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Below is April 3, 2004 to June 26, 2004.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday May 29, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 371
The countdown has begun to the 3pm Saturday afternoon and the Music Fest begins! I've had a lot of people tell me they plan on attending. I sure hope the weather cooperates on Saturday afternoon and evening. Everything is a go, and there's going to be a lot of food, music and fun starting around 3pm at the Garden Center. Becky Garrett and Trudy Reasoner will also sing again that night at 8pm at the Tivoli with don bridges and his band. There are four people in don's band. If it rains, we will have the music fest inside the Garden Center at 3pm. Hope to see a lot of you there! Don't forget to bring a lawn chair! Saturday Music Fest "> <----- Click Here
I believe another piece of Ardmore's history has died a natural death. Last Sunday, May 23, 2004 I was passing by the Temple Emeth at Stanley and "E" Street SW and saw a U-Haul trailer backed up to the rear door of the building. I saw 2 or 3 men and the same number of teenage boys carrying everything out of the church, furniture and all, and packing it in the u-haul trailer. I could kick myself in the you-know-what for not stopping and finding out the details. The Jewish church in Ardmore was one of the first places of worship in this town. We learned in the Mailbag of a T&T issue two weeks ago that Ardmore was the first town in Oklahoma to have an established Jewish community in the state. I would imagine one of the most important things that qualified it, was the building of the Temple Emeth. Back in the beginnings of Ardmore the Temple Emeth was at 121 "A" Street NW behind the present day Ardmoreite building.
As I researched Ardmore's history the past few years, it became clear to me that so many homes and properties within a 2 or 3 block area of the Temple Emeth were owned by Jews during the early years of Ardmore's growth because this would place them close to their place of worship. Sometimes when I pass 614 Stanley SW, I think about Ely and Virginia Greenberg and the times I spent listening to them in their jewelry store.
I remember many times how my grandfather Stanley Carmon and I would go to the depot around 4pm and watch the train arrive in the afternoons. While we were at the station, many times my grandfather and I would walk to Greenberg Jewelry and visit. The store at 117 East Main was next door east to Daubes Department Store on Main street. It was always so enjoyable to visit Ely and Virginia Greenberg, they were nicest couple, and even though I was only around 12 or 13 years old, I enjoyed the time I spent in this Jewish store and always looked forward to returning. I remember so well how elegant and refined Mrs Greenberg always dressed and looked. She was so kind to me. I saw on the obituary page where their daughter, Sandra Greenberg, passed away just last December here in Ardmore. <----- Click Here
Maybe a T&T Reader can share their knowledge of the local Temple Emeth, its past and its future. I'm sure one of the reasons for its closing would be declining membership the past few years. I remember reading in the newspaper a few years ago where Ludwig Isenberg tried to continue holding services there, and would guess after his death in March 2003, the decline in members continued. <----- Click Here
Talk about little known towns in Oklahoma and those that no longer exist today, I have a booklet I got from the State titled "Town and Place Locations" that list 4,500 towns in Oklahoma. It is 56 pages in length. Listed are some towns in the oil boom years and are no longer. Some are just ghost towns and have completely vanished from the landscape. The booklet was first published 40 years ago by the Department of Highways. Copies are still available for a $1.50 charge from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Reproduction Branch. Towns are listed by location by legal description i.e. Section, Township and Range, and what county the town is located.
Look here under the 'blue bar' that says Manuals for "Town and Place Location - 1991". <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
A couple of weeks ago we talked about the Zaneis Schools tearing down the old Tearchers Dormitory next door to the school there in Zaneis, Oklahoma. J.B. Means sent me really some good pics of the dormitory. I believe one is of the original dorm before the present building was constructed. The 3rd photo are several views of the inside of the building just before it was torn down. Dont you just love that swing in photo number 2? I can still remember swinging in the swing at my grandparents Carmon on 3rd NE as a kid. Since we didnt have a water cooler or air conditioner til around 1960, that swing was the coolest spot around the place in the hot summertime. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I appreciate the inquiries by several of you when you saw in The Daily Ardmoreite the other day a relative of mine passed away. Helen Carmon was married to my mother's brother, Pratt Carmon. <----- Click Here
A Reader asked this week when the old locomotive was moved from the Depot to its resting place now in front of the Hardy Murphy Coliseum? I know it was in the 50s? Maybe someone will remember?? <----- Click Here
Boy, thats a pretty bell on that 1108. <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"I read the article in the last email of T&T from Doug Brown who mentioned fond memories of Caddo street. I, too, have many memories of that area, and I found it to be as fascinating as a carnival. It seemed to have that air about it as it took a good while to go down the sidewalk from Main to Broadway. I can remember as a good sized boy when my Mom would be downtown and both of us boys would take a notion we would just like to walk back home in NE Ardmore. My Mom would always say, "now whatever you do, don't go down on Caddo on the way home." Well, no sooner said than done that is exactly where we both started out for as it was such a fascinating place for a couple of young boys just passing through. Then we could cut across the Frisco rail yards, and then the Santa Fe, which shortened the walk by several blocks. Yes, those were the days, my friend, those were the days. I also remember the Dinkey. It was the last of Frisco's passenger service out of Ardmore from here to Hope, Arkansas daily except Sunday. There was a second Dinkey which started out at Hope, Arkansas each AM en route to Ardmore, Ok. It usually arrived here around 6PM. The next morning it would leave Ardmore around 9PM, and passengers were promised to be in Hugo, Ok by noon or shortly thereafter. I never did get to ride the Dinkey, but wished a many a time I could have, so such disappointments often went with childhood in the days I grew up."
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"Mr. Bridges, Mr. Frier Rabbit is wondering when could you please turn the wind off. He can't keep his little dug out clean, and the wind broke one of his favorite dishes. Hetoe lays at his "dugout" to try to block the wind from going in. He also stated that he hopes you don't like to eat rabbit." -Frier Rabbit and Hetoe -------------------------------------------------------------------------
[TERRITORY NEWS.] WINFIELD NEWSPAPER UNION, NOVEMBER 8, 1890. The people in the Chickasaw nation go up to Oklahoma for a "time." Ardmore has applied for articles of incorporation as a city, having a population of 3,000. Now that Oklahoma City has a lady barber, Guthrie will probably bob up with a man milliner. The Guthrie Capital is authority for the statement that the old cow trails make good cotton fields. The legislature will have to rustle along if it is going to give El Reno and Norman a chance at the capital. The Norman townsite case is under immediate consideration at Washington and will be decided upon soon. Oklahoma City expects to get coal--as good as any in Pennsylvania--for $4 a ton when the Choctaw is built. About forty teams, containing over 150 persons, passed through Kingfisher on their way to the Chickasaw nation, there to wait until the new country opens for settlement. This is simply an index of those who are daily coming into the territory for the purpose of settling and purchasing Oklahoma farms. There are a good many people who do not like Governor Steele, personally, politically, or otherwise, but they are ready to concede that he is endeavoring to build up Oklahoma as a territory and will do his utmost to bring her in as a state at the earliest possible date. He is also very solicitous for the poor and old soldiers within the limits of the territory. <----- Click Here
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"Had a flash-back when I read the article about the hotel in Davis. When we were very young our Aunt Agnes Smith was trying to carry your cousin Ed and I down the stairs from the Doctor's office on the second floor when she slipped half way down and we all three tumbled down together. Mom and the Doc ran out and he told her that the only thing that saved us from being badly hurt was our very young age - we were both still in diapers. We lived in one of the rooms near the Doc's office before we moved in with Mom's sister Dovie and her husband Bill Williams up at the Mobile station just south of the Buckhorn Cafe. Your Uncle Paul Bridges (our Dad) had already been listed as a MIA in France. A couple of months later is when Ma and Pa Bridges and Mom got the word that Dad was killed in action. Date - this same day May 21, 1945." -Cousin Poss in Korea
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"I read the article titled "Grocery Stores of the Past" on your web page and wondered if you knew of any place I might find information on Grocery stores in Ardmore in the Far Distant Past in 1900-1920. My Grandparents married in 1894 & lived in McMillan, at that time Chickasaw Nation Indian Territory, later OK where their 2 children were born. They stayed in McMillan until early 1900 when they moved to Ardmore and opened what Grandmother called a neighborhood grocery store. I presume the name was "Griffin's Grocery" because their names were Thomas Griffin and Olivia Sumpter Morrison Griffin. Olivia ran the grocery store and Thomas farmed and they later bought other land. Thomas died of a heart attack in February 1909 at the age of 54 and Olivia continued operating the grocery with the help of the 2 children. Later after the children were grown Olivia developed heart problems & was told she must move to a warmer climate. My mother said that "Ringling Railroad bought land from Mama to build a round house and 'Y' to use as a Switching Yard". I've no idea of the street address but in the 1980's an old Ardmore schoolmate of mother's visited her and said a shopping mall was now on the site of their old home. I have an old picture of their home and have copies of some old real estate sales but wondered if I could find any more information about their grocery store in Ardmore. The family moved to South Texas in 1922 and my Grandmother died in 1949 at the ripe old age of 88 and my mother was 96 when she died but they never forgot their days in Ardmore. I would surely appreciate any guidance." -Nell Lewis nlewis@cox-internet.com
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"I have included relatives buried at Pruitt Cemetery. We have the funeral records for each. We know Nora and the infant did have FH Markers; They were listed in a cemetery book as such. BUT, We have not been able to find the mention FH Markers in the cemetery. Any idea on the keeper of burial's sites in the cemetery?" Pruitt Cemetery Marines, Elsie 11 Jan 1903 - 6 Oct 1940 Marines, Infant of Mack and Elsie 4 Oct 1940 - 4 Oct 1940 Marines, Nora 15 Mar 1877 - 24 Feb 1931 Marines, Victor 19 Mar 1862 - 5 Jan 1939 -Bill and Fran Tate ottob@webtv.net
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"The first Hardy Sanitarium was built in 1911, after Dr. Walter Hardy, Frederick P. Von Keller, and Dr. Robert H. Henry established the first hospital above Ramsey's Drug Store on the corner of Caddo Street and Main in 1901. Dr. Hardy expanded his hospital into one of the most modern medical facilities in the country to serve the people of Ardmore and surrounding areas until it gave way to progress and the new Memorial Hospital in 1955. The Hardy Sanitarium was located where the post office is now on southwest corner of B Street and First Street in Ardmore."
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>From ConnectOklanoma Listserver: "Concerning the location of the old Jordan Bus Station, I know the location because my mother owned and ran the little cafe that was in the bus station. It was located where the present antiques shops are on Main St. now, the "Sugar and Spice" and the other one whose name escapes me. Anyway, B. L. Owens Furniture Co. was in that same building for many years. But even before B. L. Owens, was Jordan Bus Co. There was a drive-thru off of Main street that went through the building and the buses came in and unloaded and loaded people inside the building, then the buses exited onto Hinkle and then to Mill St. If you go behind there in the "alley" or Hinkle you will see there is still a driveway area instead of a curb. Anyway, my mother, Ora Spurlock, owned the eating place and was there many years. That's how she raised us after my Dad was killed in a train accident in 1935. I was very young then, but she was still running this when I was older. There were many people traveling during WWII, many servicemen, and it was a VERY busy place. My mother used to bring home someone who was stranded or had an extremely long wait and give them a place to rest. After WWII and more people started getting their own transportation, the bus traffic slowed down and the Jordan Bus Co. was sold. But this was our livelihood for many years. She went very early and worked very long hours. She was assisted by my oldest sister. They were both very good cooks. Just a bit of Ardmore history for you younguns. I'm enjoying all the discussions." -Jerry Almon
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>From the ConnectOklahoma Listserver: Jerry Almon, thanks for sharing the story about your mother Ora Spurlock. I remember her so well. I went to her house in the 200 block of 10th SE in the ambulance so many times when she was sick. She was a remarkable lady. I will never forget her kindness even when she was so sick. Everytime I drive by there even today, I think of her. I never forget people who show faith and strength in times when they are the weakest physically. I remember one afternoon in particular, Cliff Easley was driving the ambulance and I was the attendant that time. Cliff was backing into Mrs Spurlock's driveway with that 1967 Chevrolet Station Wagon, and he told me to watch on my side. There was a very small tree, like half as big as your wrist, that cliff didnt see, he hit it bending it way over. He hollared at me, "I thought you were watching!" I told Cliff, "I thought you could see that tree". LOL Here is a pic of that station wagon. <----- Click Here
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"We have installed a link to your four men hanging webpage & photo. Hope to keep it permanently on our home page. We will also be installing your Web page www.oklahomahistory.net on our "Old West Ticker Express" located at the top of our home page. The ticker is one of our most popular feature." <----- Click Here Gary S. McLelland
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"Windows XP and Windows ME have system restore built in, but Windows 98 does not. However, 98 does have Registry Checker (known as ScanReg). To use it go to dos from windows or restart the computer holding the F8 key. Type scanreg/restore at the C: prompt and a menu will come up with several date options to restore your computer."
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The Daily Ardmoreite June 5, 1910 ESCAPES FROM THE COUNTY JAIL Charles Huffaker a prisoner in the county jail, charged with murder, made his escape Friday night sometime between the hours of nine and ten o'clock. The escape was affected by digging a hole under the wall at the northeast part of the building. It is customary for the deputies to make a round of the premises along about ten o'clock every night to see that all is secure. Last night when Deputy Bishop made the round as usual, he discovered the hole and upon investigation it was found that Huffaker had escaped. No trace of the man has been found so far but the sheriff is exercising every effort to round up the fugitive. Huffaker killed a man in the vicinity of Baum and has been in jail awaiting trial for some time.August 11, 1925 SAM DAUBE AMONG THE EARLY COWBOYS; WORKED IN THE 70'S Among the early day cowboys of this country is Sam Daube, who, with his family, now is in Baden Baden, Germany. He may not return here in time for the reunion of the men of the 70's which will be held Sept 17 at the Southern Oklahoma State Fair at Ardmore. Mr. Daube was a cowboy. He did not own a ranch until years later when he made enough money to buy lands and cattle and have a ranch of his own. He worked in the cow camps, rode the bucking ponies and took pot luck with the crowds and he and the men who afterward became his partners, Dave Daube, Max and Simon Westheimer, built up a large fortune. These men are to Ardmore largely what the firm of Kemp and Kell always has been to Wichita Falls.
August 12, 1925 Thirty Years Ago: From the files of the Ardmoreite August 12, 1895 According to a report from Gainesville, Jim Brock and Arch Hunter staged a free fight in the rear of popular resort in the Texas city which resulted in both being somewhat worse for wear, beside the added humiliation of arrest and fine which followed their argument. The paper said "they fit an' fit" until they were out of energy and called it a day. Some were skeptical about asphalt as a paving material and in order to demonstrate its merits A.N. Beauchimin announced that he would drive a heavy loaded wagon across a sidewalk he has recently laid for Pennington and Williams. The census of Davis, the little city to the north, had just been completed and showed that exactly 350 people lived there, with 133 school children enrolled in the school. Ten Years Ago: From the files of the Ardmoreite August 12, 1915 Col. Sidney Suggs returned to active management of the Daily Ardmoreite after a year and a half with the state highway commission. Indications of much higher price for crude oil were given by the notification of the Dundee and Samoset companies that they would sell no more crude for 30 cents a barrel. A honeymoon prank, attempts of friends to pull him from a moving train, proved fatal to Arthur Veitch, wealthy young stockman of Mazie. Thirty Years Ago: From the files of the Ardmoreite August 13, 1895 Some Ardmore lawyers went to Gainesville to take depositions and it was reported that they, with Gainesville lawyers staged a "parrot and monkey time" in the office of Davis and Garnett, in which ink wells and paperweights played an important part. No casualties were reported. Charles L. Stowe received notice that he had been appointed United States marshal to succeed his brother, the late L.L. Stowe, and was preparing to take over the duties of that office. He won the place over a long list of worthy candidates. Three men were killed and 10 seriously injured when a boiler exploded near Oakland. But two street fights were recorded 30 years ago today. Both took place in the vicinity of the Whittington building and caused considerable entertainment for a large circle of spectators. No arrests were recorded. J.M. Dillingham of Overbrook reported that his store and the postoffice had been broken into and robbed the night before. He stated that approximately $85 in stamps were missing when he opened up. Marshal Stowe went to investigate. Ten Years Ago--From the files of the Ardmoreite August 13, 1915 Two reels of moving pictures depicting the activities of the Order of Moose are to be shown at the Royal theater. Mayor Mullen issued orders to the effect that boys must cease riding bicycles on the sidewalks. The Ardmoreite announced that the day was "Friday the 13th"
August 16, 1925 The modern way to listen to the engine is to stand at the back of the car and while the motor is idling, hold the sole of the shoe across the end of the exhaust pipe in such a way as nearly to block the escaping gases. There should be even firing. A regular miss will be an indication of spark plug trouble as a general rule. But if the exhaust is "mixin' 'em up," as repair men say, the trouble is more complicated. This often is an indication that the spark is too far advanced.
49ERS READY TO HIT TRAIL FOR MOUNTAIN CAMP Grand assembly of the covered wagon caravan of the Red River council, Boy Scouts of America, will be held Monday morning at the fair grounds and escorted by a detail of scoutmasters, will move north out of the city on the first lap of its 34-day trail through the Arbuckle mountains, leaving Ardmore at 7 o'clock. One hundred and four boys are registered for the camp. This is the largest number of boys ever registered here for the annual camp. Those who are fortunate in being permitted to attend this camp have dreamed dreams of the early days of '49 and the covered wagon trails of the west and this opportunity to make a similar trip comes as one of the biggest adventures of their lives. Boys privileged to make this trip are: Roy Shores, Cortes Stubblefield, Tide Cox, Jr., John Landers, Frank Culwell, Hugh Hawley, James London, Jr., Max Gilstrap, Audry B. Bivens, Lester Gilstrap, Howard Scarboro, Robert Williams, Leslie Hamm, J.W. Dyer, Nevil Rogers, John Hagan, Ludie Cardwell, Elwood Thompson, Forrest Jackson, Harold Wilson, Lee McLaughlin, Joe Cooper, Archer Akers, Olin Denton, Walter Richards, Jack Stone, Ewing London, Stanley Marsh, John Lawrence, Elvis Leeper, Stephen A. Douglas, H.B. Wiles, O.A. Kitterman, Fred Harris, Charles Bennett, Royce Plane, Dorman Dayton, Richard W. Combs, Billie Baker, Edward Shelton, George Robinson, Roland Bishop, Cecil Bonds, Ralph Ledbetter, Ray Brown, Ralph Brown, Duncan Robinson, William Robinson, Everett Aldridge, Wayne Wintin, E.S. Williams, Clifford Burkett, Overton Michael, Neale Phelan, William Brooks, Ray Wofford, Leslie Huddleston, Carl Bennett, Richard Swink, Cecil Thurston, Phillip Brady, Bernard Brady, Leon Goss, Joe McGee, Casey Trussell, Ewell Smith, John Robert Coznell, Higgins Davidson, Elmo Stacy, James Spears, Praether Brown, Horton Willingham, Keith James, Robert F. Scivally, Vernon Carruth, Ealey Brown, Thomas Hall, Elmer Schnelenberger, Robert Adams, Herbert Jacobs, Debs Clayton, William Olsen, Buster Monroe, Willis Choate, Cato Gill, Ben Tom Gill, Tutman Gill, Frank Burris, Arnold Anderson, Mathew Berryhill, Frank Berryhill, Jack Sullivan, Glen Davis, Willie Pritchard, Byron Parkinson, Billie Morgan, Harry Tucker, Leo Sullivan, Louis Duncan, Fred Blockinger, R.C. Howard, and Cecil Adcock. NEW POTATO CHIP FACTORY IS READY After an enforced idleness on account of fire that destroyed the plant, the Ardmore Potato Chip factory will resume business at its former scale Monday morning according to an announcement of Harry Sharkey, manager of the factory, Saturday. Mr. Sharkey states that the new plant has been carefully equipped and better prepared to take care of the constantly growing business than ever before. The new factory was erected on the site of the one recently burned at 22 Fifth Avenue, Southwest.
ARDMORE PUTS HIGH GRADE OF GUNS ON MARKET Sheriffs Marvel at Beauty of Manufacture; First Week of Operations; May Exhibit at Fair. The Hoffman arms factory began work making rifles and shotguns last Monday morning. Although quite considerable was accomplished the first week, yet there is much to be done before the factory can be operated to full capacity, according to men in charge. Within a week to ten days it is expected that everything will be running smoothly and rifles and guns will be ready for the owners bearing the Ardmore factory stamp. During the week just passed the Oklahoma State Sheriffs association held a convention in Ardmore and all the delegates visited the factory and inspected the rifles and shotguns. They were a unit in expressing surprise at the quality of guns turned out by the Hoffman Arms company. The Hoffman Arms company not to be outdone, donated a fine high grade rifle to the winner of the pistol contest. This was won by Deputy Sheriff Stein of McCurtain county.
HEAD OF ANTHONY CHAIN STORE HERE, OPENS ON SEPT. 1 J.D. Armstrong, manager of the new Anthony chain department store to be opened here the first of September, arrived in Ardmore Friday morning to superintend the remodel and furnishing of the building formerly occupied by the Cold Storage company in the Pennington Building on East Main Street. A sales force of some twelve persons will be employed in the store, several of whom are expected to arrive this week.August 17, 1925 NEW PRINCIPAL ARRIVES F.R. Born, principal of the junior high school, and Mrs. Horn arrived here last week from Bartlesville and are at home in the Poulter apartments. Born succeeds T.Russell Fisher, who has been principal for the past two years.
NEW COLISEUM AT FALL FAIR; GREAT SING BEE The fair board is building a coliseum at the fair grounds this fall and public meetings will be held each day. The coliseum at first may be only a tent provided with chairs and a speakers' stand but some of these days the management hopes to have a real auditorium at the fair in order that big public meetings can be held there. At the coliseum this year there will be community singing every day at 1:30 at which Will Gardner will be the leader. Mr. Gardner is president of the Carter county singing convention and Secretary George Dyer has put the responsibility of the community singing at the fair on his shoulders. Mr. Garner has accepted the work and hopes to do it so well that it will be made a permanent feature of the fair.
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Oklahoma Geological Survey <----- Click Here
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"Butch, My daughter-in-law sent me these. Lots of events going on in Oklahoma City over the Memorial Day weekend. Thought you and your friends or co-workers might find these interesting and they are free. With gas prices out of control, that is a nice thing." <----- Click Here
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"Hey Butch, I ran across this site the other day. It has some good historical pictures of route 66 in Oklahoma. I just thought some of the readers would enjoy it. Great news letter last week." -Scott in Fort Worth, TX <----- Click Here
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"Butch, In T&T May 7 someone asked about a picture of AHS. Irmadene Blankenship's husband built a model of the old high school. I am sure he has a picture of the building."
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We live in possible the greatest country in the world. The world looks at us with its eyes on freedom. Many Americans have laid down their lives in war so we can live in a land of freedom. Please remember those sacrifices on Memorial Day.
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at.....how many want in.......and how many want to get out." -Tony Blair
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday May 22, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 370
Next Saturday, May 29th is the big Music Fest! I've received quite a few emails the past few weeks from folks all around and in other states, saying they will attend. I'm looking for a real good turnout and a whole lot of music and fun that afternoon and evening. (If the Hits are an indication, the concert webpage is getting more Hits then any page on my website right now.) Be sure and bring a lawn chair to sit in.... and maybe some sunblocker too. Of course, if it rains we will go inside the Garden Center. There is more parking available behind the Catholic church and behind Lincoln School. I appreciate those of you who have promised to bring sodie pop, goodies, etc or donated money to help with expenses. Hope to see everyone the 29th! An Ardmore Afternoon
In last week's issue we mentioned the passing of Carter county historian Bill Hamm. This week his son Steve Hamm brought me his dad's database records which he had converted over for use in Microsoft Access, both Access 97 Version and Access 2003 Version. I have uploaded the databases to my website and they are now available for download from the Bill Hamm Memorial webpage. There are over 53,000 individuals in the database. I can not imagine the miles and time it took Bill to enter those records, one by one, over the years. Bill Hamm may be gone from this earth, but his work will be here helping people find cemetery records for as long as this world turns. <----- Click Here
If you ever need to convert a letter from English to Spanish, this is a great website to do it. It looks like to me there is no restriction to the page length of the letters it can convert. And you can click on the handy tools... like Copy, Paste, Print, etc. The instant translator is free. <----- Click Here
I received a telephone call this week from a Mrs Bill (William) Wadkins of Artesia, New Mexico. She does not have a computer or the internet, so she had to contact me the old fashioned way via the telephone. It seems her husband's father was a deputy sheriff back in the 40s and she was seeking any information anyone might have on Bill Wadkins Sr. During the time he was reportedly a deputy sheriff for this county, Wadkins was living in County Line, Oklahoma. Thats in far NE Carter county. If anyone has any stories, or info, or remembers Bill Wadkins, please contact Mrs Wadkins at 505-746-6356 in Artesia, NM or send me email and I'll see it gets to her. Her snailmail address is 1102 Runyan Ave, Artesia, NM 88210.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago about the Teachers Dormitory was torn down at the Zaneis School in western Carter county. I was hoping someone would send me a pic of it just before it was demolished. I heard there were a lot of people there with cameras that Friday. If you know where a pic is, let me know. Or better yet, send it to me! The teacherage was on the National Registry of Historic Places. I guess they notified the proper agencies before tearing it down??? <----- Click Here
In Internet Explorer, that "GO" button beside the Address field serves no useful purpose, since entering a URL followed by the Enter key accomplishes the same thing. Reclaim space by going to Tools|Internet Options|Advanced tab|Settings menu and uncheck the "Show Go button in Address bar box. The check box is about the 19th one down. Back out with OK. And while your at it, take the check mark out of the box that says. "enable automatic resizing" in the Multimedia Group. To me that is so aggravating to click on on a pic and Windows automatically downsizes the photo.
Yahoo.com has improved their People Search feature that past few days. You can now search the entire U.S. for a person. I put in Butch Bridges and my God, there are two more of me. There should be a law against it. lol. One is in Alabama, and one in Texas. hahaha <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"NBC then had the Red Network and the Blue Network. The Red Network was the top dog. Later the Blue Network became the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)."
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"Would like to add another interesting story to T&T about my great grandfather, Louis Charles Slaughter, Ardmore Oklahoma: Louis Charles Slaughter died of a heart attack at his home August 24, 1942, at the age of 86. He was born June 20, 1856, Bonham, Texas and married Annie Thomas in 1878. They had a son Dudley and a daughter Wynnie. Louis lived in the early days at Jimtown in Love County. He made the run into Oklahoma in 1889, homesteaded a farm near Noble, later moving to Ardmore with his family. He first bought the property where Mrs. J. B. Spragins lived, across Broadway from the Sam P. Hale agency, but decided it was too far out and purchased the property at 117 First Avenue southeast where he resided more than 52 years. His daughter, Wynnie, who was Mrs. L. D. Nelms was born there and her son Kenneth Nelms. Louis's wife, Annie passed away in 1935. Louis Slaughter was the fire chief of Ardmore for 10 years and was the first man to draw a pension upon his retirement in the state of Oklahoma. He was known as "Chief." After the great fire of 1895, the citizens of Ardmore got busy to organize a volunteer firefighting force and purchased a horse-drawn, steam powered pumper fire engine, as the first beginnings of today Ardmore Fire Department. Displayed in "Greater Southwest Historical Museum" in Ardmore, is the fire engine, with Louis's name engraved on the stack. His buggy which he rode in was drawn by a white stallion, pictures and other interesting articles are also on display. Louis Slaughter was among the first automobile dealers in Ardmore and first to sell cars on easy payments. Name of dealership was "Slaughter Motor Company," 110 East Main. They sold Maxwell Cars, Maxwell Trucks, Kissel Kars and Trucks in 1918. Louis Slaughter was member of the Methodist Church, Woodmen of the World and was a Mason. He had always owned business property and was one of the substantial men of Ardmore Oklahoma. I would like to thank Ruth Bellamy of Ardmore, for all her hard work, searching for information on my great grandfather Louis Slaughter. She was my "angel." -Marilouis Lovebug3231@aol.com
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"Hey Butch! You just ain't gonna believe this... Medicine Park, Oklahoma has regressed back to the good ole days! I hear tell there is a western gang in town. I saw 'em a few weeks ago for the first time striding down the street with their six guns on, all dressed in cowboy garb. Then they showed back up last weekend to have a shoot out at the General Store. I wasn't able to attend, but I heard there was a little ole lady all dressed up in her 1920 finery sportin' a new hat and purse from Paris. The gang came after her and I could hear her from the other end of town, "You can take my husband, but don't you dare touch my Paris hat and purse!". The gunfire proceed that outburst, and well, I can't rightly say what happened, but it appeared to have been settled for a while. Thank God, no deaths were reported! Now I hear the entire town is getting in on the commotion. Everyone has started dressing the good ole way (you know, hats, long dresses, bonnets, and such) and are supporting the gang in trying to revive the spirit of the town. Next weekend on May 22nd, 3pm (let me just give you the flyer so you can decipher this yourself!) If you need to have a bit of excitement in your life, well this beats churnin' butter any ole day! Ya'll come on out and witness the jail break! It'll be in town center just south of the Old Plantation." <---- Click Here
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"Butch, I was wondering if you knew Nadine Gayler (maiden name Virginia Nadine Garrett) She was married to Reubin Gayler (sometimes they spelled it Gaylor.) Well her family owned a Honky tonk, and I think it might have been named the Tavern.(It's in an old picture) Her brother Rupert wrote home from duty in WWII to Dougherty asking about the H.C. and Granny often talked about the brawls (she said she'd rather watch the fights than dance) I just found your website and though the dates are from 2002 I was hoping you still used this email. Thanks so much, Andrea Afra grand-daughter of Joe and Gaylene Jewell (sooners!) and great-grand daughter of Reubin and Nadine Gaylor." Editors@freepresshouston.com
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"The Band Point Blank was not from Ardmore. Although some members of the group had ties to Ardmore, they were a mid-70's Rock Band out of Texas. My cousin Kim Davis was an original member and one of the founders of the band and his mother was born in Ardmore. The band had a new member that I think was from Ardmore, but I don't recall his name. The first album they released was called Point Blank. The band had the same manager as ZZ-Top. As the music business goes, there was a big rip off of the groups profits from their record sales and they ended up in a long federal court lawsuit and the breakup of the band." -Ken Mills, Ardmore
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"Hi Butch, the name was Innersanctum Mystery, I'm pretty sure. My husband and I loved it and every time we turned it on, his mother left the house." -Wanda
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver:"Jerry, include me in that memory laps, sometimes I can not remember what I got up to do but I can remember exact marble or top's games in the 3rd & 4th grade, who I was playing and the out come. Does anyone remember playing top's, spin them with a string, we used to sharpen the spike and try to split each other's top's. And yoyo's, we used to do some amazing things with yoyo's, but I liked putting an extended string on mine and be upstairs in school and run to the balcony and boink kids on their heads below on the first floor." -Jack
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "The Comet Hut in Dickson was not built until the seventies, by L.D. Cavner. After his death a few years later, I purchased the Comet Hut from his wife. It was located on the old Highway 18, all that is left is the slab."
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "Does anyone remember playing top's, spin them with a string, we used to sharpen the spike and try to split each other's top's. And yoyo's, we used to do some amazing things with yoyo's, but I liked putting an extended string on mine and be upstairs in school and run to the balcony and boink kids on their heads.
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "I remember the tops and now I know who boinked me on the head with the yoyo. We also used to play a game called "Land" or "MumblyPeg" where we would draw a big circle. In those days almost everyone carried a pocket knife and we would throw our knives in the cirlce (one at a time) then draw a straight line across from where the blade stuck. We would continue doing this until there was no place left. I can't remember how we determined who actually won. Maybe some of the other 1950's guys will remember."
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The Daily Ardmoreite August 16, 1925 SHERIFF LONDON AND HIS FORCE HAVE BROKEN UP DESPERATE BAND Rudy Kirk, 24, Arthur Kirk 21, and Dan Kirk, 19, are in the Carter county jail and their pal, Elva Smith, 23, is under arrest at Chandler and Bob Short and a government agent have gone for him. These boys claim that for ten years they have been operating out of Healdton. Rudy Kirk entered the game early and he seems to be bringing his brothers into the net with him. When he was arrested at Verden in Grady county he would have fought if there had been a chance to win. He was at the home of a brother and his wife was with him and his mother was near by, it was said. Kirk on the 28th of May married a girl 16 years of age and the girl wife was with him when the officers took him. Kirk reached for his gun, but Bob Short stood with his gun pointing at him and Kirk knew he did not have a chance to win. He abused the officers who arrested him and said it had been his intention all the time to be taken. The Kirk boys are charged with having stolen a new Studebaker Six in Hutchison, KS, a Ford roadster in Chickasha, a Durant Six in Joplin MO and a Dodge sport model and a Ford sedan. Most of these cars are at Chickasha ready to be restored to their owners. Rudy Kirk is said to be the man who was shot some months ago at Cromwell by Charley Smith. He broke jail at Kiowa KS, he also broke jail at Hobart, OK, at Childress TX he escaped from the officers. Only recently he jumped his bond in McAlester. He will be arranged before Judge Spaulding next Friday in the federal court and charges will also be filed against him in this county by County Attorney Dudley. He often goes by the name of King and wears a handsome Shrine pin. Some of the other members of the gang wear blue lodge Masonic pins. According to the information gathered by Bob Short, who for the past ten days has done nothing but work on this case, Kirk went into a bank at Verden. He was introduced as a brother of his who was a farmer in the community. He mortgaged a crop, received money from the bank and left town. Recently in Chickasha he succeeded in getting a check cashed and used the funds to buy clothing. In Healdton, he used girls it is said, to get his mail and used them in getting mail sent out. It is believed that the Kirk's is the last gang operating in this county and Sheriff London is to be congratulated upon the fine work his office has done and upon the service it has rendered. Further arrests are expected. It is believed that Elva Smith will tell the story of the gang when he is once in the Carter county jail.
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The Daily Ardmoreite July 27, 1910
Ten Cars Peaches Are Being Shipped
Thirty thousand dollars will be derived by Carter county this year from its fruit crop. For the first time in its history, commercial shipments are being made. The crop is of enough importance to induce a buyer to come here and take the crop f.o.b.. Ardmore, which insures the grower a price for his fruit. Felix J. King says close observations have been made as to the quality of the land that produces the best fruit and red clay hills that matures and colors the crop beautifully will be in much greater demand from this time on.
July 31, 1910
If the new states automobile law, effective Monday, has the expected effect, walking in the big town will become less dangerous. Incompetent and reckless chaffeurs, by the operation of the law, are finding themselves minus an occupation, and will have to engage in a "walk" of life less perilous to pedestrians. Drivers of motor vehicles who have ever been convicted of careless or reckless practices, who use alcohol or morphine, or who have any mental or physical information which interferes with the proper management and control of automobiles, are under the ban of the new law.
August 2, 1910
On or about July 18th we will move to Pennington Building on East Main Street, known also as the "Old Bonner Stand", Western Pharmacy, M.M. Johnson, prop.Notice of Sheriffs Sale
Ardmore National Bank, plaintiff, vs R.W. Dick, defendant Whittington Motel on corner of Main and A Street Southeast, furniture, fixtures and building to satisfy about $13,000 sum.Advertisement: Whitfield Hotel, Davis, Oklahoma
A three story brick, just overhauled and newly furnished. Most conveniently located hotel in the city. One block east of depot on Main street.
August 4, 1910
J.B. Spragins and his son, Hal, started in their Buick machine yesterday for Denver, Colorado. They had traveled but a few miles out of town when the inner tubes of the machine melted under the excessive heat and they were forced to return. Between here and Springer their machine went down. Mrs. Spragins will make the trip on the railroad and when Mr. Spragins gets his machine back in the city, he will probably decide to take the railroad for his journey.
August 7, 1910
Ed Byrd, while gathering peaches yesterday fell from a tree some distance to the ground. He sustained fractured ribs and painful internal injuries. It is believed that he is not seriously hurt.
En Route to Denver
Hal Spragins and Tom Patton left here yesterday in the Spragins Buick for Denver. They will go by way of Sulphur and were accompanied by Wilson Newman and E.S. Page. At Sulphur, Mr. Spragins and Mr. Patton will be joined by White Frost. The elder Mr. Spragins decided to go on the railroad with Mrs. Spragins.
Plans are being matured to repair the Carnegie Library building and arrange the second floor for the convenience of club meetings and to be used as an assembly room for the high school. An architect has looked over the building and estimated that the needed work can be done for $1500. Arrangements will probably be made by which the city commissioners, the school board and the library board will share in the expense of the work.
August 8, 1910
Sam Woods was in the city today for a short time. He is engaged in thrashing oats in Marshall county and says his crop is turning out about 78 bushels to the acre.
June 10, 1925
Chamber Moves Into New Quarters
Work on the new headquarters for the chamber of commerce is finished and the office equipment is being moved today from the old headquarters on A street northwest to the Von Weise building on West Main street.
June 14, 1925
Chamber of Commerce moved to 230 West Main
FRALEY FILLS FURNITURE ORDER OF 2500 SETS
One of the going industries of Ardmore is the Fraley Toy and Novelty works located on E street, northeast, their specialty being mill work and the manufacture of toys. They have just completed an order for 2500 toy chair and table sets, each set consisting of two chairs and a table requiring a total of 32,500 pieces of specially sawed lumber, 55,000 nails and three gallons of glue to put these sets together. Fraley employs from two to four persons in his plant.
SELLS 160 COPIES OF VOLUME OF POEMS
Elmer Baker, post laureate of Ardmore, who published recently his first volume of poems, has sold 160 copies and 50 copies have been sent to Durant for sale there among the teachers of the state. Baker has not passed out of his teens yet, but he has made more than a local reputation as a poet.
A poem called "Oklahoma" from his pen would do credit to any author and his lines dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Cornelia Washington have touched the hearts of his readers.
CLAUDE PRUITT WANTED HERE IS CAUGHT IN ADA
Ada--Claude Pruitt is held in jail here awaiting return to Ardmore where he is said to have shot a policeman while resisting arrest. Pruitt was arrested here today by officers who had kept him under watch for several days. June 16, 1925
IS DISASTROUS VENTURE FOR MEN WHO SPENT
John Ringling, who is one of the business wizards of the world, once said that asphalt might be made to pay in this country when operated on a small scale, but he said that any attempt to operate mines on a large scale would be met by men who have interests in big asphalt deposits and would render such operation unprofitable. This seems to have been the case in the operations of the Continental Asphalt Company at Dougherty. Back of this company were men such as Robet W. Dick, discoverer of Ardmore and for ten years mayor of the city, Roy Stafford, founder of the Daily Oklahoman and for many years its guiding genius besides other men of more than ordinary ability and powers of leadership.
The company spent large sums of money. It is said that as much as two million dollars in debts were contracted and the company did not or could not make their business pay. Almost 18 months ago a receiver was named for the company and Monday the assets were sold for $350,000 in the city of Sulphur. The new purchaser has made no announcements and said none would be made until the sale has been confirmed by the court.
July 14, 1925
Material for the construction of a $40,000 hospital as an addition to the Oklahoma Confederate Home has begun to arrive at the Hudson-Houston Lumber company. F.E. Watson has the contract on this structure and he plans to begin work within a short time.
Steel has arrived for the construction of the factory for the Hoffman Arms company. The roofing material also is here and the new building will be completed by the first of the month. F.E. Watson is the contractor.
Wicker Bros. are laying the foundation for an additional warehouse which the Ardmore Flour and Feed company is building east of its home on the Rock Island tracks. It will measure 28x60 and will have tracks on both sides.
Work is progressing on the refrigeration plant which Johnson Bros. are building on the Santa Fe tracks one block south of Main Street. The building will be constructed somewhat like the Simpson building the plans calling for large concrete pillars or columns that will rise to the top of the building. A 27 foot concrete mixer has arrived direct from the factory to be used in the construction of this building. It will measure 194x160 and will be two stories high. Teel Snelson is the contractor.
Steel for the construction of the Love & Thurmond garage on A street northwest is expected here within 10 days and the building is making good progress. Teel Snelson has charge of the work.
C.L. Smoyer has completed within the last few days some improvements at the Imperial refinery and a home which he built on A street, northwest for Mr. Sappenfield also has been completed.
Work of rebuilding of the grandstand at the ball park is almost completed. The roof is yet to be put on and a ticket office and store room are under construction. Brief Interviews
George L. Dyer--When you see about ten men leave here Monday for a 350 mile trip to attend a pecan meeting then you will understand the enthusiasm that has put Carter county in the lead in pecan production in the state of Oklahoma.
Dr. J.T. McClure--They tell me the new pews around at the Methodist church are too slick for a man to risk himself taking a nap.
Dr. R.L. Davidson--No use of a fellow trying to make a fool of himself.
Katherine Thomas--I never did have quite as much fun as when we girls stole our way out over the roofs of the buildings on North Washington street.
Dr. John R. Pollock--A national park at Turner Falls would not be a bad thing. The government will take that spot when it understands what a wonderful playground it would make.
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700 Ranch House The first structure in the present townsite of Ardmore was built in 1870 by Alva Buckingham Roff. It was located at what is now the Southwest corner of G street and Second Avenue Southeast, along the west fork of the Anadarche Creek. Two log cabins were connected under a single roof by a "dogtrot" breezeway. With the establishment of the 700 Ranch and the Roff home, Ardmore's history begins. The Roff Ranch continued in operation from 1870 to July 28, 1887, the birthday of present Ardmore. The first Santa Fe train arrived in Ardmore on that date. The railroad cut the ranch in half as it moved from Gainesville, Texas across the state to connect other rail-lines at Purcell, Oklahoma. The house was moved to the Carter County Museum grounds and dedicated on Saturday, April 27, 1991. The historic event climaxed with a fish fry for the public.
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"Hello Butch, It looks like the "Rothwell Town Fair" has dates in June for this year. Do you think the www.radiocarousel.co.uk will be on he air from 5th June thru 12th June this year? -Lee Wages, Ft. Worth,TX. <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, I hope someone can check out any report of the murder of my grandfather, Robert William Bridges, in or around Addington or Waurika, Jefferson County, Indian Territory sometime between 1897 and 1903 by Willie Cain, a brother of Drusie Ella Cain, wife of Robert. I have exhausted all other sources I can think of, so how about it? Please see if you can find any information regarding this. I could not find any record of his burial in that area last October when I was in Ardmore. Orene, Jr and I drove out to Waurika and I did come up with info about sale of his 500 acres at Addington 1906-1911 by his younger brother William Joseph Bridges. I think that possibly he actually was killed around Houston, Texas, while visiting his wife's relatives there, but anyway. Thanks, nephew!" -Don Bridges, Sr. California.
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "Many years ago, in the late 30s and early 40s I sold newspapers on the street. I would go down on Caddo and had a lot of good customers. Myrtle Mayhalls 5&10 cent store was one of my regular stops. She bought a paper from me every day. Her home was on the corner of 4th& F st. N E. Next door south was the Round Up. It was run by Bill & Dimple Ford. They ran a pretty good place for a Caddo beer joint. They had a son named Basil. The lived in the back of their beer joint. The only thing that separated there living quarters from the bar was sheets on a wire. Next door to it was a barber shop that had a lady barber, in fact I think she owned it. Got hair cuts their a few times. I got to know a lot of the people on Caddo. Some were drunks and some were the owners. But no one ever bothered me. I think in those days if some one bothered a kid they would make him regret it. I can still remember a policeman that had the Caddo beat. A Mr Sloan. At one time I remember 2 Hotels on Caddo. Across the street was the Frisco Depot. Can any one remember the little train called The Dinkey. I think it went to Durant and back daily. The last beer joint before you got to Main street was the Blue Front Bar. It was owned by a man called Big Jim. I better get off here for now. Im writing a lot of things down and will post some things along. Any one remember Chiaman George that had a cafe under the Knox Hotel? I can." -Doug Brown
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"I just found this on my back doorstep tonight. I think we have new neighbors residing in the thick Vin ca ground cover around our cellar in the back yard since this is the third one I've seen lately. This one is either Paul or Pauline Possum and yes I let him (or her) go back into the ground cover. I'm sure I'll regret it later! Ha! How about those shiny ears?" -Dwane Stevens <----- Click Here
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>From the ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "My uncle's brother "Henry Guess" was killed on Caddo. He was in a bar and the bartender had been dating his wife and I guess he said something to him. The bartender shot him and they said Henry pulled up his shirt and said "look what you did to me" and walked out and sit on the stairs next to the bar and died. I was only 12 at the time but I still remember the call in the middle of the night. The police were calling my dad because all of the family was living in California. My uncle was Bill Guess once a policeman, and deputy sheriff in Ardmore." -Jo Evelyn Barton
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>From the ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "I have been reading several of your e-mails with references to Sooner Foods and Priddy's. My memory is not perfect anymore but I do have very first hand knowledge of both business's. First, my Dad James Howe built Sooner Foods in Sulphur and sometime around 1954 or 55 he was contacted by Joe Taylor to buy the old Joe Taylor store in Ardmore. He bought the Taylor store and then started a very eventful experience in Ardmore. He built the "new" building sometime around 1958 and shortly Mr. Short decided to move Bill and Bar's next door. There were many wonderful people who were employees and customers of both business. In 1959 my ex-husband and I moved to Ardmore to work at Sooners. We were here when the guys drove the tow truck thru the front window and towed the safe off , those guys could have made the stupid crooks TV show today. We were here the terrible night the store was robbed and the policeman was killed. Now for Priddy's--Sometime in the 60's my ex, Eddie Lewis went to work for the Priddy's to start their own state wide distributing Company. They named it Quality Foods Distributing Co. It turned into a very successful business but due to lots of circumstances neither business survived the many changes in the food industry and the oil bust of the 80's. If you want the original chicken salad you have to start by cooking your own fresh chicken. Thelma Priddy, the wife of Woody used to cook chicken once a week. When the business grew too large they started buying precooked chicken and Thelma and Woody were never as happy with the product. The truth is that if Priddy's was still in business making the original recipes the way they started few people could afford to buy it. The manufacturing business was owned by Woody and Fred Priddy. All the Priddy brothers were in the food business in one way or another. Ron Priddy, the son of Thelma & Woody was the last family member to own the plant. He now lives in Dallas. Priddy's was sold several times after 1986 and eventually was closed."
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'Brown Springs At Night' (from the Ardmore Afternoon CD)
1999 by don bridges, songwriterHuntin' snakes where woods devour the roadway
Leeper Lake down by the Texas line
Set the bait, retreat into the darkness
Death in the park that hist'ry left behind
Drippin' meat chopped open with a hatchet
Evil deeds left scattered on the ground
Take a drink on top of toppled markers
Chickasaw heart screams out without a sound
Their spirits still fight
In Brown Springs at night
In the place where cannibals run rampant
Gettin' late when ghosts begin to rise
Course your fate and hold onto your partner
Doomed if you start to open up your eyes
Down in Brown Springs at night
Chorus....
Brown Springs at night
(The moon is bathed in blood)
Shadows in flight
(They shudder from the sight)
Man dog will bite
(You better bring your Bible)
Down in Brown Springs at night
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday May 15, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 369
Everything is progressing nicely for the 3 musical concerts to be held in Ardmore on Saturday May 29th. Music Day is only two weeks away, so make your plans to attend if your in the area. A number of you have already emailed me, some from 100s of miles away, and said you plan to be here the 29th. This may be a one and only time for some good fun and music with many friends we've meet here and I hope we as many as possible can take advantage of this time of song and music. One thing I hope, some of you planning to attend will stop and pick up a bag of ice. I know we will need ice for the sodie pops. So let me know if you can bring a bag of ice and I'll put it down on the Donation List. An Ardmore Afternoon
Here is an old 1907 photo Ardmore's old Carnegie Library where Becky Garrett will sing. <--- Click Here
This week another surprise came in the mail. Two CDs with the 1944 Ardmore phone book on them! A T&T reader in Arkansas scanned every page and burned them to CDs. I'll be referring to those CDs often in the months ahead! Friends, they make life worth living!
I was surfing around a couple of days ago and found a freeware program that takes your genealogy program's data and compiles it into a webpage format ready for uploading to a website. By the way, nearly everyone has a webspace along with your internet connect, you just need to put something there for browsing. Anyway, I was amazed how easy it was to take the Gedcom file created from my Family Tree Maker program, and import it into the freeware GedHTree program. I have 135 family names in my Family Tree Maker program, and here is how GedHTree took that data and created a webpage automatically in a few minutes. <--- Click Here
If you don't have a genealogy program your using, entering your kinfolks information in, I would recommend the free program Personal Ancestral File (PAF) by the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City. It is a good starting place, to get your feet wet in the world of genealogy recording! <--- Click Here
This is a link to GedHTree's website and their free program for download. <--- Click Here
Ardmore lost a true historian this week. Bill Hamm had many accolades but one of his works will be here for many generations. Its his work on the cemetery records for this county and several surrounding counties in which Mr. Hamm worked recording information and placing in the Carter County cemeteries databases. <--- Click Here
These is a link to Bill Hamm's burial records on Genweb. <--- Click Here
Here is a December 2003 photo of Bill Hamm. His historical work is going to be missed by many. <--- Click Here
Ardmore Main Street Produce Market will be open again starting May 15th. The new location will be at 310 West Main in the parking lot of BankFirst. The market will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 7am. I'm going saturday to see if they have any real Vidalia sweet onions from Georgia! And remember, if they were not grown in those 20 counties in Georgia, they are not sweet Vidalia onions! <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
Last week Carter County Commissioner Bill McLaughlin dedicated a new bridge over a low water crossing on Refinery Road in honor of commissioner Joe McReynolds who died in office last Fall. The bridge is also in memory of two teens who lost their lives at this low water crossing about a year ago in an accident. The location is almost 3 miles north of Veterans Blvd on Refinery Road. <--- Click Here <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
We have a new resident at Ardmore's Central Park. A buffalo so to speak. a href=" http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos4a/CentralParkBuffalo4a.jpg "> <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
The Carter County commissioners agenda is now posted every Friday morning on the County Government website under the Commissioners button. Just click on the 'Commissioners button' and then the 'Agenda button'. <--- Click Here
THE YEAR 1904
The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the US., and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.
The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
Ninety percent of all U.S. physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."
Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.
The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. StrokeThe American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"The Ardmore H.S. class of 1974 is in the planning stages of a 30th reunion for this summer. Anyone who went to school at any time with this class is welcome to come. We are looking for addresses. They can send their info to me, Lori Davis Ledbetter." tuufus@brightok.net
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"Does anyone know what happened to the lions that were on display at the old Ardmore High School front steps?"
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"Hi Butch, Recently i flew back from California to attend the Dickson School reunion. Needless to say it was great. I saw the (kids) i went to school with from 1936 until 1943 when i moved to California. The old school looks a little different as i'm sure i do. Had a great time reacquainting with my school buddies of 61 years ago. Think we've changed a little. Also saw the old Tivoli theater where i used to see movies for 35 cents. Saw the old Fox theater was closed. Only cost a dime to see movies then. Remember when Berwyn was changed to Gene Autry. Had a big parade where Gene Autry rode his horse Champion. Ardmore has changed a lot since then but still has very friendly people.Lots of memories there. Take care . Really enjoy your very interesting articles every week." orieant@aol.com
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"The creaking door was the trademark of The Inner Sanctum. The show was on the Blue Network from 1941 thru 1954, and is listed in the Radio Hall of Fame." <--- Click Here
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"Butch, a reader ask for the name of the radio show that began and ended with the "creaking door". It was called "Inner Sanctum". The spelling may not be right. It scared me to death as a young kid." -Sam Williams, Denton, Texas
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"Butch, I think the name of the 40's radio show was "Inner Sanctum". That creaking door used to scare me to death!" -Melba
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"but re: the fella asking about radio show that talked about 'the shadow' it WAS called "The Shadow" and the punch line was "Only the Shadow Knows for Sure". sure still enjoy T&T." 'nita
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"Some of the readers may be interested in this new book written by Phillip Swatek about the lynching of four men in Ada, Oklahoma. This website tells all about it." <--- Click Here
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"Butch, In the early 80's (if I remember correctly), there was a band based in Ardmore called Point Blank. They released at least two albums. One was "On a Roll" and I can't remember the name of the other. Anyway, if any T&T readers know where I can get recordings from the band, I would appreciate it if they would contact me at VaunG@aol.com
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"Bridge On the River Kwai (1957) with William Holden and Alec Guinness was playing when the Tivoli Theater burned in September 1958."
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"I have heard the Colverts sold all but 6-7 acres of the land, and 2 Colvert sisters now live in the old homeplace. The new owner of the sold property has been clearing it for possible sale or development. I think the house should be put on the National Registry of Historical Places. It is a beautiful place."
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"Hi Butch, I've never been accused of being a compooter whiz, but thanks to you and some of your kind readers willing to share info, By Golly I'm getting purty dern good. Special thanks to the person who gave a website to download the "Magnifier" program. It really works, and is very helpful." -Bob E.
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Ardmoreite July 15, 1910 WALK DOWN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT REVEALS THE PROGRESS OF ARDMORE Say, it doesn't matter what the knocker or the census man or anybody else may say, but old Ardmore is growing into a newer, greater Ardmore every day. Oh the census man is going to talk right for we have knowledge from the bird and that need not arouse your political suspicions either. But just take your wife and gather your orphan children about you and go for a stroll along Ardmore's business district. What a change the years and not so many of them either have wrought. Over on the south side you are entertained for several minutes with a front and furniture display at A.C. Youngs that would excite the pride of cosmopolitan. It is not mere money getting or a place of business here but an effort to charm and a commercial home cozy and enticing for salesmen and buyer. Then on we go, but halt! There is another vision of the "home beautiful" breaking in upon the children and we stop to admire the 20th century front of the Chickasaw Furniture people.
It is summer, and we can't stay on the south side all the time, and then a heavenly prospect woes. It is Ringers and "she is a peach--speaking in volapuk. Say you talk about Ok City being a good thing. There is nothing up that way that surpasses Ringers. If every old blue-nose or tight-wad in Ardmore could be roped and rushed into Ringers once a day, there would be optimism in the city that would land it in the buzzing, hustling column so quick and so strong that it would make Ardmore a city set on a hill whose commercial light could not be hid. Try it. Do you buy bread? If you never tried it, see how the process goes in one of the prettiest bread houses in Oklahoma right here in Ardmore. Hold on, just wait until Solomon gets that hundred globe tungsten chandelier set on fire and those genial clerks all set right behind those polished counters, and the $3,500 fountain and then enter. You will think you have slipped through the pearly gates. And Solomon will tell you it pays. Pays in cash, in smiling customers and in his own feelings. Say, that last is something that is worth a great deal, isn't it?
But little Mollie has slipped down the street and you hear her cry, "Oh mamma, come here." Now "here" to Mollie is in front of Hotchkiss' show window. Such spangles, cut glass, fine china and all as tastefully arranged as though the public paid Hotch for the window show business. Well, now, since you come to think about it, the public does that very thing or Hotch would not do it. But before we know "mama" has picked out an exquisitely carved piece of Libey and given hints about a birthday she is going to have and this modern show window has gotten in its work. "Gee, I wish they would clear the streets of lumber and stuff?" little John shouts, as he runs into some timber where the old First National used to be and where the new, mightier and more beautiful First National is going to be, because of those same timbers. As you peek about you see that Ardmore is growing, growing in the faith, in power and beauty which ever attends true growth. It is all right to loan and borrow money--but a fellow wants to throttle that "old lady of threadneedle street" because she set a pace for cob-webs and dingy corners that it has taken the wisdom and culture of centuries to overcome. Come down--you big braggart cities of this or any other state and make a deposit in the First National when it gets in its new home and you will know Ardmore is one of the best.
Then there is the Ardmore Drug Co., with big open spaces, a great inviting fountain spouting Olympian nectar all the time when properly approached. You want to go in and put your family in comfortable chairs just sitting round there everywhere and never leave it. But you have a home and must return.
Out of mere habit, though begotten by the realization, that when you take a trip along Main you always lose something if you do not see Madden's you drop down and there it is again. No, not as old, old, but as of new. You talk about mysterious powers, but there is no greater divinity on earth that a good carpenter with some saws and planes and the painter right after him. Madden's proves it. There is one of the most inviting fronts of a great business in the state and all because of faith followed by hammers, chisels, saws, paint and things.
Keep on this hallelujah chorus? No, I must stop. The town is growing Ardmore has plenty of just such evidences that we are rich. Rich in natural resources, rich in opportunities and she is growing richer in men. We are almost moved to end this poem with a gush from the old poem, "God give us men. Men, a time like this demands." But we shall resist. We shall come down or up the street again.
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ARDMORE HIGH SCHOOL In 1921, Ardmore High School, by a division into Junior High School and Senior High School, became even larger and greater than before. This seeming paradox is accounted for by the fact that while the ninth grade was taken from the Senior High School to form the upper grade of the Jr. High School, there was added to the total high school enrollment of the city, the seventh and eighth grades, which previously had been assigned to the intermediate schools of the city. The total enrollment in the jr. and sr. high was 1200 with 35 teachers. The buildings and grounds occupy a block in the heart of the city, making access to them equally easy for everyone. Both buildings were thoroughly equipped to care for the pupils with the most modern and approved standards. Every facility for study, recitations, laboratory work, music, expression, etc., was provided. Each building had a large gymnasium adequately cared for the athletic and physical needs of the students. The curricula of the schools differed considerably that they may meet carefully the widely different needs of the boy or girl just entering the adolescent age and the boy or girl entering into manhood or womanhood. The Junior High School was designed very largely as a finding school. The children were introduced to a wide variety of subjects and given the opportunity to learn which of many lines was best suited to their own particular talents and needs. The Senior High School was designed to act as a finishing school for those who were about to enter the field or business or other training schools, colleges or universities.
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"Do you know of any good Real Estate agents that can hook me up with a decent place between Dickson south to Lake Murray, Tater Hill ( my family homestead ) ??All my Holley cousins live along there somewher's or another. Lookin at about $150 K for about 10 fenced acres and a pretty decent house for Me and the Mrs. Anyone get in touch with me please. Keep up the good work and thanks Butch." -Kirk Holley Smith kirksmith@earthlink.net
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Ardmoreite, August 8, 1910 - School Districts May Own Sites Will be Allowed to Purchase Tribal Lands if Application is Made Now School Districts in Carter county that desire to purchase land for a site not exceeding two acres may make such purchases from the tribal lands through the union Indian agency at Muskogee.
August 9, 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Earl and children, Robert Earl Jr., Edwin and Charles are visiting Judge and Mrs. John Hinkle. Mrs. Earl is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle.
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Ardmoreite August 7, 1910 - Advertisement, Nobby Summer Dresses for Madden's Monday Special. We have just received by express, two lots of Lawn and Batiste dresses (Pictures show lovely floor length dresses with gathered skirts) $1.98 and $2.98 Madden's The Coolest Store in Town
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"You may want to check out this site:" <--- Click Here
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"I am not sure when Dr. H.A. Higgins started mixing the formula for Higgins Cure All but my dad says only one pharmacy at a time was allowed to compound it after Dr. Higgins stopped doing it himself. I think Martin's drug was the first, then Clarence Fedler and finally T&M Pharmacy took over many years ago. I think it still costs $2 for a 2 ounce bottle. My dad buys it by the pint or quart so they usually have to make up a batch when he wants it. He uses it for sore throat, sun burn, chest colds and just to rub into a leg he injured while working at Tyler and Simpson in 1947. He and my grandparents put about a quarter tsp on their tongues when they'd get that itchy feeling in their throats. It states it is only to be used externally but my grandad was 80 and my grandmother was 92 when they passed away. My dad is 86 so I guess it is pretty safe. Since I have diabetes I rub it on the bottom of my feet and on my legs. It sure makes them feel better. You can taste it when you put it on the bottom of your feet. I don't know how it works but I know it does." -Jerry
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"I read about stories of Ardmore on T&T and enjoyed reading them. I have a story about Louis Charles Slaughter, who was fire chief for 10 years in the yrs of 1900 and his picture, buggy, first fire engine with his name engraved on it. They are displayed in the museum, there in Ardmore. He was my great grandfather." -Marilouis Lovebug3231@aol.com
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'Under New Construction' by don bridges, songwriter
The signs beside the highway try to warn us of the dangers up ahead,
But its too late to turn back, we can't change the choices of the lives we've led,
We'll drive until tomorrow, no one knows what trouble lies around the bend,
We only know the love we share still means too much to say we've reached the end.
The detours in the road today, don't have to signify destruction,
Be patient during this delay, our love is under new construction.
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday May 8, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 368
Plans are still moving forward for the Ardmore Afternoon concerts by don bridges and his band members being here the 29th. Plus we've added some sweetner to the pot. Country and Western singer Becky Black Garrett of McKinney, Texas will be here that afternoon around 3pm at the Garden Center. Becky along with her friend Trudy of Ardmore will get everyone to toe tapping and in the mood for more good music that evening at the Tivoli. Becky is originally from Ringling, her parents still live there, and I've updated the webpage with her bio and photo. I hope manyof you are making plans to attend all the events on Saturday the 29th. It will be a lot of fun and music for everyone who makes both shows! And dont forget 'mister don' has a Children's Concert at 2pm at the Tivoli. So let's get those youngins there for some fun too! An Ardmore Afternoon
I think a most of the subscribers to the ConnectOklahoma listserver gained 10 pounds this week. We had a lot of great posts about old times, including a lot of mention about those food dishes that only parents and grandparents could fix the right way. Boy, I remember my mother's red velvet cake, she made me one for my birthday every year.
My friend and fellow history buff in Healdton, Kenneth Eck, sent me a pic of the old Dundee School bell this week. Its a beauty of a bell. Here is Kenneth's email: "Butch here is a picture of a bell I know you will be interested in. This is the original bell from the Dundee School. There has not been a school there since the last class graduated in 1964. At the recent Dundee Reunion Banquet they had this outside the door of the Healdton Middle School Gym where they had the banquet, and hardly anyone could resist ringing the bell. It now is resting down at the Healdton Oil Museum, and I guess it will stay there except for the reunion times when I know they would like to take it right back to the gym." Thanks Kenneth for sending this piece of history, I know its going to bring back some memories for some! <--- Click Here
There was an interesting email come in this week to the Oklahoma Listserver from x-Ardmoreite Mark Coe now of Norman. Mark's grandfather owned Coe Grocery on "C" SE years ago. He sent in a file with a lot of Ardmore history, in chronological order. Some good reading! <--- Click Here
I never cease to be amazed sometimes at the friendships that develop through just an email. Many months ago John Trusty in Joliet, IL emailed me asking for more info on the 1966 airplane crash at the Ardmore Airpark. Then one day he found me an old brass key like opens the old jail cells in the Annex Building next door to the courthouse. I have that brass key hanging on the wall. This week a surprise package arrives from John, and in it is a cigarette lighter with the Folger Adams Security Company of Joliet, IL logo on it. On the back side is a picture of a jail cell key. <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
I hope none of you got that nasty sasser virus that came out a few days ago. If you get it, you will know it real fast. The minute you connect to the internet, your computer will reboot. So you cant stay online long enough to go to a website and download anything to fix it. The only thing you can do is download the needed files/programs from another computer with a CD burner. Burn them to CD and take the CD to the infected computer. I recommend downloading stinger from McAfee's website and using that to get the virus off the computer. You will find a link to it on my virus help webpage. <--- Click Here
I am now the proud owner of an original 1910 color map of Oklahoma. Its kinda neat to look at the towns that no longer exist. Since it is so large, I had to scan the map in 2 halves. The files are nearly a meg so give them a little while to download. <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
We have a new association for the preservation of lawman and outlaw history in Oklahoma! Its name is the Oklahoma Outlaws Lawmen History of Oklahoma. I'm familiar with most of its board of directors and especially the driving force behind its formation, Herman Kirkwood of Oklahoma City. We have talked about Herman several times in past issues here and he has always been a great help to me when I need historical info on some outlaw or lawman from bygone days. I would encourage any of you dyed-in-the-wool history buffs (or newcombers wanting to learn more) to join with me in becoming a member. OKLHO will be coming out with their first Association Journal the middle of this month. I can't wait to get my hands of that very first issue! You can visit the association's website, still in the making at the link below, or email Molly Stehno of Shawnee for more info and an application. Her email is mshoop@sbcglobal.net <--- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
The Seminole Producer, April 13, 2004, Seminole, Oklahoma: "Positively identified as Mrs Bessie Mooney the blonde woman arrested by county officers three miles east of Seminole was taken to Ardmore to answer felony charges according to reports made by Shawnee officials. Complete information concerning the charges Mrs. Mooney will face was not known but it is believed that she will be subjected to questioning about the escape of her husband, Hubert Mooney, car thief, who sawed his way out of the Ardmore Jail. Information furnished by Pottawatomie county officials led to the organization of a posse headed by Bob Short and Chris Whitson when it was learned that the woman was on her way to this city from Wewoka. The carloads of officers heavily armed spotted the car on the highway and forced it to the side of the road. Mrs. Mooney, with three companions, two men and a girl, were brought to Seminole and held pending the arrival of Sheriff W.A. Roberts and P.G. Blain, county evidence men, Shawnee."
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"Butch, Do you have a photo of the old Ardmore High School, from back in the 40's, or at least when it was still being used??? My mother went to AHS in the 40's, and my sister is doing a memory book for Mom, who died in 2002. Need a pic of the AHS, back when it WAS AHS." teematt@cableone.net
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"Hi Butch, Here is a web page to download a magnifying glass. I use it to view thumbnail pictures since they are small and hard to make out just what the picture is. Sure helps when looking at thumbnails on Webshots." <--- Click Here
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"The world is indeed small! I also grew up knowing the Lucero's. I went to Shamrock Drive In owned by Hob and his brother Dave. The were the main stay of the teenagers and kept a lot of the out of trouble and those that were they helped get out of and stay out of trouble. It was the kind of Drive-In you drove around honked at your friends, they had the best Hamburgers ever eaten. Hob and Dave Lucero went to school with my Mother.After they retired Hob went to Springer, NM and taught at the Boys School there." -Rae Jean Miles bigreds23@cableone.net
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"Butch, My husband (we're from Granite/Willow originally) thinks statues (on the ends of the bridge between Granite and Lone Wolf, Oklahoma) may have ended up in a little veterans memorial next to the First Baptist Church in Granite on Main Street." -Judy Bowman, Foster, OK
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"Here is a site that deals with children living in boxcars in Oklahoma and other places." <--- Click Here
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"Golly Butch: You've revived some more memories for this "use-to-be" theatre owner/manager (and all around 'flunky') with the inclusion of the articles below:Healdton-- The final detail of installing talking pictures in the Thompson theater at Healdton has been completed and the first performance given Tuesday afternoon. Good crowds have been in attendance throughout the week, beginning with a packed house on Tuesday night. William Haines in "The Duke Steps Out" as first picture talkie proved a very popular number.
THOMPSON BOYS RINGLING THEATRE Thompson Bros. operators of theatres in Healdton and Wilson have closed a deal whereby they purchase Ringling Theatre which they will operate. The Ringling Theater is closed until new sound equipment is installed and the theatre building overhauled with new seats and other equipment installed. The Thompsons are successful theatre operators and will give Ringling a good amusement house with the best programs that the patronage will afford.
My first job in a movie theatre was "changing the marquee and the 1-sheets [paper advertising]" in a Thompson Theatre at Britton, Oklahoma in the late '40s. I "graduated" to work in the concessions stand and to ticket-taker before moving into the projection booth (working at both the "B" house across the street, and the Ritz. I taught both of my brothers to be projectionists. When I was 16, my 11 year-old brother Allan was working part-time as projectionist at the Britton Theatre (totally illegal these days because of child-labor laws and the dangers involved with machinery and electricity). Glenn Thompson was president of the corporation which then had its offices on "film row" in Ok. City. During the war while he was away (fighting for our freedoms), his wife had run the company. When I went to work at the Ritz in Britton, they had theatres in 8 towns which included: Healdton, Wilson, Atoka, Tonkawa, Britton, and if my memory is correct; Wewoka, Lindsay, & Ringling. His sons, Richard (Dick), Tommy, and (suddenly I cannot remember the youngest one's name, He may have been John, Jr.) were all in the business as managers in the small towns. When I last talked to Dick Thompson, he was owner/manager of the cable TV system in Lindsay. Ed Asher was the manager who hired me, but eventually he moved on to another position and was replaced by Homer Lee "Pug" Hawkins from Atoka. He'd started his career with the Atoka theatres and then (as I recall) managed them, and later the Healdton and Wilson theatres (both towns at the same time, and including the drive-in theatre at the Healdton / Wilson "Y"). "Pug" and his wife Mary moved to Britton (she was a secretary somewhere) where he managed the theatres until the early '50s when he was offered an opportunity to return to his hometown of Atoka. Mary had severe headaches and was diagnosed with cancer of the brain. She passed away shortly after surgery. I visited with "Pug" shortly thereafter while I was on leave from the Airforce (I was a projectionist there too during off-duty hours, for the extra money). After my discharge, I immediately bought my first small-town theatre (in Newburg, Mo.) and became the youngest independent theatre owner in America. I stayed in the business for 30 years!" RoyKendrick@oklahomahistory.net
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"Very nice! Now if only he'd photographed the side with the maker's inscription on it.... On the other hand, the style and date suggest fairly strongly that it came from Meneely/Troy. (Joe Connors uses "MT" to represent that foundry, so it's a nice coincidence that such a bell is found in Montana.) It looks to be close to 48" in diameter, judging by the paving stones below it, and of course it's made of bronze. However, my transcript of the records of the Meneely/Troy foundry doesn't show any bell ever shipped to Helena, and no bell that large ever shipped to anywhere in Montana. So either my guess is wrong, or the foundry records are wrong. Do you suppose you could persuade Kirk to take a photo of the other side of the bell? Or at least to tell us what it says? Thanks!" -Carl Zimmerman, St Louis, MO <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
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"Moore/Lang Residence. This early Victorian structure located at 626 Stanley was built in 1903 by W.R. Moore. It is characterized by materials of differing colors and textures, decorative bands highlighting arches and corners, white stone and pressed brick. The upstairs hallway is oval, with six bedrooms opening into it. The home still looks much like it did when it was built, except for the roof which was removed early on by a fire. Afterward, the widow's walk, the tower and several of the tall chimneys were not replaced. Also missing is the large coach house and two cottages which formerly stood on the back side of the big lot. Mrs. W.R. ( Nettie) Moore was interested in raising cultural level of Ardmore; thus, she regularly had the City Orchestra play concerts from the home's large front porch. J.B. and Elton Pratt purchased the home in 1945 and proceeded to carefully restore the deteriorating property. The Robert C. Langs' acquired the Moore house in 1966. They have discovered secret rooms, hidden stained glass windows and fireplaces, hand carved woodwork and copper sinks within the home."
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The Daily Ardmoreite June 6, 1910 Biggest show on earth, HO-KO-DO Vaundefille company, near the Elks building, corner of Broadway and Washington streets. Admission 10 cents to everybody.
June 7, 1910 Disastrous Fire Sweeps East Scott City; No Plans to Rebuild No plans are under way for the rebuilding of East Scott City district which was swept by a disastrous fire early Friday in which the property loss is estimated at approximately $26,875 with insurance amounting to $8100. Seven building were burned and three leveled to stop the spread of the flames. The greatest loss was the dry good store, "Said's Leader Store" which is estimated at $17,000, and on which the insurance was carried. Other building in the path of the flames were Phipps and Gassaway's empty grocery store building, $1400 loss, :Dad: Duncan's newsstand and restaurant, $2000, J.J. Eaves pool hall, $2000; the Vestile grocery store $1500 loss for stock and building; a meat market and grocery store from which some stock was saved, loss on building and stock $1500; an ice house, $750; a second hand store owned by Phipps and Gassaway, $500, and a barber shop owned by Gus McDonald, $500. The fire of unknown origin was discovered Friday morning at 3 o'clock by Mr. Suttle in Said's store, burning in the front end. The alarm was given by piston shots and by 4:00 was under control. Buildings were torn down by a team of horses to stop the spread of the flames.
June 8, 1910 Granite Quarry Sold--Tishomingo A deal was consummated today whereby the Paris granite quarry with all the machinery and appliances has been transferred to M.J. Gill of Ardmore. The consideration was $15,000. Mr. Gill has taken charge and put a force of men to work getting out stone for the Gill Construction company, of which Mr. Gill is the head, has the contract from the government for the erection of a new $15,000 post office building in Oklahoma City, also the contract for the erection of the Carter County Court House, which is to cost $123,000 and has bids pending on a large number of other public buildings.
June 22, 1910 Laying of the Corner Stone---The pretty ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone according to the ritual of the Masonic Grand Lodge will be carried out Friday afternoon at 2:30. Hon. A. Eddleman who will be Grand Master of Oklahoma next year, will be acting Grand Master for this occasion.
June 23, 1910 Contents of Cornerstone The following is a list of material which will be deposited in a sealed case in the corner stone of the Confederate Home tomorrow: The Holy Bible, USA and Confederate Flags, folded, The Oklahoma constitution, A roll of state officials, Copy of Confederate Home house bill #41, List of trustees of the Confederate Home, New Charter of the city of Ardmore and its officers, List of County officers, Many rolls and rosters of Posts, Camps and Clubs, Many lists of churches and pastors, Chickasaw Telephone Directory, Photos of Mrs. Lula Hailey Walcott, who donated the land, President Jefferson Davis, General W.L. Cabel, Maj.Gen. Wm. Taylor, and Mrs. W.T. Culberson., A poem by Father Ryan "The Sword of Lee", the F.C.V. official badge, Copy of the invitation to take part in the laying of the corner stone on June 24, 1910 and copies of The Daily Ardmoreite and the Ardmore Statesman. June 29, 1910
Building Progressing Nicely The work on the Confederate Home is progressing nicely and the building has already begun to take on the appearance of a building, the work on the basement, foundation and practically for the first story, has been completed. The east of front side of the building is being made of white brick and stone trimmings and is very attractive; the other part of the building will be of ordinary brick. Excess Fare Illegal After July 20 it will be illegal for any railroad in Oklahoma charging more than 2 cents per mile for the transportation of passengers to collect any excess charge for cash fares. Under this order the man who boards a train without a ticket pays the same fare as the man who has one.
July 1, 1910 The people who are interested in the proposed high school building would like to see the school board get busy with the sale of the bonds and build the new $100,000 building. The city schools are badly crowded. The log cabin at the park being built by the Woodmen is about finished. Both the W.O.W. and the M.W.A. will have headquarters at the park July 4 and 5.
July 2, 1910 Sulphurites See Sights High in the heavens, brilliantly lighted and traveling at a terrific speed, an airship passed over Platt National Park last night at 9 o'clock. The aerial navigator was traveling due west. Many entered automobiles and pursued the route of the airship, but it quickly left the speeding autos far behind and passed from view over the Arbuckle mountains fifteen miles away. The airship was so high that only its lights could be seen, but the hum of its motors could be distinctly heard. The swift passage of the airship with its brilliant lights and humming motors attracted more attention in this city than Haley's comet ever did. The two protractors meetings lost their audiences and the shows, dance pavilions, bowling alleys, and other amusement features their crowds. Even the merry bathers left the natatorium and rushed out up in the streets in their bathing suits to see and hear the aerial navigator in its passage over the National Park.
July 8, 1910 M.J. Gill construction company has workmen now dressing the granite from their granite beds at Tishomingo and the material will be beautiful when placed in the building.
July 10, 1910 For the first time in the history of Carter county an organized effort has been made to ship fruit out of here to the markets. The Fruit Growers Association have placed an order for 15,000 crates which will arrive this week. Among those that have fruit to ship are J.S. Mullen, W.P. Poland, Walter Colbert, Dr. Walker Hardy, Felix J. King and Apple & Franklin.
July 12, 1910 Judge T.N.Robnett, former United States commissioner, was in the city today from Davis. He says the mining industry in the mountains near Davis is proving a success and a large number of men are now engaged in taking out zinc.
July 15, 1910 Ada---This city was thrown in a fervor of excitement Wednesday night when Chief of Police George Culver deliberately pulled his revolver and shot himself in the head in the presence of a fair sized crowd at the Airdome theater on Main Street. The exact reason for his rash act cannot be learned. The dead man remarked to several just before the shooting that he was going to kill himself, but all thought he was just joking. Just before the fatal shot was fired, Culver was seen at the ticket window talking with the ticket seller. His wife was seen to approach and say something to him, and then Culver jerked out his gun, placing it behind the ear, and fired a bullet through the skull. He died in a few minutes. Mr. Culver was a young man and came here several years ago, from Grayson county, Texas. He was one of the officers who went to Fort Worth, Texas and brought back Jim Miller, who later was hanged here by a mob.
July 22, 1910 Work has began at the fire department this morning to make the changes in the building to make room for the new equipment expected to arrive the early part of next week. A combination hose and ladder wagon to be used with horses is expected to arrive Monday and the automobile combination hose and chemical wagon will arrive the latter part of next month.
July 1, 1931 Construction of the new 4,000,000 candlepower airplane beacon light on top of Timbered hill, near Turner Falls, 18 miles North of here, has been started by government airways engineers. It is to be completed by July 15.
July 8, 1931 Cedarvale to Open Saturday---one of Southern Oklahoma's newest and most modern amusement parks, in the Arbuckle mountains on Honey creek south of Davis, is to be opened to the public Saturday. Crews are putting finishing touches on the park today. Water for the immense new swimming pool is to be turned in tonight. The park is owned by Fred R. Ellis, C.C. Lynch and Bob Gardenhire, all of Ardmore. The men have built a large dam and have leveled the creek bed to make one of the largest pools in this part of the state. The pool is 1400 feet long and varies in depth. Practically the entire lake will be shady throughout the day. Workmen today were completing erecting a 40 foot steel tower for diving boards. In addition other boards have been built in around the pool shore and piers made of rocks have been set in the pool for resting places. An immense tower in the center of the pool is being wired with 10 flood lights to illuminate the entire lake in both directions. Bath houses contain 64 dressing rooms, all equipped with private entrances. Both men's and women's dressing rooms will contain showers. Another feature of the park which is being developed by the operators, is the opening of summer cottage sites near the pool. The Ardmore men have purchased 60 acres and plan to develop lots for summer homes. A roadways system is being constructed and finishing touches put on this part of the work. A number of cottages are to be constructed during the summer. A filling station and a complete tourist camp is to be erected later.
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"Several years ago I had a long article about Clemscot. I don't recall if I gave it to my Dad or not. At that time he was telling me about the horse races was the big thing there on Saturday nights. They would just go out and catch a horse, anybody's horse, and race it, then take it and turn it lose again. The article had a lot of information in it. Wish I could get my hands on it again."
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"Hello Butch, I haven't written in several years, but in Friday's newsletter a few early hotels were mentioned. My Great Grandmother operated the Jordan Hotel-Dixie Hotel-Babes Rooms and would like to know if anyone has information especially photos of any of these hotels. I have as the address, 12 1/2 A Street Northeast in Ardmore.Her name was Susie Jordan. Dates, (1925-1948) I would appreciate any help." -Marsha Schott from California wonderwoman44@hotmail.com
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"Butch, in the 40s there was a Radio Show that began/ended with a creaking door. Do you know the name of that show? If not, could you ask your readers. Maybe it was "The shadow knows" or something like that?"
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"Butch, I really enjoyed the information about the Colvert Residence. I would like to know about the Colvert home as it stands today. Who owns it? Is it lived in? What is happening to the land to the west of the house? Is that part of the Colvert property? I hope the house dosen't get torn down as businesses build up around it."
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"Hi Butch: I was looking up an obituary in the Daily Ardmoreite for a lady, and came across the following. Thought that how Jimtown got it's name might be of interest to you and your readers." -Anna Marie Wilson Lone GroveThe Daily Ardmoreite - March 20, 1924 James H. Rector, Pioneer of Old Chickasaw Nation, Died Tuesday Old Chickasaw Nation lost one of it's pioneer citizens Tuesday night when James H. RECTOR died at his home in Healdton. Mr. Rector was at the age of 77, although he was a very young man when the war between the states broke out yet he joined the cause of the Confederacy and was one of Quantrell's men.
It was 50 years ago that Jim Rector left Springfield, Mo., and settled at Jimtown in Love County. Jimtown is located about 20 miles west of the town of Marietta, on the banks of Red River. It is located in a deep sandy belt of country and is rather uninviting, still there must have been a charm to that section for the reason that it attracted some of the best blood in this country.
The town took it's name from the men who moved there whose first names were Jim, according to Frank S. HYDEN of this city, who is one of the first settlers of this country. These men were Jim Rector whose body now awaits burial in Healdton; Jim RYAN, who afterwards became one of the best known physicians and surgeons in Oklahoma and is now a practitioner in Oklahoma City where he has gained both wealth and fame, and Jim LITTLE who is one of the most friendly spirits in the west and who is today engaged in the hardware business in Lexington, Oklahoma.
Not only did Jimtown attract these men but it attracted Whitt Hyden, father of our own Frank Hyden and Louis SLAUGHTER, who for ten years was fire chief of Ardmore and who organized and still owns the Slaughter Motor Company together with his son-in-law, L.D.NELMS.
The body will be held in hopes of gathering the children before the funeral is held. The oldest son of the family, Otis RECTOR is in the oil fields at Tonkawa and another son, Arthur, is in the oil fields of Texas, and efforts are being made to locate both of these men. There are two daughters in the family, both of whom are at Healdton awaiting the arrival of the boys of the family.
Deceased is survived by his widow and two sons, Otis and Arthur and two daughters, Mrs. Carl PURCELL of Ardmore and Miss Margaret Rector who resides at home. At the last report from Healdton the boys had not been located."
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "Mark your site is really good, enjoyed it a lot. Okay Bill you got me online now. The Means drive in is now Baldwins, and I had racked my brains trying to remember Jays drive in. It is now Rabe's used cars and has been for a long time. Also trying to remember what the name of the one on 70 east, just around the curve from Bill & Barbs was. It was also a liquor store, after the drive inn closed. When in H.S. we used to stop at the old Bill & Barbs on out on 70 east, I guess where Toi's is now. They had the great big burgers. We stopped there after all of our Basket Ball games. My gosh what a lot of memories." -Karla
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>From ConnectOklahoma Listserver: "Butch, I just read the note from Doug Brown about the old swimming pool at Whittington Park. I also remember the pool and we were in elementary school and would take the school bus from Wilson to Ardmore for swimming lessons at the Pool. Wow, that was a long time ago, probably 1949 to 1951 or some where along there. I haven't thought about that place in a long time. I later moved to Ardmore with my parents in the 6th grade and grew up there." -Randall (Randy) Ramsey
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"New Remembrance Memorial Park guestbook entry yesterday from a lady in San Jose, Calif. and was a neighbor to Richard Griego (one of the men killed in the 1966 Ardmore aircrash. Don't know if you saw it or not." <--- Click Here
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"I bought an old "yearbook" from an estate sale in Lawton, OK back in l982. The annual belonged to a former Kid Key College (Sherman, TX) student, Edwina Nall. The book is dated 1927 and is in excellent condition. It is a delightful collection of rich photographs and a fascinating chronicle of the times." -Lawton, OK
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"Mom wrote this for Mother's Day in 1961. Thanks again for your great website. You give so many so much joy!" -Helen Tweed, Texas
"The Closing of the Day"
When the sun goes down
And evening comes
And I kneel down to pray
I always remember Mother
For its the closing of the day
She didn't say good-bye to me
I didn't see her go
But there were many left behind
A few of whom I know
Who loved her, Oh so dearly
For her sweet and happy way
For knowing her was loving her
She was so kind and gay
When she left I was so young
I wish I had been older
Oh there were times, I do remember
Such as crying on her shoulder
But I seem to remember most of all
The naughty things I'd say
I hope I always made amends
At the closing of the day
She left five little girls behind
Who longed for her dear face
Tho there were many who were kind
None could ever take her place
This was all so long ago
Her little girls are grown
Many years have passed since then
And they've families of their own
How she would have loved to share
Their joys and their sorrows
She would have guided with such care
All of their tomorrows
So within my heart I've built a shrine
There to always stay
Where I can spend a few moments with her
Every closing of the day
-Phoebe Tweed 1961
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday May 1, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 367
Its May 1st and the music man himself and his band members will be arriving in Ardmore in four weeks. My cousin don bridges will be holding 2 concerts at the Tivoli on Main Street here in Ardmore on Saturday May 29th. I have a webpage that tells all about the concerts and also the T&T Get Together that afternoon. The T&T Friends Get Together will be at the Garden Center on Stanley Street SW (not at Central Park as originally planned). An Ardmore Afternoon
We are going to need some help with the Get Together at the Garden Center, so if you can help, let me know by email. I'll being posting updates on the webpage above as the days go by.
This is a pic of the old Simpson Building at West Main and A Street. <--- Click Here
Here is a picture postcard of the old Westward Motel that was located just south of the present day Walmart on North Commerce. <--- Click Here
In Ardmore at 912 South Commerce is the Chief Motel. Its still there today, but here is a picture of it in its younger days, I'd say the 50s. I could sure tell some stories about the Westward and the Chief Motels and some runs I made to them in the 70s when I worked for the ambulance. <--- Click Here
This is an old badge from Ardmore, Indian Territory days from before statehood. <--- Click Here
<--- Click HereGot a snailmail this week from John Trusty in Joliet, IL. He mailed me a pic of the booking sheet for John Dillinger. It was not real clear, so the scan I did is a somewhat blurry. <--- Click Here
Remember the old mimeograph machine that used the thick gooey black ink? I still have a hand crank mimeograph machine in my garage including unused cans of ink. In 1975 I used it to run of 1,200 newsletter each month for the Oklahoma EMT Association. It was work and messing, but fun too. Use those green waxy type stencils, typed them up on an old manual typewriter. Boy, those were the good old days. lol <--- Click Here
Remember those different things other in school would make out of paper, by folding it into all kinds of contorsions? Here is a website that lets you print out some neat paper toys. <--- Click Here
Seems like with every passing week I get more questionable emails with a possible virus inside, almost always a file attachment. The past few weeks it averages 20 in a 24 hour period. I hate to think how many it could be without my ospam catching many of the suspect emails. <--- Click Here
TENEMENT HOUSE, noun, a large building divided into apartments, usually in a poor area of a city. A rundown, low-rental apartment building whose facilities and maintenance barely meet minimum standards.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"My fellow play-writers; Mike Jones, Carl Clark and Janita Black and I are very excited about getting our first play entered in competition and also having it presented locally! (We're still in shock!) I hope when it is performed on the Goddard Stage at Ardmore, you'll all come to watch! My best to you all. To read an article in the Daily Ardmoreite about our first stage play, "The Buttermilk Conspiracy" go to to the link below." -Louise (Lou) Harper, luharper@direcway.com <--- Click Here
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"Here is a site for the City of Ardmore C-130A Hercules Lockheed Aircraft" <--- Click Here
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"And let's not forget: Flash Gordon, Poncho and Cisco, The Green Hornet, The Phatom, "THE SHADOW", Red Rider and Little Beaver, Lash Larue, The Durango Kid, The Marx Brothers, and the list goes on and on." -Your cousin Poss in Korea
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"Does anyone know what happened to the statues (iron, I think) on the ends of the bridge between Granite and Lone Wolf, Oklahoma? They built a new bridge there but I don't know what happened to the statues of soldier boys that were on the ends of the bridge."
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"These are excerpts taken from the "Ordinances of the City of Healdton, Healdton, Oklahoma" dated February 26, 1923. One day each year the Boy Scout troop would take over "administration" of the City. We used these ordinances to enforce so as to raise funds for operation of the scout troop. Most of the townspeople went along with our enforcement of many of the laws that were archaic, but valid at the time of their promulgation. We as Boy Scouts had a great time and looked forward to the event each year." -Tommie <--- Click Here
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"Colvert Residence: On August 3, 1908, Maude Moore sold a six acre tract on the crest of a hill to B.M. Bynum who built the three-story residence that remains today as the Colvert home. Cabinetry signed by its builder is dated 1909 therefore it is presumed that the structure was completed in 1909 or early 1910. The home was equipped with the latest piping so that chandeliers could be lighted by gas from a single source rather than by individual oil burning fixtures. Down spouts from the roof drains were arranged so that rain water could be stored in a large cistern below the floor of the basement which was the laundry room. There were three large wash basins made of slate and could be filled with the soft rain water by use of a water driven pump system. A laundry chute from the upper floors let linens be delivered directly to the laundry room. Adjoining was a large room used for hanging out the wash on rainy days or for use as an ironing room. Thick walls and high ceilings (taller than 10 feet) plus the southerly breezes kept the interior at comfortable temperatures during the hot Oklahoma summer days long before air conditioning. Raymond G. Colvert was deeded the property on April 10, 1926. In the ensuing years to 1936 purchase of adjoining parcels increased the property to 220 acres. Mr. Colvert pursued development and operation of the property with vigor. Extensive landscaping, gardening, and renovations were soon accomplished. In the 1930's to accommodate a growing family of four children around 1750 square feet of the basement area was converted into a billiard and game room. The attic area which covers the entire house was converted into a large living space with cedar lined storage closets and also a full bath was added. A large horse barn with a hay loft was also constructed. Later a new garage and a storage room were added on the property. A circular drive to accommodate the automobile traffic was another addition. Presently the house consists of fifteen rooms with three and one-half baths with, of course, the well known beautiful surrounding porches." <--- Click Here
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"Friends, I've added a few more photos of our Big Canyon Spring 2004 Photo Session to the following link." -Dwane Stevens <--- Click Here
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"The annual ten-day festival here in San Antonio known as Fiesta concludes today. Last night as I watched the Fiesta Flambeau parade, one of the largest night-time parades in the U. S., I was greeted with a pleasant surprise. There among the 150 entrants was the Dickson High School Band! Great job they did, too. Many thanks, young people. I hope you enjoyed your visit." -Elizabeth Dyer
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"Butch - fyi about the salt mines - they are still working salt mines, mining the majority of the U.S.'s supply of salt, as well as serving as a document repository. Learjet [airplane manufacturer owned by Bombardier] keeps all of its records there as well - it's quite a site - the only method of getting to the documents [or the salt] is with a bucket-rigged elevator - quite a ride."
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"The Woodmen of the World (WOW) was a fraternal insurance organization and had lodges scattered throughout the United States. They held regular meetings (encampments), had uniforms, state and national officers, held conventions both state and national , and published a fairly large national newspaper. I'm sure most people have seen the large elaborate WOW monuments in old cemeteries. Like other fraternal organizations they had numerous symbols if the order such as ceremonial axes, buckles, watchfobs, state and national encampment pins and badges, etc. For local info the Garvin County history book has several pages of pictures and info on a large encampment in the area. Other information is probably available from various state historical societies." <--- Click Here <--- Click Here
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"Butch, in the T&T of 3-19-04, you had an article on the 1923 schools of Carter County. The school of Crinerville has a picture of three men as an inset. Could you tell me where I may purchase a copy of the picture? The three gentlemen are my relatives, Boone Bingham, Fred Rudd and Willie Wiggins. They were school board members at Crinerville. Any information would really be appreciated. Just keep up the good historical views from Ardmore and the Southern Oklahoma area." ooglee@centurytel.net <--- Click Here
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"I was searching for info on the 1909 Ada lynching, and discovered your web site. I grew up a couple of miles south of Francis. John Williamson---we called him 'Little John', because he had an older relative who was also John---was our nearest neighbor. He lived about a quarter of a mile south of us. Even though I grew up on the late 30's and into the early 50's, the hanging was still a subject of discussion on occasion. It was common knowledge among neighbors and acquaintances that there was one subject Little John did not like to talk about---that was the lynching. I had heard that Miller used Little John's horse, but I didn't realize just how close Little John came to getting strung up too. Little John and another neighbor who lived about a quarter mile north were both moonshiners. Both occasionally would get caught and spend ninety days or six months in jail. My closest buddy was Don Kaiser, now retired in Ada after a major league baseball career and about twenty years as Pontotoc County sheriff. Don's dad was sheriff when we were young, and he was usually the one who would catch Little John. It wasn't easy, because some county officials would usually ti
