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Below is October 6, 2005 to October 27, 2005.
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October 27, 2005 - Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 457
Several of you wrote the last few days questioning the first line in my last T&T. I had a typo, and no, I am not stopping my T&T. In fact, I have so much for this week's T&T, I dont have time nor space to put it all in! I'll put a lot more in next weeks T&T. I even got my hands on the recipe used by Mrs Willie Sharp back in the 1950s and 1960s at the Ardmore High School cafeteria. Mrs Sharp was the cook back in those days, and everyone just loved those cinnamon rolls.
I was talking to Mrs Mary Wilson at Lone Grove this week and she had a picture postcard of the Swing Time Play Boys band from back in the 40s and 50s. I remember some of you writing in a couple years ago and talking about this band, but I can remember the details. I hope some of you can look at this picture and tell us more about the band and maybe who the members were, and where they were from. I think this was a local band. It says on the postcard Leroy Thompson and his band. <----- Click Here
Here is a larger photo of the SwingTime band in much more detail and faces of the members. <----- Click Here
I had a lot of you write back saying you liked the white markers I've made and posted in last week's T&T. So I've created a new webpage this week where you can go and read all about it, and vote on which marker you like best.... the plain lettering or the one with the lettering blacked in. I've got the pricing listed on that webpage too. So check it all out. CheapMonuments.com
I've made a couple more markers since my last T&T. Here is one that goes to OKC for people interested in that area in having a marker/monument made for them. These markers will actually be made up near Norman, Oklahoma where we have 10 acres available to do all the work. But holler at me if you need a marker made! <----- Click Here
I'm going to Marietta Saturday morning early, to check out the new Angel Food Program that's in its second month. There will be over 400 food baskets distributed Saturday October 29th at the Eastside Baptist Church there in Marietta. These are people who have already paid the $25 for their food basket and the truck will make its delivery on that day. Its really a good deal for $25 and I'll sure be glad when some organization comes forward and gets it going here in Ardmore. I'll be the first one to join it! There are already distribution points in this area at Ratliff City, Ada, Durant, Atoka, Madill, and Tishomingo to name a few. Many more scattered around Oklahoma. You can check out all the available Host Sites and see the food menu for each month on their website. I'll have pictures to share with everyone next week! Here is the menu for next month. More detail and times and places on the website. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
Here is my lottery report for this week..... I'm in the hole big time. lol <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, Hi! Do you recall in the early 1900's an article in the Daily Ardmoreite was a picture of a Choctaw medicine man Billy Washington. And beside him on a table was a little man. do u happen to have any photos of this on your website?"
From January 29, 2000: "Butch, in the Ardmoreite, dated January 21, 1979, there is an article about Dr. Washington and Buster Ned. It seems the American Trail series filmed Buster Ned and Mac McGalliard telling the story of the Kwanakuasha. In fact one of the pictures shows Mac holding a book about the story of the Kwanakuasha, I guess. My clipping of this is torn and faded not suitable for scanning but I did have the picture of the Dr. and the little man standing on the table. You probably remember this article." <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, I was wondering if you our any of your readers can help me find a place to get pictures made from 25 mm film. When my father passed away he had some old negatives and I can not locate a place to get them developed. I live near Amarillo, Texas. Hope at least I can find a place that I can at least mail the to or something." -Joe Dumas, Texas hinkatcher@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, that Sinclair pump showed 1/10th on it, don't most have 9/10ths these days? You'll probably get 100 people writing about that!" <----- Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello Butch, I found a bell last week in an old warehouse (Selma, Alabama). It is 24" at base, solid bronze, missing the clapper, and is very heavy. Do you know anything about the value of this type bell? The only markings I could find on it were "1889." cast in it. I have included pictures for your review. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks" -Barry Borum <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Butch, my mom was a nurse at Hardy's and she helped the doctor deliver John Hinckley, Jr. When all the commotion was going on about him, she "laid low" so as not to be questioned by the Secret Service, etc. I remember her telling me that his folks were very nice people and she remembered them very distinctly. I didn't know he was the last baby born at Hardy's though."
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"Butch, My mother-in-law, Annie Butler, worked in the nursery at the Hardy Sanitarium, and then at Memorial Hospital. She said only one baby was transferred to Memorial Hospital and since she could not remember the name of the baby that was transferred, I always assumed that it was John Hinckley. I knew that he was the last baby born at Hardy's, so it made sense to me." -Nelda True
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"Butch, I had an uncle who I believe died there, because my Grandma Holley checked him in and then she died, and only the person that put you in there could get you out. I think his name was William Holley. Any records of deaths available? -Kirk Holley Smith kirksmith@earthlink.net
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"In the 1950s and 1960s I knew William R. (Bill) Martineau, who was then the owner of The Coliseum in OKC. I don't know if this was the same person named as William E. Martineau mentioned in the caption or perhaps his son. Boxing and wrestling were popular in The Coliseum in those days. It is said that W.R. Martineau could come into the building during a show or performance, look around once and determine within 10 people of the number of admissions that were sold. From my impression of W.R. Martineau, I would think this may very well be true, perhaps not quite to that accuracy but pretty close. W.R. Martineau was quite a story teller." -Wes Leatherock
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"Dear Butch, I'm not certain about T.A.R.V.A., but I am going to guess that the letters were probably followed by a set of numbers. If so, the letters are an acronym for the company that either built or owned the rail car. I'm sure she will always remain an Indian princess to her mother." -Monroe Cameron
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"TARVA: A tool for estimation of traffic safety effects of road improvements. I found this on a Railroad site from Finland."
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"To Annette who was looking for the source of her first name, Tarva, you might look at the following possibilities: As your mother was up in Miami at the time she saw the railcar, the ARV could possibly stand for "Arkansas River Valley". T could be for Tulsa, but more likely "The". The last A might be Alliance, Association, Agriculture. You might keep in mind that it could be the name of any company, co-op, or freight carrier, instead of it being the rail company." -Chuck
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"Hereford Heaven was the ranch of Oklahoma Governor Roy J. Turner. The Turner Turnpike is named for him. Turner and Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller of Arkansas, had Winrock Farms and Turner and Rockefeller (yes, he was one of the famous Rockefeller brothers) cooperated in their cattle ventures. Quite a few years ago Roy and Dale appeared at the rodeo at the Oklahoma State Fair. My wife and I left after their appearance. On the way home, on Portland Avenue in Oklahoma City, we looked over and in the other lane Roy and Dale were beside us in a red Buick, with Roy driving. Perhaps they were familiar with Oklahoma City because of the training center for developmentally disabled persons that was name after Dale in Oklahoma City, and which she and often Roy visited from time to time." -Wes Leatherock
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"Butch; Here is negative about Roy Rogers. I attended the premiere show for "Home in Oklahoma" at the Civic Auditorium on C Street after I delivered my paper route. I remember I left early, it was dark, I was on my bicycle, and Roy and some of his staff were in a convertible automobile in the Sam P. Hale Ford parking area. Roy was drunk as a skunk. He was hollering, yelling, cursing, etc. This really lowered my opinion of Roy Rogers after that. I understand that in later years he became a Christian, Dale Evans wrote a book, they were on several Christian TV shows, but I still remember that night in Ardmore every time I see his name." -Bill Spearman
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"The Oklahoma City Coliseum referred to by Kelly in Oklahoma City was probably the "Stockyards Coliseum" (may have been spelled "Colosseum") which is located in the southwest part of Oklahoma City. They had many rodeos and as I recall, many professional wrestling matches in the past. I think that's where my friend Danny Hodge won many of his matches.For the person inquiring about Stella LaFlore and the marriage to George H. Webb, there may be many folks wondering about the location of Limestone Gap in the Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory. According to my 1900 Atlas: Limestone Gap was located just northeast of Chili which was located just northeast of Stringtown (which is still northeast of Atoka). The population of Limestone Gap, according to the 1890 census, was 130 (which meant that it was larger than Stringtown which had a population of 50). Atoka was much larger with its population of 800.
Also F.Y.I., in Perry, Oklahoma the price of gasoline has dropped to $2.19.9 per gallon for regular unleaded." -Roy Kendrick
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"Joan Orr Hermann had a question about Alhambra, Oklahoma, and I sent this link - You may have heard of some of these long gone places and might find the descriptions interesting." -Elizabeth Dyer http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ok/ok.html
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"Hey Butch, I found where I read that.... also you cannot walk down the street backwards while eating a burger." http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/oklahoma/
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"Your first paragraph has me confused. Are you doing away with the T&T all together or just the article you have been running on your monument making? You are my life-line to what goes on back home past and present. If you are doing without all together sure to wish you would reconsider."
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"I attended Jefferson Elementary School in Ardmore from about 1965 to 1970. My father attended the original school, and I believe the school I attended was built on the same sight of the school that was destroyed by an explosion, fire, or something else. The school was then rebuilt as a one-story gold/yellow brick school which was the one I attended in the 1960's. The school was then completed gutted in the late 1970's or 1980's if my memory is close to correct, and is the school currently in the usual location at 4th and Carter SE-give or take a block or two. I know it is on the west side of Carter and my high-school shop instructor Gordon Sturdivant lived directly across the street (4th??) to the South. I was wondering if anyone had a postcard, picture, etc. of the Jefferson school I attended in the 1960's? I would love to see it. With my junior high gone and plans for the old high school in the works I understand, there will not be much of the educational aspect of my Ardmore life left, except for the not-too-new high school. My high school class, graduating in 1977, was the first class to go all three years (sophomore, junior, and senior years) at the new facility and finish in 1977. Middle school had not made its debut yet. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!Tom Arnold
Senior 1977
AHS
Jefferson Elementary-1965 to 1971.
Some of my instructors and other teachers were:
Alice Faye Lofton--1st, 6th, and Piano/Music
Ms. Harris-1st
Betty Hardy-2nd
Ms. Rice-2nd
Colleen Young--3rd
Selma Kluna (deceased)-3rd
Bernice Rhodes-4th, ART
Alice Hamilton-4th
Nell Benham (deceased)-5th
Samuel Gaither 5th
Jesse Alcorn-6th
John Cobb-6th, principal
Griffin Biles-principal
Tommy Choate-science, (currently a State Rep. or State Sen.
If anyone has a picture of the Jefferson school from the 1960's and/or up-dates for some of the professional staff of the school during that period, I would appreciate updates. Thanks. -Tom Arnold, Email: meddletea@cox.net
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"Hi Butch, i've had gmail for 4 or 5 months and I sure like it. If any readers need a gmail invite I have 100 for free to give away. Just email me at jarthurl@gmail.com with your name (which can be changed to suit) when you fill out the invite." -Jack in Missouri
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"Hello Butch, Just thought you might like this picture of the Courthouse. Grace and Peace, Rev. Ed Harwood. Gene Autry United Methodist Church. http://www.geneautryumc.org <----- Click Here
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Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into a quart size freezer bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them. Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, hash browns, salsa, etc. Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake, Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water."
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"Butch, the reader that said Field's has only pecan pies was mistaken. They also have German Chocolate, Cherry, and Pumpkin and probably a few more. Great place! -Laverne, Paoli, OK <----- Click Here
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"Came across your web site while researching for subject who lived in Ardmore around 1910-1930 according to US Census, perhaps before that. I think he was in Ardmore in 1900. He married my great aunt (nee Carney) in Spring Place (Murray Co) GA about 1884 they went to Ardmore and she died. He came back and married my aunt Margaret Ellen Carney 1897-1900 and again back to Ardmore where she also died. (Must have been a bad period for the residents). How would I find dates of death and burial places for them if all died in OK, Carter CO or Ardmore? Thanks for any help." CarneyJTC@aol.com
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Butch-The Vendome at Sulphur was a popular spot for soldiers stationed at Ardmore Army Air Field during WWII. This announcement of a forthcoming "day of fun' appeared in the base weekly newspaper, "Bombs Away," July 22, 1944."Administration, Section A, Squadron outing and picnic will be held July 26, 1944 at the Vendome, Sulphur Oklahoma. Starting at noon, transportation will leave the USO at Ardmore at noon, 3PM and 7:30PM for enlisted men, their wives and girl friends. GI transportation will leave A Orderly Room every hour on the hour until 8PM, starting at noon. Swimming and dancing will be popular features. Young women from Ardmore, Sulphur and other nearby points are invited. "If you have your own girl, bring her!" Food will be provided by cooks under direction of S/Sergeant William J. Glivic, mess sergeant. " -Gary Simmons
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
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"Butch, I went to Carnegie, Oklahoma today. The Christian Church at Carnegie has a great bell on their lawn and thought you might like to see it." <----- Click Here
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"Don't try to explain it, just sell it." -Colonel Tom Parker
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 21, 2005 - Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 456
I've been fine tuning my marker/monument making this my last T&T. Its really all been interesting and a learning experience. I think the two I've made so far looks real nice. This week I blacked in the lettering using Lithichrome Paint on the two markers I've made so far. The markers are nice looking with black lettering but I not sure if I dont like plain better. Here are the before's and after's. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
<----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I'm leaning toward liking the lettering plain, not black. What do you think? Send me an email and let me know.
Last week when I mentioned the McAlister cemetery, I had the spelling wrong. It should be McAlister and is located in the very southern end of this county (Carter County) just west of Overbrook, Oklahoma.
Its amazing how I had to learn a coupe months ago from T&T Reader Roxanne in upper New York about a great tasting hamburger at Wilderness Way south of Ardmore about 10 miles by Overbrook. Roxanne and I goes back longer than I want to admit when we made the drag down on Grand. Boy were those the good ole days. Anyway, Roxanne said every time she makes a visit back to her hometown of Ardmore she has to go get a hamburger at Wilderness Way. I see Chan Brewster (his dad owned Brewster's Drive-In on Lake Murray Drive years ago (called Baldwin's Drive-In now) and he'd been telling me we need to go down there and try a Wilderness Way burger. So last saturday we did. We walked in the door and there were three friends I'd known for years eating the same thing! Wayne Warthen, Rusty Noble, and Dennis Morris had already bit into their burger when Chan and I ordered our hamburgers. Boy, I want to tell you right now it was a great burger. Had a big piece of meat. Delicious. And the five of us sat there and had a great conversation about nearly everything it seems. When it comes to hamburgers, great minds think alike. lol <----- Click Here
And inside the eatery was an old Sinclair gas pump. The pump had 29 cents a gallon on it. I remember gas being that cheap in the late 1960s. There was one time right about that time I remember buying it for 19 cents a gallon. There was a gas war going on and that's the cheapest I've ever bought gas in Ardmore. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
As we were leaving Wilderness Way there was a half dozen geese to greet us. They sure were friendly critters. I wished I had some bread or something to feed them. I will next time. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
Speaking of food, I stopped in a week ago last Monday around 10am and bought a Steak Sandwich from Ernie's Meat Market at 410 South Washington here in Ardmore. Ounce for ounce, this has to be one of the best deals in Ardmore at $2.99 each. I'm here to tell you this is not just a sandwich, but a manwich. Its big enough to cut in half and share, and both be full. Sure was tasty! <----- Click Here
Here is an interesting link a Reader sent in this week. Its a 20 question quiz about Oklahoma. We might be surprised how little we really know about Oklahoma. <----- Click Here
Last week I mentioned buying a set of 4 lottery scratch off tickets. I have created a Excel spreadsheet and plan on buying a set ($10 worth) every week for a little while. I'll enter the info into the spread sheet and put it on my website. That will give everyone an idea how fast you can go broke and think twice before spending money on lottery tickets that could be used to buy gasoline or heat your home this winter. The quote at the end of this T&T applies here. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
A Reader told me this week the last person born in the old Hardy Sanitarium where the present day post office is located, was John Hinckley Jr. Right after his birth the hospital was closed and the new Memorial Hospital opened. John Hinckley and his family lived in Ardmore when Hinckley was growing up. John Hinckley Jr was born May 29, 1955 at the Hardy Sanitarium. Memorial Hospital opened its doors in May 1955 also. I wonder if anyone else has heard this piece of trivia? <----- Click Here
I mailed my 1960s reel to reel tapes to Paskell in California a couple days ago. He's got some high powered recording equipment and can convert the tapes to CDs. It will be interesting to see what is on the four tape recordings I made during the mid 1960s. I purchased all the tapes from the old Gibsons Store in the 1200 block of North Washington. The price tags are still on the boxes. <----- Click Here
Several of you email me saying your not getting my T&T every week. If you have a web based email account such as hotmail or yahoo, I can send send them there. Or even better, I suggest you create an email account at www.gmail.com and I'll send my newsletters there. Also at gmail.com you will never have to delete your emails. There is basically unlimited storage. I wish there was such thing as gmail when I started my T&T 9 years ago. A Reader in Texas told me just last week his computer crashed and he lost all the T&Ts he had been saving on it for several years. <----- Click Here
I have set up me up an gmail..... butchbridges@gmail.com
I have all past issues (9 years) archived on my website. <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Roy Rogers and Dale Evans came to southern Oklahoma in 1946 to shoot the movie "Home in Oklahoma". Scenes were shot at the Flying L Ranch near Davis, the Hereford Heaven Ranch near Sulphur, and at Turner Falls. In late 1947, they returned to the area and were married in a private ceremony at the Flying L Ranch on December 31, 1947. The next day, they repeated their vows in a public ceremony at Ardmore's Civic Auditorium. Music was provided by the Sons of the Pioneers and admission was fifty cents." -Mark Coe
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"Roy Rogers and Dale Evans appeared at Civic Auditorium in Ardmore sometime between July 1946 (when I moved to Ardmore) and Aug. 1948. Dale used crutches because of a broken leg. I went with a group of girls." -Voncille
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"The dugout was there during the early 1900s, when he was an adult. He had a house at LG and probably used the dugout as a place to stay between Wilson area and LG. My grandfather said in the early 1900s there were 16 gates between Wilson and Ardmore that had to be opened and closed to make the trip so it is easy to see why he would need an in-between place to stay, especially if he was out at night. The dugout is no longer there." -mindy <----- Click Here
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"I finally put the names of the 12 military passengers who died in the Annapolis, MD crash of the C-119F (March 19, 1954) on the Ardmore AAFld/AAFB site. I still don't have the hometown or ages of most of them and that will be hard to get unless someone who knows sees the site and contacts me. They now have their names on the "wall." Four of them were with the Air Force "Drum and Bugle Corps." -Gary Simmons <----- Click Here
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"Butch, This map must be 1904 or earlier. The two railroads shown as paralleling each other going east from Ardmore were the Frisco and the Rock Island. The Frisco from Ardmore to the point where the two lines went their separate ways (built in 1902-1903) discontinued operation in 1904 and the Frisco used the Rock Island from there into Ardmore after that. There were hardly any roads worthy of the name in 1904." -Wes Leatherock wleathus@yahoo.com <----- Click Here
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Butch, you brought back a few memories when you showed the Ardmore Hotel. The Glider Room in the basement was a fun place to go. The mezzanine was one place to have luncheons...I forget the "social" club that used to honor Senior girls every year but they had a luncheon there. Thanks for the memory!!!!"
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"It wasn't just the pecan pie store, it was a full service restaurant that we stopped at many times for lunch or dinner. Very good food--and they did have the pies for sale. The Field pie factory still exists in the south part of Pauls Valley, on or near Airport Road, and has a sales kiosk where they sell frozen Field's pies. I think it may be under other ownership now. For a while the factory had several other flavors, but they apparently were not as successful and they now appear to make just the pecan pies, which are indeed superior. Their web site is www.fieldspies.com. <----- Click Here
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"Hello Butch. I do so enjoy reading your newsletter. I live in California and know very little about Oklahoma. I do have friends from Oklahoma and have heard them talk about the state from time to time. We Californians are all "from somewhere else." I came with my family from Texas back in the early 1940s. I see in your newsletter this week where it is mentioned that some are searching for grave sites of relations. My family has been searching for the final resting place of my great-great-grandfather Col. Almanzon Houston for many years. Col. Almanzon fought with General Sam Houston in 1835 in Texas. The Colonel lived in Texas. But, died in Louisiana while stopping over at a daughter's home there. He was retiring from Washington, DC, where he had made a journey on military business. If anyone knows anything at all about Col. Almanzon Houston, I would so much appreciate hearing. I thank you very much - Marge Israel in Stockton at: margeisrael@aol.com
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"Butch, I really enjoy the T&T! Since I retired and moved to Tulsa, it is one of my very best ties back to home. I had a wonderful career in Southern Oklahoma and served for 32 years as Game Warden. The last 16 years of my career was spent as Supervisor to the Wardens from the Red River to Stillwater. Southern Oklahoma is some of the most beautiful country in the world. The people are friendly and for the most part law-abiding. I really miss my friends, and my church, Crystalrock Cathedral. My quartet, (the Eastland Quartet) has been singing at homecomings and church services all over the state. Thanks for your T&T, it means a lot." -Rome Ingle
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"I was on the internet the other evening playing "free poker" at PokerParty.Com and two of the players were from Oklahoma - one from Tulsa and the other from Altus. As we were playing it hit me that Tulsa and Altus are spelled with the same letters just different - man did I ever feel dumb that I had never noticed this after all these years. Makes one wonder how much they really do know about their home State of Oklahoma."
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"True, the welders caused a blaze at the old Ardmore Hotel but it wasn't as drastic as reported. Welders, in the process of cutting up and removing the hotel's main water tank (a huge steel gravity tank housed in its separate blockhouse in the top of the building), accidentally ignited some of the wood bracing used to support this tank. The tank's steel plates were being cut up to facilitate removal. The resulting fire, while hot and smoky, was limited to this only and was in a small area of the top floor. It was extinguished without much fanfare. It was not a threatening fire. This occurred in 1963, at the beginning of the renovation of the hotel into Lincoln Center...not in the 1980's as mentioned. Lincoln Bank opened the following February, 1964, upon completion of this remodeling/renovation. Prior to that time, during its life as a hotel, no major changes were made to the structure other than the drilling of a private water well in the basement of the hotel in 1956 during the severe summer drought. It is still there and operable as far as I know."
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"Butch, It is a young milk snake." -Tom, University of Kentucky <----- Click Here
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"Depending on where Ardmore is, that's either a Texas Rat snake or a Black Rat Snake. Both are harmless and feed on rodents." <----- Click Here
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"here is the West Side Garage in Sulphur, Oklahoma." <----- Click Here
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"Was looking through your emails and when I saw the email about the railroad I thought I would post a question for all of your readers. I just turned 57 years old and up until I was in my mid 20's I always thought I had some exotic first name. My aunt Juanita was half Cherokee Indian and look full blood. She named me Tarva my mom added Annette. When I finally asked her one day what my name meant in Indian she was quite amused and proceeded to tell the story of my name. She said originally the name would have been for her daughter but she and my uncle only had one son. I was the next to come along and she and my mom were close so my first name became Tarva and mom named me Annette. My aunt told me one evening while on the way home in Miami, Oklahoma they had to stop for the train to pass. She said she counted almost 100 cars that day. One of the cars had the initials T.A.R.V.A. on the side and she liked it. So my dreams of being named after some wonderful Indian princess were pretty much squashed the day she told me I was named after an acronym. Box car Annie I was called...HA! My question to all of you out there is (drum roll): Do any of you know what it stands for? What rail company might have had it on their cars? I wrote a couple of places but no one ever wrote me back. I would really like to know what my name means...hope to hear from someone." -Annette Nickles
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"Stella LeFlore. The reason I'm looking for this person is that I have come into possession of a "charm" necklace made from silver quarters, most dated in the 1870s to 1880s with personal engravings presumably of meaning to the owner. Several of the engravements have the name Stella LaFlore. Other engravings of note are "Oklahoma City", "my beautiful girl with the lovely voice", several "Italian" mementos, "take my car", etc. My research to date has lead me to Estella LeFlore, daughter of a Charles M. LeFlore and Mary Angeline Guy of the Ardmore area 1860s-1890s. I believe this is the most likely candidate for the ownership in that there is no record of a Stella LaFlore of that area and time period. The previous owners of the necklace thought the person (Stella) was either a popular singer or opera singer at that time. They acquired the necklace in the 1970s in the Denver area. The piece of jewelry for antique value is probably limited. It may have some historic value and or some value to descendants of Ms. LeFlore. If this is something you might have information about or you would like to research for me, I can be reached at my office. The records on Ms. LaFlore indicate that she married George H. Webb September 5, 1883 in Limestone Gap, Choctaw Nation. Apparently father Charles M. LeFlore was a lawman with the Indian police and her mother was possibly related to an early Territorial Governor of Oklahoma. Any help on this is appreciated"
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"Came across your web site while researching for subject who lived in Ardmore around 1910-1930 according to US Census, perhaps before that. I think he was in Ardmore in 1900. He married my great aunt (nee Carney) in Spring Place (Murray Co) GA about 1884 they went to Ardmore and she died. He came back and married my aunt Margaret Ellen Carney 1897-1900 and again back to Ardmore where she also died. (Must have been a bad period for the residents). How would I find dates of death and burial places for them if all died in OK, Carter CO or Ardmore? Thanks for any help."
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"Butch, you might let the readers know that Roy and Dale were married at Sulphur. You can obtain a copy of their marriage license from the county court house there. Mine cost .50 a few years ago. Also tell the readers that the foremost authority on the Dalton family is LT.Co. Nancy Samuelson from Sacramento. She says the Daltons were never at the location where the museum is. By the way Butch the oldest know bridge in the state is north of Konawa, OK crossing salt creek 6 miles north of Konawa. You can find great pictures of the old bridge on the net. A friend of mine down loaded me some of the pictures. Butch also I still have a few copies of the Dalton Book written by Mrs. Samuelson. It is quite a popular book. It sells for 25.00 if anyone is interested call me at 405-946-2096. I also have the new Catchem Alive Jack Abernathy book that also sells for 25.00. Butch tell Anne Tate Boland that Richard Jones has copies of the 'He Made It Safe to Murder' for $30 availible in hardback. It is over 700 pages and over 100 stories. You can reach Richard at 405-631-2355 or oldwest100@aol.com -Herman Kirkwood
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"Dear Butch, Do you have any history about the Oklahoma City Coliseum? My mother's family used to go watch wrestling there. I can't find anything else on the internet. I would be grateful for any info you could pass along." -Kelly in Oklahoma City kellydt@cox.net
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"Hello Mr. Bridges, I need to be in the library there in Ardmore trying to find My Wife's Great uncle Charles P Jones of wilson. We were up there and found his grave but being as he was a U S Deputy Marshal and speaker pro tem of the Oklahoma House it seems we should be able to find a few articles ref him or his family. I tried searching THIS & THAT; found one item where he was running for Justice of the Peace. Would you have any suggestions that might be a help towards that end?"
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"Is anyone riding in the bicycle race in Tishomingo this weekend? I have never really spent much time around the area, except for the swimming area. Does anyone know what the scenery is like in that area? We will be traveling on 377 to highway 7 to Milburn, then back toward the starting point. Traveling from the Dallas area, and was always around the Ardmore area." Cecil Higginbotham, TX cecilhigginbotham@sbcglobal.net
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"Dougherty Building Remodel Underway...Workers lift a steel beam last week onto one of the oldest buildings in the county, located in Dougherty, as it is being rebuilt. Fire gutted the building in July. A burned-out building that has a past as colorful as the town of Dougherty got a new lease on life last week as workers began rebuilding it. The two-story rock building, built in 1887, was gutted by fire about three months ago. It had served as the town's post office for 43 years and an ice cream parlor. It was reportedly the oldest Masonic Lodge Building in the nation and featured in the 1972 movie "Dillinger". At the time of the fire, building owner Jo Ann Riddle said she would try to do what's best for the town of Dougherty, and to her, re-building is the best thing for the town." <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." -William Jennings Bryan
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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October 13, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 455
Nearly two months ago T&T reader Edna Montgomery sent me an email asking where to get an inexpensive monument for her uncle who died in 1982. Her uncle has no marker on his grave at McAlister Cemetery. I had to reply to her there is no inexpensive granite markers, but that set the wheels to turning in my brain to come up with an alternative. I thought back to the first 21 years of my life I spent in my grandfather's lumber yard on 3rd NE and how he might have done it. After doing a lot of research I came up with the idea of using a mixture of 'white cement' and white silica sand from over by Millcreek, Oklahoma. I made me a form out of 2X4s lined with formica on one side and the bottom. A stencil company in GA made me the stencils I'll need with the wording at a very reasonable price, so last saturday I did my first pour! It came out beautiful, even better then I thought it might in the beginning. I even reinforced the marker with 1/2 inch rebar so it will last many years. And I'm going to use a special lithichrome paint to make the letters black, they will stay black through many years of weather. Here's some pics I took of the project. I started first with a marker for the front of my house. When I'm sure of the technique and all, I'll make the marker for Edna's relative buried at McAlester cemetery. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
This is my first attempt at making a marker and it will go in front of my house. <----- Click Here
Since I took the picture above of the wood form, I have modified it to be made out of 4X4s. This will give it more stability when adjusting the clamps to hold it together til it drys.
This is the marker I poured last Monday to set at a house my grandfather built in 1935 at 1224 Bixby SW here in Ardmore. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
By the way, this is a marker that's located at the City Hall in Hennessey, Oklahoma. My grandfather built it originally as the Hennessey school in 1927. <----- Click Here
Here's the stencil I had made for Edna's kin buried at McAlester cemetery. I'll pour it in a few days. <----- Click Here
When I was thinking the best way to blacken the lettering on the markers, I walked outside the other evening and there in my driveway, I thought, "Hey, there's the stuff to use." 20 years ago I owned a 1-Ton Chevy pickup and decided to do a little spray painting on it. I needed to put some red primer on it first, and in my rush, I spilled a little on my driveway. That spilled red primer has survived all the rain, heat, cold, ice, you name it, and its still on my concrete driveway after 20 years or longer. <----- Click Here
But I'm going to used black lithichrome paint since its suppose to last many years.
When I was in Pauls Valley a couple saturdays ago, I took a picture of the old Fields service station. Next door was the Fields Pecan Pies store that everyone had to stop at when coming through Pauls Valley on the old Highway 77 before the Big I was built in 1970. <----- Click Here
Here's a letterhead from the old Ardmore Hotel that was located at West Main and C NW. Its says it is fireproof, but I remember when the workers were remodeling it and all back in the 1980s, the welders caught it on fire, like to have lost it. <----- Click Here
Last Tuesday morning at 5am Oklahoma's scratch off lottery tickets when on sale. So early Tuesday morning I bought me a set of four. I'll have much more to say about this in my next T&T. <----- Click Here
I sent an email to a couple of 'postmaster' for arbuckleonline.com and duracom.com and they say they've fixed the problem with the bouncing emails. We will see how it goes with this sendout. Anyway, if you dont get my T&T and you know I should have sent one out, you can always go to my website and read them online. <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hey Butch, My grandmother told me she performed at a show of Gene Autry and Dale Evans at the East Main Theater in 1935. She won 1st place at a talent show they were hosting. Her name is Nelda Compton. She is now 81."
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"In answer to Les Gilliam. My husband James said Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were in Oklahoma filming "Home in Oklahoma." It was filmed near Dougherty. Roy and Dale were married on the Liken Ranch south of Davis. If you can find the date of the movie that should answer his question regarding the time." -Nancy Singleterry
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"Butch, Roy and Dale were in Ardmore for that show, I think around 1945 or 1946. I rode by on my bike and saw them go in the auditorium. Just doing a show, as far as I remember, no special event." -Bob Taylor
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"Butch, I don't think that snake was a bull snake. I was hoping that someone would recognize it. I looked on the web sites for a while looking at them. I don't think it was snake from Oklahoma area. I could be wrong. The head looks like it had to be poisonous. If you hear anymore about it let me know. Thanks." -Debbie <----- Click Here
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"Butch, this is the whole map, but it only shows the railroad lines, so that road from Gainesville to Madill is a railroad. Also, notice the "counties" in Eastern Indian Territory are numbered from the northeast corner near Miami to the south and east from 1-24." -C & DW Wise <----- Click Here
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"I used to keep house for Jack Abernathy's sister, Mrs Sid McLain. Her son is Don McLain of McLain Construction of Wichita Falls, Texas. My Husband worked for him 13 years. I've heard Mrs McLain talked about her brother and the wolf he caught with Ted Roosevelt. In a house we used to live in a block south of where I now live is a rock that Mr. Hart took from the land where they hunted that day. He put it into the side of his house. (A brick house) so far as I know its still there." Minnie Lou Whittington
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"Funny you should mention that. Here's a couple of pics (one each side) of a Dalton marker located where Pooleville road dead ends abt 6 1/4 miles east of US76. More specifically, N34?25.194' W97?23.977' <----- Click HereObverse side of the Dalton marker. Location, N34?25.194' W97?23.977' -Garth <----- Click Here
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"Hello Butch, My husband graduated from high school in Meade, Kansas, about 40 miles from Beaver, OK. In Meade, they have a Dalton museum and celebrate Dalton Days. Evidently the Daltons hid out there at some point. The museum is Dalton Gang Hideout (620) 873-2731 or 1-800-354-2743 502 S. Pearlette / Box 515, Meade, KS 67864 Located 2 blocks east of the stoplight. The Daltons dug a tunnel escape which you can walk through. I haven't been through it in a few years; my sons used to get a big kick out of it when they were little because we would pretend to be outlaws using the tunnel for our escape. Just imagine if that were really your escape! As for bridges, there used to be a wonderful bridge going into Mannsville on the NE side of town from Tishomingo on a dirt road along the Washita River--don't know if it's there anymore. Also a wonderful one-lane bridge near Calvin, east of Ada--probably gone by now. I used to "collect" these bridges with a friend who was terrified of them; it became my mission to get her over her fear of them. (never worked, but we found a lot of cool bridges) I think you should investigate more bridges. Your last name isn't a coincidence." -Cindy
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"Hello Butch, This was quite an interesting letter. It has been a long time since I last wrote to you. I was living in CA at the time and finally got moved to MO. Got my computer hit by lightning twice. I also sent for a tape your brother made. Can't remember where he lived now. I was interested in the Dalton Story. I was wondering where the Dalton was sent to in CA to be buried? I am not related to them but I wanted to tell that -there is a big Dalton ranch in the Madera County Foothills. These Daltons moved out there from someplace in the MidWest I believe. I used to know their history but don't remember a lot of it now. In the Genealogy Society in Madera, CA they have information on them. We used to go by their ranch a lot when we went to the foothills going to Raymond or Coursegold. Hope this helps someone." -Evelyn Sell in MO
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"Has anyone ever heard of Buck Garrett's real name? I have searched many places and have not found it. His obit and funeral record say 'Buck'.
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"Butch I live in CA. Attached are photos of my machine I use it everyday to transcribe my old tapes to CD's and I am working on about 20 tapes plus I have 300 LP's of country music and Jazz dating back to the early 1950's I will be putting on CD if you would be willing to send your tapes to me I could transcribe them for you and send both tapes and CD's back to you. All I ask is you pay shipping." -Paskell <----- Click Here
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"Butch from time to time I notice people looking for family gravesites and records in your newsletter. I am a member of an group called Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. We volunteer to look up records in Court houses and take photos (Digital only) of graves for people that do not live nearby. You only have to volunteer 1 time a month but it is fun and you are not limited to doing 1 a month but you can do as many searches as you want if you have time. Just wanted to let you and your readers know what is available." -Doug Williams dougwilliams@cableone.net <----- Click Here
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"Butch, Concerning the submitted story about the town of Karma and the Red River. There is no longer any controversy about the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas. The boundary was set as the vegetation line on the south back years ago. The only problem was the line through Lake Texoma. Since the lake wiped out the river in that area, there was no south bank. In 1996 the line through the lake was settled and drawn mostly by GPS. I have no idea what the writer of that story meant about the "Indian Nations". When Oklahoma became a state the Indians gave up all their holdings. I'm not sure how the Indians hold land today for their various businesses, but don't believe it's what we think of as a traditional reservation or "Indian Land". Anyway I could find no mention of any Indian Tribe owning any part of the Red River. That might be a question you could ask your readers... but ask them to provide documentation or where to find documentation. The controversy was created when oil was discovered and drilling was started in the river. Texas even went so far as to call out their National Guard to enforce its laws. If someone wishes to find out more about the Oklahoma/Texas boundary they can google this. Include the quotes. "oklahoma boundary" red river -Larry
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"Hi Butch, wont be long before we can make persimmon bread. Will you pass along a recipe for me. thanx." -Ken Updike kenup5429@sbcglobal.net <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Dear Friends, Many of you have asked about the plans for our Barn Dance performances at Silver Dollar City in Branson this month. My band and I will be there October 19-29 (except 24-25th when they are closed). We will be appearing in the Carousel Barn. Show times for us will be 2pm, 3pm and 4pm each day, with a 5pm show added on Saturday the 22nd. Every show will be different. You can dance or just sit and pat your foot. Hope you can be with us." -Les Gilliam www.lesgilliam.com
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"Hello Butch, I hope this drawing comes through okay. My husband was raised in Hewitt and was a neighbor of Mrs Cowan. She often told him of Bud Ballew living in a dugout in Hewitt and told him where it was. This is a drawing of the location." -Melinda Taylor, Wilson, Oklahoma <----- Click Here
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"Oh, Butch, I'm so enjoying your This and That! Always look at it first when I open my e-mails and it's there. Special thanks for quoting the old-time lawyer named "Moman Pruiett" (could that really be spelled "Pruitt"?) who said "I am not an attorney [legal advisor]. I am a lawyer [legal advocate]." As you already well know, there's worlds of difference between the two. Pruiett must have had a simply wonderful HUGE ego! Think I would have enjoyed knowing him, don't you? Thanks again for being Ardmore's resident History Genius. Peace and love." -Anne Tate Boland
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April 11, 1996 (CNN) -- Every child in America, and almost every adult, knows the Hokey Pokey. You just put your right foot in and put your right foot out to perform one of the best-known circle dances in American history. Its popularity belies its age, and conceals its author. The man who wrote the song, Larry LaPrise, died last week at 83 in Boise, Idaho. He wrote the tune for the Sun Valley, Idaho, ski crowd in the late 1940s, but it took a recording by big band leader Ray Anthony to make the Hokey Pokey a nationwide phenomenon. (It appeared on the B side of the "Bunny Hop" single.) LaPrise didn't receive royalties for the song until the 1960s, when its rights were purchased by country star Roy Acuff's publishing company. In recent years, LaPrise worked in the post office in Ketchum, Idaho. Children often wrote him notes addressed to "The Hokey Pokey Man."
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The Hokey Pokey by Larry LaPrise 1946
You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out,
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out,
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out,
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your right shoulder in,
You put your right shoulder out,
You put your right shoulder in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your left shoulder in,
You put your left shoulder out,
You put your left shoulder in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your right hip in,
You put your right hip out,
You put your right hip in
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your left hip in, You put your left hip out,
You put your left hip in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out,
You put your whole self in
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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October 6, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 454
On Saturday October 1st I travelled to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to attend the annual Oklahoma Outlaws Lawmen History Association meeting being held at the Pauls Valley depot. As I was driving through those red brick streets in Pauls Valley around 8am I noticed this one eatery called the Dairy Twist was packed. Every parking space was taken on all sides and even on the curbs in every direction. There is a large parking lot to the south of the Diary Twist and it was full of cars, so I knew it must be a good place to eat. I didn't have time to stop that morning, but came back at noon and bought their regular hamburger. It was a delicious burger with plenty of meat, and well worth the $2.65 I paid for it. One thing that caught my attention inside were the 7 stools for customers beside the regular booths. The Dairy Twist is owned by Paul Ross, 200 W Charles Avenue, Pauls Valley, OK 73075, 405-238-3606. Here are 3 pics of that burger and the Diary Twist.
Diary Twist Hamburger - Inside Dairy Twist - Outside Dairy Twist -Here are the OKHOLA speakers present last Saturday morning. I'll tell more about each one in upcoming issues of T&T.
Michael "Mike" Tower spoke on Pauls Valley history and Fred Waite and the Lincoln county war. And Fred Waite's association with Billy the Kid. Mike as done extensive research on the life and times of Fred Waite. Fred Waite was a Chickasaw Indian born in 1853 at Ft Arbuckle in Murray County, Oklahoma and is buried at the Pauls Valley, Oklahoma cemetery. <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here -
Ronnie Ward of Clarendon, Texas talked about The Greatest Wolf Hunter That Ever Lived; The story of 'Catch 'em Alive Jack Abernathy. <----- Click Here
Chuck Parsons of Luling, Texas spoke about Jim and Pink Lee. <----- Click Here http://www.rootsweb.com/~okmurray/stories/killing_of_the_lee_boys.htm
Attorney Howard K. Berry III of Oklahoma City spoke on the infamous lawyer Moman Pruiett. Moman once said, "I"m not an attorney, I'm a lawyer". <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
Here are a couple of group pictures I took when we are SW of Pooleville, Oklahoma at the site Bill Dalton was killed. The man with the blue shirt and ball cap is Bill Dalton Phillips of Wynnewood, Oklahoma. He is a descendant of Bill Dalton and keeps the place mowed etc., and furnished the US flag that marks the spot. <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
This is the marker made to designate the spot where Bill Dalton was killed. <----- Click Here
Here is a sign someone put out where the Dalton shooting took place but when we were there on October 1, 2005 it was gone. I dont know when this picture was taken, but I believe within the last year. Maybe a Reader can tell us who made this sign? <----- Click Here
Here's that website again of Oklahoma Outlaws Lawmen Association. <----- Click Here
This is a pic I took about 3 years ago of the Pauls Valley Depot which now houses the Depot Museum and the building were our meeting took place. <----- Click Here
This smaller building is next door to the one above, and is where the people wait for boarding the train. I also took this pic in November 2002. <----- Click Here
Those of you who missed a Pauls Valley conference, here is what those of us who made it enjoyed. <----- Click Here
This is a special request I received from Israel this week. She is searching for info on a cousin who lived in Durant, Oklahoma a hundred years ago...... "I'm researching a cousin on mine, Jake Amsel, who lived there from 1900-1914. I am hopeful that you have photos of Durant South Ward School, Pauline Amsel, 1900-1914, Jake and/or Celia Amsel, 1900-1914, The Outfitter Dry Goods Store, 137 W. Main in Durant, Oklahoma, a class picture of Durant Presbyterian Girls School between 1912-1914, and a picture of Main Street in Durant." -Melody Amsel-Arieli in Israel
"Here is the picture of the Church Bell at Lighthouse United Methodist located at Alberta Creek Rd and Texoma Hills Rd, SE of Kingston.. The congregation was formerly at the Woodville UMC, New Woodville, OK. (the town of Woodville was relocated from the Red River area when the Lake Texoma was constructed during WWII)." -Dale Wise <----- Click Here
This is a map Dale Wise sent in and shows were Woodville was located. But the interesting thing I noticed on this map is the road that goes straight NE from Gainesville, Texas all the way to Madill, Oklahoma. Of course there is no such road today. <----- Click Here
Last week I told about Kenneth Eck having one of those old 1960s reel to reel tape recorder and how happy I was he offered to loan it to me so I could hear what's on those tapes I recorded back in the early 1960s. Well, sad news.... the recorder has one bad motor or something so it wont Play. It will Rewind, but not Play. So if any of you have one, and a couple wrote me how did, let me know, and maybe I can borrow it. Thanks in advance.
Here is very nice bell located way up in NE Oklahoma. The inscription reads 1855 MeNeely, Troy, NY. Reportedly came from a church in Montreal, Canada. The bell is located between Owasso and Claremore just off of Hiway 20 and hangs in the foyer of a large residence. The bell is 80% copper, 20% tin. <----- Click Here
The past couple of months I've seen two or three dozen emails bouncing back to me with each issue of T&T I send out. Most of them are using arbuckleonline.com or duracom.net and maybe another one. Anyway, if you dont get my T&T and you know I should have sent one out, you can always go to my website and read them online. <----- Click Here
"I'm hoping that some of your readers might have some pictures of Marietta and surrounding area from 1850 through 1950 or about. We have been looking for a long time trying to find pictures of some of the schools she used to go to and play basketball with. She played basketball at Thackerville and later at Gainesville. We are interested in finding pictures of Marietta, anything of Thackerville, Bomar (used to be Bob), Love's Valley, Shadydale. She went to school in Shadydale too. She said it used to be in a church (I think she said). Thank you ahead of time for anyone that might be able to help." -Annette Nickles taartn@tds.net
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"Early photo of the Palacine station at Turner Falls with the "A Friend " statue in front. When it became a Skelly station the statue was moved to the rear. Both stations were known as "The little place on the hill". <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, I've had numerous replies from many of your subscribers who have helped me on my journey to discover the details of the Ardmore railyard explosion. I'm still pursuing the event but work has piled up on me recently and I've had to relegate my research to the back burner for the time being. However, I do want to take this moment to thank you and the several folks from all over that have sent photos and all sorts of information for me to chew on. I'm forming an opinion about the explosion that is radically different from the newspaper accounts and is more in line with the accounts of family members of the victims. Believe me, the oral history of this event as it's passed down through the families is much more interesting and insightful than the cleansed versions in the Ardmoreite and the Statesman. When I get back to the research again, and when I get the time, I'll give you and everyone else a taste of the version I see coming out of the research." -Swede Swenson, Ardmore, OK theswede8@yahoo.com
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"Hey Butch, Was over in Durant a couple weeks ago and saw this pretty amazing sight. This helicopter was lifting air conditioning units to the top of the new Lowe's store they are building over there." -David Cathey <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
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"Went to Caddo, Oklahoma Saturday for their parade and a couple of shows by "The Guns of Oklahoma", a western re-enactment troupe. They put on a pretty good show emphasizing "good guys" against the "bad guys", like most of us grew up watching on tv. Enjoyed watching and listening to the young people in the crowd as they got caught up in the story. Town of Caddo is a small place with a lot of warm hearted people. We ate in a small cafe on the main street. For lunch several were eating pancakes. Those people make Pancakes! A little bigger than the plates and nearly an inch thick. Tender and well cooked. Two of these come with their special of eggs and sausage. Was fun watching hungry people try to eat just one! My hamburger was delicious too. If you haven't caught a show by "The Guns of Oklahoma", you can contact them at 580-759-2155 or 580 759 2454. Check them out."
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"There is an old bell in front of the Indianola school that used to be on top of the old two story school." -Blaine Dixon
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"Butch, that snake in your T&T sure has me Bumfuzzled. Here is a web site that covers snakes from okla. and shows by map where you find their kind. The one we are looking for Isn't there. Hope someone can I.D. that rascle. I thought with that distinctive pattern, Identification would be easy. It wasn't." -Donald Greenaway http://www.oksnakes.org/
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"That's a little bull snake, Butch. My understanding is only Copperheads, Rattlers (Diamondback & Timber) & Cotton Mouth or Water Mocassin are poisonous in this part of the country. Daddy always said Bull Snakes were good to chase the poisonous snakes off, as well as mouse & rat eaters, so never kill one. I've always identified them by the rectangles on their back as their heads are almost shaped like a poisonous snake." <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, My Mother is 94 years of age and one day this week she was giving some things away. I saw a handful of little note pads so I took one. Just today I started to make a list of things to do and saw the back of the pad. The phone number on it is ca3-1888. It is advertising the Bethlehem Wire Rope. Bethlehem Steel. It also had MADE IN THE GOOD OLD U.S.A. Ardmore Pump and Supply co. inc. I don't remember what year the phone company went with all numbers. This little note pad must be several years old. My dad worked in the oil Fields for Pure Oil and he probable had them." -Hazel Letterman
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"I am interested in your website & info contained therein. Having just recently "stumbled upon" it I find it very informational and interesting. Several of my husband's family lived / died in Ardmore area (having moved to Ardmore from the Burneyville/Marietta area where they had homesteaded & raised a large family), additionally some of my own family was active in the Ardmore Salvation Army & lived many years (also died there) in Ardmore. We are continually searching for background info on 'our families' environments as well as additional details & facts about their lives. We live VERY distant to your area nowadays, and there are times that distance is a hindrance to broadening our data & gathering the important but NOT Vital Stats type of thing. Would your "Listserver" membership AND/OR "weekly newsletter" come to us directly via e-mail, or be posted on your site? More information would be appreciated." -B.N. & D.W. Rogers bndwrogers@peoplepc.com
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"Hello again Butch, I still look forward to your email and enjoy all that it contains. I was wondering if any of your readers knew of anyone that might have some seeds from a watermelon called "MOUNTAIN SWEET". My family raised them when I was a kid in Colbert, Ok. Several families grew these melons mainly for their own use or to sell locally because if you tried to ship them they would crack open. For sweetness and size there was not a better melon. They were round melons, not as dark as Black Diamond, but about the same size. They had a lighter seed than the Black Diamond and we had lots of them that would go 98-100 pounds. I tried to locate some seeds awhile back and did not find any around Colbert but was told that maybe there were some still around the Antlers, Ok. area." -Vic Brown, Denison, TX
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"Butch, You should have been part of the mass exodus out of Houston a 250 mile bumper to bumper traffic jam. Took me 31 hours to get to Denton. 110 in the shade heat index more more inside a car, plus carbon monoxide fumes from all the other vehicles. Not pleasant. Horrible ordeal."
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"Butch: Here are the pics of the cemeteries we told you about. The first is of an all black cemetery. It is located near the Texoma Hills Addition, Lake Texoma. The last gravestone is dated 1912. The other 3 pics are of the Alexander Juzan family. He was b. Aug 1853 and d. April 12, 1887. His wife Mary A. b. June 3, 1959 and d. Jan 29, 1883. Their three children were as follows: (1) Eastman H. b. Jan 2, 1883 d. June 22, 1883. (2-3) "Our darling infants" d. Oct 3, 1880 & Nov 21, 1881. The Juzan cemetery is on Corps property between Texoma Hills and McBride near Lake Texoma. Any historical information available would be greatly appreciated. Would be glad to guide interested parties to the sites (free of charge, of course)." -Dale Wise (580) 564-3211. E-mail is cattywmail-dale@yahoo.com <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
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"Does anyone remember Roy Rogers and Dale Evans appearing live on-stage in Ardmore? Please tell me the date or approximate date; the place (e.g. Civic Auditorium or Tivoli Theater); and why they were in Ardmore." -Les Gilliam
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"Butch, Wandered upon your web site today and Carpenters Bluff Bridge. I grew up south of Yuba, Oklahoma just across the road from what used to be Karma, Oklahoma (Bryan county). My grandfather, Bob Qualls, owned/ran the grocery store there. My father, Kenneth Qualls still had much of the old display cases, cash register, barber chair, etc. in our barn that we played with when I was a kid. Karma was originally on Eagle Lake and was a small resort area, but the lake was drained in the early 1940's when Red River changed course and linked the lake to the river. The rivers changing course also left the new bridge across it, high and dry by washing away the road at the north end of the bridge. When the Army Corp of Engineers forced the river to flow back under the bridge and rebuilt the road, the lake was dry. That was the end of Karma. The river changing course frequently is still a source for boundary issues between Texas, Oklahoma and the Indian Nations. Oklahoma stops at the bank, Indians own from the bank to the middle of the river. Texas starts at the south bank. You can see in this satellite shot where the river moved to. <----- Click HereThe reason I am writing though is about the Carpenters Bluff Bridge. The large portion of the bridge was originally a Rail Road Bridge. The cars drove on the small section on the East Side of the bridge as illustrated in these pics." -Ronnie Qualls, Houston, TX www.aphelion.net <----- Click Here - <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, My name is Paul Eagan. I live over in hurricane ally this year in the Pensacola Florida area. My wife's sister and brother-in law (Carol Ann and Stanley Baldwin, also own Baldwins) own Burger Ranch and the Super Dog franchise there in Ardmore. Carol Ann linked me to your web site which I will now book mark for the future, I really enjoyed the story. One of the first things we always do when we come to Ardmore is go to Burger Ranch for a Super Dog and a burger. Carl and Stanley have owned the Super Dog franchise for years give them a call they can bring your story full circle. Thanks for the web page I am not originally and "Okie" but I sure love the state and people. I linked your site to our children they love Super Dogs also! Thanks Again for the site" -Paul
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Somewhere Over A Rainbow, Wizard of Oz 1939
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
http://www.reelclassics.com/Musicals/Wizoz/wizoz.htm
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
