This and That Newsletter

www.OklahomaHistory.net

Vol 11  Issue 535     Circulation 5,000      April 26, 2007

Ardmore, Oklahoma


I received an interesting email this week from Ardmoreite Nell Truitt. Nell is a member of the Ardmore Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and on the State Board. She and others have just returned from their organization's annual meeting in OKC and she had some photos to share with everyone. Below is Nell Truitt's email in her own words:

Butch: The "Awesome" Ardmore Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution members have just returned from the Oklahoma Society DAR annual State Conference, held at the Biltmore Hotel in OKC.  Chapter Regent Diane Hamill presented the 3-minute report of chapter involvement and participation during the year, and she had to talk fast!  Honorary Chapter Regent Pat Jurey, a National DAR Speaker, assisted with the conference in many capacities. Serving as President of State Chairman's Club, she and Diane Hamill presented an original playlet of "Be the Bridge".

http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DARannualConference7a.jpg

"Ardmore Chapter member Donna Netters presided at the Cameo Society breakfast as President. She and Vickie Luster, State Conservation Chairman, explained the Bylaws proposed changes, which were adopted. Cameo Society members are Grandmothers, Mothers, and Daughters of DAR.  Nell Truitt, State DAR Chairman of State Regent's Project "Dollars for Scholars" gave her report of activity of all chapters during the year, raising money to support scholarship endowment. Five $1000 scholarships were presented to students this year. Nelda Keck assisted in planning and at sales table during conference where the beautiful golden, glistening 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Christmas Ornament could be purchased. Silent Auction items were displayed for bidding, as well as Proud to be An American signs, a set of eight tall, drinking glasses of 1983 Oklahoma Barry Switzer Sooner year, autographed by players, patriotic items, a 1951 National Geographic containing 13 pages of the Story of DAR, a 352 page book "The Last Run" containing stories of early Oklahoma, maps of Oklahoma indicating where each of the 41 chapters are located, DAR pin cozys, Name Badge order blanks, and the sought-after Centennial DAR Covered Wagon pin. Pat Chilton and Ellie Gardali of the chapter also assisted this committee during the 3-day conference."

http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DARannualConference7b.jpg

"Billye Jobe, Chapter Registrar, displayed an array of 18 DAR gold pins worn on her DAR ribbon for her outstanding participation through the years. Patti Jenkins assisted with decorations, hospitality, and distribution of Award certificates that the chapter presented."

http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DARannualConference7c.jpg

To find out more about the local DAR send an email to Nell Truitt at Joycenell@aol.com or visit their website.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~okacdar/

And let's not forget the National DAR's website.

http://www.dar.org/

Doug and Sheryl Williams are always finding the unusual as they travel around Oklahoma. This past week really found some unique things. Just outside Kellyville, Oklahoma on the old historic Route 66 they found a boat with its bow sticking out from a barn.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/BoatBarn.jpg

And also in the same area they found a tree with dozens of shoes hanging from it along with a sign designating it a "shoe tree".  lol

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/ShoeTree7a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/ShoeTree7b.jpg

South of Seminole, Oklahoma they found a convenience store completely covered and protected by hog wire panels.  Sure would be difficult for the average burglar to get in this place.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/SeminoleWire.jpg

Then they may have found what may be the largest wood pile in Oklahoma just south of Prague, Oklahoma.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/PragueWoodPile7a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/PragueWoodPile7b.jpg

But the most unusual find was yet to come north of Ada (still in Semiole county) at the Vamoosa, Oklahoma cemetery. The Williams' found inside the cemetery some very unusual grave markers. The markers are in the shape of miniature houses, and hainging inside on the 'rafters' is some kind of bags, and on the 'floor' some other objects. Maybe some T&T Readers knows more about this burial custom and fill us in on the details?

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/VamoosaCemetery7a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/VamoosaCemetery7b.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/VamoosaCemetery7c.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/VamoosaCemetery7d.jpg

This week Albert Cullum of Overbrook, Oklahoma paid me a visit. I always look forward to visits from Al because he always has some kind of history to share.  Some of you will remember about 3 years ago Al shared a photo postcard of Al's father taken on Main Street of Ardmore back in 1951 as some kind of promotional with KVSO. This week Al brought by a recent info page published by SOWC telling how they started back in 1969.  It seems that Al, along with about 12 others, were instrumental in SOWC reaching the needed 1,100 subscribers for water meters as required to obtain the $1 Million Dollar FHA loan.  The info letter was 2 pages, but I'm only going to print the first paragraph here, since it contained the most background history on SOWC.

"SOWC was formed in 1969 by forward looking individuals with the idea of providing portable water to needy homes in Carter County. These individuals such as Herman Day, Albert Cullum, Dorothy Lacey, Ollie Testerman, Arvel Jones, Thomas Ayers, Melvin Sampley, Milo Watkins, Eldon Jones, Andy Arnold, George Washburn, Warren Jones, and John Hissom worked days and nights and weekends trying to get enough people together with a like mind to contribute $50.00 per meter to secure a FHA loan to build the SOWC water system. This list is a smattering of individuals that had a direct and active hand in the formation and building of the SOWC Water System. Many people worked long hours to get a reliable source of drinking water for the rural areas. There was a minimum of 1,100 contributions or meters needed to get that Farmers Home Administration loan approved. To secure enough people and receive the FHA money it was decided to expand the system into Love County. With this expansion and the subsequent contributions, SOWC was able to proceed with plans and become a reality."

A big Thank You to Al Cullum for sharing the above with everyone. I know there are 1,000s of people in this area dependant on the quality water system that SOWC provides, and I'm glad you played a part. Though all the rest of the directors named above have passed on, I'm glad you were still here amongst us to share this piece of SOWC history.

If the weather cooperates and all goes as planned, Jill and I are planning to attend the annual GermanFest in Muenster, Texas this coming Saturday.  It all takes place starting Friday April 27th and runs through Sunday the 29th. Muenster is about 20 miles west of Gainesville. With admission only $6 per person, I can't think of too many events where you can go so much bang for the buck.  Maybe we will see some of you there!

http://www.germanfest.net/

Speaking of traveling, Jill and I were in Whitesboro, Texas last Saturday just taking in the sights. If your into Western Americana and would like to see tons of it on display, just visit the Longhorn Ranch Store and Grill a couple miles west of Whitesboro on Highway 82 (toward Gainesville).

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7b.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7c.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7d.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7e.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7f.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7g.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7h.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7i.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7j.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanch7k.jpg

This is a peek at their grill which was closed when we were there. Guess we'll have to make a trip back there someday to try a hamburger.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornStoreGrill.jpg

Below is a photo I snapped of the outside of Toni Pryor's Longhorn Ranch Store and Grill followed by a link to her business card.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanchStore.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LonghornRanchBusinessCard.jpg

Oh the way back from Texas Jill and I decided to try something other than a hamburger. We opted for Mexican food at The LaRoca in Marietta, Oklahoma. Many of you remember it as The Hub restaurant for many years, located at Highway 32 and old Highway 77.  Boy, they put out some great Mexican dishes...... I'd recommend them to anyone.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LaRocaMarietta042107.jpg

With all the rain the past week, the toad stools have really been sprouting near our house. To bad they ain't the eating kind of mushrooms.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/ToadStools042107.jpg

Jill has been working on her garden the past two weeks.  Let's see, she's got cantaloupe coming up, green beans, tomato plants, and a couple of other plants I can't think of right now.  But I will take some pics for the next T&T for sharing with everyone.  I guess its a good thing I put out my trap the other day, it caught a possum that night, and I bet he had his eyes on those cantaloupe sprouts, just waiting for them to get big enough to eat. He was kinda cute too. He was cool calm and collected when I set him out front. Jill even fed him some food and he enjoyed that free meal.  But the critter ended up going home with the dog pound man.   lol

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/Possum042407.jpg

Did you ever need to email a humongous file to someone, like maybe a movie file or video you've taken on with your digital camera?  And find there is no way to attach such a large file and send?  I have found a great website that allows you to do just that! Jill's daughter in Illinois wanted to email us a 17 Megabyte movie file  (.mpg) she took with their digital camera of the grandkids, and sharebig.com was the answer!  Basically, you upload your file, and then sharebig generates a link (url) to that file for your friends to access. All you do is email the link and your friends click on it to download.  Very simple and all free.  You can store up to 1 Gig on the sharebig Server for 14 days before being deleted.  Below is a link to the movie file of Jill's grandkids. (This link will remain valid for about another week as per ShareBig.com's policy.)

http://www.sharebig.com/share.php?id=s11abjofeoi4aJ3lw

This is the link to ShareBig.com and you don't have to create an account or signup for anything.  Really a great free service!

http://www.ShareBig.com

Maybe some of you will use the service to upload some of your travel movie files and share with others.  Just send me the link for the next T&T!

MAILBAG

"The American Bell Foundry Company operated from 1895 to 1924, so the Prague, Oklahoma Fire Department bell must have been made during that time. Like other makers of cast steel bells, they did not date their products, so it is impossible to determine just when this bell was cast. From the photo, it is clear that this bell was sold for use as a fire bell - it's hung on a non-swinging yoke, the clapper has a double ball, and there are pulleys on the crossbars of both A-frames.  In use, this would have had two ropes tied to the clapper, one  running over each of the pulleys from the belfry down to wherever the bell was rung.  Whoever rang the alarm would grab one rope in each hand and yank the clapper back and forth as fast as possible.  This would produce a sound as loud as a swinging bell but with a much different rhythm. I've seen one original installation of a fire bell which had leather loop handles on the bottom ends of the bell ropes.  I've seen another, from a different manufacturer, where the bottom ends of the ropes ran under another pair of pulleys and were fastened together, so that the alarm bell could be rung with one hand pulling the rope back and forth horizontally. The "NO 30" is the stock number, which is also the approximate diameter of the bell.  This was standard practice for all American makers of cast steel bells."  -Carl Zimmerman, Campanologist in Missouri http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/pragbell.jpg
"As you may already know, my dad (Norman Flowers) and a small group, are trying to put together an Ardmore H.S. alumini museum at the old high school.  A room has been graciously donated for that purpose.  If you know of anyone who is interested in donating class pictures, class rosters, artifacts, or display cabinets, please have them email me or snailmail my dad or give him a call."  -Allen Flowers  akflowers@brightok.net
 
Norman Flowers  580-657-8489
143 Cricket Lane
Ardmore, Ok.  73401

"Butch, back in my days at Ardmore High, 1969-1972, I'd usually bring my lunch in a paper sack. A group of us students often ate under a tree in the front yard of my longtime family friends Rufus and Leona Koller who lived in the two story white house right across Washington from AHS. However, around once a week, I could afford to go to the Hamburger Inn for my "usual" -- an educated cheesburger basket and a glass of buttermilk. (That "glass of buttermilk" order often got a lot of "interesting looks" from others seated nearby.) I can nearly taste it just sitting here thinking about it! If I was feeling "particularly prosperous," I could add a piece of Mrs. Brown's unique chocolate pie for dessert. I've often wondered if anybody has the recipe for that particular pie. It was unlike any other I've ever seen and just delicious." -Tom Elmore gtelmore@aol.com

"Butch your pictures of Mountain Lake brought back memories of 1936-37. I spent the summers at the lake with my friend Hale Dunn Cissel. His Grandfather, Hale Dunn, retired Ardmore Police Chief, was the Caretaker of the lake. Hale Dunn and I made tips by carrying fishing gear up the stairs you photographed. Landing was on the west side at that time. We handled boat rentals, sold bait and had a kids dream summer. A retired policeman lived under the Dam. Big tips came from Groups from Oklahoma City who camped on weekends. Fished all day and partied at night. Thanks for the photos." mkpat@ cox .net
"Thanks so much for the memories of Mountain Lake. We processed a stolen car there once. The picture that really brought back memories was the picture of the Woodford Store (Satterwhite Grocery). When I was a boy, my family would go to my aunt and uncle's house (Charles and Arzula Crawford) when they lived on the east side of the Ardmore Air Force Base. We would go there just about every Sunday. Getting back to the Woodford store, we would either stop there going or coming back, and my dad would buy ice cream. Now dad would not buy the cheap ice cream bars, he would go all out and get those 10 cent ice cream bars. We had a lot of fun on those trips to AAFB . Thanks so much for the memories." -Dennis Adams

"About the Hale Motor Co.  Don?t hold me to this but I think it was the Ford Motor Co.  It was located on the southwest corner of C Street and West Broadway.  Just west of it was the Safeway store.  The Civic Auditorium was across C street on the Southeast corner of C Street and Broadway.  The First Presbyterian Church is on the northeast corner and a big brick house was on the northwest corner.  It has been 50 years since I roamed the streets of Ardmore as a teenager but that is my recollection." -Herb Linder AHS class of 54
"I am looking for a long lost cousin in Ardmore, She was born Judy Croskell, daughter of Cecil Doug Croskell and was adopted by a family here in Ardmore.  If anybody knows where she is please call me at 580-220-9052." -Doug Williams   dougwilliams@cableone.net

 


 


 


"Water, like religion and ideology, has the power to move millions of people. Since the very birth of human civilization, people have moved to settle close to it. People move when there is too little of it. People move when there is too much of it. People journey down it. People write, sing and dance about it. People fight over it. And all people, everywhere and every day, need it." --Mikhail Gorbachev  2001

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443

http://www.OklahomaHistory.net

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