they approached left shore, added throttle, banked right. Right wing tip hit water, aircraft cart wheeled, engine torn loose and aircraft airframe stayed on surface long enough for student pilot and instructor to climb out, remove clothes and shoes and swim to shore. Not injured seriously. Accident happened 1200 hours. Accident happened April 2, 1944, aircraft and engine recovered from 32’ depth April 18, 1944. No location of crash given but description would fit vicinity of Elephant Rock, Tipps Point or Tucker Tower Area. The game warden of that time was deceased as I tried to find location." -Gary Simmons
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Wilson Historical Museum
Wilson, Oklahoma
1913-1939: Anatomy of an Oil Boom Town

My wife, Carole Gandy Pinches, grew up with Wilson in her blood since her parents went to school in Wilson, married in Wilson, and after Carole was born she and her parents made frequent trips to Wilson to visit her grandparents, and her aunt and uncle. The history is comprehensive-- Carole started by going through all Wilson newspaper!! Then extensive research was done using other sources to supplement the information from the newspapers.

The book has been typeset and we are about to begin the process of proofing, reviewing everything, making necessary changes, and finishing a comprehensive Index of the more than 8000 names of individuals mentioned in the book. The anticipated date when book will be available is August 1st.

We have been promoting the book and taking pre-orders.

Below is a PDF file of the Pre-Publication Sale flyer for the book.

George Pinches, Executive Director
Wilson Historical Museum
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos19a/AnatomyOilBoomTownWilson.pdf
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This coming Monday is Memorial Day. Let's not forget those who have gone before us. Also remember our Armed Forces, All Gave Some, Some Gave All.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. -from a headstone in Ireland

Have a safe holiday weekend everyone.

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

"Friends Make Life Worth Living"
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vicious 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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