Someone asked me the other day where was the highest point in Carter County, as some guy told her it was Tater Hill east of Ardmore and south of Dickson, Oklahoma. Nope. There is another spot 267 feet higher than Tater Hill's 1,023 feet above sea level.
About halfway between Poolville and Hennepin is the highest spot in this county with an elevation of 1,290 feet. The location is 4.5 miles from Highway 7 south down Hill Country Road. It's located on private property, Sparks Ranch.
http://www.cohp.org/ok/Carter_1.html
If you poke the following GPS numbers in Google or Bing maps it will take you straight to the location.
34.456561, -97.371852
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/TaterHillElevation.jpg
The largest tree in Oklahoma is near
the Gardner Mansion in Broken Bow. It is a 2,000 plus-year-old bald cypress
tree.
Went by Bill and Mary Talkington's place SE of Ardmore the other day and picked up a gallon of goat's milk. I have not had fresh goat milk in probably 20 years. The goat milk from the Talkington was just like I remembered it, fresh and delicious.
But while at the Talkingtons what caught my attention was a bell. So you know me, I had to walk over and take a picture. There at the bottom of the pole on the ground was a concrete marker that reads:
SPRINGDALE BAPTIST CHURCH
ORGANIZED AUGUST 13, 1949
THIS BUILDING ERECTED AND DEDICATED
TO THE LORD JULY 30, 1967
You see, the Baptist church closed some years ago and the members decided Bill and Mary Talkington were to receive the bell for keeping.
http://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/SpringdaleBaptistBell092515a.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/SpringdaleBaptistBell092515b.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/SpringdaleBaptistBell092515c.jpg
Mary Ann Van Veen of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma sent me an old photograph taken about 1905 in downtown Ardmore. I have tried to make out any recognizable store or building but have not been able to.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/ArdmoreStreetScene1905.jpg
Does anyone know what this contraption is? The photo was shot by a friend of mine when he was in Nebraska the other day.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/MysteryContraption.jpg
For several years I been fighting a mole problem on our property. I think I've taken care of the pests now, used carbon monoxide to kill them critters. I had originally bought the small generator for camping or an emergency, but put it to work getting rid of our moles.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/MoleWar092715a.jpg
A few pavers I sandblasted the past week.
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/PaulBridgesPaver.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/DovieFurrhPaver.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/UMCpavers/RodkesPaver.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/EinDeuxPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/sandblasting.html
If anyone has thought about losing weight, I have many friends that are doing just with TruVision. Just give me a holler if you want to lose weight the TruVision way. "I'll meet you at the Walmart mailbox!" Join us and check it all out at the link below.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/truvision.html
http://butch.truvisionhealth.com/
I did start taking a Probiotics last week. I had bought a lesser strength at Walmart (30,000 cultures) and I have liked the results so much, I purchased a 50,000 strength Probiotics on Amazon.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/UltimateFlora60Count.jpg
OG&E continues to report each week I am in the "Efficient group". I have only been placed in this group since I installed my Okie Power Saver. My Okie Power Savers, are also a FULL house surge protector.
I have been using the free version of SUPERAntiSpyware since early 2011. The program works great to keep malware and such off your computer. I saw a special this week and was able to download the Professional version for $9.95 (regularly $19.95) and boy am I glad I did. It found 560 pieces of spyware AND COOKIES and removed them. I even saw findagrave.com had put a cookie on my computer. Now why in the world does findagrave need a cookie on my computer? And among other features not available on the FREE version, the Pro lets me schedule a scan automatically at a time I designate. Anyway, my computer is MUCH faster now! Glad I paid the $10 bucks for the professional version. If you've never tried it, I suggest downloading the FREE version first and see how you like it.
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Microsoft also has a free spyware/malware scanner. Just download it and RUN. It will expire in 10 days after downloading and you'll have to download an updated version.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
Q. What Tulsan was the inventor
of an electronic communication system to store audio messages, and patented in
1982?
A. Gordon
Matthews, born in Tulsa, was the inventor of an electronic communication
system to store audio messages. We know it as voicemail.
Q. What Oklahoman made a piece
of machinery to replace the shovel in installing underground utilities in 1949?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of September 29, 2001:
"I've been told my husband's name is on the memorial. He was one of the many on board the flight that horrific April day 1966. I was a young girl in my early twenties seven months pregnant with my second child at that time and could not believe what I was being told. My husband was so young and strong I believed he could get himself out of any tragic affair. I also believed things like this happen in the newspapers and to other people. I have not seen the memorial yet but would some day soon (with my daughter and son) like to visit it. Thanks to all those who had anything to do with keeping the memories of the victims of that tragic evening alive." -Gladys Nasuta Seymour, Connecticut----------------------------------------------------
There was a retirement party this week at the courthouse for Denver Looper in the District Court offices. On Friday afternoon Judge Card's courtroom was packed and overflowing, standing room only, to honor this lady who's been a friendly smile on the Third Floor for over 20 years
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/DenverLooper2001.jpg
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A friend in the NW part of Ardmore called me this week. She is 92 years young and sharp as a tack! We talked about my mother's family and the things they did when they were growing up in the northeast back in the 20s. My folks lived on 3rd NE and she and her family lived on 5th NE. She said they did not have a car back when she was a wee kid around 1925, and walked to town going over the 5th avenue viaduct (wood back then). Then she said something that really caught my attention. She said sometimes when they got to the 5th avenue viaduct, she and her sisters would ask if they could take the short viaduct? I asked for more about this "short viaduct". She told me there was a short viaduct over the railroad tracks on 4th NE. This would be a block south of the present viaduct. She went on to tell me the northeast section of Ardmore was the largest part of town, with the most people. And that that part of town was the first part to be settled when Ardmore was just starting out. Anyway, I was really surprised and happy to hear about that 4th avenue viaduct. Boy, the history a 92 year old can tell!
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I travelled over to Mill Creek, Oklahoma last weekend. Its only 30 miles east of Ardmore. And what I found over there, just a couple miles south of Mill Creek on the west side of the Highway, really caught me off guard. I visited two places, the Meridian Aggregates Corp and the Autumn Rose Granite Company, a subsidiary of Rock of Ages, Inc.
At the Meridian site, all I could do is stand
there in awe for a little while. I knew there were big pit mines/strip mines in
other states. But the "granite pit" at Meridian was overwhelming to me. It was
huge. This hole in the ground covered acres and was deep. To give you an idea
how large it was, if a pickup truck was down there at the center, and someone
standing by it, you might be able to make out it was a pickup truck, but you
sure couldn't see anyone standing beside it. Down in the pit they blow up the
Autumn Rose granite, and scoop it up with huge machines costing One Million
each. The chunks of granite is then crushed down to a small gravel, and used in
building roads and such. Here is a photo I took of their newest scoop, a 2001
model Cat. You will see the tire on this is as tall as a house!
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/GraniteLoader.jpg
Here is the photo I took of the
"granite pit" itself. The picture does not do justice, as far as showing how
huge this pit is, and the area it covered, and the depth. There is probably not
anything like it in Oklahoma. They have been mining granite here for only five
years with 75 to 100 railroad cars carrying the gravel like granite out every
night.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/GranitePitMillcreek.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
Last week I showed a photo of a brick made
by the Ada Brick Company in Ada, Oklahoma. I found out this week we have a brick
collector extraordinaire right here in Ardmore. He's Harry Dodd and he's got
several hundred old bricks making up this walkway in his backyard. He has bricks
from all over the country, with all kinds of names and symbols on them. I was
amazed at all the different kinds in one place! Here are some of the many bricks
in his walkway.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/HarryDoddBricks.jpg
Photo of Harry Dodd looking at his
walkway.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/HarryDoddPhoto.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
There was a brick manufacturing company in
Ardmore about 1915 by the name of Lee Cathey Brick Company. It was located just
north of the intersection of 7th NE and "D" Street along the railroad tracks.
I've been told some of the concrete slap and footings, etc., is still visible in
the high grass.
----------------------------------------------------
I was out seeing my friends at the Chickasaw Library this week. They had a problem with one of their network cables. As I watched Sharlotte and Mona troubleshoot those RJ45 computer Ethernet cables, I could readily see I was in the mist of two of the best networking people in Ardmore! They soon had the problem figured out and a solution! It was decided while I was there we'd give sort of a workshop to Jeremy on how to crimp ends of RJ45 computer cables, letting him make up some extra cables for future use. I snapped a pic of Jeremy learning how to manage those eight little wires, getting each one in the exact place before crimping. He did a great job for his first time!
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/jeremy9.jpg
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I told everyone I received a mystery letter in the mail a couple weeks ago. Inside the envelope was a hotel room key (electronic key) to a room at the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong. Boy, I have no idea who mailed me that key or what do to with it. I can't even decipher what room number the key goes to. I wonder if its the same person he was staying at that hotel in Paris.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/KowloonHotelKey.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
That rumor about a birthday party for three employees (me included) at the courthouse annex building turned out to be true this week! There was a good turn- out at noon Friday. Here's some pics I took!
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/JoeMcReynolds2001.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/BirthdayParty2001.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"I too worked at Reavis Drug Store on
corner of Main & B St. when I was a senior in high school-l955-l956. Bernice
Veal was my boss. They were very good about working school girls in the
fountain. Not many jobs for kids back then. No fast foods. Mr. Reavis should be
commended for working so many school kids and Bernice for putting up with us,
even tho they are both gone now. I think I broke record for breaking the most
coffee pots in fountain and yet Bernice kept working us. Good people helping
kids."
----------------------------------------------------
"I grew up in Ada about half a mile from
the Brick Plant. My parent's yard has many Ada bricks lining the flower beds.
The Brick Plant is now closed and a new housing addition has been built nearby.
Mr. Robertson, the ninth grade science teacher, would have a walking field trip
every year. One of the places we went to was the big dug out pit at the Brick
Plant. We, if we were daring enough, went into the big pit and looked for
fossils. We found plenty of them. Ada has a new walking and bike trail. Concrete
was poured where the old railroad tracks were and this trail goes by the old
Brick Plant. You can walk up the hill and look down and still see the big pit. I
enjoy your This and That."
----------------------------------------------------
"Lake Murray is one of the premier tourist
and sporting attractions in the State of Oklahoma, and its history, too,
deserves attention. Perhaps one day there will be a monument of Oklahoma red
granite at the lake to honor Charles Weldon Tomlinson, Charles Albert Milner,
Jr., and W. Morris Guthrey for their dream and for their dedicated efforts to
make Lake Murray a reality."
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch: Today I was at a school field trip
to the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City close to the Capitol and saw this bell.
It was the school bell for the Stoney Point School in the Rose Hill township
near Guthrie.The school was built sometime before 1897. The school building was
used until 1946. In 1987 it was moved, lock stock and barrel to the Harn
Homestead and reassembled. Everything in the school is original. Even the
potbelly stove and the original chalk board made from mud plaster and horsehair.
I saw the bell and had to snap a picture for you. The Harn Homestead is located
at 313 NE 16th Street. The original Harn Home is there and several other
structures and it is a historical site and educational facility. All the kids
from my 9 year olds class dressed up in period clothing and they had school
there in that one room school house today. It was neat. Also attached is a photo
of the school. It is all original except the location."
http://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/StoneyPointSchoolBella.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/StoneyPointSchoolBellb.jpg
Note: The school is beautifully preserved at the Harn Homestead and 1889ers museum.
http://docublogger.typepad.com/countryschool/2009/02/my-entry.html
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"You have mentioned a couple of times the Ada brick plant. I don't know why, but I can't remember the old man's name who owned the Ada brick company. I worked there more than a year in the 50's... and he paid every Friday... with SILVER DOLLARS. That was a BUNCH of silver... and weight." -George Hill
"Butch, someone asked about a photo of the Potts Red River Chile building in Healdton. Here's an inside photo of the place with background information contained in the publication. "The History of Carter County, Published 1957, sponsored by the Ardmore Junior Chamber of Commerce." -C. Dwane Stevens
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15b/PottsChiliIniside.jpg
"I am doing research on Love County schools. If anyone has any information, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks." - Barbara at bruzicho@hotmail.com
"Talk of children's wading pools in parks in Ardmore has me curious about mine and the complete history of it. As a child in the SE part of Ardmore, us kids would gather at the wading pool at Whittington Park and have a big time in the hot summertime. We would wait on the old lady, who wore a full old dress and old fashioned bonnet, to come and turn on the water and fill the pool. Then we would have the biggest time. She knew all the kids and was there all during my young childhood. Maybe you or other readers can give us some history on the wading pool and the lady. Now this wading pool was in the middle of the park, not to be confused with the big swimming pool between the park and Hardy Murphy Coliseum that by my time had been filled in. Looking forward to reading about it." -Randy Day
A few years ago, every morning during the weekdays, around 7:15am there were about half a dozen of us guys who were waiting in the lobby of the post office for the postal employees to finishing putting mail in the PO boxes. We kinda have what I call a "bored meeting", discussing everything from politics, to religion, to current events, to sports. (But when they discuss sports they've left me out. haha.) Anyway, one of the men who is always there at that time of the morning told me something that stuck in my mind. He said his father, who was born around 1900, used to tell him when he was a kid,
"If you don't know where you came from, how can you know where you're going".
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
Follow me on the TruVision lose weight program
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/truvision.html
Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Bells of Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Carter County Courthouse Paver Project
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/pavers
Ardmore High School Criterions Online
http://www.ArdmoreCriterion.com/
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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