If you're looking for a certain article I wrote in a past issue
of "This & That" you might find it faster by doing a "search" with your
browser. With Netscape just click your mouse at the top at EDIT and then
FIND and type in the word or words you're looking for. If you use
Internet Explorer, just click on EDIT and then FIND ON THIS PAGE to do a
search.
Below is January 6, 2001 to March 31, 2001.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, March 31, 2001 Vol 5 Issue
206
Last September I told about the Heartland Share program
operating in Ardmore and that anyone was eligible to buy "shares" and
take part in this wonderful service. The only thing the program asks in
return is you do 2 hours of some kind of community service per month.
The program started in 1983 and is already established in many states
with distribution points in cities all across America. If you want to
help bring the Heartland Share Program to your area, or if you or
someone you know can be helped by just such a program, you can find out
more at their website. If you live in the Ardmore area you can call
580-223-5287 for more information. At the Share website you can learn
much more about the program, find the nearest distribution site (there
are over 100 in Oklahoma alone now), and even find out what food items
will be in next month's Share. http://www.heartlandshare.com
Here is
a list of food items I received Saturday March 24th for $17.15
Breaded Chicken Breast Filets - 1 LB. Pork Steak Filets - 1 LB. Pollock
Fish Filets - 1 LB. Boston Meat Loaf - 28 OZ. Lean Ground Beef - 1 LB.
Salad Mix. Potatoes - 1 bag or 8. Carrots - 1 LB. Cauliflower - 1 head.
Radishes - 8 OZ. Oranges - 4. Pink Lady Apples - 4. Texas Grapefruit -
2. Bananas - 5. Chocolate Swirl Pudding - Snack Pack.
This is a
photo of the actual Share food items I received for $17.25 March
24th.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok9.jpg
These are volunteers unloading the Heartland Share truck that pulled
up behind St Marys Catholic Church at 9:50am Saturday March 24th.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok3.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok4.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok5.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok7.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok8.jpg
These pics were taken of volunteers helping with the distribution line
and order taking for next month. Registration for April is Monday April
9th between 9am and 12 noon. Distribution day is Saturday April 27th.
Call 580-223-5287.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok1.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/shareok6.jpg
The Share program can always use a helping hand one Saturday morning of
the month when the truck arrives. A couple saturdays ago the Boy Scouts
in Wilson, Oklahoma were on hand to help with the unloading. If you're
interested in the Share program, give Carole a call.... 580-223-5287.
Remember, if you eat you qualify for the Heartland Share Program!
Last week I wrote of the campaign platform of Judge Charles N. Champion
back in 1917.
Here is Part Two of Charles N. Champion's platform:
"A Frank Statement by Chas. N. Champion Candidate for District
Judge"
"I would indeed be disappointed if my father and uncle were
not supporting me in this race. I am imbued with the desire to climb the
ladder of public service and I know full well that the only way I can do
this is to be fair, impartial, unbiased and honest in the discharge of
my duties. These things I expect to do as your District Judge."
"There have been many other instances where fathers and sons have been
elected or appointed judges, where one or the other was practicing law.
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes of the Supreme Court of the United
States has a son practicing law who is a member of one of the leading
law firms in New York. Judge R.L. Williams, federal district judge, has
a brother practicing law in this district. Honorable Rutherford Brett,
United States commissioner, is in partnership with his father, Judge R.
Grett. No one for a moment would even think, much less charge, that
these honorable men might be in the least influenced by these
relationships. Neither will I when I become your District Judge be
influenced by the fact that my father and uncle practice law."
"In
Oklahoma county Judge Tom Chambers was elected District Judge when his
son was practicing law before him. Judge Pitchford was District Judge at
Okmulgee and his son was a lawyer there. Judge Clem Potter of
Gainesville was District Judge and his father practiced before him. In
Friday's Ardmoreite you saw the picture of Judge Hays and his son of
Okmulgee, one of whom is running for District Judge and the other for
the Legislature. In Pushmataha county, County Judge Childers is a
candidate for District Judge. He has two sons practicing law there.
Honorable Jesse Worten was District Judge at Pawhuska and his father,
J.M. Worten, now deceased, practiced law before him. Many other
instances might be cited but these are enough."
"Further than this,
there are two District Judges in this county. It has been customary that
whenever either of the judges is disqualified for any reason in a case
before him, the case is transferred to the other judge for trial. Also,
whenever the parties to any case ask that another judge try the case,
this request is usually granted. No additional expense nor delay is
entailed in doing this. This procedure I intend to follow. As your
District Judge I will not desire to try any particular case and will
transfer cases before me to the other judge upon request. I will always
be found on the job fearlessly and fairly and impartially discharging my
duties."
"I submit these candid facts for your consideration. I do
not believe that my father or uncle would try to impose on your boy or
girl. I feel that I am entitled to this promotion and earnestly ask your
help. Respectfully, Charles N. Champion"
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/champ4.jpg
Here's
an informative Page on Carter county Lawman Bud Ballew.
http://members.tripod.com/ok_lawmen_outlaws/ballew2.html
Southwest
of Medford, Oklahoma in Grant County is the town of Nash, Oklahoma. This
is a 1971 photo of the Nash Santa Fe depot.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/nash71.jpg
Last
year I told about the website linkflair.com where a person can upload
their Favorites incase of a hard drive crash, or just to be able to
access those Favorites from a computer at work or wherever. Looks like
linkflair has bit the dust. But I've found another site just like it.
You can export your Favorites to favoritesanywhere.com and be able to
access them from any computer in the world on the Net. I have a lot of
Favorites, and it only took about 1 minute to export mine to
favoritesanywhere.com website for safe keeping. Pretty good
insurance.
http://www.favoritesanywhere.com/
SOME LETTERS FROM
THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hi Butch, Regarding the article about Fairview
school and the dinky steam train. I called my mother, who will be
seventy four in a few days this year and asked her if there was ever a
train that ran between Davis and Sulphur. For I am fifty six now, and
never heard of it. She was born just west up the hill from Sandy creek
bridge, directly south across the hi-way and cross the railroad tracks,
from Midway Grocery Store. The old house she was born in, was torn down
or moved and new house built there. At around the age of 8 to 10, she
remembers the steam train of about three to four freight cars, traveled
at about the speed as her father's T-Model truck, but would eventually
gain ahead of you. She remembers the train whistle, as she road in her
father's T-Model truck, the engineer would blow the whistle for you,
which all the kids, bout five of them, riding on the back of the flat
bed truck, enjoyed immensely. She remembers the tracks use to be where
the Arbuckle Hospital is now. She said if you look at the south side of
the hi-way 7, you might can still see the grade here and there, that the
tracks were on. Her memory gets a bit fuzzy, but she thinks the tracks
went across Rock Creek, past the Sulphur High School, to a cotton gin,
later the Farmer's Co-op feed store. She can not remember the route the
tracks took to get to the gin from the west side of Sulphur, maybe
someone else might remember."
"She remembers the Fairview School,
tho she did not attend it, she said she took me to church there one
Sunday. Her father moved near the old school around 1944, then she
married and I came along. While my Dad was off to war, she said she had
taken me to church there in 1946. Her younger brother and sisters were
going to school when her father moved near the school building in/about
1944. She said they had a choice of going to Fairview School, but did
not want to, instead, elected to ride the school bus to Davis school.
She does not remember when it burnt, but remembers talk about it."
"She wanted to talk to the person who wrote the article, but there was
no e-mail address listed. Our e-mail address is; rebelokie@yahoo.com I
enjoy T&T, which is forward to me. I was born at Davis raised in and
around Sulphur and live now near Velma."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch:: I didn't get to go see it, but I remember when the Freedom
Train made its rounds throughout the country. It was more or less a
travelling museum that displayed the Constitution, the Declaration of
Independence, and other document and items like that."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch. Someone was wanting some information about the "Freedom Train" in
the T& T of last Sat. By typing in "the freedom train" and hit search I
found all kind of sites about the Freedom Train. Hope this helps."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, That Freedom Train was a traveling museum that went from town to
town. It contained, as the brochure stated, copies of 100 of the
documents we associate with our freedom: The Declaration of
Independence, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, etc. There have been
a few of those trains since then, too." Donna Boyd in windy Culpeper,
Va.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch: We got something started here in Guthrie because of the bell at
Saint Mary's Catholic Church. The Knights of Columbus are planning to
clean the bell and inside the tower so the writing can possibly be read
and translated. Maybe I'll force myself to climb up there when this
happens. The bell is dated 1890. The wheel that the rope turns to ring
the bell is made of wood rather than metal. Perhaps with a good cleaning
we can find more information about it. The bell was placed in the
original church in 1890. When the new church was built in 1920, the bell
was installed in it. Until the bell was installed, the church used a
much smaller bell that was given to us (the church, not 'us') by one of
the railroads. Right now I don't know which, but supposedly the bell is
still in the church or school someplace. I'm on a hunting expedition to
find it now." Bud Caudle BnLFAMILY@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I was visiting with an older gentleman friend of ours here in
Tulsa. He related that his father used to work for a company owner by a
Mister George Strawn ( Straughn) of Ardmore. He recounted about coming
to Ardmore as a young boy and staying at Mr. Stawn's home, an 8 bedroom
house with servant's quarters. Growing up in Ardmore from 1940 on, I
don't remember or know what house that would have been. This gentleman
friend is probably about 80 right now. Can you shed any light on
this."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch- Good, long This and That. The website is actually Ardmore Army
Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base. Gave a program about it tonight at the
Ardmore Village. Seemed to go OK. Some grew up in Gene Autry, a couple
worked at the base in 1942-46. Keep up the interesting articles." Gary
Simmons Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
--------------------------------------------------------------
"This
OkGenWeb is this a website or what? if so I couldn't get it to work with
www.okgenweb .com or .net or .org" Here is the correct URL.....
http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgenweb/
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
will be back in Ardmore for a get together at Ponders Restaurant on
Friday the 1st of June with classmates from the 50's. We always meet
there the night before the big alumni banquet in Healdton." Best
Regards, Jerry Lewis
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, my husband is the Boyd -- and his grandfather lived in Ardmore
at one time before the turn of the last century; his great-grandmother,
Belle Boyd, is buried at Rose Hill, to which she was transferred from
the old cemetery that was in This & That a couple weeks ago. We are
searching for the grave of her husband, Wm. Hamilton Boyd."
"James
Ashby Boyd, according to his bio in _A Standard History of Oklahoma,
Vol. IV_, by Joseph Thoburn, moved to Ardmore in 1891. Between then and
1898 he was engaged in the cotton & compress business and the wholesale
grocery business in Ardmore. That's one reason why I'm so interested in
learning anything any of your readers/fans can tell me about the gins,
compresses, and groceries that might have existed back then, and where
one might look for employment records."
"The *main* reason, however,
is that the descendants of the Boyds who remained in MO swear that
during this time James Ashby Boyd was married to a woman named Margaret
(maiden name unknown) and had three children with her. One was named
Forrest, a second was named Allie, and I don't have a name for the
third. My husband is descended from James Ashby Boyd's wife Juanita
Allen, whom he married in Wynnewood, IT, in 1901. If any of the Boyds in
Ardmore relate to any of this, I would be more than delighted to hear
from them, I would be jubilant."
"Keep up the good work, and I'll
keep my fingers crossed that somebody who reads your newsletter will
send me a clue about the missing part of our Boyd family. Many thanks."
Donna S. Boyd momdsb@summit.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, It is one of my greatest pleasures to relay little bell stories.
No 1 Story When i was 6 yrs old our grade school had a large bell on the
roof of that school covered with an open belfry . I used to go right
before end of recess upon a hill that looked down over the school. I
would eagerly await to see the bell start to swing. Just the lower part
of this bell showed. It would flip a bit from side to side and was
black.. I would holler to the other kids before the clapper would start
hitting the bell as it swung. This was my first fascination with bells.
My dad made me a bell out of a old hubcap and used a big nut to use as a
clapper. It rang and i played with it a lot. No 2 Story Years passed and
i was 13 and there was this old abandoned AME Church I used to go in
there and climb up this dangerous old latter into the tower room and
there before me was a huge bronze fancy wheeled St Louis bell 36 inches
across. It had a tolling hammer and i used to pull the hammer but very
lightly because i would get punished if my parents found out. It had a
wonderful tone. Later it was stolen one night and never recovered. Its
whel was embossed with vines and flower art work. Story 3 My dad and mom
bought me a 20 inch cs bell co bell and i put it in my yard. Now its in
my tower here on a building. I recently purchased a rare bell. It is a
bell with Ronald Reagan`s face on it. It is a commertave bell made back
in the eighties. I would guess it may now be worth a fortune It is 13
inches wide and swings and is made of aluminum alloy. Painted black. The
largest bell of iron i have is... Ross Meehan no 22 complete with stands
( ornate ) and ornate wheel too.It has a sweet shrill sound. Story
4...... Our church now has the school bell i mentioned out on the lawn
mounted on brick platform.They have a 34 inch bell that is cracked in
their bell tower too and as you know, a cracked bell sounds terrible.
For years i wanted to fix it. The only way to improve it was to take a 7
inch grinder and grind the hair line crack out all the way through,
leaving a 8th inch gap so the crack will not vibrate against itself.
They let me grind it and believe me it was a nasty job but i loved it,
It now goes "DONG" not perfect but it rings. It used to go..."Brink" or
"CLUNK" They do not ring it a lot but sometimes they ring it. Hoped you
liked my stories." Ron Delby
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Butch --- I have been tempted several times to write you for we share
many of the same memories of Ardmore, mine going back several decades
before yours. My grandparents, the George Sullivans, lived on H street
around the corner from your grandparents, and though I did not know them
personally I heard my grandma and grandpa speak often of "the Bridges
boys". The Carmons were also neighbors. One of my most treasured
memories is that of sitting in the twilight on my grandparents front
porch greeting their neighbors on their way to prayer meeting at the
little Calvary Presbyterian Church, and later enjoying the wonderful
aroma of baking bread wafting over the air from John Small's
bakery."
"I went to school in the old three story red brick
second ward grade school from the first grade through the fourth. We
were transferred to the Junior Highschool for the fifth grade, while
what I still call the "new school" was being built. Hearing people
speaking recently of the fire at the "old school" reminded me how old I
am getting and how many years ago I graduated from our "new
school".Would love to have a picture of the old school on G street and
fifth avenue."
"Also want to thank you for the detailed account of
the Jake Hamon murder scandal. My deceased husband, Bob Milner, was the
grandson of R.L. Randol who was the proprietor of the Randol Hotel. Have
always heard scraps of the story, but never such a detailed account. Bob
and I were alumni of the 1945 highschool class and were fortunate enough
to attend the fiftieth anniversary reunion before Bob died in 1997. I
have a few mementoes of the hotel, but am still a novice on the computer
so don't know how to transmit them."
"I have two sons, Bob, Jr., of
Dallas, and Tom, of New Orleans. They both grew up in Ardmore, and Tom
receives your newsletter." Laura Sue Sullivan Milner
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
may have told you this before when you were writing about Cecil Button,
but when I saw his name again, I thought I would write to your. I really
don't remember writing it before. Anyway during WWII sometime about 1944
I was looking at patient charts....I was a Chief Pharmacist Mate in
charge of the department selecting transportation of patients who their
physicians wanted to send back to Hawaii for treatment or to the US for
treatment or discharge. I was very popular with patients who always
opted for air transportation over a slow ship, especially if going home.
Another chief, not so popular was in charge of sending patients back to
duty, if their health permitted. This was in Base Hospital 18.Guam, M.I.
Anyway, I ran across the medical chart of Cecil Button of Ardmore,
Oklahoma. Can you imagine the thrill? I had to jump up right then and
rush to the ward where he was a patient. We really had a great visit,
reminiscing about home etc. After the war, I would always have a chat
with Cecil when I had a chance, and would we visit. He was a great
fellow, and I do miss him."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
really enjoyed the comments about Bitter Enders. Evidently there are
more entrances to the cave than were thought. While growing up in Davis,
we tried to explore as many of the caves in the area as possible and I
remember going through the two that your reader mentioned in his
response but was unaware that they were also called Bitter Enders. One
of the caves east of Turner Falls proved to be tragic for a couple of
explorers in the late 50's early 60's as they became trapped in the cave
when a torrential rain came and brought the water level up to where they
became disoriented. I can remember radio announcements being made that
if anyone was around who had experience with the cave please go to
Turner Falls and help the emergency folks on site on how the cave was
designed and where they might think the trapped people might be. As it
turned out, they had gone deep enough into the cave that they were using
diving equipment and had become wedged into one of the narrow passage
ways and could not get out before their oxygen ran out. Keep up the good
work - the information you provide is extremely interesting and brings
back fond and bad memories as well."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner this coming weekend
(April 1st, Fool's day). Check out the following site for more info....
http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/ - Time in most parts of North
America will be "springing forward" this Sunday. If you're curious about
why you'll be getting those few extra hours of daylight, visit this
informative site. It explores everything from the origin and evolution
of daylight-saving time to some of the controversy surrounding its
continued existence."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I am
interested in the person that wrote about the Fairview school in Davis
in your column. Would you send them my email address, please. I live in
the Fairview community and would like to know more about it. Thank you."
Barbara Giddens bags@brightok.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Mr.
Bridges: I am trying to locate the name of an old school I attended in
the first grade - 1959. It was located in rural Logan Co. - Guthrie. It
has been torn down many years. Do you have any suggestions as to how I
might locate the name and perhaps some pictures of this possibly one of
the last of the 1 room country school houses? Grades 1st. - 8th. I
enjoyed your website! Please let me know any ideas you may have. Thank
you." Pauletta in Florida Postnest2@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Haven't talked to you lately but have enjoyed receiving T&T like
everyone else. I have a question that you or one of your readers might
could answer. Where was Hoxbar, OK located. The Ardmoreite newspaper
article of Sept 3,1916 on the killing of "Special Officer" Oscar William
Alexander on Sept 1st, states that Alexander was one of 4 "Special
Officers", including Dow Braziel that stopped a wagon load of whiskey
driven by the Love brothers, "...near Hoxbar south east of this
city...". I cannot find Hoxbar on a currant map or in John Morris's
"Ghost Towns of Oklahoma" book. How far SE was it? Was it's name
changed? Any help would be appreciated. Still looking for relatives and
stories of Law Enforcement Officers who were killed in the line of duty
in Oklahoma, for the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial in OKlahoma City.
Thanks and have a great day, Dennis Lippe, Chairman, Oklahoma Law
Enforcement Memorial." DLippe0153@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"....the old Daube Ranch South of Mill Creek, Oklahoma. It sold the
ranch to TXI out of Dallas. There is one old house on the ranch that you
might be interested in researching. It's called the Dodson House. I
don't think you can get there until the ground dries out a bit. But this
old house is built next to a spring. Whoever Mr. Dodson was, he was
quite creative and inventive. He build a custom water wheel out of a car
differential to pump water into the rest of his house, but he built a
flume direct from the spring which runs through the kitchen area of the
house."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/dodson1.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/dodson2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, After Fairview School burned down, about 1937/38, I skipped
second grade, and my family moved to the big city (Sulphur), where I
attended Washington School for third and fourth grades. My best buddy
was a red headed kid, a lot like Mayberry's Opie, whose family later
moved to Ardmore. His stepfather, Fount Dustin was killed in a refinery
explosion in/near Ardmore in the early forties. My friend, Jack
Moorehead, went to high school in Ardmore, joined the navy, and after
his discharge went to O.S.U. ( I believe ) and got a degree in
journalism. That little redheaded kid is now, and has been for several
years, the owner/editor/publisher of California's oldest running
newspaper, The Grass Valley Union, and last I heard is doing great.
Maybe his highschool classmates (class of 47) would be interested in
this little bit of info." Regards, Bob Elliston Billiebob@wgcnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"hi
guys, love your photos, does anyone have a photo past or present of
Cement, Okla? my husband great, great grandparents hiram pendleton and
wife sarah allen pendleton was buried there and lived there. thank
you."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, we really appreciate T&T. The next time you are in the city
having lunch with the Governor, you might stop to take a picture of the
beautiful bell mounted in front of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Building. This is on N. Lincoln. It probably has some good history."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Here
are the links to the pictures of the two bells. I could not see the bell
you took pictures of, but since the file name is "chickbell" I'm sure it
is the Chickasaw Counsel bell (Tishomingo, OK) that I shot, too. The
other bell is on the SW corner of the courthouse in Tishomingo."
http://www.stoutgenealogy.com/russettok/johnstonco/bell_chickasaw.jpg
http://www.stoutgenealogy.com/russettok/johnstonco/courthouse.jpg
http://www.stoutgenealogy.com/russettok/johnstonco/bellcourt1.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I have the two books that were written by Moses E. Harris From
the cradle to Old Age, this is how he worked hard to get some
education-he could not read or write at the age of eighteen-He became a
teacher -and Editor. This is his life story of growing up . He was born
Dec. 13, 1869 and this book was written in April 1945, at the age of 75
years and 5 months. The second book is A Story of The greatest Human
Interest. The story of a plain country boy and the Greatest Instituation
in Oklahoma, where hundreds of homeless orphan children are given a
chance for a better life. These two books have pictures of the first
orphange and after the fire how he struggled and rebuilt the second home
with the help of Wirt Franklin, many children from Carter Conty and all
around came to this home, he even traveled and picked them up. This is
the complete story of how a man had so much love to give to children and
let them know what it was like to be loved and have a safe place to
live. All of the pictures of all the orphans, the matrons, the rules the
children had to go by and the work and the schooling they were taught. I
would have liked to have met such a man that so much love and giving of
himself, and still had a family of his own that found a way to bring
happiness. If anyone is intrested they can email me, maybe I have the
information they have been looking for." white@brightok.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================
Last week I mentioned the American Flyers Memorial at Gene Autry. Nearly
a year has gone by since the erection of that memorial. I am still
looking for relatives of two victims of that 1966 plane crash. The only
info in the newspaper about these two victims from Oklahoma were as
follows:
Howard Briggs, Tulsa, Oklahoma..... son of Mr. Bernice
Briggs
Richard J. Spears, Spavinaw, Oklahoma..... grandmother Mrs.
Jo Ann McQueen
If anyone knows how to contact relatives of the
above two Army soldiers, please do. We need to let them know about the
American Flyers Memorial at Gene Autry, Oklahoma.
"Sometimes the
heart sees what is invisible to the eye." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO
Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, March 24, 2001 Vol 5 Issue 205
Ardmoreite Charles Champion II came by my house last week with a
surprise. It was an almost perfect pair of mounted deer antlers to give
me. I decided it would look great by my front door.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/myhorns.jpg
Charles has been making these mounted deer horns and I've been placing
some of them on eBay for him since he doesn't have a computer yet. Here
is a picture of Charles working in his shop on West Broadway. That's his
son Charles Champion III, with him who helps with the craft.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/champ6.jpg
This is
an example of the items we've put on eBay.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cedar3.jpg
Charles
II is the son of Charles N. Champion (1905-1955) a District Judge here
in Ardmore from 1918 to 1922. His grandfather was Thomas W. Champion
(1878-1962) a U.S. District Attorney at Muskogee many years ago before
moving to Ardmore around 1906. His grandfather, Thomas Champion, was the
defense attorney for probably the most sensational murder trial in
Ardmore. The case took place in November 1920 when Clara Smith Hamon,
reportedly shot her lover, Ardmore oil millionaire Jake Hamon. Hamon
later died from his wound. The shooting was reported in newspapers all
across the country as Jake Hamon was slated for a post in President
Harding's Cabinet.
http://members.nbci.com/oklahomapast/hamon.html
This is Charles N. Champion's campaign poster back in 1917.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/champ4.jpg
Here's
a photo of Charles' father, Charles N. Champion when he was District
Judge.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/champ22.jpg
Below is the campaign platform for Charles N. Champion back in 1917
[part one]:
A Frank Statement by Chas. N. Champion Candidate for
District Judge
It is nightly being charged by my opponent that if I
am elected District Judge (and I expect to be) that I will be controlled
in my actions upon the district bench by my father and uncle who are now
and have been for more then a quarter of a century engaged in the
practice of law here in Ardmore.
I have lived in Carter county for
26 years; attended school here; married here; am raising my family here
and continue to live among my neighbors and friends in Carter county.
Four years ago you elected me County Judge by a nice majority. The same
charge was made then. Two years ago you re-elected me. The same charge
was again made. I have endeavored as County Judge to fairly and honestly
discharge my duties. Many of hundreds of thousands of dollars has passed
through my hands and no one can truthfully say I have been unfair or
unjust in my handling of this important office. I have heard no one
criticize my conduct as County Judge except my opponent who had openly
accused me of sending an innocent man to the penitentiary. He should
know and I am sure he does, that your County Judge only tries
misdemeanors and that I could not, if I wanted to, send a man to the
penitentiary because only a district judge can do that under our
constitution.
Section 9 of Article 7 of our Constitution prescribes
the qualifications for District Judge. This section is as follows:
"Such judge shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have been
a resident of the territory embraced within the state for two years, and
of the territory comprising his district at least four years, prior to
his election; and he shall have been a lawyer licensed by some court of
record, or shall have been a judge of some court of record, or both such
lawyer and judge, for four years next preceding his election, and shall
reside in his district during his term of office."
I possess all
these qualifications and am therefore qualified to be District Judge
under our constitution. [To be continue next week]
Ardmoreite
Charles Champion II is producing Western Americana in its truest form.
I've seen his work and know he's making old West accessories from
original supplies, like old saddles, old chaps, old conchos, old
stirrups, and old rustic wood. If your interested in these one of a kind
items, give Charles a call at 580-223-2170.
Where are the Oklahoma
towns of Sneed, Homer, Tiff, and Burton located? They used to be towns
in Carter county. http://ceil.rootsweb.com/maps-1915/carter-15.html
A reader sent me this brochure of the Freedom Train. The hand written
date in the upper left hand corner is 1947. She thought it was a train
that travelled across the country gathering supplies for the troops
during WWII. Does anyone know about this Freedom Train?
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/ftraina.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/ftrainb.jpg
If
you have the need to broadcast live on the internet, here's a place to
look. They do charge a monthly fee, but their site is very impressive.
http://www.live365.com
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hi
Butch, I noticed one of the emails this week referred to Bitter Enders
Cave. I went in that cave New Years day of 1958. I remember it in a
different location though. We left highway 77 just south of the Mountain
with the Microwave towers just south of Turner Falls. Straight West
about 5 miles where Honey Creek gets a lot of its water is from Bitter
Enders Cave. Water comes out of the ground pretty forceful. There are
two entrances to the cave. One is just above the stream and the other is
farther up the mountain down a shaft like a dug well. Or at least that
was the way I remembered it in 1958. I was with a guy named Jerry
Robinson. I don't think we told anyone we were going up there. I can
tell you that it was an experience. I agree there are a lot of things
there that most people can't imagine."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Well
I finally talked myself into pleading guilty to burning drip gasoline
when I was in school. I couldn't have owned and driven two cars in my
senior year without it. My dad pumped in the oil field south of Lone
Grove. He had quite a setup at the end of the line from the heater or
separator. He had his barrels buried in the ground. He would turn the
heater up and build pressure in them and force the drip out his loading
line into a barrel on his pickup. We always had 6 or 7 barrels under the
trees out from the house. I didn't mind the free oil that I used in one
of the oil burners from the service stations used oil catch. Summer time
was a little more difficult since it didn't burn very well due to vapor
locking of the fuel pumps. Some guys thought they were stealing some
drip one night and got a barrel of tre-ol-lite. My dad was washing the
barrel out with drip and was called to the battery tanks by the gauger.
He didn't think anything about it until the next morning when he missed
the barrel. I hope that it didn't stick the valves in their
engines."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Back in 1955, I received the first Music Achievement Award that
the Ardmore Philharmonic ever gave. (It's also the first (and last)
award I ever got). A few years ago, I had the brain storm of donating
the award medallion back to the Philharmonic organization and set about
trying to find someone who might know who I could contact. I didn't come
up with anyone and dropped my search. Three weeks ago, I heard of your
e-column and subscribed. I am really enjoying it. It gave me renewed
desire to donate my medallion back to Ardmore. I was hoping you might
have an idea who I might contact. I grew up in Ardmore, moved around the
country a lot and became "A born-again Okie" in 1992. I would appreciate
your help. Thanks in advance." Judy Ott Chappell
chappell@mmind.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Thought you might like to see some pictures of the new Ardmore Foundry
(East Jordan Iron Works) at the Ardmore Airpark."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry3.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry4.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry5.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry6.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry7.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/foundry8.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"BUTCH IF THE PERSON SAYING THEIR DAD WAS AN S.H.MAPP WOULD LIKE TO
CONTACT ME,I HAVE LOTS ON THE MAPP FAMILY. MY HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER WAS
FANNIE ELIZABETH MAPP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HERE IN OKLAHOMA IN THE
40'S DID THE KIDS COLLECT FOOD AND CLOTHES FOR OVERSEAS PEOPLE AND A
TRAIN CAME THRU TO PICK THEM UP. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER? I WAS LIVING IN
CALIFORNIA THEN. I'VE GOT A PICTURE OF THE TRAIN,BUT WILL HAVE TO GO TO
MY STORAGE SPACE TO FIND IT." MINNIE LOU WATSON WHITTINGTON.
kenco@pldi.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, it was amazing how many comments were made about the shoe repair
etc. Now I would like to see if we can get anyone working on a Chat
Group or Listbot type of message center for those who graduated from
Dickson, Ardmore, Plainview and surrounding area in the 1965-1967 era.
We hear from a few people at times but I do not know how to set one of
these up. Any experts out there? Is there a reunion plan in the near
future?" Mike Pennington MIKEJODY2@JUNO.COM
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Someone forwarded me the above issue & it was most interesting. There
were two items that I definitely relate to: l. John Simmons - I am one
of his three daughters. The land for the Aylesworth Cemetery was donated
by the Simmons family and my father, John Simmons, maintained the
cemetery as long as he lived. Now, my sister, Nowanna Litterell,& her
husband drive down from Tulsa to weed, etc. once or twice each year.
John Simmons is not buried there but his parents & several other members
of the family are there. 2. Kinlock, OK. I went to school at Kinlock in
1932. There was a one room schoolhouse, all 8 grades were taught by a
man who lived next door to the school." Johnnie C. Simmons Weaver
jjweaver@alltel.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"BUTCH. A FRIEND WHO LIVES IN ARDMORE SENDS ME YOUR WEEKLY VOLUMES AND I
ENJOY THEM. I HAVE SAVED THEM IN MY FOLDER SO I CAN GO BACK AND CHECK
OUT THE PICTURES . I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT ALL OF THEM AT
THE TIME. IF YOU WILL PUT ME ON YOUR ADDRESS LIST SO I WON'T MISS ANY OF
THESE SATURDAY POSTINGS. I LIVE IN MADILL. GREW UP IN THE OIL FIELDS
EAST OF TOWN. IF YOU WANT TO PUT A NOTE ON YOUR CALENDAR AND PUT A NOTE
IN ONE OF YOUR WEEKS THE CUMBERLAND AND ALYESWORTH REUNION WILL BE JUNE
10,2001 IN MADILL AT THE AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING. POT LUCK MEAL AND
OPEN TO ANYONE WHO LIVED IN EITHER COMMUNITY OR HAD ANY CONNECTION
THERE. I HOPE TO FIND SOMETHING ON THAT COATSWORTH. I'LL KEEP ME EARS
OPEN. HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY." letterman@webtv.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, I knew the brand of tire patches you were going to say before I
ever got to the picture. I still have a tin of them also. The camel is
about gone and tin is rusted a bit. I got it from the things my dad had
saved after he passed away three years ago." Grampe in Juneau
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/hbegan.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Thanks for being alert at those intersections in Ardmore. If anything
happened to you, Lots of people would miss you something terrible. I
know I would."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"HI
BUTCH, FORGIVE ME FOR WRITING IN ALL CAPS, I HAVE SINE STIFF FINGERS AND
THE CAPS HELP RATHER THAN REGULAR TYING. I AM ANSWERING YOUR NOTE ABOUT
CLARK GABLE. MANY TIMES I HAVE LOOKED AT HIS BIOGRAPHY HERE AND THERE
AND HAVE NOT FOUND MABEL FRANKLIN'S NAME BEING MENTIONED. OF COURSE THIS
DOES HAPPEN TO STARS MANY TIMES, BUT HERE IS WHY I KNOW THAT THEY WERE
MARRIED, AT LEAST IN THE EYES OF MANY THERE IN ARDMORE. WHEN "GONE WITH
THE WIND CAME OUT" THERE WAS A PIECE IN THE PAPER ABOUT HIS LIFE IN AND
AROUND GROWING UP. AT THAT TIME, MY MOTHER TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD KNOWN
THAT HE WAS MARRIED AND THAT MABEL WITH HER MONEY HAD HELPED TO GET HIM
INTO HOLLYWOOD. IF HOWEVER, YOU READ IN MOST OF HIS BIOGRAPHIES, YOU
WILL SEE THAT A LADY KNOWN AS JOSEPHINE DILLON WAS THE WEALTHY PERSON
WHO HELPED HIM GET INTO HOLLYWOOD.---READ ON. WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL, 1939-1940 ETC. I WAS IN SCHOOL WITH THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER OF WIRT
FRANKLIN AND SHE TOLD US ABOUT IT. WHEN I WAS IN HIGHSCHOOL I HAD A
NUMBER OF CLASSES WITH WIRT FRANKLIN'S GRANDDAUGHTER--ONE ENGLISH LIT
CLASS TOUCHED ON THE STORY OF "GONE WITH THE WIND" SHE ALSO TOLD US THE
STORY. HOWEVER, BY THEN HE WAS A LEGEND AND HIS FIRST MOVIES WERE BACK
TO THE EARLY THIRTIES. "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT " WITH CLAUDETTE COLBERT
WAS BACK IN 1933 OR 1934 SO THEIR MARRIAGE HAD TO HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE
THAT. I AM SORRY THAT I CANNOT TELL YOU MORE THAN THAT. I DO FEEL SURE
THAT IT IS TRUE, HOWEVER."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"If
possible, I would like to send this feeler out there to find out if
anyone on your list remembers my grandfather who lived in Healdton,
Oklahoma for a long time. His name was Cecil Stout. Most people knew him
as "Shorty". He owned Healdton Mattress Company. For years he had a
fellow by the name of "Jack" who worked for him. My grandparents' home
and shop were located on Texas street across from the park. My
grandmother's name was Virginia. They raised their family there after my
grandfather lost a toe working in the oil fields. He and my grandmother
lived there until my grandfather died in 1979. They are both buried
there in Mt. Olive Cemetery. Their children's names are: Joe, John Ed,
Doris, and Cecil Jr. (my father). If anyone out there remembers this
family at all, I would adore hearing from them. Attached is a picture of
my grandfather's shop and van. Thank you! I adore this newsletter!"
bbyparit@webracks.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch- This picture is probably related to the tire plant mentioned in
T&T. Women unidentified. Sign indicates Ardmore is 4 miles down the
road. (The MacGalliard Collection)"
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/ustires.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch have you checked out the round barn east of 177 between the
Scullin Y & Hickory?? Some one else will have to give you better
directions than I can. The story that I was told as a kid was that it
was built by German POW's. I remember it set close to the side road, but
can't remember what road."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch. I always enjoy reading your email about southern Oklahoma. I
spent alot of my youth in Ardmore and I have fond memories. After 40
years, I went back to Ardmore. Here is some of my memories of Ardmore.
Keep up the good work." Richard Henry
http://henryextendedfamily.homestead.com/ardmore.html
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"When
I was growing up, my parents and brother & sister would drive up from
Arlington, TX to see my grandparents living in Ardmore. This was is the
60's before I-35. On Hwy 77, about a mile south of Overbrook, there used
to be a store on the east side of the highway at the top of the hill.
The store had an indian totem pole out front. We (my brother and sister)
used to wait and watch for the totem pole as we drove by coming and
going. Can anyone tell me about this place and what ever happened to the
totem pole?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Sir:
Have you ever heard of Wolf Creek in the Thackerville, Oklahoma area?
I'd like to have directions to this area....can you help me? Thank you!"
rosesea@wt.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
I
would like to be included on your list to receive This & That.! I grew
up in Ardmore born in 1961 and left in 1981 to join the US Air Force. I
am a Crew Chief on C130's currently stationed at the old Carswell AFB in
Ft. Worth. If any others out there might have info about the Flying
horseman I would love to see them... I enjoyed the small site about the
elite C-130 flying unit. Thanks for everything you do." Joe Bob Ritter.
AHS class of 1980. Joe.Ritter@txcars.ang.af.mil
--------------------------------------------------------------
"You
must love bells as much as I do I own a school style building complete
with belfry and bell. I own about 15 bells similar to the pics you have
and on new years eve, we ring them all.I have found a couple on ebay
auction. Ever go to ebay.com and punch in church bell, school bell or
farm bell? I lov to correspond with folks who love bells as well as i.
Sincerely Ron Delby PS I have a little foundry here in my yard and
sometimes i make bells. Your pics are great!!!!!!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"My
family came to Madill in 1940 with the oil field. Cumberland field. I
was eleven yrs. at the time. One of my memories is the day they changed
the name of a little place to Gene Autry. Gene and his wife were in a
train car . there was music on a stage an late in the evening men riding
horses rode on top of a hill . It was nice to see. our neighbor and
friend had b beautiful palameno horse and that horse was chosen for Gene
Autry to ride in that parade. Then it was told that it was Trigger. That
horse belonged to jimmy green.of Madill. Needless to say he was quite
disappointed by that."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
finally got a younger man who evidently likes to climb up extremely high
ladders. He went all the way up to the bell after church yesterday and
took these pictures at the Catholic church in Guthrie, Oklahoma."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guth167.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guth168.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guth168b.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guth172.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guth173.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, Sure enjoyed reading last weeks T&T. Do any of your
subscribers/buddies remember the old Fairview School, located about
halfway between Davis and Sulphur, about 1 1/2 miles south of Bob
Miller's store on the highway? In about 1937/38, I started in the first
grade there, before it burned down. It had two rooms, 1st thru 8th
grades, and had 2 outhouses, a hand-pump for drinking water, and each
room had a big potbellied wood burning stove. My teacher was Mrs.
Fisher, and the other teacher and principal was Pete Vander Slice.
Somewhere I have a school photo, and I'll send it to you if/when I find
it. And does anyone remember the Dinky Train that used to run between
Davis and Sulphur; a little steam engine, but that engineer sure could
make that whistle sound blue."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"My
father, Lt.Cmdr (Ret) James L. Chandler was a pilot with American Flyers
in April 1966. I was only 10 years old at the time of the crash but I
vividly remember that night. My father, my sister Katie, my brother Tim,
and 3 friends of my sister's and I had all gone to see the "Ghost and
Mr. Chicken" at the theater in downtown Ardmore. On our return to our
house on Cherry St., we could see the doors to both our house and our
neighbor's house open. My mom and our next door neighbor, who's husband,
Richard Maynard, also worked for the airline as a pilot, were running
back and forth to each other. My mom was hysterical and told us the
news. Needless to say, the rest of the evening took on a dire tone. I
realize now that for the rest of my Dad's career, everytime any TV
report of a plane crash occurred, it brought on the most vivid fears.
The next morning my father and I attempted to drive to the site, we were
turned away by the authorities. I distinctly remember the weather that
morning, it was still foggy, cold and rainy. It seemed appropriate for
the time and the circumstance. I was an altar boy at St. Mary's Catholic
church, and had to participate in what was my first funeral 3 days later
for Anthony Pica. My parents went to 4 funerals that day. I remember how
emotional the funeral was, especially graveside, it was horrible, as a
young boy I'd never witnessed death and loss and I've never forgotten
Anthony's mother that day. My parents are both still around and I just
spoke to them, and to this day, Dad doesn't really like to talk about
the accident. He left American Flyers within 3 months after the crash
and went on to work for Capitol International Airlines, from which he
retired in 1980. They both live in Brentwood Tennessee, right outside
Nashville. If anyone remembers them and would like to get in touch with
them you can reach them here:" eyeworks@bellsouth.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"what
happen to the bells of ardmore never hear them ring anymore"
--------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the Council Grove Bell I promised. It is located at Council Rd
and Melrose Ln, Oklahoma City. The text on the plaque below the bell is
as follows..... "This bell, long a symbol of gatherings is dedicated to
preserve the memories and the history of the Council Grove community.
It's presented in loving memory of William A. "Scooter" Wilson by his
classmates, friends and family. This historical old school bell dates
back to the late 1890s. When it was first used in the Council Grove
District School, located on the southeast corner of Melrose Lane and
Council road. This schoolhouse also served as the Union church. When a
new school was built in this location in 1938, the bell was moved to the
new school and again used. The bell remained at that school until May,
1970 when it was brought to the present Council Grove school by the
"Scooter" Wilson memorial fund. This bell is also dedicated to its own
precious memories of Council Grove School children for over 70 years."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cocibel2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cocibel3.jpg
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"Is
there anyway you could send me a copy of the picture of Hobart in 1901.
I will be more than glad to reimburse you the cost. I tried printing it
off, but it came out small and like it is from a great distance. I do
not know how to do it any better. There is no way I can use the
magnifying glass to try and identify my grandfather. (if he is in there)
The picture on the computer is much plainer than the one I printed off.
I even forwarded the This and That to my cousin and he could not even
get any of your pictures to come up on his screen. Would appreciate your
help on this. Let me know." Sandra Hayes sandrahayes@junct.com
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/hobart2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"This
is just a reminder note to let you know of the web page we have for our
Ardmore class reunion 1967. Some of you have already signed in and we
thank you very much...Some of you have not...We want all of you to..We
want to have a great reunion and I know it can happen..Its been alot of
fun in the past but this one is going to be the best ever..No little
kids to have to find baby sitters for...Yea! We can stay up all night
and talk and not have to rush off....If you know the where abouts of
another mates please let them know about our web page...I realize there
are still some of our mates that don't user computers..But we have to
make an effort to contact them....Keep checking the web page for further
postings..We are going to be posting a list of people I can't
find...Maybe you will know where some of them are and you can contact
them or let me know and I will.....Some of the classmates have had some
great stories to tell that has happened to them over the years and some
have had some pretty tragic ones...I know some of you have had your
times and are still going thru some tuff times..I wish you the best..If
there anything you need or your classmates can do for ya...Just holler."
Bobby Pruitt BEPruitt@worldnet.att.net
http://www.Cyberflux-Solutions.com/AHSReunion
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==============================================================
With winter hopefully behind us, we're looking to finish up some things
at the American Flyers Memorial at the Airpark. We'd like to see more
picnic tables, some off-street parking, and a wood stockade fence around
the area, among other things. I found out this week that a teacher at
the Comanche, Oklahoma schools brought 150 students over to view the
Memorial. I was told the children just stood in front of the Memorial in
awe with their big eyes. I was touched to learn these students were
there visiting the site.
http://www.americanflyersmemorial.org
"They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this
world. Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for."
--Tom Bodett
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, March 17, 2001 Vol 5 Issue 204
Many of you wrote back with the right answer to the mystery photo
last week. Mr and Mrs Charles Anderson in Indiana has had that
Ardmoreite since 1944. I know one thing, there are a lot of historians
reading my T&T by the emails I received. The newspaper printed May 6,
1944 on that special edition. The correct date was June 6, 1944.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/nor1944a.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/nor1944b.jpg
A
reader sent me a pic of a counter check on the Cornish Banking Co
(before 1907).
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cornchec.jpg
I
received an email this week asking about the old Ardmore Akron Tire and
Rubber Company. This is not the first time I've received an inquiry
about this old Ardmore business. I did some digging and found it started
about 1918 and was located "3 miles north of town". The President was
John C. Harmony who roomed at the Hotel Ardmore. Elmer and Arthur Wood
was V-Presidents, Fox Wood was Treasurer, and Roy Wood was Secretary of
the corporation. The business's downtown office was at 209-212 West Main
in the Von Weise building. From what I found, the company ceased to be
about 1925.
Some other interesting facts I ran across.... in 1910
the Hardy Sanitarium was located at 212 First SW (where the post office
is now). I thought it was several years later that Dr. Hardy opened the
hospital at 212 First SW. Also in 1926 Harvey Brothers Funeral Parlors
was located at 300 West Main.
I found this old box of inner tube
patches in my garage. I used to work with these same kind of patches
when I fixed flats at Kenneth Chandler's Service Station at East Main
and D Street when I was about 16 years old. This particular patch kit
was made in Muskogee, Oklahoma by the H.B. Egan Manufacturing Company
back in the 1940s.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/hbegan.jpg
Every
now and then I get bored (haha), so last Saturday morning I decided to
get some Trustys from the county jail and re-paint the stripes in the
south parking lot across from the courthouse. County sheriffs office
across the state have been providing jail Trusty's to do some of the
needed work around Oklahoma courthouses since statehood. Our new
sheriff, Harvey Burkhart, is continuing this tradition. Trusty labor
sure helps when there is so much to do in the upkeep of four buildings.
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/crtlot.jpg
A reader
asked if I've had any info on the extinct town of Coatsworth, Oklahoma.
Coatsworth was located in Marshall county near Madill, Oklahoma. Maybe
someone out there knows something about Coatsworth.
The past week
around Ardmore it seems like Spring had sprung. This Bradford Pear tree
is across from my house at the Ardmore Garden Center, and its in full
bloom. http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/bradpear.jpg
A Reader told me there were three bells in a yard north of the
Armory Building in Healdton, Oklahoma this week. Guess I need to grap my
camera and head over there!
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, have you ever heard anyone use the word "tump"? As in, "Be
careful, you're going to tump the boat over". I think it's a southern
term combining "turn" and "dump". I have heard it all my life and some
people I know said that they'd never heard of it."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
certainly wish I had the time to put into your endeavor the time that
you do. I also wish that I were living back in Davis or Ardmore to show
you some of the interesting sites that we as kids took for granite while
growing up at Davis, Oklahoma."
"There are a number of caves in and
around Turner Falls that we used to explore as well as one out west of
Davis just to the southwest of Hennepin that we called "Bitter Enters"
as the temperature inside the cave was hotter than the outside and this
was during the summer."
"We also burned drip gas in the cars we
drove or rode in back in the late 50's and early 60's. Can remember when
Pick's Hot Tamale's was located three miles south of Davis on old
Highway 77 and they sold one dozen for a buck."
"If someone is
looking for good leather work, they need to visit Dye's Boots two miles
south of Davis (on the left going south out of Davis) on old Highway 77
it is ran by Ben Dye's (the original owner) Grandson."
"Can also
remember swimming at Price's Falls just below the old Waterwheel as well
as Turner Falls and even diving off the falls (even though it was not
allowed - but more so then than it is now)."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"In
February 1966 I was teaching school and received my draft notice. I was
to report to Los Angeles on April 21, 1966. I was quite a confusing day
but at last a group of us were told we were going to Fort Bliss, Texas.
I was glad to find two friends that I had graduated in 1961 from high
school. In the early afternoon we were bussed around LAX to what seemed
to be on the south side of the airport. We were to get in a white and
red prop plane. They said we would be leaving in a few minutes. Several
times during that long afternoon we kept getting announcements that the
flight had been delayed. We were finally told that they were going to
load the plane. I had never flown and the long wait made me very more
apprehensive. I remember how one engine was the last to start and fire
came out of the back. It plane shook more than I expected and it seemed
like the wings went up and down as we headed down the runway. I thought,
"Well I'm sure the crew wouldn't fly a plane that wasn't safe." We
landed in Texas and had a good flight. I was separated from my two
friends and the rest of the group in Texas. They wanted me to take
additional test for OCS. A few weeks later I saw one of my friends and
he told me that the plane had crashed the next day killing all aboard. I
remember thinking that I hoped that our crew was not on the plane
because they had been so nice to us. I was glad to find the American
Flyers Memorial website. It is great to see that people remember what we
did in those years. I would have been there the next day." Sp5 Robert
Gollihugh gollihugh@earthlink.net US56418801
http://www.gollihugh.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Mystery of Three Oklahoma Tombstones Solved: Three tombstones were
found along side an Oklahoma highway north of Davis, Oklahoma and no one
knew where they came from. Dennis Muncrief decided to investigate and
return the stones to their original location. Read the story of how this
happy-ending came about."
http://www.interment.net/column/feature/stolen/index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
"The
Normandy Invasion began on JUNE 6, 1944. The date in the paper says MAY
6, 1944. Do I win a trip to Hawaii??????!!!!!!!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Can
I get a half credit since May 6th, 1944 was a Saturday and the paper
said it was a Tuesday? Maybe an honorable mention? :) Keep these
wonderful newsletters coming. Please let me know if you need any help
with anything. I think your CD idea is a great one. Let me know if I can
help with that, too. I have a CD burner on my computer. Keep up the good
work!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch - The date should have been June 6 , 1944 instead of May 6, 1944.
We really enjoy your news letter - keep up the good work. My Dad used to
run a vegetable stand on Caddo in the 40's . There was a grocery store
also on Caddo and he worked there for a long time. I'd walk down there
over the railroad tracts to be with him. We lived on G. Street N.E. His
name was S. H. Mapp . There's a lot of memories, (good ones) there and
713 4th N.E. where my Grandmother lived. I also went to Washington
School. I remember Small's Bakery. Thanks for the wonderful
memories."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, This is in response to the reader asking about a leather
holster. I know there is a saddle shop out toward Dickson, but I don't
know if they do that kind of work. It might be worth a try. If nothing
can be found in this area, there is a shop in OKC called Looper Leather
Goods. They do a lot of custom work for law enforcement personnel. My
husband has had some work done there, and it is top quality. The phone
number is 405-677-1655. Also, I tried out that new BBQ place in Davis
called Buffalo Gap. It is VERY different. The ribs are smoked and
seasoned with a tasty rub. The sauce is a mustard BBQ that is unique.
It's not your typical Okie-style BBQ, but if you're looking to try
something different, this is the place. Prices are reasonable,
atmosphere is fun. Thanks for another entertaining Saturday
morning!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Good Morning, I intended to write you last week about your
grandfather building the Methodist church in Hobart, but you know how
time gets away from you, but now after this week's news letter, I am
glad I did not write you until now. My grandfather, James A. Anderson,
hauled the first load of lumber into Hobart to start their town. He is
also the great uncle of your good friend, Leroy McDaniel of Mannsville,
Oklahoma. He hauled this load of lumber with his big wagon and several
of his large mules. James Anderson later moved to Frederick, about 60
miles south of Hobart and was a farmer there until his death in 1932. I
have several family members buried at Hobart. After looking at the
picture you have up today, I am going to go back thru some of my old
pictures that no one knows who or where they were taken. This one looks
very familiar and there may be a copy of it. I am printing this one off
and hopefully it will be good enough that I can get my magnifying glass
and see if I can find my grandfather. If it does not print clear, can
you mail me a copy of it, or did you just get it over the computer. I
would love to get more info on the starting of Hobart and hopefully will
get back there this summer and do some researching on this. If I do, I
will let you know in advance in case there is anything you would like
checked out while I am there."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Tell your reader, that there is a leather shop in Lone Grove,
called Lone Grove Boot and Saddle, Susan and Randy Watterson
580-657-2802, do great work, they custom made a T-bag for our
motorcycle, and it's beautiful, they are good folks and can do just
about anything you want, they do quite a bit of work for us bikers. Hope
this helps."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Randolph's saddle shop is now B & C Saddle shop and it is only open in
the mornings now, to 12 noon. If he cant get it done there he can go to
Cowboy Way on the other side of Dickson about 1 mile the other side on
the right and he may get it done there. "
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Randolph Saddle Shop is open only in the mornings. I had him
make a belt for Ed last year. He usually closes around 12:30 or 1:00,
Monday through Friday."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch. Someone asked in tonight's issue if anyone in the area makes
custom leather gun holsters. I'm not sure, but the Circle C Boot Shop in
Ardmore does a lot of leather work. Might check with them. My brother
Harold Caudle is the owner operator."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Butch, On the corner of S. Commerce & Myall Streets (I think this is
where the old Randolph's Saddle Shop used to be located) there is a
business called B and C Saddle Shop. It is owned by Bud Stewart. He
makes wonderful saddles, chaps and many other leather goods. He might be
able to make a gun holster for the person who wrote in asking you about
such a place. He is only open from about 8 AM to around l:30 or 2:00
P.M. It would be well worth a person's time to check it out. I hear that
people come from all over the US to have him make saddles and other
things for them.. He and his wife are nice Christian people and I know
them personally. "
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Butch, Just to answer one of the questions someone wrote about Capt
Boyd, he and his wife are both deceased. She was selling cook books
during our first reunion with drawings of some of his work. Do not know
any more info."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"You
know, looking at this picture... well, it is hard to believe that there
was so many people in Ardmore at this time frame... and down town.. wish
that they had not invented strip malls."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/fedler2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, just thought you might like to have a photo of the side of
Overbrook, Okla. that most people don't see. About a mile south of the
Overbrook Road railroad crossing, down in the "boonies", is this sign by
the tracks. On Feb. 25, 2001 I shot Oklahoma's Heartland Flyer blasting
past the sign and a waiting freight train on the siding track to the
left. Sorry folks, no stops here!!" Dwane stevens@ardmore.com
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/overflyr.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Finally got them. Think part of the problem was Netscape. So I went to
IE. The pictures just don't do the fire justice. I spent a couple of
hours or so watching it. The immediate rumors said that it started in
the peanut mill near the underpass got on a conveyor belt so it spread
rapidly at the outset. Then driven by a good? breeze it progressed
northward pausing briefly at a firewall in the cotton warehouses. I
remember that the heat was so intense that it lifted pieces of
corrugated sheet iron into the air like leaves. When they passed beyond
the heat they dropped to the ground, a few farther north than Broadway."
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/ginfire6.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"hi
butch i am glad you spoke of cecil button. i remember him when i was
growing up. he lived around from me. i used to see him at Moore's
grocery. i think him and mr moore where brother inlaw's. he was a very
nice man. thanks for bringing back memories"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I saw a reference to the Ardmore company in your newsletter.
Would you happen to have any information on the company?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch attached are pictures of what used to be the town of Aylesworth
in Marshall County. Now it is cover by Lake Texoma (Where the Oil
Derricks are in the water). Just up the road from Aylesworth is a small
cemetary that has the sign of Aylesworth Cemetary. But all during
growing up I had been told that the cemetary was moved to the south end
of TimberHill Road just to the North of Bridgeview Resort. I wonder
which cemetary is which and who is John Simmons."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/aylesm2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/aylesm3.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/aylesm4.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/aylesm5.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/aylesm6.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch here is a picture of the Grantham Church and the old Grantham
School house back when there were lots of country school houses.
Grantham Church still has church services there. It's just off of 199
East of Madill about 3 1/2 miles out. My Dad and his father used to go
to school there back in the early 1900's. I remember they used to have a
rope in the corner of the foyer that went into the ceiling and it used
to ring a bell. I guess there is still a bell in the top of the church.
But you can't see it. Maybe you can come to church there and ask if they
will let you ring their bell or crawl up in the attic and look at it!"
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/granth2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Pruittville, east of Madill has a new Sign. The old one was
knocked down about 2 months ago in an accident. You've been to
Pruittville before back about 8 years ago. Wonder if any of your readers
might have any information on the old community of Kinlock before it was
known as Pruittville? Or any pictures? My family used to have a Dairy
down there back in the mid 1900's."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/pruittv2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello Butch, I ran across this old bell while looking for a site to run
my metal locator. The Bell is located about 5 miles south of Wilson at
the intersection of HYW 76 and County Line Road and is part of a
memorial to the Post Oak School that once stood there. All that is left
now is a side walk, the foundation of the old school, a water well and
two cellars, one of which belonged to the teacherage. The school is
located just across County Line Road which puts it in Love County. I
love to photograph and document old schools. I have located French
School, Cisco School, Whitebead School, Florence Chapel School and
several others which I haven't got to document yet." Charles Smith
wcsmith@brightok.net
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/postoak6.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/postoak7.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/postoak8.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/postoak9.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey
Butch how about this strange looking pumpjack that one of your readers
emailed to me. It doesn't have a gear box. I wouldn't want to have to
buy all of those belts for this one."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/pumpj2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Here
is the info on the clock at Park Cities Baptist Church on NW Hwy in
Dallas: I have someone checking about the age of the clock and what
company made it. It was given by Mr. Virgil Howard in memory of his
father-pastor and his brother. "Night Cometh" was inscribed at the
request of Dr. Herbert Howard, the second pastor of the church, I
believe. It is taken from John 9:4: "I must work the works of him that
sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work." I
believe this would date the clock back to 1956."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/pickchur.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
would suspect that the reference on the Dallas church to "Night cometh"
is an effort to convey the same message of a church song "Work for the
night is coming" and it points out that we do not know how much time
there is to be busy in His service, so work!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Good
morning Butch, Thought you a/o your neat subscribers might be interested
in some random wanderings from the good ol' days. As a kid, about
1938/39, a huge circus type tent was erected in Sulphur, on the west
side of Rock Creek near the old cotton gin. For the first few days they
held a real old-time Hallelujah Revival , then they put down a hardwood
roller skating rink for several days, and guys and gals came from all
around . It was great. But it wasn't over yet. Then Willard the Wizard
put on an amazing magic show for several days. Our next door neighbor, a
widow with two children, ran away with Willard, and hopefully lived
happily ever after. But the absolutely best part came next. Bob Wills
and his Texas Playboys came to town, I believe for only one Saturday
night, and it was maybe the greatest party Sulphur ever had. I was only
about twelve years old, but I became a lifelong fan of Bob Wills, and
wore out several pair of shoes dancing to his music later as an adult.
(Actually, I never did really grow up)! But they really made good use of
that tent for awhile, and then Sulphur went back to just a quite , but
great place to grow up.The older I get, the better it used to
be!!!!"
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, in regard to whoever wanted leatherwork done. Bud Stewart bought
the old Randolph Saddle Shop (on South Commerce) and it is now called
B&C Saddle Shop. It still has all the old pictures that Mr. Randolph
had, all the old equipment and even the old heater and chairs. Bud can
repair most anything. He even made some motorcycle leg covers for a
movie that was partly shot here. He has had it open for a long time, at
least 15 or 20 years. He has made boots and a few saddles. Go by and see
him. He has a sort of "spit and whittle club " sometimes. I am his
sister, we went to the old Mary Niblack school and then to Springdale
school when we were little. We used to have a hay ride about once a
year. Enoch Watterson and his family would get a team of horses and load
up the wagon with hay and drive up and down the country roads picking up
kids for a "play party" at their house. There was so many of them that a
few dozen more didnt make any difference. I really enjoy reading your
newsletter. Keep it coming."
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==============================================================
Last Saturday afternoon I decided to travel back over into the NE part
of Ardmore where my stomping grounds are located. I went by the lumber
yard and continued on north up "H" street NE. When I got to the stop
sign at "H" and 5th, I stopped, and because 5th is on curve there back
east, I had to nudge out a little. Something told me to stop, and in the
corner of my eye I saw something yellow. A powerful motorcycle was going
west at a fast clip, and because he thought I was not going to see him
and pull on out, he laid his motorcycle down and slide 80 or 90 feet,
passing right in front of me. So much can happen in two seconds. I got
out to go see how the guy was, and he was up and walking toward me to
see if I was hurt. Of course I wasn't touched. And by a miracle he was
not hurt, only shook up. People started coming out from everywhere, and
a lot of them knew me, since I was grew up just two blocks south of that
intersection. The cops came, asked me a few questions, and said I could
leave since I was not part of the accident. I think the guy on the
motorcycle got a ticket for speeding among other violations. At an
estimated 70 mph, it was a miracle he wasn't killed.
Its amazing how
fast our minds can flash back to things. I thought about my 14 years on
the ambulance, and the thousands of vehicle accidents I went to.
Sometimes the Grim Reaper seemed so close, I could almost feel his
presence. Many times I was the last person that individual saw alive.
They'd tell me a phone number and in the rush of things, I'd write it on
the palm of my hand. Or give me a name of someone they loved. Or just
look into your eyes with this most scared look and say, "Please help
me." I'd do everything I knew to do to try and save their life, but
sometimes the Grim Reaper wins. I felt so helpless sometimes.
And a
strange twist about this whole incident last Saturday, was my cousin,
Jerry Carmon, back around 1960 as teenager, was on his motorcycle and
hit by a car at the very same intersection. I remember bystanders
calling my grandfather Stanley Carmon at the lumber yard, and he and I
jumped in the pickup and went to the scene. We took Jerry to the
hospital. He broke his leg and had to wear a full leg cast for months.
I am reminded of the story about the farmer who worked all day in
the field, he headed back to the house, and when he got near the front
door, he saw the Grim Reaper beckoning him inside. The farmer was so
scared, he ran away. He decided to spend the night in the barn, and when
he approached the barn, there was the Grim Reaper. The Grim Reaper
asked, "Why did you run away earlier? I was only wanting to tell you to
meet me here at this barn, at this time."
Friends make life worth
living, so please be careful and I'll see everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma
73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, March 10, 2001 Vol 5 Issue 203
Boy, I walked into my office last week, and there on my desk was a
box of chocolate chip cookies. They were from Dianne Rankin..... sorta
of a bribe. haha. She's still got her antenna out for any good ghost
stories for her upcoming book. She got some good signals from several of
you out there, but she's looking for more! Dianne's Email is
rcdotc@brightok.net What I'd like to see is several of us who "know"
something about reported ghosts and the like in Oklahoma, to get
together at Dianne's house in the Arbuckle mountains for supper and
discuss it all. Dianne has gave an invitation to supper. So, let me or
Dianne hear from you if your interested. She said a weekend "meeting of
the minds" would be the best time!
This week I went to the Oklahoma
Tax Commission's Website and filled out my 2000 Tax Return using their
free Online option. As last year, it worked great, and since I had my ID
and password from last year, all my info from last year's return was
transferred to my 2000 Return. All I had to do was basically enter the
new amounts. And as last year, I opted for the electronic transfer to my
checking account for my Refund! Pretty neat, and its all free for
Oklahomans! http://www.oktax.state.ok.us/
About 12 miles NE of
Perry, Oklahoma in Noble county is the small town of Sumner. There in
front of the Sumner Rural Fire Department is the bell from the old
Sumner School. Beautiful.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/sumner.jpg
Cornish, Oklahoma is 30 miles west of Ardmore, next door to Ringling,
Oklahoma. Here's a pic of the old Cornish school. Boy, I sure liked that
belfry! http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cornsch.jpg
And this photo shows part of that old Cornish Orphanage we talked
about last week.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cornorpg.jpg
Last
week I talked about my grandfather building the Methodist church in
Hobart, Oklahoma. Here's a pic of Hobart in 1901 when it was only a
twinkle in someone's eye.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/hobart2.jpg
Here's
a pic of downtown Dougherty, Oklahoma up in the Arbuckle Mountains in
1998. http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/dherty.jpg
In Edmond, Oklahoma is the old North Tower and bell at the University of
Central Oklahoma.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/oldnorth.jpg
Just
a few miles on up the road north from Edmond is Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Here's a pic of the bell that used to call children to classes at the
old Central School in Guthrie. Again, beautiful.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guthbell.jpg
I
found a pretty neat place to find some Freeware utilities. If you have a
network with one computer on the internet, they have a free program
(called a proxy server) that lets you give internet to all the other
computers on the network through that one computer. Also they have a
little program to stop that nasty hole in Windows that allows hackers to
monitor every piece of information in and out of your computer when your
on the Net. And they have some neat "music" programs if your into that
stuff too. Check it all out at.... http://www.analogx.com/
Hardly a
day goes by that someone doesn't send me email that is part of the email
hoaxes going around the world on a daily. Some of the emails I get are
viruses, but my virus checker catches them. I hope you are using a virus
checker. To learn about email hoaxes (and real ones) before you are part
of them..... http://www.vmyths.com/
Back in the early 1980s we had a
snow fall in the Ardmore area. I probably shouldn't have even been on
the streets, but decided to go to the old Safeway Supermarket (now
Homeland) on North Commerce and pick up some things. When I left the
store, an elderly white-haired man was in the parking lot trying to get
his car started (He was George Cecil Button 1909-1994). I thought to
myself, at his age he shouldn't even be out in this kind of weather.
Anyway, I went over to help. I had jumper cables in my car, so I
jump-started his dead battery. I closed the hood on his car and went
around to the passenger side, he had the door open. He said, "I'm Cecil
Button and I own Button's Auto Electric and I want to thank you for
helping me. I'm also a Gideon." He opened his glove compartment, and
pulled out a little bible. He said, "here son, I want you to have this".
I never meet Mr. Button again. But I still have that little Gideon
bible. The reason I"m telling this story is because I received an email
this week from my long time friend Rome Engle. Rome and I go back a long
way, to when I worked on the ambulance in the early 70s and also the
sheriffs office, and he worked as a State Game Ranger.
But first a
little information so everyone knows who Rome is: Rome was a former Game
Ranger or Game Warden from the Southern Oklahoma Area. He retired 2 or 3
years ago from the State job, and is now working almost full time with
the Gideons. He lives in Tulsa now, and is currently on a Gideon trip to
Kenya, Africa doing what Gideons do, handing out bibles. Lisa is Rome's
wife. Now for his email this week....
From: Rome Engle, Nairobi
Serena Hotel
To: 'RomeLisa@brightok.net'
Date: Monday, March 05, 2001 12:03 PM
"Hi Lisa, Just a note to tell you about my first full day of work in the
Lord's ministry in Kenya. My partner for the day, Brad Wilson, of the
great state of Oregon, and I went to 12 grade schools today. We placed
about 3500 testaments in Swahili and English in those little hands. The
children were so well disciplined and mannerly. We would tell them "good
morning" and they would in unison say "good morning, sirs." The smiles
were from ear to ear, and the eyes were bright and sparkling. We cried
all day long. We saw children with cleft palates, cancers on their
faces... our hearts broke all day long, not only with the sick and halt
and maimed, but with the happy faces. Every school wanted to sing for
us. The sound of those lovely voices singing to us will be with me for
the rest of my life. Sell the house, buy some tickets and let's get on
with this... Gotta go, forward this letter to everyone you think will be
interested in it. I love you, Pray for us........Rome." Carter
County Commissioner Kevin Robinson went over the hill last week. The
girls at the commissioners office fixed up the area with banners and
balloons, and we had some delicious taco soup at noon in celebration of
his birthday. Just wait til he's 50, they'll really fix him up!
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/kevbd2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/kevbd3.jpg
And
here's a picture of the old man himself...
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/kevbd4.jpg
A
reader told me about a cotton gin that used to be in operation here in
Ardmore up until around 1951 on South Washington. The reader said his
dad used to take him there when they sold their crops. I did some
checking and found out the gin was located right across the street west
from the Honda Shop in the 500 block of South Washington. It was called
the Murphey Milling and Feed Company, owned by John L. Murphey
(1890-1950) and his wife Maude (1892-1976. Mr and Mrs Murphey lived next
door to the mill at 515 South Washington. The mill manager was W.E
Buchanan, the assistant manager John McGraw, and Coley Wallace was the
secretary/treasurer. The mill was originally called the Choctaw Cotton
Mill starting in 1918 and ran by John Murphey all through the years
until the name was changed to Murphey Milling and Feed about 1949.
Murphey Milling was sold to Comet Feed Mills about 1957. I wonder if
anyone has a photo of this mill?
If you're looking for some southern
Oklahoma history, a good place to start is the Greater Southwest
Historical Museum here in Ardmore. It's located at #35 Sunset Drive and
the zipcode is 73401. The phone number to the museum is 580-226-1247 and
Fax is 580-226-3857. Plus they are on the world wide web at
http://home.swbell.net/bhamm10/
A reader asked me this week where he
could get a leather holster made for a pistol he owns. We used to have a
place on South Commerce called Randolph's Saddle shop where something
like that could be made from scratch, but its closed down. Does anyone
know a place in southern Oklahoma that still makes custom leather
holsters?
Every now and then I get a snail mail letter... through
the good old-fashioned post office. This week a letter arrived from
Indiana, and it nearly knocked my socks off. Inside were some good
old-fashioned photos, the ones like you hold in your hand. When you
click on the two photos below you will see it is an Ardmoreite from
1944. But look at photo "b" closely, there is a major mistake in this
1944 newspaper. If you figure it out, send me email. I'll tell more next
week.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/nor1944a.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/nor1944b.jpg
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch. I don't know if this
will help or not as the bell can't be seen in the picture. I can climb
the stairs to the choir loft, but I can't make myself go up the ladder
to through the door into the belfry. Right now the belfry door is
closed. If it were open, perhaps I could get a decent picture of it...
This is Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma. This building
was constructed in 1920, but the bell was transferred from the original
church which was built in October of 1889. We still ring the bell every
Sunday before the 10:30 a.m. service. We used to ring it during the
Midnight Easter Mass, but a neighbor complained. So that is no longer
done." http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/guthchu.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, I left some things out of the Drip Gas story. The production of
the Drip from oil required a piece of equipment called a "Heater
Treater". Its function was to heat the oil, causing the water to fall
out of the oil. The vapor off the heated oil condensed back into
gasoline as it cooled, and was captured in the barrel. The gas to fire
the fire the heater was usually captured from the wells themselves. The
gasoline produced by the cross country pipeline was commonly called
"Casing Head Gas". The gasoline off the heater was called "Drip" because
it dripped into the capture barrel, out of the line coming from the
heater, as it cooled from vapor into gasoline."
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"Hey
Butch, I was going through the intersection heading to Bluebonnet when
the wall fell. I heard it and saw it on my rear view mirror. needless to
say I was a little scared. I was like 2 second away from it."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/mainwall.jpg
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"How
much will the cds be Butch I would like to get a copy. Thanks keep up
the great work."
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"Hello Butch. If you make any cd's of your pix, please burn one for me.
I will be glad to pay you whatever it costs. Always enjoy your news
letter and the photos. Great Job! See you in May."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Saw
where one of your readers was asking about a picture of Madill OK, hope
this will do."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/madill5.jpg
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"Hi
Butch, I certainly enjoy reading and re-reading all of your columns.
Keep up the good work. I do have a question for any of your readers. I
am interested in finding out about any old Wild West Shows that may have
been around Wilson, OK and Ardmore. I have heard a few stories that a
William Daniel of Reck, OK, may have had one. If so, he was a relative
of mine. If any of your readers know anything about these shows or if
anyone may have a picture, I would sure be interested in hearing or
looking. Thanks again for all of your efforts, Del Daniel in Southern
California where it is cold and getting ready to rain again."
delbertd@ix.netcom.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Butch: Tribbey, Oklahoma was named after Walter Tribbey's family, and he
was born there, I understand. Walter was owner of Tribbey Drug Store,
first in Wirt, and then in Healdton. He was also a county commissioner
at one time. He was a neighbor of mine for a number of years, both
Walter and his wife Ollie are deceased."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, I can't tell you how much I enjoy T&T. It keeps me informed about
home and brings back many memories. I was raised in Ardmore and lived at
814 A st. N.E for most of my youth. I left Ardmore for the Air Force in
1954 and have not lived there since, but still call it home. You may
already know that "Caddo" street is nothing more than the first 3 blocks
of A st. My Grandpa Garnand lived on the east side of Caddo st. across
from the Martin & Fedler building. He made knives, saws and sharpen all
kinds of tools, so I spent a lot of time on Caddo until his death in
1953. Several weeks ago you had a picture and comment about the large
mound of earth on the east side of I-35 on the old Navy Base at Norman
Okla. Someone said it was part of an artillery range. That was not quite
right. It was the backstop (bullet catch) to the rifle and pistol range.
The mound is only about half of what it was before they put I-35 in.
Keep up the great work you are doing with T&T. THANKS!"
http://members.nbci.com/oklahomapast/glimpse/normhill.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch~~I am a new subscriber to This and That and enjoyed my first
letter very much. I was born and raised in Ardmore, born in l940 and my
maiden name was Lamb. My grandfather, W.G. Lamb and my dad, Don Lamb
owned grocery stores there in Ardmore. The first one was on the corner
of "E" street SE and Lake Murray Drive and I have many wonderful
memories of that store, it's customers, and the neighborhood. The other
grocery store was at the corner of l2th and E. NW. If you have any
memories or facts about the Lamb men or the grocery stores, I would love
to hear them. My aunt was Marynette Parker who lived on the corner of
Carter Ave. and Lake Murray Drive. She played the organ at Emmanuel
Baptist Church forever."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch I sure enjoy your info every Sat. I need some Climbing Okra Seed,
surely some one has some." llgmckay@brightok.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"the
first bakery was on 3rd ne next to JOHN SMALLS house. charles bailey
worked for him and lived across the street was when i was a small boy. i
played there and ate that hot bread right out of the oven."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, this may have been before your time but John Small's bakery was
originally on 3rd NE right next to his home there. Later it was moved to
the corner of H and 2nd. This means of course that I am older than you
but I remember it well."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"And
the smell of that baking "Buttercrust" bread at John Small's Bakery on
Ardmore's N.E. 3rd Street is still fresh upon my palate even 70 years
later."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
remember walking down Caddo as a kid looking in all the domino parlors
for my Grandpa Prater when it was time for him to come home for dinner.
He lived about two blocks down on the right in one of the little wooden
houses just north of the salvage yard on the east side of Caddo."
"Talk about fond memories, just walking by the fresh produce stands
on the way to find my Grandpa was a treat for us kids as all the vendors
knew who we were and that times were still bad for a lot of the people
there in Ardmore and every once in a while we would get a little
something for free. Thanks for the memories."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch Bridges forwarded your letter to me and asked me to answer your
question. Well, certainly I'm no expert but I am an observer. I noticed
a crack in the side of the old building several weeks ago and started
taking pictures of the building. The crack gradually became noticeably
wider. The authorities at the police Department were notified, but there
was nothing done to guard against the possibility of the wall falling on
someone - thankfully no one was hurt. The building is very old &
completely unoccupied but after the sand stone wall fell, it appeared
that the roof had been leaking for quite some time. I too will be
interested to know what the inspectors come up with for an answer as to
"why the wall fell."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/crack.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/mainwall.jpg
"...this is the building located on the NW corner of Main and Caddo
Streets of Ardmore. As you know, this is one of the oldest buildings on
main street & is the site of the first hospital and sanitarium
established by Dr. Walter Hardy. The lower floor, on the corner, was
purportedly occupied by a Drug store throughout the buildings history.
The building took a devastating blow from the 1915 explosion of the
train load of casing head gasoline located at the rail road tracks, less
than a block east of its location. The pharmacist & proprietor who was
leasing the building for a Drug Store at the time of the explosion was a
Mr.Adcock. Mr. Adcock told me that when the explosion occurred, it
caused all of his wall fixtures to fall face down on the floor. This old
building has a basement, and it is commonly referred to as the location
of the Dew Drop Inn. Photographs of the building ,which were taken at
the time, do not reveal a great deal of damage to the upper portion of
the outside east wall of the building; however the upper east wall was
also faced with large sand stone building blocks, but later, that
portion of the building was replaced with brick. If you view the west
wall of the old building you can see that the original sand stone wall
still surrounds the upper portion of the building. I am sending you
several attachments of pictures, taken today, that demonstrate a
structural breakdown of the building some 85 years after the notoriously
devastating damage caused by the explosion in 1915. The old building
presently is unoccupied but probably should be inspected to determine if
it is near falling in. I know the old building pretty well and many of
the stories you hear today are believed as fact, but I know many of the
tales are legend instead of fact."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"8
ounce prescription bottle dates back to early 1940's. Drug Store was
located on corner of Caddo & Main Streets under name of Martin & Fedler
Drug Store, but became the "Martin Drug Store" in 1946 until 1968.
Building is now vacant."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/fedler.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
believe I was on that plane on April 21, 1966 (crashed April 22, 1966).
We were drafted and left LAX late that afternoon. They had some type of
problem and we had to wait what seemed like several hours till it was
ready. They took us to Fort Bliss, Texas. If you would like any more
information please feel free to contact me."
http://www.gollihugh.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, We're still enjoying your newsletter out here in Nevada. It's
always good to read about the old hometown. I noticed someone mentioned
the Raleigh Salve you use to be able to buy. Does anyone out there
remember selling Cloverine Salve from door to door? That was back in the
thirties and if you sold enough, you got a reward for it in the form of
various items you could get from their catalog. Those were the days! A
kid could walk his legs off, going up and down those country roads to
sell salve to those good country people. Someone usually obliged you
with the few cents it took to buy the salve. As I remember, it was
pretty good for skinned knees and stubbed toes! Ah, memories! Thanks
again for your newsletter. We do enjoy it."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
have several etchings by Phleat Boyd of Ardmore that I purchased 20
years ago. I just now decided to do a research on him and the primary
reference on the internet was in regard to the American Flyers accident
of 1966. Since the drawings are dated 1977-1980, he obviously wasn't one
of the victims. Can you enlighten me as to who he is and how he is
connected to the accident? Do you know where he lives or is he deceased?
Thanks for any help you can provide." Charles Fredrick
cwfred@ipa.net
--------------------------------------------------------------
"This
picture from the McGalliard Collection shows the building at Caddo and
Main Streets before the sandstone to brick changes to the front and east
sides of the building. The autos indicate the picture date to be in the
1915-1920 era (I'm guessing)."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/fedler2.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"The
church at NW highway and Pickwick Lane in Dallas is Park Cities Baptist
Church. I don't know the story behind "Night Cometh" on the clock face.
I go to church there and I'll see what I can find out."
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/pickchur.jpg
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch, I have gathered some information that I hope will help the person
trying to solve the Mena Walters mystery. In the 1920-21 and 1922
Houston City Directories I found a listing for Meda Walters (widow of
Chas) living on Crockett street NW corner of Egypt (Ryan add). Yes, her
name is listed as Meda in both books. Crockett street (Ryan add) runs
from Grand ave N to Bartholomew and is a continuation of Chapman street.
Egypt street (Ryan add) runs from Robertson E to H B & T (this refers to
Houston Belt & Terminal) 9 blocks n of Hays street. In the 1922 and
1923-24 Houston City Directories there is a listing for Mrs Annie
Seligman living on Chapman street SW cor of Egypt street. Perhaps this
neighbor was the informant on the death certificate. I did a very quick
check of the soundex for the 1920 TX census and did not find Charles
and/or Meda Walters. In the 1910 Pawnee Co, OK census, there is a
Charles Walters age 45 born in IL, his wife, Almeda, age 41 born in MO,
and daughter, Myrtle, age 10 born in OK."
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dear
Mr. Bridges, My Grandfather, Felix Roberts, was born May 8, 1888.
According to the information he related to our family, the old cemetery
was were Main street divided. My Grandfather was born in Indian
Territory and played with the outlaws in the Caves by Turner Falls. He
was friends with "Wobblin' Willy".
--------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================
The best vitamin for a friend...... B1
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore,
Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, March 3, 2001 Vol 5 Issue 202
A piece of history fell in Ardmore this week. The east wall of the
old Martin and Fedler Drug Store at Main and Caddo came tumbling down.
My friend Ernest Martin snapped this picture of it just a couple of
hours after the wall fell. This all happened about noon on Friday March
3rd. http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/mainwall.jpg
A couple weeks ago I spoke about the Wishing Well in Cornish, Oklahoma.
Its located right on Main Street, probably since around 1900, maybe
before. Cornish was established February 22, 1899. The townspeople had
to fill the well in with dirt/sand some years back, because kids were
throwing dogs and cats in the well. Shame we can't have a piece of
history without pranksters. Since that write-up I've learned the real
Mayor of Cornish has invited me out to see him.... I'm going to make
that trip when the weather clears up. I've also been told a movement is
underway to get a sign put up saying, "Welcome To Cornish, Oklahoma". I
hope so. I know I will make a donation to help pay for the sign, if
needed. Here is a pic of the Wishing Well as it is today.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cornwell.jpg
And
here is a pic of that same Wishing Well at Cornish back in 1960.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/cornwel2.jpg
I was
traveling to Lone Grove this week, and I think I saw another bell, on
the north side of Highway 70 at a house, just before reaching Meridian
Road intersection. I'll make another trip out there soon and take my
digital camera!
And speaking of bells, I found two in Springer,
Oklahoma last Saturday. This one was near the south end of Butler
Street. They had another just like it in the back yard. You can see the
bell behind that big black wash pot, one like my great grandmother Ida
Miller made lye soap in when she lived across the street east from
Washington Elementary school.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/springpo.jpg
I've
learned there is a bell in the belfry of the Springer, Oklahoma First
Methodist Church too.... they ring it every Sunday morning! Got to see
if I can get a pic of that one too!
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/springch.jpg
Ever
heard of Tribbey, Oklahoma? Tribbey is about 20 miles SW of Shawnee,
Oklahoma in SW Pottawatomie county. And they have this beautiful bell.
This is a 1999 photo a friend took for me. He hasn't taken a picture of
a bell for me lately, I may have to hold up his check this month.
hahaha. I'm going to ring that bell in Tribbey someday!
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/tribbey.jpg
A
reader wrote in last week about the old Colvert homeplace on 12th NW
behind Mt View Mall.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/colvhse.jpg
About
2 or 3 weeks ago, Ardmore was invaded by birds, namely grackles. They
invade each year by the thousands. When its bad, the City of Ardmore
puts out "cannons" to scare them off, or at least try to scare them
away. These cannon blasts started in my part of town at 6:30pm Saturday
night the 24th. Boy, every few seconds that cannon when off, and is it
loud! And this has been going on, every evening, all week.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/gr/grackle.html
http://www.kwic.com/~pagodavista/grackle.htm
I knew my Grandfather
Stanley Carmon built the Stanley Building in Hobart, Oklahoma around
1930. It was not named after my grandfather, but it was called the
Stanley Furniture Store in Hobart. What I didn't know until this week
was he built the Methodist church in Hobart too, around 1926 or 1927. I
received this information from my cousin, Bobbye Gay, in Houston. Guess
I"m going to have to travel to Hobart soon, and take come pics.
A
reader wrote in this week asking about the old Small's Bakery of years
ago here in Ardmore. What he didn't know was my grandfather also built
that building, at the corner of "H" NE and 2nd. I can still see Mr. John
Small walking from his home at 816 3rd NE to the bakery around 6:30am
back in the 60s. He whistled his way to work. Boy could he whistle.
I was looking through my stuff the other day and found a unique little
wooden vial. It is a sewing machine needle holder made by Singer
Company. The handwritten date on it is 1925. Its even got some neat
looking needles in it! This has got to be a collectors's piece! I can't
even remember where it came from, except from my teenage years.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/singer3.jpg
A
couple years ago I found three VHS movies (in Canada) of Dillinger
(1973) in which many southern Oklahoma places were filmed including the
Carter county courthouse. Blockbuster.com has the movie on DVD at $14.99
each. This week I found that hard-to-find movie on VSH again at...
http://www.moviesunlimited.com for $12.34 each.
I been re-organizing
my pictures. I have about 1,500 jpg files that go with my T&T issues
since I started. When I have them in order, I may burn some CDs if
anyone wants one. I"ll just ask for enough to cover my expenses to
produce/ship them.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Someone asked about a list of Vietnam Veterans. There's a great web
site www.thevirtualwall.org which allows you to move along the wall and
see the names. You can click on a name and learn about that individual.
My internet connect here at home is so slow, I haven't spent much time
on it. A student found the site during a recent class on internet
searches."
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Someone mentioned the old water wheel near Falls Creek. It is located
at Price's Falls (also called Oddfellows Camp) just outside the entrance
of Falls Creek. The Baptist camp has purchased that property and will
build a lodge there. I don't know if they have plans to remove the
wheel, but I'm sure hoping they keep it!"
"Some additional info
to my last email.... My mom says they are also going to use the old
Oddfellow's Camp as RV parking for the folks at Falls Creek."
-------------------------------------------------------------
"We
really enjoy your This and That every week, and I have passed it on to
several friends. The Springer Methodist Church has a bell and ring it
every Sunday morning before 9:00 services. Also, several weeks you were
talking about photography studios in Ardmore, but no one mentioned the
Fonville brothers. Howard Fonville had a studio about where John
Williams studio is now on the south side of main street and Pete
Fonville's was located on the north side of main street near the old
Ritz theater. Keep up the good work."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
Butch: The person seeking information on A. D. Wilkinson, printer and
writer, might be interested to know: the subject was a man due some
respect for his intrepidness. I did not know A. D. Wilkinson but was
acquainted with his daughter Gwen Simmons (an accomplished poet), now
deceased. He has a granddaughter (Carolyn Simmons) who lived in Oklahoma
City at last report and a grandson (Milton Simmons) in Arizona (Tucson,
I think). If last week's enquirer remains interested, their address
might be accessed in the white pages. Mr. Wilkinson was a Bible scholar
and I have copies of two of his works; in fact, the bibliography in my
book, "THE GREAT DECEPTION: Symbols And Numbers Clarified" contains
reference to one of his works. Mr. Wilkinson's research was
controversial and too far advanced for fundamentalist thinking;
therefore, his endeavor caused disfellowshipment from the Central Church
of Christ in Ardmore, for his far-reaching dissension with conventional
pedagogy. As far as I know, I possess the only copies of his work; to be
sure, he was far more scholastic than his contemporaries. Hope this will
help. Ben Winter Author of: "THE GREAT DECEPTION: Symbols And Numbers
Clarified" Bringing Accountability to Symbols and Numbers
Interpretation" http://www.winterbriar.com bnwinter@winterbriar.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"I
was really excited reading about the drip gas,and looking at those great
pictures. I have lived in the oilfield all of my life, and have seen
such arrangements, but never had seen the pictures of any of the drip
recovery devices. During the depression, I often rode with guys that
were running their cars on drip gas. I did not understand how and where
they got it, at first, but as your informant said it was powerful and
smelly. I remember a good friend that was burned to death when filling
his car with drip and it exploded. He was an inveterate smoker, and
probably had a cigarette in his mouth. Even with gas at 15 cents a
gallon, during the depression a tankful of drip was a big saving. A lot
of folks that lived on leases used it. Now for the big question, Butch,
are all of the little bottles of liquor, full little bottles? If not you
may have a bunch of visitors. I will try to find a suitable miniature
for you. Say...I also enjoyed the Russett pictures, will keep them."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I remember the drip gas spoken by one of your readers my older
brother was a driller and he told me that you should put mothballs in
the tank to kill the smell."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"In
response to the letter concerning Drip Gas, Having grown up in the
oilfields in, near, and around Healdton and Velma, I have personally
burned many gallon. I used it in several vehicles. but it burned best in
a 1947 V-8 ford and a 1952 V-8 Studebaker. There was two sources of
supply. One being the device described, and the other being a cross
country natural gas pipe line. The change in temperature caused it to
condense into the low places in the pipe line and it was retrieved from
a valve put there to get rid of it. You would also get some water along
with the gas and had to let it settle to bottom before putting it in the
car and it still would give trouble. Some of it stunk pretty bad and
some of it not so bad, but the price was right."
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Butch, I would very much like to subscribe to your This and That
newsletter. My aunt sent me a copy of it and I enjoyed it very much.
Also, I am searching for my family who lived in Indian Territory around
Tishomingo I believe. Their names were Ken and Sarah Isabel Cox Gregg.
Their children's names were Eva, John, William, Edna, Gether and Myrtle.
I believe they lived in this area between the years 1883 and 1893. Any
assistance would be appreciated. Thank you." Carol Mattison
Carickmatt@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, These are pictures of a Church Steeple in Dallas at the
intersection of NorthWest Highway and Pickwick Lane. I'm not for sure on
the name of the church. The face of the clock says "night cometh" I
wonder what's the story is behind that? Just look at all of those bells
packed into that thing and the clock too. What a Butch Bridges wonder
packed all into one!"
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/pickchur.jpg
-------------------------------------------------------------
"You
continue to amaze your cousin with the history you come up with from
week to week. Great job. I failed to mention that the rock above the
door in the house I grew up in is the shape of a heart (naturally - no
mason work ever done on the rock other than to smooth the edges). Let's
go back in time in Ardmore and see if anyone remembers Small's Bakery in
the northeast part of town. Best as I can remember it was a little
bakery made of rock and was on the left as you drove towards the
cemetary. I do remember that their goods were always fresh and very
yummy for the tummy as I was only about 2 or 3 at the time."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Butch,
In "This and That" someone mentioned listing casualties of the Vietnam
War. There is a searchable database of US Casualties of the Vietnam War
available at http://www.mastermind.net. Keep up the good work!!
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi
again, oh that disease has hit here right at home, only 2 miles down the
road, its so sad we watch farmers killing off their 1,500 stock. being
mainly sheep and pigs its such a shame .... oh I dont like it. Where I
live there is a lot of countryside around, and we can't go anywhere, all
the footpaths, have been closed off, its a strange sight to see .....
but has to be done I suppose. Our supermarkets are beginning to run low
on meats being fresh or frozen, which they said would not happen, with
everyone panic buying, if worse comes to worse, then I will have to
become a healthy vegetarian ( I dont think so !! ) ha ha." --England
-------------------------------------------------------------
"My
Aunt has asked me to search the web for "Raleigh Salve", I see one of
your readers in the April, May, June 2000, "This &That" issues was also.
Did anyone find the salve for them? If you did, could you please forward
the information to me?" Shellygirl@snet.net
-------------------------------------------------------------
"I
finally got all my STUFF compiled and made a big update to my Carter
County genealogy site! Go see it and tell me what you think!"
http://www.geocities.com/juliealleman
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, really enjoy your articles. Have you ever had anything on the
old Mary Niblack School? I went there back in l938 and 39 and have a
picture of the children and their teachers in l939. Would like to see
information on this, if you have it."
-------------------------------------------------------------
"hi
butch, my grandpa elmer criswell was born in madill, okla dec 1900, then
in 5 month his family moved to sayre, okla by train, his brother went by
a wagon train because he want to keep his horse. any pictures of madill,
okla in 1900?"
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear
Mr. Bridges, I have spent much of the past hour enjoying your Bells of
Oklahoma website. What a project! In December '99, the bell from the
defunct Asher, Oklahoma Methodist Church (now owned by Bob and Erma
Brockett) was shipped to our home in California. Since that time we have
been trying to research its age and origin. By going through your
photographs, we think that the bell beside the First Baptist Church in
Grandfield looks just like ours, a 24" x 32", very likely a CS Bell Co.
product. But, we have no way of finding out for sure. Can you help us?
Would you like a photograph of the bell in our garden? It is, after all,
an Oklahoma bell!"
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=============================================================
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the
right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the
work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan - to do
all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among
ourselves, and with all nations." --Abraham Lincoln
See everyone
next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, February 24, 2001 Vol 5 Issue 201
I travelled over to the Blue River Hunting and Fishing Resort five
miles north of Tishomingo, Oklahoma last Saturday. Tish is 30 miles east
of Ardmore. Blue River was cresting that day from all the previous days
of rain. There were people even trying to catch fish in the rushing
river. Here's a couple pics.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/blueriv2.jpg
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/blueriv3.jpg
On
the way over to Tish I went through Paula Stout's stomping grounds,
Russett, Oklahoma. The first thing I noticed in Russett was an outhouse
behind this old house.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/russout.jpg
The
house and property is located at Highway 1 and Pettijohn Camp Road in
Russett. http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/russout2.jpg
There is not many buildings left in Russett, but they do have a
church. http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/russchur.jpg
And a unique old house and property still standing.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/russold3.jpg
But
the best piece of history I found was in Mannsville, Oklahoma.
Mannsville is about 15 miles east of Ardmore on Highway 199. The First
Methodist Church there has a beautiful bell!!!
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/mannmeth.jpg
Last
week I talked about Mr. Basil Moran and his grocery store on 6th NE
across the street north from the old Washington Elementary school back
in the 50s. Mr and Mrs Moran called me this week to say they had
received many lovely calls and letters because of the article. What I
failed to mention in my article was the man in the photo is Basil Moran.
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/moran2.jpg
I have
been trying this week to find a relative and hopefully a photo, of Mr.
A.D. Wilkinson (1883 - 1973). Back in the 60s Mr. Wilkinson lived at 812
Carter SE here in Ardmore. But he also ran a printing shop adjacent to
Hunts Grocery (west side) at 726 3rd NE. I can remember so well watching
Mr Wilkinson, who was in his 80s, placing sheet after sheet of paper n
the press, as his huge printing machine roller went across that flat
inked surface, just before the roller went across the type.
Speaking
of Mr. Wilkinson, I looked in my garage and found an old printer's tray
that came from his shop back in the early 60s. It is a true antique, so
I got it out, but a couple of hangers on the back and hung it on my
front room wall, and turned it into a shawdow box. Across the top I even
lined it with all these little bottles of liquor that a friend of mine
has given me over the years, with each trip they make to Las Vegas.
Makes for an interesting conversation piece!
http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/OklahomaPast/photos/ptray.jpg
Now to
get those little squares filled with miniatures. If you have any little
miniature or unsual thing that would fit in the shawdow