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Below is July 7, 2001 to September 29, 2001.
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Saturday September 29, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 232
There was a retirement party this week at the courthouse for Denver Looper in the District Court offices. On Friday afternoon Judge Card's courtroom was packed and overflowing, standing room only, to honor this lady who's been a friendly smile on the Third Floor for over 20 years. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/looperd.jpg
Just to tell everyone briefly... I've talked to Mrs. Wilson at Wilson Monuments Friday and the monument for the new Air Base Memorial will soon be on order! Thanks to everyone who is making this possible. It couldn't be done without each and every donation.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/pledgepd.txt
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.htmlThis week we had a special visitor to the American Flyers Memorial Park website. She signed the guest book, and sign-ins like this makes it all worth it:
"I've been told my husband's name is on the memorial. He was one of the many on board the flight that horrific April day 1966. I was a young girl in my early twenties seven months pregnant with my second child at that time and could not believe what I was being told. My husband was so young and strong I believed he could get himself out of any tragic affair. I also believed things like this happen in the newspapers and to other people. I have not seen the memorial yet but would some day soon (with my daughter and son) like to visit it. Thanks to all those who had anything to do with keeping the memories of the victims of that tragic evening alive." -Gladys Nasuta Seymour, Connecticut
If you haven't visited the new Airpark Memorial Website that Linda Wagner is building, you are missing out on a work of art. If you stop by, sign the Guest Book! http://www.americanflyersmemorial.org
A friend in the NW part of Ardmore called me this week. She 92 years young and sharp as a tack! We talked about my mother's family and the things they did when they were growing up in the northeast back in the 20s. My folks lived on 3rd NE and she and her family lived on 5th NE. She said they did not have a car back when she was a wee kid around 1925, and walked to town going over the 5th avenue viaduct (wood back then). Then she said something that really caught my attention. She said sometimes when they got to the 5th avenue viaduct, she and her sisters would ask if they could take the short viaduct? I asked for more about this "short viaduct". She told me there was a short viaduct over the railroad tracks on 4th NE. This would be a block south of the present viaduct. She went on to tell me the northeast section of Ardmore was the largest part of town, with the most people. And that that part of town was the first part to be settled when Ardmore was just starting out. Anyway, I was really surprised and happy to hear about that 4th avenue viaduct. Boy, the history a 92 year old can tell!
Several wrote telling me the link to Brown Springs did now work. So I reworked it. http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/italy/56/brownspr.html
In fact, any links to my xoom website is no longer working. I've copied every photo and file to my fortunecity.com website. Hopefully I'll get everything up and running on it soon.
I travelled over to Mill Creek, Oklahoma last weekend. Its only 30 miles east of Ardmore. And what I found over there, just a couple miles south of Mill Creek on the west side of the Highway, really caught me off guard. I visited two places, the Meridian Aggregates Corp and the Autumn Rose Granite Company, a subsidary of Rock of Ages, Inc.
At the Meridian site, all I could do is stand there in awe for a little while. I knew there were big pit mines/strip mines in other states. But the "granite pit" at Meridian was overwhelming to me. It was huge. This hole in the ground covered acres and was deep. To give you an idea how large it was, if a pickup truck was down there at the center, and someone standing by it, you might be able to make out it was a pickup truck, but you sure couldn't see anyone standing beside it. Down in the pit they blow up the Autumn Rose granite, and scoop it up with huge machines costing One Million each. The chunks of granite is then crushed down to a small gravel, and used in building roads and such. Here is a photo I took of their newest scoop, a 2001 model Cat. You will see the tire on this giant is bigger than a house!
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/meriload.jpgHere is the photo I took of the "granite pit" itself. The picture does not do justice, as far as showing how huge this pit is, and the area it covered, and the depth. There is probably not anything like it in Oklahoma. They have been mining granite here for only five years with 75 to 100 railroad cars carrying the gravel like granite out every night. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/meripit.jpg
Then we travelled next door to the Autumn Rose Granite Quarry. And I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see here either. This huge, very deep hole. This was not a really wide hole in the earth, but it was deep. The hole is made by burning/cutting huge 20,000 pound square pieces of granite and lifting them out to the surface. It is from these huge squares of granite, that the smaller granite memorial stones are cut, like the one at the Airpark. This is a photo of the huge squares of granite stacked and ready to ship out by truck. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/autrose7.jpg
And these are photos looking down in to the granite pit/hole.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/autrose4.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/autrose5.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/autrose6.jpg
This is a pic of the entrance at Autumn Rose Granite Company http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/autrose8.jpg
This is the website of the Rock of Ages Granite Company. http://www.rockofages.com/
Last week I showed a photo of a brick made by the Ada Brick Company in Ada, Oklahoma. I found out this week we have a brick collector extraordinaire right here in Ardmore. He's Harry Dodd and he's got several hundred old bricks making up this walkway in his backyard. He has bricks from all over the country, with all kinds of names and symbols on them. I was amazed at all the different kinds in one place! Here are some photos I took of his brick walkway.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd2.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd3.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd4.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd5.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd5.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd6.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd7.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd8.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd9.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd10.jpg
Here is a pic of Mr. Dodd standing on his brick walk looking at history from around the country! http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dodd11.jpg
There was a brick manufacturing company in Ardmore about 1915 by the name of Lee Cathey Brick Company. It was located just north of the intersection of 7th NE and "D" Street along the railroad tracks. I've been told some of the concrete slap and footings, etc., is still visible in the high grass. I'll try to get some pics.
There was an Ardmore Brick Company during this same period, its offices being located behind the old First National Bank at Main and "A". They did not manufacture bricks but obtained them from several manufacturing companies else where in the state.
I was out seeing my friends at the Chickasaw Library this week. They had a problem with one of their network cables. As I watched Sharlotte and Mona troubleshoot those RJ45 cables, I could readily see I was in the mist of two of the best networking people in Ardmore! They soon had the problem figured out and a solution! It was decided while I was there we'd give sort of a workshop to Jeremy on how to crimp ends of RJ45 computer cables, letting him make up some extra cables for future use. I snapped a pic of Jeremy learning how to manage those eight little wires, getting each one in the exact place before crimping. He did a great job for his first time! http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/jeremy9.jpg
If anyone wants to learn more about networking and cables here is a good starter. http://www.johnscloset.net/
My cousin in Ft Worth sent me a pic of a bell this week! A good looking bell too, of the Old Bedford, Texas school. Bedford is just outside Ft Worth, Texas.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/bedford9.jpg
Here is an excellent webpage about this old 1915 Texas school.
http://www.txcn.com/dallasnews/424125_oldschool_21me.html
I told everyone I received a mystery letter in the mail a couple weeks ago. Inside the envelope was a hotel room key (electronic key) to a room at the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong. Boy, I have no idea who mailed me that key or what do to with it. I can't even decipher what room number the key goes to. hahahaha I wonder if its the same person he was staying at that hotel in Paris? If it is, they sure get around! http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/kowloon.jpg
That rumor about a birthday party for three employees at the courthouse annex building turned out to be true this week! I had a good turn out at noon Friday. Here's some pics I took!
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mcrey9.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/partyb9a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/partyb9b.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/partyb9c.jpg
This website has a calculator for everything. Loans to car payments to saving bonds. http://www.calcpartner.com/
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"I too worked at Reavis Drug Store on corner of Main & B St. when I was a senior in high school-l955-l956. Bernice Veal was my boss. They were very good about working school girls in the fountain. Not many jobs for kids back then. No fast foods. Mr. Reavis should be commended for working so many school kids and Bernice for putting up with us, even tho they are both gone now. I think I broke record for breaking the most coffee pots in fountain and yet Bernice kept working us. Good people helping kids."
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"Hey Butch, How about sharing the Priddy's salad dressing recipe with the rest of us?" sandrahayes@junct.com
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"Hi Butch, did I miss something???? Was the Priddy's salad dressing recipe in T & T??" crenan@swbell.net
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"It sounds to me that you have the Priddy's Salad Dressing recipe...I would love to have it. What do I need to do get a copy?" ruthannmccollum@mmcable.com
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"I noticed your Indian name on your sign-off..I have one too, although I am not Shoshone, I was born on the Shoshone Reservation in Duck Valley, Owyhee, Nevada and because my father was the minister at the Presbyterian Church there, my name at baptism was and is: num shun Tate. It means Preacher's Kid. That was in 1937, so you can figure out that I remember the Bombing of Pearl Harbor. Because we were in Nevada, all those states involved in the creation and testing of the A-bomb were under suspicion of attack. We had air raids and black outs. We went to the cellar when the sirens went off, or under a table. In the evening when President Roosevelt spoke, we had to put black paper over the lighted dial on the radio, and could have no lights, not even candles burning. We gave daily at school to the war bond and stamp program. I really feel empathy for children these weeks. They will always feel vulnerable and know that life is fragile. Maybe that is why, at an early age, I had an invincible faith in God and constant relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you for the pictures of the NYC tragedy. Keep up the good work. Butch. You found your calling!"
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"Attached is a photo of James M. Polk Brewer (on the right) born Sept. 26, 1889 in Jackson County, Alabama. Polk died in October 1966 and is buried at Springer, Oklahoma. He and a friend spent hard cash for this fun posed photo. He is one of ten children of William Henry Brewer: William Henry Jr., Mary Frances, Martha Jane, John Jackson, Benjamin Louis, Sarah Alice, Elijah Jefferson, Nora Ethel, Delpha Pearl, Dewey Hobson and Estil Gordon Brewer. Most are buried at Springer. Does anyone know if Dewey Brewer was a county commissioner in Carter County? A previous article from a Bill Sisk generated responses about the Brewers from Springer." nfreeman@keytech.com
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brewerja.jpg
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"I grew up in Ada about half a mile from the Brick Plant. My parent's yard has many Ada bricks lining the flower beds. The Brick Plant is now closed and a new housing addition has been built nearby. Mr. Robertson, the ninth grade science teacher, would have a walking field trip every year. One of the places we went to was the big dug out pit at the Brick Plant. We, if we were daring enough, went into the big pit and looked for fossils. We found plenty of them. Ada has a new walking and bike trail. Concrete was poured where the old railroad tracks were and this trail goes by the old Brick Plant. You can walk up the hill and look down and still see the big pit. I enjoy your This and That."
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"Hey Butch, Found this site while surfing the net. Your readers might find it interesting. This section caught my eye and immediately thought of you.""Lake Murray is one of the premier tourist and sporting attractions in the State of Oklahoma, and its history, too, deserves attention. Perhaps one day there will be a monument of Oklahoma red granite at the lake to honor Charles Weldon Tomlinson, Charles Albert Milner, Jr., and W. Morris Guthrey for their dream and for their dedicated efforts to make Lake Murray a reality.""
Do you know if such a monument was ever erected?"
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"Hi Butch, Thanks very much for the CD. I've kept every "This and That" that I have received. I've been wondering how I was going to save them to disk so I could free up some space on my hard drive. You have solved my problem and I do appreciate it. As I told you in my last e-mail, we are going to be in Healdton thursday to bring my mother - in law home. If I get over to Ardmore I will try and stop by and say "Hi"!"
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"Hey Butch, I was looking through some of your old issues of This and That and saw several references to Coleman Jones. There was mention of him being in the Ardmoreite quite some time back. I remember a picture of him being in the paper at some point and in talking to Sally Gray she mentioned that at the same time there was a short article about him. Would you happen to know the approximate time that was in the paper? I have been to the Chickasaw Library looking through the old Ardmoreites on Microfilm but it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I am thinking it was in the mid-late 70s but am not sure. Any ideas?"
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"Butch: Today I was at a school field trip to the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City close to the Capitol and saw this bell. It was the school bell for the Stoney Point School in the Rose Hill township near Guthrie.The school was built sometime before 1897. The school building was used until 1946. In 1987 it was moved, lock stock and barrel to the Harn Homestead and reassembled. Everything in the school is original. Even the potbelly stove and the original chalk board made from mud plaster and horsehair. I saw the bell and had to snap a picture for you. The Harn Homestead is located at 313 NE 16th Street. The original Harn Home is there and several other structures and it is a historical site and educational facility. All the kids from my 9 year olds class dressed up in period clothing and they had school there in that one room school house today. It was neat. Also attached is a photo of the school. It is all original except the location."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/stoneypa.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/stoneypb.jpg
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I said last week we'd draw out two names from the hopper for my "T&T Photo and History CD." It has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. I'm going to draw 2 names each week til Christmas. You only need to enter the drawings one time. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/ttcda.jpg
Here are the two winners for this week!
kenthomasson1@juno.com
lorraine@brightok.net
I been doing some genealogy on my mother's side of the family lately. I had an aunt, Pearl Vollborn Carmon, who was born in a prairie schooner/Conestoga wagon just outside Wichita, Kansas in 1893. My aunt was so much German, that at the beginning of World War II the government required her to go to the old Ardmore Post Office at North Washington and West Broadway, and register. Here's a pic of my aunt, Pearl Carmon (my grandfather Carmon's brother's wife). http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pearl2.jpg
Every morning during the weekdays, around 7:15am there are about half a dozen of us guys who are waiting in the lobby of the post office for the postal employees to finishing putting mail in the PO boxes. We kinda have what I call a "bored meeting", discussing everything from politics, to religion, to current events, to sports. (But when they discuss sports they've left me out. haha.) Anyway, one of the men who is always there at that time of the morning told me something this week that stuck in my mind. He said his father, who was born around 1900, used to tell him when he was a kid, "if you don't know where you came from, how can you know where you're going". There is a lot of truth in that statement.
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday September 22, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 231
We all love a surprise from time to time, and someone placed a red brick on my desk last week. This is no ordinary brick, but one produced by The Ada Brick Company in Ada, Oklahoma. They stopped making bricks at the Ada plant in 1981. I saw several hundred of those bricks when I was a teenager, cleaned and stacked back in the early 60s at 1001 3rd NE. It was the old home place for my grandfather and grandmother Carmon. When they tore down that house, my grandfather paid a man 5 cents a brick to clean the mortar away with muriatic acid. Here is a pic of that Ada brick some mystery person left on my desk. Whoever left it, thanks! http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/adabrick2.jpg
Here's a pic of the old brick home place at 1001 3rd NE. Its gone now, another house is there. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/carmonhh.jpg
Thanks to all of you who have paid their pledge for the airpark memorial, we have gone over $1,600 this week. I am working on the quote and monument order, so soon I'll give a report on those details. Here is a listing of those who have made it possible. Thanks to each one of you.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/pledgepd.txt
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.htmlThe American Flyers Memorial Website is looking better everyday. Linda is doing a wonderful job building a website to be proud of, and a beautiful tribute to those who died. The website now has a guest book, I hope everyone will go by and sign it. http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafm
I've received dozens of emails bringing to my attention the "devil in the smoke". I noticed that when it was first shown on TV that day, and I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought I might be seeing things, but now I know a lot of others saw it too. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/911devil.jpg
I thought I had photos of nearly all the bells in Carter county, but this week a Reader sent me a photo of the bell at Mountain Lake (northern Carter county! Here's the email I received:
"Here's another bell. My uncle, Bill Sisk, who now lives in Lake Havasu, Arizona, mentioned this bell tower at Mountain Lake above the Woodford, Oklahoma dam a few years ago when he told me that my dad, H.H. (Harry) Whitfield, worked on the dam in the early 1920s. My husband and I were there a couple of weeks ago and took these photos. The bell is still there, although it's rusty and needs some TLC. It must have been used as a warning system for Mountain Lake. (My husband noted the TV antenna and wire attached to the tower. Perhaps, it still serves as a warning system?)" http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mlakebel.jpg
I had another surprise come in the mail the other day, similar to the key to room 34 in Paris. But this is from a very unusual place. But there was no airline ticket with it either. hahaha. I'll get it scanned, I share it with everyone next week. Heck, I may become a jetsetter! hahaha
James Lindsey, Maintenance at the courthouse, and I seem to find our way to the offices where they are having a birthday party or other event lots of times. The other day the sheriff of Carter county invited us over at noon for some Red Beans and chocolate cake his wife prepared for the employees. Here's a pic of Sheriff Burkhart (on left) and Undersheriff Ken Grace (on right) serving up some delicious beans! Maybe next time I can tell everyone in advance, and all of us meet there! Sharon's red beans reminded me of the way my mother cooked them when I was a teen. Boiled down to a thick juice, some seasoning powder, and simmered with a big piece of salt pork! http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/harvey9.jpg
I've heard at the end of this month we're having a noon lunch prepared by the women in the Annex Building at the Commissioners office for several with birthdays. But then that's just a rumor right now. A rumor James and I hope turns out to be true! I'm always ready to eat. hahaha
With the stock market's continual decline, maybe we should look at U.S. Bonds as a place to park our money. It's an easy, systematically way to save for the future. In WWII people bought U.S. Bonds to show their support for the war effort. And provide a safe haven for their money. http://www.easysaver.gov/
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hey Butch, It has been a sad day for America. Just like to comment about the gas stations that raised their prices, hope every one remembers them all and quits trading with them, they are just as guilty as the lady they arrested for going around posing as a Red Cross person door to door collecting for her on gain!
http://ardmoreite.com/stories/091201/new_fraud.shtml
it is a lie in both senses and both where looking for their on ill gotten gain. the only difference is that the stations did not get arrested and will go scott free, and the lady will be prosecuted and probably serve time in jail. And I see that they left out the Lasley's station on the corner of Mayall and S. Commerce, I don't know who they are listed with Conoco, Total, Independent, or who, but there price at 3:45pm Tuesday evening was $2.99 a gallon when I drove by. I will NEVER trade there again and hope every one else stops their trade with those who also raised their prices."
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"About Reavis Drug - the person who wrote about the drug store being on the NE corner of Main was correct. My very first job was at this drug store. I graduated from school and started to work within a month after graduation. I worked behind the counter serving drinks and sandwiches. I rode to town with my uncle when he brought his load to milk to Colvert's dairy every morning and my brother would take me home after he got off work at the Big Gulf Station where Bank First is now. Mr. Maynard Reavis would sit upstairs looking out over the drug store and watching everything that went on. I was scared to death of him. He would walk down and get coffee a couple of times a day and I would shake so, I could hardly pour him a cup! Bernice Veal was manager of the soda shop and my boss. I worked there until I was hired at the Health Department the following fall. I do not remember it being anywhere else on main street."
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"I went to the Sayre Okla. 100 birthday, the cookout was fun. Everyone dress up in early 1900 or late 1800 clothes. we was a ranch near Sayre Okla. free to all. all you had to do was dress up. Their were so many pretty old-time long dresses, green, red, one woman dress up like a saloon girl, a teenage girl dress up like a saloon girl, the preacher had on the old time circuit preacher jackets, like in Doctor Medicine woman, an old time camp meeting was held two days at Sayre park. The parade was fun, I got to be on my Mom church float. I took lots of pictures from riding on it. hadn't got them out of my camera yet."
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"Hi Butch, I have built a Macromedia Flash 5 tribute to the events of last week. . It is pretty decent for an ol' country boy learning Flash for the first time. I originally had it on my copscgi.com server, at least until yesterday when it started overloading the server and exceeding my daily allowed transfer rate. I have built a 3rd computer at home, installed Apache Webserver and set it up to do nothing but host this tribute. The load is incredible, over 3,000 hits in 6 hours and still climbing. Anyway if you go to http://www.copscgi.com it will link to whichever one of the servers I have it on at the moment. It is 2.2 megs so normally it should transfer to 56K modems in 5 minutes or so. It is likely to be longer due to server load though. Bring a few tissues, you will need them."
http://www.copscgi.com
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"Butch, This page was sent to me and I thought many of the younger folks might not have learned the proper way to display our flag. This page tells it all." http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#01
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"As some of you already know, my good friend David M. Scales, with whom i had written over two dozen songs and had performed innumerable times over the past six years, was killed in the attack on the Pentagon. David was an active duty Army Lieutenant Colonel in the Adjutant General Corps. He is survived by a wife Tricia, a 12-year old son Ashton, his two parents, several siblings, nephews and nieces, and lots of friends. He had sent his wife Tricia an email 14 minutes before the fateful attack. He would have turned 45 on September 27th. David will be missed, but the music he created will live on. Several of the songs we wrote together will be on my upcoming singer-songwriter CD recording, which will be dedicated to his memory."
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"Butch, I meant to write weeks ago but I have been working on the Love's Valley Reunion which was held Sat. Several weeks ago someone asked about Cowboy Slim Rinehart. He has relatives living in Allen, OK. All of the Allen Rineharts are involved in music and there are a lot of them. Dean Rinehart made a tape of some of Cowboy Slim's records for my ex-husband. I have access to this tape if anyone would like a copy. Someone else asked about a young serviceman named Raybun who was killed in service. I think I may know his sister. I want to check with her to be sure. How Hell Roaring Creek got it's name. Some cowboys were camped beside the creek and that night one of them said the creek roared like hell so it became Hell Roaring Creek. I have heard that story since I was a little girl in Marietta. I am now 73. The picture of the falls looks just like Seven Falls the first time I saw them. They still look much the same but the surroundings below have changed some. I was there again a couple of years ago. Mother also worked for Maynard Reavis when his sons were little tykes. They also had good "black cows", a scoop of ice cream in a glass of chocolate milk but I think the cherry cokes were the best. The girls who waited on the booths had a special language they used to call the orders to the ones working the fountain.I used to know all of them but my memory is fading. America will stand proud and strong and we will heal and all will be drawn closer together because of this national tragedy. I was out of town Sunday but my daughter said our home church was overflowing with people. The little church I attended has only 14 pews but it was almost full and we had a wonderful service. Looking forward to next week."
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"Butch, I just finished making a batch of the salad dressing and it is out of this world and just like I remember Priddy's. I added quite a bit of the paprika, mainly for color. Thanks so much for making it possible to have the recipe and thanks for the memories. Yes, it is raining and dreary here this afternoon, but Tulsa really needs the rain. What a horrible week!!!! But with God's help, "this too shall pass""
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"Butch- Hopefully, we will not have to resort to rationing as we enter our war against terrorism. The attached picture of a WWII Ration Book shows the front and rear covers and one kind of stamp within the book. The stamps depicted planes, artillery pieces and tanks."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/rationb2.jpg
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"my parents lived in sayre, okla. took these last week"
http://community.webshots.com/album/18892811xzPhlkEVrN
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"Hi Butch: I grew up 2 miles south of the Love County line on hwy 76 on a 1,000 acre ranch owned by my dad. The house on the ranch property is exactly on the 2 mile section marker, but the road back to Orr is one mile further down. You turn east on Oswalt road or you can turn west to Orr. Hope this helps to pinpoint the place for your readers of O'Savior School"
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======================================================================We haven't had a drawing in a while. I been playing around with my CD-Writer and created a CD of the 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. These photos and files goes back to my first issue of T&T in March 1997. Tons of history crammed into a CD. Let's give two away every Saturday until Christmas. If you want to enter, just send me email! I'll draw out two names every week and list them in the next issue of T&T. One email, that's all it takes to get in the hopper.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/ttcda.jpg"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo EmersonSee everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday September 15, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 230
This issue of my T&T will be a short issue. Since Tuesday I have just not had it in me to write and research information for my newsletter. Like so many, I am sad and mad at the same time. I hope justice is served quickly. Since September 11th I've been inundated with emails about the NYC attack. Most of them are Forwards of Forwards and I couldn't even tell who was the originator of the email. I received so many emails with unknown attachments, most I just deleted. I did receive one email in particular written in the first person. I want to share the text of that email now:
"Butch, After reading this weeks T&T, I was amazed at the song, "Some Gave All" as it is TODAY the 12th of Sept, I am in the military and was in a meeting in Mississippi at the time. We were recalled back to our base in Ft. Worth as soon as possible. As it stands September the 11th will forever be in the minds of not only the citizens living now, but ALL citizens forever more."
I also received emails from a number of T&T friends and some ex-Ardmoreites who live within a few miles from ground zero in NYC. They wanted to tell me they were safe. I thanked God. I have my U.S. Flag flying in front of my house.... a country united more than ever now.
But one injustice was did not happen in NYC, but right here in Ardmore. Within hours of the attack some service stations here in Ardmore raised their gas prices to unbelievable heights. All for no reason except in the name of price gouging. I am grateful the Daily Ardmoreite listed those service stations in their Wednesday, September 12th newspaper. Here is that listing:
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/gas91201.jpgThere is one service station in town I have bought gas from for many years. Why? It's previous owner, Mr. Ledgerwood, was attacked and beaten in the early 1980s by an individual I will not name here, because he sold his gas "too cheap". I was called to take Mr. Ledgerwood to the hospital that day for treatment of his injuries. But had this station been one of those who participated in the price gouging last Tuesday, I would cease to purchase gasoline there. After the Governor issued a statement to stop the price gouging, and set up a price gouging hotline, the gas prices dropped down as quickly as they were raised, to around their previous and present price of $1.57 a gallon. I wonder if those who were overcharged can get a refund?
On the drive started last month to raise money to build a memorial at the Airpark to those who died training there during the 40s, I can report we almost have enough money to purchase the Autumn Rose granite stone. The link below is a listing of those who have mailed in their pledges. We still need those of you who made a pledge to mail it in, if you haven't already done so. With $1,485 in, we have almost reached the needed goal. Thanks to everyone who is making this possible.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/pledgepd.txtHere is the website set up for info on this memorial drive.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.htmlAnd we have a new website being developed for the American Flyers Memorial Park. Oklahoma resident Linda Wagner is creating a site of beauty and honor. Check it out at the following link. Remember, it is still under construction.
http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafmSOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hi Butch I think the picture of the water falls this person found in their mothers picture are of Seven Falls in Colorado Springs."
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"Hi Butch: This is in response to the person who sent you a photo of a series of waterfalls and asked you if it could be a photo of Turner Falls. I think I can definitely say it is not Turner Falls. I do think it may be Seven Falls in Colorado. I was there in 1937 when I was twelve years old. I think that is an old photo and the photo looks very much like what I remember. It may not look like that at all today."
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"Hello Butch, Just looked at the photo in vol 5 issue 229 pg.4 that a reader wanted to know if it was Turner Falls. This looks like a real old photo of "Seven Falls" at Colorado Springs, Colo."
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"Hey Butch, For what it's worth, I think the picture of the falls that the person thought could be Turner Falls is: The Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, Colo. Look forward to you T&T every (Friday night) in Abilene, Tex."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/whatfall.jpg
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"Hello again Butch, I found my photo of "Seven Falls" at Colorado Springs,Colo. There is no question, The photo in todays T&T is the same. I took this in 1955."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/7fallsco.jpg
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"Last week and this week talking about Reavis Drug Store brought back memories to me. They did indeed make good cherry cokes and we used to stop in after the movies in the afternoon and get a "walking sundae" It was just a scoop of ice cream with the topping but in a paper cup so we could eat it on the way home. It was indeed between Kresses and Anthony's but that was after it moved. I'm not real sure where it was before but it was much smaller. I stopped in once while I was driving to Oklahoma City from West Texas back in about 1958 or 59 and it was just the same then and the mother of a friend of mine was working there at that time. That was my last time to go to Reavis. Thanks for the memories."
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"Good morning!! I've never heard of Hell Roaring Creek, but I knew exactly where it was the minute I read the description by another reader. After you cross Oswalt Road, Marsden turns into New Hope Road to the south. I don't know why it's called Hell Roaring unless, at one time, it was a raging river. Now it is just a trickle through the countryside."
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"Butch, this may be a little much of a stretch but you have a nice diverse age group for your list and everything and i wanted to make my little plug for a friend's band. Please pass along. or post freely.The band Puddle Of Mudd, From Kansas City. Feature the Drummer Greg Upchurch from Kingston, Oklahoma. This band is just straight forward Rock and Roll and not Heavy. They are the First New Rock Artist in Soundscan history to debut in the top ten! Puddle of Mudd splashes onto the charts with 116,000 copies of "Come Clean" sold and a record breaking debut! First week of sales from the Aug, 28 Release Date. They Debut with the album at Number 10 on Billboard Top 200 their First week. Some may have seen the video on MTV for the song "Control" or have heard it on the radio. I Would like to invite anyone that is interested in learning more about this band to visit the sites below, or get the Control2.exe which is a Postcard. They leave for Europe in 3 days for 2 weeks of touring over there and then back here. They have only been Touring since mid April and have been on 2 Successful tours with bands that have Number 1 singles out now. Recently toured with Staind/Cold now with Godsmack & Deftones."
http://www.muddinyoureye.com My Fan site.
http://www.puddleofmudd.com Official Site
http://www.interscope.com/postcards/puddle/control2.exe
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Puddle_Of_Mudd Join the Mailing list.
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"Butch, This a picture of Orr, Oklahoma School 1916."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/orr1916.jpg
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"This is a picture of Wilson School in 1923, I think Southward".
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wilson23b.jpg
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"This reader is not entirely correct on his information regarding the location of Reavis Drug. As others have noted, The Reavis -Frame Drug Store was a partnership arrangement between Mr. Reavis & Mr. Frame. After that partnership dissolved Mr. Reavis did in fact refurbish the old C.R.Anthony store location on the NE corner of Main & B St.& moved his business into it. It was the first super Drug Store in Ardmore - Mr. Reavis did not build any building on the south side of Main & did not move his store to that location where the Kerr Reavis Store is located now. That building was built by Mr. T.A.Gravitt, former owner of the Ardmore Pharmacy, which was located in the Simpson Building [later the Little Bldg. and now the Colston Bldg.) Mr. Gravitt moved his Pharmacy into the building above mentioned and operated it until his death but the business remained ( Gravitt Drug Store) & in operation for several years and was managed by his widow & Ms Daisy Nichols.(sp?). They had to employ a pharmacist to fill prescriptions for them until it was sold to a fine young Pharmacist by the name of Henry Parks. The name of the store then became the Parks Drug Store. Mr. Parks was a very successful business man but became ill & passed away several years ago. The next owner was Lawrence Delay and he retained the name "Parks Drug" but the store burned while he was operating it. He moved away and later passed away also. Bob Kerr & Elaine (Wilson) Kirk then became owners of the Pharmacy but later that partnership dissolved and then pharmacists Bob Kerr & David Reavis became owners & operators of the store. Presently the name of the store remains the Kerr Reavis Drug Store. David Reavis is a son of Mr. Maynard Reavis and it is because of David the name Reavis still is prominent in this town. Maynard Reavis of the old Reavis Drug Company never moved from the corner of Main & B Sts.and the store simply closed. A proper source for more complete information can be acquired from David Reavis."
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"Hi Butch: A reader asked about old County school records. "Someone" (there goes that Sometimers again) told me that they are stored at the Courthouse Annex building."
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"Hi Butch, It was great to finely get to meet you, set for a few minutes and talk about some of my memories of Ardmore in the 40's and 50's. Several people wrote in this past week about the location of the Reavis Drug store, which brought to mind my best memory of the Reavis Drug store. As someone said, lot's of Airman hung out at Reavis Drug and my younger sister was going with one of them. Trying to lookout for her I told her to stay away from the Airman and Drug Store. When I found out she had gone to town I knew where she would be. I called my life long friends Don White, Bobby Taylor and James Walker and told them I had a Airman to whip and I needed someone to watch my back. All the way to town I kept telling my friends just how bad I was going to whip this Airman. Well sure enough Cathy was there, I went in ready to go to war, but setting beside her was one of the biggest, most well built young men I had ever saw. Sis saw me and said "Buddy I'd like you to meet Dick Wyse". Fear had shut my mouth real tight, all I could get out was "Hi Sis!". Then I turned around and outside I went. My friends still tease me to this day about the Airman I was going to whip at Reavis Drug Store. Dick turned out to be my brother-in-law and was a wonderful man. He was took much to soon in a car accident."
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"Butch, I just came home on the fifth of Sept from the hospital, on Sunday the first I had a heart attack they did an angiogram and found three blockages, one 90% two 80%. The same day they did angioplasty and put in three stents I feel better now. Keep me in your prayers." ppoindex@rcsis.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------< br> "Hi Butch, I enjoy receiving your T&T each week. I grew up in Sulphur and I know you have many current and former Sulphurites who read your newsletter each week. This is about some memories of a wonderful black gentleman named Dan Taylor who used to push a red cart from which he sold hot tamales down by the Frisco Depot during the early 40's...I delivered the Daily Ardmoreite all over Sulphur at the time and Dan was one of my favorite customers. When it was cold, he would invite me into his house to warm up. We would sit by his stove and talk or I would watch him as he made the tamales in his kitchen. Needless to say, I never did collect money for his newspaper. I ate it all in his wonderful tamales. After Dan became too old to push his cart, we used to go to his house and pick up a dozen on a regular basis. If any more of your readers remember this old friend, I would like to hear from them. By the way, my boss with the Ardmoreite was a man named Fred Hicks. I think he later served as mayor of Ardmore. He was also a man I admired very much."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Here is a site with tons and tons of pictures of the tragedy in NY."
http://www.phatmax.net/wtc/index.php
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================In last week's issue I quoted only part of the 1992 song "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus. Since last Tuesday the song has been played a lot on the radio and TV stations. I want to quote the entire song this week.
"Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus 1992
"I knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free
I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me
All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all
Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man
Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died America can't you see
All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all, Some gave all"
See everyone next Saturday.
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
Saturday September 7, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 229
The donations for the Memorial stone in honor of those men who died in the 40s and 50s at the airpark during training exercises, are now coming in by snailmail. I have really been humbled by some of the emails I've received, after I told last week we needed another $300 to purchase the Autumn Rose granite instead of a gray granite stone. Several of you wrote your checks out for more then you originally pledged. Here is just one email I received.....
"Hi Butch, I will send $35 instead of the $25 pledged. If others will do the same, we can have the Autumn Rose Monument easily." -Maryland
We now have $975 in the memorial fund. I know we are going to reach our goal of $1,500 if everyone mails in their pledges, and we all work together to make it happen! Here is a Webpage with links to Pledges made the past four weeks, and also donations received to date. If you've made a pledge, we really need it now...... to make the $1,500 goal. Thanks. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.html
My next door neighbor has a couple of pecans trees in his back yard. And about half of one of those trees hangs over on my property. I noticed this week that the tree is loaded heavy with pecans. The limbs are drooping with all the weight. I noticed the same scene at the courthouse pecan trees, heavy with pecans. If this is any indication, Carter county should have a good crop of pecans this fall.
I told everyone last week my grandfather, Stanley Carmon, built the old Swift's Feed Store building, in the southeast corner of Caddo and East Broadway, across the street east from the present Key's Feed Store. Here is a couple of pics I took of this old building this week.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/swifta.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/swiftb.jpg
The Swift building is made of the same kind of red bricks my grandfather used to build many of the brick buildings and 29 schools he built. The bricks came from the Ada Brick Company in Ada, Oklahoma. The Ada Brick Company started making bricks before statehood (1907) and ceased their brick making at the Ada plant on January 31, 1981. On February 1, 1981 a new owner commenced the operation of the Ada Brick Company, made four "runs" of bricks and then decided to not produce them anymore. The Ada Brick Company still sells bricks, but they are made by nearly a dozen other brick factories around the country. The old Ada Brick Company was located next to the railroad tracks in the far southeast part of Ada at Brick Yard Avenue and Kerr Lab Road. Here's a map I marked showing the location of this piece of Oklahoma history.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/adabrick.jpgHere is what is reported as the last remnants of the old Brock School. The property owner where it is now located says he'll be tearing it down soon.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brock9a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brock9b.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brock9c.jpg
This is the complete legal description from the 1923 Carter County Schools book of where the old Brock school used to be, just a mile or so where the building in the above photos sits:
"Laid Out & Organized - Approved March., 1909 Ardmore, Oklahoma - School Board - C.M. Murphey, Director Maudie Merriott, Clerk H.E.Copeland, Member DESCRIPTIVE BOUNDARY AND OFFICIAL RECORD OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 28 BEGINNING at S.W.Cor. Sec. 1, 5 South, And 1 West, Thence South To The East Cen. Line of Sec. 26, Thence East To The West Cen. Line of Sec. 29, Thence North To The S.E. Cor. Sec.19, Thence East To The South Cen. Line Of Sec.20, Thence North To Cen. Of Sec.20. Thence East To Cen. Of Sec.21, Thence North To South Cen. Line Of Sec. 4, Thence West To The S.W. Cor. Of Sec. 1, Point Of Beginning."
On Tuesday September 4, 2001 The Daily Oklahoman newspaper ran a story on my friend Mr Wikle at Marietta and his Wikle Water Works company. That same day, in the late edition of the Daily Ardmoreite, there was a story too! http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=747459&pic=none&TP=getbusi ness
A Reader sent me a pic of their old buggy they own in Bentley, Oklahoma (Atoka County). http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/bentley2.jpg
Here's a pic of the old Pioneer Telephone Company in Oklahoma City. Imagine the eavesdropping that must have went on in that building around 1910. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pioneer9.jpg
This is an old pic of Roosevelt, Oklahoma. It's in Kiowa County south of Hobart. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/roosvelt.jpg
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"We live just about 2 miles or so north of Hell Roaring creek. Take I-35 south to Oswalt Road and go west. It's off Oswalt. I can't remember the name of the road that you turn left on, but the right turn (north) is Marsden Road. If you turn left (south)at the very same intersection just a few hundred yards south you will find Hell Roaring Creek. Oswalt splits the names of the same road, but I can't remember the name of the south turn."
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"Dear Butch, Greetings from (not so) sunny California. Re the recent inquiry about the location of Hells Roaring Creek. According to my trusty Street Atlas USA software, Hells Roaring Creek empties into the Washita River, approximately one and a half miles north, north west of Bradley, Oklahoma. Also, highway 19 bisects this river approximately two and a half miles west, north west of Bradley, Oklahoma. The map makers have cleaned the name up a bit. Now it is just plain old Roaring Creek."
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"It's strange how so many creeks can come up with the same name. I was born and raised on Hell Roaring Creek, but in Pawnee County."
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"Hi Butch., If my memory is correct, (most of the time it isn't) a guy named Jake Good was the owner of the Squeeze in back in the 50's. Ask around about him and see if anyone can shed any light on this. By the way, this is the first time in months that I have been able to view all the JPG pics on your T&T. Keep up the good work. JAKE'S NAME WAS PRONOUNCED GOODE - BUT NOT SURE OF SPELLING. His Grand-daughter still lives in this area."
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"Butch, You can contact Pharmacist David Reavis at the Kerr Reavis Drug Store here in Ardmore. I know he can help you, since it was his Dad's Drug Store. I think the C.R.Anthony store was located in this building before Mr. Reavis moved his business to that location (B & W Main)."
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"Hey Butch. When I was a kid in the 40s/50s, Reavis Drug was not on the corner of Main and B but the second store between what I think might have been and Anthony's or Penney's and Hill Shoe Store, next store east would have been Kresses. Anyway, Reavis was opened to the street (ie no doors), on the right going in was a huge (to me) long soda fountain and beyond that were booths. On the left was the cash register,etc. My aunt worked there after high school. All the soldiers from the Ardmore Base used to be in there all the time. I must have been about 10 or 11 and since I only lived a couple of blocks from Main Street, we always stopped into Reavis's on our way back from Kresses. How's that for a little nostalgia? I may be a little off on the locations but I don't believe so. Thanks for your great effort with TnT, I really enjoy it."
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"Hi Butch: Enjoyed Sept. 1 issue of T & T. You mentioned search engines, I have found one that tops any I have ever seen. It is called Copernic. You can download it at http://www.copernic.com The Copernic 2001Basic is free. It is a great search tool."
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"Oklahoma Place Names," by George Shirk, agrees with this. The full entry for Durwood in the book: Formerly Yellow Hills. In Carter County 7 miles east of Ardmore. Post office name changed to Durwood, September 11, 1891. On April 8, 1913, another post office was established a few miles east Marshall County and designated New Durwood. Its name as changed to Durwood on October 11, 1913; in 1926 the post office was moved to Carter County. The name was intended to be Deerwood, but through error the Post Office Department established the post office under the name Durwood. For Yellow Springs, the entry reads: "In Carter County, 7 miles east of Ardmore. Post office established November 25, 1890, and name changed to Durwood, September 11, 1891."
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"Butch, I am trying to find any information on Luther (Bud) Green who was in Orr, Love Co., I.T. in 1890. He left there in December of 1899. I think he may have worked for Bill Washington. If any of your readers know any information would like to have it. Thanks!" edrand@mail.brightok.net
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"Hi Butch~~~I need to inform you of my new email address. I have missed the last 2 installments and I look forward every Fri to reading This and That. I loved the word and pictures on John Small's bakery. When I as little girl, I used to take piano lessons just around the corner from Small's bakery and sometimes, my mother would stop and let my sister and I go in and buy a loaf of warm bread, right out of the ovens and we would take it home and eat it with butter and jelly. What a delight!!!!"
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"Hi Butch, I just had to tell you, if you want a great tasting BBQ sauce, try Head Country original flavor. It's the only kind my family likes. It costs a little more but its worth it. It may be close to what your looking for."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------< br> "Butch, just wanted to let you know we are still enjoying every Saturday morning by reading your column. All is well and still hot out here in the Southwest. But, then Nevadans are use to that! Just wanted to comment on a couple of thing in your last issue. One is the picture of what is supposed to be Reavis Drugs. I think that is near but not quite the location of the old Reavis Drug. It had been at the one spot for many years and that was between C.R. Anthony and the old Kress store on West Main. Anthony's was on the corner and Reavis's Drug was the next store down. They use to have the best Cherry Cokes in town! It was a pure pleasure to go in on Saturdays when we shopped and sit down to a Cherry Coke at their fountain. Mr. Reavis was always friendly and gave a 'howdy' to everyone who came in. The other thing I wanted to mention was another Southern Oklahoman who was in Gene Autry's band. You mentioned Cowboy Slim Reinhardt and I remember him, but I remember Johnny Bond from Marietta even better. I met his parents many years ago and they gave me a songbook of Johnny's and I still have it. Those were the good old days of simpler times and down to earth pleasures. Thanks for all you do to bring back old photos and memories of times gone by. It does a heart good to go back and recollect sometimes. Keep it up."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "To the reader of your T & T who was asking about Jake Goode owning the Squeeze Inn in the 1950's.........as a matter of fact, he did. Jake Goode is the person who sold the Squeeze In Cafe to my grandmother, Tressie St.Clair, around 1962 and she sold it back to him in 1972. The place was very small, but the food was very good, and just like home cooking. I know there are many, many people who will never forget eating at the Squeeze In."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello Butch, I can tell you a little about Reavis Drug Store. In the late 30s, it was Reavis-Frame Drug Store. Mr. Frame sold his interest to the Reavis. Later on in the early 40s Mr. Reavis built a new drug store and closed the store at Main & B. The new drug store was on the south side of W. Main street where west Broadway turned over to W. Main street. Approx. one blocks west of Central Park. This was also US 70 at that time. The Reavis-Frame Drug Store was also one of the first stores to become air conditioned in Ardmore. Before this, most stores only had fans to move the air. The next time I'm in Ardmore, I'll get some addresses to give to you."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "I ran (not really) across this picture in my mother's box of pictures. I have no idea where or what it is. Does it look familiar to you, it would not be an aerial photo of Turner Falls from early years would it? I have been to the top and know the stream goes up the side of the hill for quite a stretch but this looks too tall to be Turner Falls and the trees all look like evergreens. When I first looked at it I thought it might be a mine or something like that but something reminded me of Turner Falls. It is backed with a linen like cloth and it looks like it has been cut down from maybe a bigger picture. Do you think the rocks and ledges look like the ones in the Arbuckles? Strange I have been through her pictures before but never noticed this one before. Wondering if you had ever seen one like it or knew where it was."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/whatfall.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Anyone have the recipe for Priddy's salad dressing? I don't think I have ever found one even similar. Thanks."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello. Thought you would like to see the shape the Cole Cemetery on north edge of Ardmore is in. I had not been there in years. Walked from the road to the cemetery. It was hot today believe me. But hot was nothing compared to what I found at the end of the road. Someone has stacked the Segler Headstones into a pile. Also others have been knocked over and are just lying there. Who do we contact about this? I took a lot of pictures of the destruction but can't send them in an e-mail, but here is one for you. You reach a lot of people and could put the word out about this."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/seglerg.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, I recently met a lady who was in the area looking for genealogy information. She had come to the Ardmore area from SC trying to locate her mother's & grandmother's old school records. Apparently, the grandmother, WILLIE CALVIN HITT b. 1915, had attended school at Durwood & at Dickson. I am trying to help this lady and was wondering if any of your readers might know where those records would be located? She said that some of the family is buried in Provence Cem. & the family might have lived close to it...she is not sure. The lady (Rhonda Stewart) said that her grandmother, CARRIE LOU GEORGE b. 1899, talked about riding a horse to school at Durwood. Did Provence also have a school? I told her that I would write to you & see if someone might have any information for her. Here is the family line : WILLIE CALVIN HITT (female), b. 1915, probably Carter Co. - Rhonda's grandmother. CARRIE LOU GEORGE (great grandmother - Willie's mom) b. 1899. Carrie Lou's parents were THOMAS G. & MARY JANE MILLER GEORGE. Mary Jane was b. in the 1850's & lived in the Provence area. She was a midwife. Buried in Provence Cem. Mary Jane & Thomas George were married in Texas. He died at the age of 82 in 1934. In addition to Carrie Lou, Mary Jane & Thomas had 2 sons : JOHN CALVIN GEORGE, b. 1878, & WM. THOMAS GEORGE, b. 1893. Mary Jane Miller George was the daughter of JOHN & CAROLINE (Foeman or Foreman) MILLER. Caroline may have been Indian. John Miller was born in GA. Caroline died and John then married her sister SALLY FOEMAN (Foreman). Sally's first husband had been Billy Slater, then she married John Miller. Confused yet, readers? If any one has anything that might be remotely connected, please contact Rhonda Stewart at rhondastew@aol.com Please let Butch know if you know where old County school records (from the 1920's & 30's) might be located. Thanks."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, Was just wondering if you knew why the town of Rexroat no longer exists. I have heard stories of how it used to have hotels, groc stores, homes ect, and now there is only a church. Why were all of the building and homes torn down?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello Butch I know how the game "Go in and out the windows" is played and probably all the words. I was just curious how many people played these games.Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window as you have done before.
Go fore and choose your lover
Go fore and choose your lover
Go fore and choose your lover as you have done before
Now kneel and say you love her
Now kneel and say you love her
Now kneel and say you love her as you have done before.
This is done by a selected person. When He or She has done what the verse tells him another is chosen and it repeats until everyone has been selected or the bell rings!!!! ha
"Green Gravel" was a game my dad taught us to play.I'm 66 yrs old and my dad was 19 years older than me so suspect it was an old game. It went something like
Green Gravel, Green Gravel the grass is so green all over creation it's a shame to be seen.
Can't remember how the rest goes or how it was played but think i found it on the computer somewhere."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello Butch: I an an avid reader of yours and have your web site in my favorites files. I have a friend in the Lone Grove area who has the original forms for a WPA Toilet.. He has asked me if somewhere on the internet I might find the dimensions to build an exact replica of one of those toilets.. I have searched the internet and have been unable to come up with anything.. Perhaps you can help.. He has no internet access so I am the intermediate in this deal. LOL Sure would appreciate any help at all." gemmyg@webtv.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================I was in such a hurry last week to hit the SEND button for my T&T, I forgot to tell who sang "Memories Are Made Of This". It was Dean Martin in 1957.
I think this week's feature song is appropriate for the Air Park Memorial and the effort of all those who donating money to help purchase the granite stone.
"Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died America can't you see
All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all, Some gave all"
-Billy Ray Cyrus, 1992
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday September 1, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 228
This week we exceeded the needed pledges to purchase a gray granite memorial for the 53 men who died while training at the Air base in the 40s and 50s. We appreciate those of you who made a pledge to help build this memorial, and now ask for those pledges be mail in. We hope over the next few weeks to bring in another $400 so an Autumn Rose granite memorial can be purchased, instead of the gray granite. Whichever the case turns out, we will be placing the order for the memorial stone, so please mail in your pledge now, if you placed a pledge the past month. Thanks, I knew we could do it. Mail your pledge to... "Airpark Memorial", PO Box 11, Ardmore, OK 73402 http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.html
The last few weeks I been searching high and low for the recipe Lieutenant McKerson (1914-1997) used to make his BBQ on East Main. I heard a man in Georgia had it, but that turned out a dead end. So, I'll keep searching. Also I have been unable to find a photo of McKerson's BBQ stand (it was tore down about a month ago), maybe someone out there has one to share? Here's photo of Lieutenant McKerson, he passed away in 1997. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mckerson.jpg
I remember going to McKerson's BBQ stand in the late 60s. I'd take him a whole chicken from the grocery store, and he'd charge me 25 cents to smoke it. Boy was it good tasting!
But let's go back, way back to 1936. Before Lieutenant McKerson and his BBQ stand. The first person to really introduce BBQ to Ardmore was I.A. Benjamin (1895-1972). He set up his BBQ stand in 1936 in a sheet iron building at 429 East Main, the northwest corner of East Main and "E" Street. It was called Benjamin's Barbecue Stand and he sold BBQ from there until the early 1940s. (Lieutenant McKerson opened his BBQ stand right after he returned from serving his country in WWII.) I don't have a photo of I.A. Benjamin yet, but his decendants are looking for one, and maybe by next Saturday I'll have one!
But there still is a BBQ stand on East Main, its Mama's BBQ. The owner is Linda Gail Pickens. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mamabbq.jpg
Here's a photo of my brother, Billy Bridges (1947-1979), standing in the front yard of my grandfather Stanley Carmon's home at 805 3rd NE. The reason for this photo is you will see in the background the old Small's Bakery. The bakery before Mr. John R. Small (1890-1966) opened up his second bakery at 204 "H" Street Northeast (the old Priddy's Salad Dressing). I remember back in the 60s my grandfather being asked to come over and give a tour of the building. They wanted to know some history on the construction of the red brick building. Seems my grandfather liked red, most of the schools and buildings he built were red brick. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/small50.jpg
And is the new bakery my grandfather built for Mr. Small on "H" NE. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/small01.jpg
My grandfather built also built the old Swifts Feed Store building, in the southwest corner of Caddo and East Broadway, across the street east from Key's Feed Store. I don't have a pic of it, but will get one next week.
Here's another red brick building Stanley Carmon built, the old Mac's Wholesale Building at 126 "A" NE. I helped unload tons of plywood and sheetrock in the far south end of this building (middle of the block) back in the 60s. My grandfather used it for storage. At the top of the building it reads, "BYRNE 1913". Does anyone know who this Mr. Byrne is? http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/macswhl.jpg
And then there was the red brick C.B Tanner Food Store at 726 3rd NE, later becoming Hunt's Food Store. I spent many hours after school and saturday's working for Herman and Alice Hunt, stocking and sacking groceries for customers. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/huntgro.jpg
Has anyone heard of a transit? Here is a photo of a modern transit. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/transit3.jpg
And this is the antique transit or level, an Architects Convertible Wye Level, used by my grandfather Stanley Carmon which he bought around 1924 or 1925. The instrument is made by Keuffel & Esser Co, New York, NY. The serial number on the wooden box that holds it is 45030. In the 60s I used it as a telescope to look at the moon. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/transit2.jpg
Here is some history on the German company Keuffel and Esser and their surveying instruments. http://www.surveyhistory.org/keuffel_&_esser.htm
If anyone knows how to use this old level, and willing to teach me how to use it, I'll give them a bottle of Wikle Water! Oh, by the way, I don't have the tripod for the level.
I've had special request from a Reader for info on the old Reavis Drug Store. The location of this piece of history is West Main and "B" Street. If you have anything to share about this building, please pass it along to us. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/reavis3.jpg
Here is a photo of a building erected in 1912 on East Main street across the street from Daube's Department Store. (The old Texhoma Office Supply.) The building is named the Stong Building, 108 East Main, and was owned by the widow of Harry G. Stong (1861-1912), Retta Stong (1873-1937). Mr. Stong began here in Ardmore growing a wine vineyard north of "G" and 5th NE. In 1903 Harry Stong moved his family to their new home at 630 McLish SW, which at that time, he owned the whole block. Mr. Harry Stong died in 1912 of typhoid Fever. His wife, Retta Stong, was a sister to John Small, the bakery man. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/stong.jpg
The past few months I been trying to search out a photo of my Great Grandfather Howard C. "Tuck" Carmon (b. 1847) and his wife Ada Carmon (b. 1852). I have no idea what they look like. They came from Altoona, PA around 1880 and settled in Gainesville, Texas. She died in Gainesville, TX in 1897 and my great grandfather died there a year later in 1898. His father, Alexander Carmon/Carman was born in 1801. Maybe someone out there knows where I can go searching for a photo of these two?
This week I was out visiting Mrs. Wilson (Wilson Monuments) at Lone Grove. She showed me a photo of her parents grocery store at Rexroat, Oklahoma back in the 40s. The photo is from the 1953 Rexroat School criterion. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/rexroats.jpg
And this is a photo in the 1953 Rexroat school annual of the gym. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/rexroatg.jpg
When I drove up at the Wilson's place, there were some people there placing an order for a monument. I asked the man if he was from Ardmore, he said no, but he was stationed at the Ardmore Airpark in 1951 when the Korean War was going on. He was assigned to the fire department at the air base. We had a good conversation about the air base and he was going to have his children pull up Gary Simmons's website on the air base history when he got back home in PA. The visitor was Arnold Johnson from Erie, Pennsylvania. Here is the business card he gave me. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/johnsonpa.jpg
I have a friend over by Kingston, Oklahoma who has been receiving my T&T for a long time. I found out recently she had a bell in her yard. She has been holding out on me all this time! She finally admitted it the other day, and said she'd get me a pic. Boy, has she got a beautiful bell! Has anyone else got a bell out there in their yard and not telling me? Now come clean, your coniencious will feel much better if you tell me. hahaha It's like one Reader told me a year ago, "Butch this is crazy, when I'm out driving I am subconsiouly looking for you any bells". hahaha http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/tensbell.jpg
Last Saturday was pickup day here in Ardmore of the Share program food distribution. Let's see, there was lots of goodies for $17.15.... Lemon Pepper Chicken for Kabobs- 14 OZ., Sausage Links- 12 OZ., Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets- 1 LB., Deli Smoked Turkey Breast- 8 OZ., Ground Beef- 1 LB., Potatoes, Celery (sleeved), Baby Carrots- 1 LB., Yellow Onions- 2 LBS., Gala Apples- 4, Oranges- 4, Bartlett Pears- 4, Red Grapes- 1 LB., Aunt Jemima French Toast- 12 OZ., Fudge Brownie Mix- 8 OZ. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/share801.jpg
Remember, if you eat, you qualify for the Share Program. For more info on the Share Program in Ardmore call Carole Ellis at 580-223-5287. http://www.heartlandshare.com Here's a nice write-up on the Share Program by The Daily Ardmoreite this week. http://ardmoreite.com/stories/083001/liv_share.shtml
The 73 year old Seth Thomas tower clock in the dome of the courthouse is back working again! I got that limit switch repaired this week.
Speaking of the Carter county courthouse, workers have been busy since last Saturday installing the brick pavers around the pavilion. Here's some photos I snapped.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pav825.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pav828.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pav828b.jpg
And here is the paver project near completion on Friday August 31, 2001 at 5pm. Beautiful.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pav831.jpg
Last week I spoke about what we used to kill ants at the airpark memorial. It was not ampro, but Amdro. I found it at Walmart for a little less then 10 dollars. This is three times higher than the other name brand ant killers, but the other brands didn't work.
And I had a wee mistake in the directions I gave last week on where to find some Wikle Well Water in Ardmore. The Total Grove Mart is right off I-35 and next door to the Karmike Five Theater. But the exit is Exit 31a and not 32. So, take Exit 31a and find out what good water taste like!
Here's a neat little website.... if you enter a date, then enter another date, it will tell you how many days between the two dates. Or days, months, years. Might come in handy for genealogist. http://www.acutesoftware.com.au/datecalc.html
I've been using a search engine this week that may be better than google.com http://ixquick.com/
Does anyone have a cherry picker? I have a tree limb in my backyard that needs to come down. I think a basket lift is needed to get the limb down safely. http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/treelimb.jpg
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Halito Nashobish Ikana, The white streak is either the Aurora experimental aircraft (it is hypersonic) or it is what ufo guys call a rod. I do not know which, but would be betting on the aircraft. I have seen films of the thing and it is fast, really fast."
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"Hi Butch, Thanks for sharing the mail from Lou Harper with us. I have been to the Crazy Horse Memorial, as well as Little Bighorn, so her website was of great interest. Maybe I should bring the pictures I took for you to see."
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"Butch - the Main Street Authority is working on a number of historical plaques to recognize some of the old buildings in downtown Ardmore. We are looking for a good picture of the California Cafe, which was located on the corner of Main & Mill Streets (current location of Stolfa Bros. Hardware). If anyone has any photos we can copy, please contact me at 580-226-3490. We will return the pictures unharmed." - Judi Elmore
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"Butch, in regards to the name "Durwood". I was born there and researched it a little. Seems it should have been Deerwood, but the name did not have the loops in it when it was sent in to be registered and it will be forever Durwood. On such little things are towns named."
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"Hi Butch., If my memory is correct, (most of the time it isn't) a guy named Jake Good was the owner of the Squeeze in back in the 50's. Ask around about him and see if anyone can shed any light on this. By the way, this is the first time in months that I have been able to view all the JPG pics on your T&T. Keep up the good work."
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"butch, you might want to mention the mp3 site Kazaa.com, it is a great sight. I am using it now and it is just like napster. I coujldn't get audio galaxy to ever connect for me."
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"Butch, I was wondering how many of your readers remember a man that played for Gene Autry's band--they called him Cowboy Slim Reinhart. He had a radio show too that aired from Dallas, I think. Some of his family still live in the Ardmore area and have promotional pictures and other memorabilia from that era--maybe they can share some copies of it on the net or at local museums sometimes soon. Take care and keep on doing what you do."
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"Hi Butch, I do so enjoy your column. Put me down for a $25 pledge for the airmen's memorial. Just let me know when and where to send it. Also, I believe the missing word on the poem (In and out the window) is Go forth and choose your partner. I can't remember the rest of it either. To the lady finding her past relatives - and whether they are rascals, there was the tale of one who was hanged; and entered into the family genealogy as "died when a section of the platform gave away at a public exhibition."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------< br> "Butch I had a very weird experience about three weeks ago. I am not into the UFO thing, but this was definitely flying, and I couldn't identify it. I was driving along a country road east of Roff, Ok., on a road that runs btween Roff and Fittstown. My husband, who works in Ardmore, and I are looking for a house with land to buy. My children and I were getting the lay of the land. There were big white puffy clouds floating across the sky to the north as I drove east along this lonely country road. I was admiring the beauty of those clouds against the deep blue sky, when a small jet plane about two feet in length flew between me and the clouds about fifty to sixty feet to the north of my Ford Van. I was traveling about 30 miles per hour and this thing flew up behind me and overtook my van. It was black and looked like a small version of an F-16. The jet seemed to ride along side me a moment, and then flew in front of me and was out of sight within about 10 seconds. It maneuvered just like a jet airplane, and just flew too fast to be a remote controlled toy. There was no fuel trail, and nobody around that I could see to control it. It was very close and I could make out most of the details. It flew just like the Tomcats in Top Gun. I have never seen anything like that in my life. The only purpose I could see for such a thing is recon work. If you or anybody else has seen this strange thing, I would really be interested in hearing about it. This is an awfully long way from a military installation. Very strange!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch: Do you know where Hell Roaring Creek is located. It is mentioned in some of the Pioneer Indian Papers as being northwest of the Arbuckle Mountains. Would it have a different name today?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, if any of your readers are interested in reading about the Roman Emperors this is a good link." http://www.roman-emperors.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Dear Butch, My sister-in-law forwards this to me every time she receives it and I want to tell you how much I enjoy it. I live in Ontario, California and have for the past 40 years but I lived around Madill and I went to high school for 2 of the best years of my life at Ardmore High. I have enjoyed all your editions and didn't realize there were so many things I missed growing up there. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this very important project. If you have anything on Madill history or Linn Community, I would appreciate a copy of it and wondered if you would put me on your e-mail list so I can get all of your editions. Thanks again for so much enjoyment."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "My husbands Great Grandfather was George Dougherty Stark, who I believe was a resident of Ardmore in the early 1900's. One of his great grandsons sent me this little snippet about him. I thought you might be interested."
"George D Stark contracted a herd of cattle to go to the rail head in Ardmore in about 1892. He drove the cattle to Ardmore and sold them and took his part and sent for his wife Hattie Rogena and daughter Effie. Hattie was pregnant with Mary Charlotte "Lottie" . and she was born in Indian Terr. 1893. George put in a meat & fish Market On Caddo street in Ardmore. At the back of the store he dug a water well that supplied water to Dobbie department store and his Market .Caddo was the center of trade for the farmers who came to town to peddle their farm grown goods. He carried a whip rolled up on his hip. It is said he was quite proficient with it. It's been said that none of his sons liked him because they thought he was mean to them .Actually he was a staunch man Stark is a Irish name that means stanch & steadfast and that really describes George D Stark. They tell a story about him and a neighbor got in to a argument over a Barn that was close to the property line. The sheriff was to come out and settle the dispute the next day. That night He and the boys rolled the barn on logs farther on to his property. Any other info or photos of George D Stark or his family I'd really love to see." -New Zealand kapowai@ihug.co.nz
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mr. Bridges.... I am trying to find the family of a 2nd. Lt. Wayne J. Rabun. He was KIA in Oct. 1950 in the Korean Conflict. Research indicates that he was from Carter Co., Ardmore to be exact. His name is listed among those KIA, in the Carter Co. veterans list. The only listing of a Rabun in Ok. is Clyde in Edmond. Do you know of any existing, distant relatives of Wayne? Or how I may be able to contact them? Any help would be appreciated." GooseFL510@cox-internet.com Note: the Carter county cemetery records shows him buried at Woodford, Oklahoma
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi Butch...The Ardmore Graduating Class of 1956 is having a reunion on September 7 and 8 and a few of the members have not been located. Just thought someone might be reading this and it might help. We're having hot dogs at the Chickasaw Lake Club at 5 on Friday night and then going to the football game. Saturday breakfast is at Jim Dolmans and then golf at the Country Club. That evening we are having a production by a local company doing their last rendition of "Patsy Cline." It will be at the Caddo Cafe."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi Butch, I do so enjoy your column. Put me down for a $25 pledge for the airmen's memorial. Just let me know when and where to send it. Also, I believe the missing word on the poem (In and out the window) is Go forth and choose your partner. I can't remember the rest of it either. To the lady finding her past relatives - and whether they are rascals, there was the tale of one who was hanged; and entered into the family genealogy as "died when a section of the platform gave away at a public exhibition."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Seeking any info on Clifford Seymour...... NAME: CLIFFORD EUGENE SEYMOUR, WIFE: MALINA C. SEYMOUR, JOB: CHIEF PETTY OFFICER U.S. NAVY RECRUITING -- ARDMORE. LAST KNOWN ADDRESS -- THEIR OWN HOME AT 1601 MAIN IN ARDMORE OKLAHOMA, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS FROM 1949 CITY OF ARDMORE DIRECTORY. ANY AND ALL HELP GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED." amwilson@brightok.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, I just did a print of the four carter county maps. I think your northeast map is missed label. When I laid all four maps together, it fits in the northwest corner. You might check it out by printing it off."
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapeast.jpg (east half of Carter County)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapcent.jpg (central part of county)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapsw.jpg (southwest part of county)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapnw.jpg (northwest part of county)
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Your most recent move in placing your pictures all on one site is the greatest! I hope others agree- saving much time copying and pasting, and now I can look at all of them at one time in one place and decide if there are some I would like to copy. Thanks so much for giving us something to look forward to each Saturday!!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch, We were out at our family graveyard Young cemetery east of the airpark and I thought you might like to see these three Indian burial sites. Or that is what my grandfather always told me that is what they were. As you can see the first one has a tree growing out of it."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/young1a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/young1b.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/young1c.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Greetings, I was given your address by someone who was kind enough to take the time to answer my inquiry about Brown Springs. I am a lead investigator with the Oklahoma City Ghost Club which is a group dedicated to the objective study of the paranormal activity. As such perhaps you would allow me to ask if you know of any maps or directions that would enable us to locate the area in question. Thanks for your time and consideration!" Club Site
http://okcgc.tripod.com/oklahomacityghostclub/
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey Butch, Just getting back to New Orleans and playing catch up with the mail and T&T. Two days after seeing you at the extension office and your telling me you were going to be visiting Mr Wikle, my sisters took me to OKC to see the bombing memorial and museum. At the early part of the tour in the museum, the doyene was explaining about the water board's taped meeting and how it started off to discuss a man's petition from Marietta to bottle water. I told my sisters about our conversation and wondered if they were about the same person. Sure enough, they were. The museum is very impressive if you have't visited it yet. Keep up the good work." Harold in New Orleans
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "This site has been created for the purpose of returning dog tags found from Vietnam to their respective families. In the near future we expect to have a complete list of all the recovered dog tags."
http://www.founddogtags.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." -Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday August 25, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 227
This week I received a phone call from a lady in Texas. She was directed to me for information on a plane crash years ago. I asked her when, she said 1966. I told her I was familiar with that crash and had info on the Net. She told me her boy friend was on that flight, and she didnt know a lot about the crash, but has wanted to learn more all these years since 1966. Her email to me was so touching, I wanted to share it with everyone.
"Good evening Butch! It was a privilege and an honor talking with you today. My heart has been made light by finding your site today. For thirty five years I've cried myself to sleep remembering my John's (John Odom) eyes. He had such a soulful look and was such a wonderful person that even today I can hear his voice and remember his smile. He was an athlete much greater than any Michael Jordan or Walter Patten. He went into the military to help his mother and was a grand young man, a baby more gentle than any lamb. He was kind and shy and I feel blessed just to have known him. There are so many memories. Thank you for all that you have done for young men who were not even related to you. I want to do more than just say words but I must get through the next few days of memories now. I have cried today and will cry more. John was my heart and I've missed him terribly. Please know that you are loved for what you are doing and I plan on staying in touch. I honor you sir for who you are. I hope you will write again. Much love and respect to you and all that you do." -Texas
When I get phone calls and emails like that, it makes the effort all worth it. I"m just proud to be a part of the American Flyers Memorial Park at Ardmore Airpark, Gene Autry, Oklahoma.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/crash66.htmlI want to follow with this: We are still trying to raise enough money to purchase a granite stone for the more then 50 Army personnel who died during the years the Airpark was used as a training base. We now have over $900, but its going to take $1,500 to purchase a Autumn Rose stone to match the stone already out there. We still need help to get the word out, to meet this goal.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.htmlThis year two or three huge mounds of big red ants started colonizing near the memorial site. The first stuff Paul Mitchell bought to kill the red ants didn't work. Then he bought some stuff called Amdro. There is not one live red ant any in of the mounds. Amdro is a granular type stuff, the ants carried down into the den, where it kills even the queen ant.
Here's a pic I took of the Memorial Park this week.... it looks beautiful.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/afapark8.jpgHere's a pic of the water treatment plant on the far north side of the Airpark.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/water8a.jpg
And here is the booster pump station.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/water8b.jpgWhen I was out north of Lone Grove I spotted sitting in a yard an old mail wagon. I remember the one very distinctly that sat in front of the mail depot in Ardmore in the early 60s. Mr. Avery L. Senter (1893-1973) lived behind us at 316 "H" Street NE.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/senter.jpgSometimes Mr. Senter take me with him to pick up the mail from the train at 4:00pm, then on to the old post office with it. Sometimes he'd use a mail wagon just like in the pic below to get the mail bags from the train to his truck.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mailwag8.jpgWhat I remember about the Senters is Mrs Senter told me around 1960 that you never leave blood that is on the ground, uncovered, to always cover it with dirt. She would use an ax and cut off a chicken's head. Then she would take a hoe and cover every drop of blood with dirt.
This old buckboard (called a pickup today) was about a mile north of Highway 70 where Meridian intersects (Lone Grove).
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/buckbrd8.jpgLooks like the kids are using old Highway 77 north of Ardmore as a drag strip. These two pics were taken just north of the Caddo Creek Bridge
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/hwy77no.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/hwy77nob.jpg
I stopped in Lone Grove and talked with Mrs. Wilson (Wilson Monuments). She showed me a copy of a book containing births dating back to 1918. The book holds the birth information on infant deliveries by Graham, Oklahoma physician J.T Barnwell (1866-1934). There were two of these books in the possession of Graham, Oklahoma resident Mary Kilcrease (she's 92 years young!) Mary Kilcrease is the expert on the Graham Cemetery, she knows where everyone is buried. Some time ago someone borrowed one of the two old books, and never returned it. Maybe they'll repent.
I said months ago if Napster was closed down, someone somewhere would come up with another site to download music. Well, audiogalaxy has done just that, only bigger and better. Audiogalaxy has millions of people sharing music files. Over 20 Million have downloaded their program.
http://www.audiogalaxy.com/I received a letter this week with photos of a bell on the Mississippi Queen! Kenneth Eck and his wife of Healdton had been on a little vacation and snapped these photos for me. Kenneth said the City of Cincinatti, Ohio gave the bell in 1976 to mount on the riverboat thinking it would be headquartered there. Some people who will do anything to get their hands on a bell! hahaha
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/mqueen8.jpgI'm saving the worst for last. Or maybe its the best, depending on how you look at it. After this article, some of you are going to say I've completely lost it..... headed for the funny farm. J.L. Self, the 911 coordinator for the county, bought herself a Bushnell Laser RangeFinder this week. I was looking it over and took it outside to look up at the dome of the courthouse. I wanted to see what it said the distance is from the ground to the dome. I was standing on the east side of the courthouse, looking up through the viewfinder. There is a bottom on the top that shoots the laser to the object, reflects, and then gives you the distance.
http://hardinoptical.com/busyarprocom.htmlAs I looked through the viewfinder I saw, for a second or two, something gray flash in the background from the southwest to the northeast. It reminded me of a jet vapor trail, but this only lasted for a couple of seconds, then vanished. I took the instrument away, and look with my eyes, and couldn't find anything. I looked through the RangeFinder again, nothing, and continued switching back in forth to no avail.
So, what did I see? Boy, you got me. But it was fast. Very fast. I already had a pic of the courthouse, do I tried to draw an example of the "flash" as I saw in the RangeFinder. Maybe someone out there has an idea what this could be? My example is much whiter then what I saw in the sky behind the dome Tuesday at noon.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/domenew8.jpgEver wonder how to save your emails to a floppy disk for archiving? Here's an easy way.
http://www.steve.maurer.net/tutorials/email_tutorials/saving_email.htm Here is another way to save those emails to floppy
http://www.wavzbak.com/hlp7.htmlI've talked about the importance of have a virus scanner on your computer the past few weeks. The free scanner http://housecall.antivirus.com continues to perform this task very nicely. I've learned something else this week, if you find about 4 files on your hard drive that look like this, "ffastun" with a goofy extension behind it, in your root directly, delete them. You can click START and FIND, then FILES AND FOLDERS to do a search on the hard drive. These files may allow hackers to have a backdoor to your hard drive.
http://www.sfol.com/sfol/santafe/realdeal/news.htmlJ.L. Self, Carter County 911 coordinator, is putting up a website for her office.
http://www.geocities.com/cartercountye911/I've scanned a map of Carter county that shows all the county roads and their names. You can find it on the Carter County Government website or each one of these links is a part of the map. http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapeast.jpg (east half of Carter County)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapcent.jpg (central part of county)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapsw.jpg (southwest part of county)
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/cmapnw.jpg (northwest part of county)
Another piece of history is coming down, the Corinth Baptist Church. The church is (was) located at 10th and "N" Northeast. Crews started tearing it down this week.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/corinthc.jpgThis is how the church looked sometime after 1974.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/corinthb.jpgAnd here is how the old church looked before remodeling was performed around 1974
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/corintha.jpgAnd here is another Ardmore church, built in 1930, that is gone. It was the Church of the Living God at 901 "A" Street Northeast (9th & "A"). This photo was taken around 1995.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/choflg95.jpgSpeaking of churches, several people have been arrested this week in connection with the fire that destroyed the Milo Baptist Church and the grave markers being vandalized here.
The bell mechanism of Seth Thomas tower clock in the dome of the courthouse has quit working. I went up there the other day and found the problem. It is almost the same identical problem that kept it from working for 12 years before Saturday October 5, 1996. That was the Saturday I restarted the clock after 12 years of silence. The problem this time, as before, is an electrical limit switch that controls the raising of the huge weights. Here's a pic of the switch with a red arrow pointing to the problem. I promise to get it fixed in a couple of days.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/limit1a.jpgTo learn more about this magnificent 1928 timepiece, go to this link
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/clock.htmlI talked this week to Mr Wikle at Wikle Water Works at his little bottling company south of Marietta, Oklahoma. In last week's issue I had pics of Mr. Wikle and his company.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle5.jpgIf you live in or near Ardmore and want to try some of his well water, you can pick it up by the gallon at The Grove Mart 580-223-9321 (Total Station next to Carmike Five Theater I-35 and Exit 31a) at Rockford Road and West Broadway. (This is the same place a Reader reported several weeks ago a person can buy Grapette.) A gallon of Wikle water is $1.15 plus another 9 cents for tax = $1.24 total. When I was there a couple days ago, the store didnt have a whole lot in stock, so you may want to call ahead if you're driving any distance to pick some up. I know this, Wikle well water sure taste better than the water coming out of my kitchen facet! This is a link to the Wikle Water Works website. http://www.wikleswater.com/
Here's an interesting footnote to the Wikle story: At 9:02am on April 19, 1995 Mr. Wikle and his family were across the street from the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma Water Resources Board office applying for his license to sell his well water. It is only by a miracle Mr. Wikle and his family were not killed by the bomb. But then that's another story and I'll tell you more in next week's T&T.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Wisdom of Solomon!! You've come up with a great "compromise" on the pictures with short-term easy-to-open storage on the T&T site and long-term in your Oklahoma History album. They're too valuable to let drift away in cyberspace! Fortune City just wouldn't work for me, and for others as well, it seems." Bob Peterson, Durant
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"Hi Butch, You can count me in on a $25.00 donation in memory of my Father-in-law, Allen R. Byrd, who was an Airplane Mechanic at the Air Force Base in Ardmore. He passed away 12 years ago." Claude Roberts - Juneau, Alaska
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"Butch, Have you found anyone with the receipe for McKerson's BBQ sauce? Several folks I know would love to have it, too! Please add us to the list for a pledge of $20 to the Airpark Memorial. My husband was stationed there and ended up staying here." Frank and Betty Ritter, Ardmore
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"I was wondering if you could ask folks that knew my grandpa, Harold Gene Robinson (courthouse maintenance), to send me any memories, stories, or information they recall about him. I would sure appreciate it." Jerrellman@aol.com
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"Hey Butch, Good job as usual. I have one comment about the marker coming into Oklahoma. To me, that's what it looks like, a marker, you know, a tombstone. Wish someone had been a little more creative, and made it into the shape of oklahoma, or a totem pole, or maybe even a combo oil derrick/totem pole on the face of an outline of the state. Just one persons opinion."
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"Hi Butch, I would like for you to take a look at my latest web page. I'm attempting poetry about Oklahoma and Indians. There is one poem, "Crazy-Horse" an Oglala Sioux Chieftain, I wrote just because I loved the story about him. If you enjoy it, please feel free to pass it along to your readers." http://luharper.homestead.com/shadowland.html
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"Butch, someone wrote in and asked if anyone remembered playing the children's game "Go In & Out the Window". I remember that well. When I was a student at the Washington Elem. on 5th Ave. NE we used to play that often. The words went something like this "Go in & out the window...go in & out the window...go in & out the window for we have came to stay." (I think this next line is correct but am not positive) "Go forth and choose your (?)_____, go forth & choose your ___, go forth & choose your ___ for we have came to stay." I know there have to be more words but it's too early in the a.m. for my old brain to remember them (haha). I also remember that at recess some of my friends & I (from grades 1 to 3 when we had to play on the playground on the east side of the school), we would play "jump rope". Sometimes we would take those big jump ropes & fold them in half. Someone would place their hands on the center of the rope & hold on to it. Children would line up (spaced about a foot apart) behind that person & hold on to the rope - one part on their left side & the other part of the rope on their right. We would add children until we had enough to fill the line with "horses"...then a "wagon master" would grab the 2 ends of the rope and yell "Giddyap" & we would take off running. You had to keep up or get trampled in the stampede. Many skinned knees & elbows resulted in those who tripped & fell...but it was fun anyway. When we went to 4th grade we got to play on the playground west of the school. It was a nice little park and still had the old wadding pool there (empty during school times). We would play dodge ball in the pool. I can still see Mr. Conley & the teachers out there sitting on those rock benches drinking their coffee and keeping an eye on us. We must have been pretty good kids because I don't ever remember any fights or scuffles. We just played. We would play kick ball, jump rope, swing, play on the merry-go-round and the monkey bars. One cold day I was on top of the monkey bars (the very top bar that went straight across), and was laying over it on my stomach. We would do that & holding on to that bar, flip our bodies over it. Well, that day since it was so cold, I had on wool gloves and my hands slipped & I went crashing to the ground. I think I hit my head on every bar on the way down. Guess that's what's wrong with my brain now days! haha. I had a large knot and some bruising, but they just put a wet paper towel on my head and told me to lay my head down on my desk until I felt better. When I went home my mother took a look at my injuries and said that I should've had better sense than to do such a "dumb" thing...flipping over with my gloves on. This day and time, the teachers and the school would be sued for "traumatic" damages. My mom was right, though. I should've had better sense. Live & learn - I never did it again. I came across some old pictures in my mom's picture box recently of some of the kids I went to school with there. Brought back many memories."
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"Butch, in your recent T&T you mentioned Pres. Harry Truman coming thru Ardmore in the 1940's. My sister, Sonya, was born in 1943 and she says that she can remember our dad taking her to see him. She sat on Daddy's shoulders so she could get a glimpse of him above the crowd that was gathered. Little did she know at that time, but we are related to Truman, thru his maternal grandmother, Harriet Gregg. Our gg grandfather, Samuel Gregg, & Harriett were first cousins. Samuel & Harriett lived in MO not far from one another. After the birth of my great grandmother (Martha Victoria Gregg Armstrong) in 1870, the family moved to Jack Co TX. Anyway, I think it's interesting to find out all the neat connections our family has. Some are not so "neat". I do lots of genealogy research and someone asked me one time "What will you do if you find a connection to someone you don't want to claim kin to". I replied, "I'll just DELETE them. (Haha)."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------< br> "Butch, I was in Boerne, Texas last week in their beautiful courthouse (forgot my camera)......... Anyway, they have a large framed whatever with pictures of courthouses from most if not all the counties in Texas. The pics are about an inch and a half and the "poster" was made by a company in Dallas. I copied their address and if you want it, just let me know. This is really a neat idea...in fact, if the price is right, I may just have to have one. I personally think it's really great........Just thought I'd tell you. I too have had trouble bringing up the pics especially the Truman and Matt Alexander one......Great stories about old Matt that I cannot tell.......not bad just funny. When we were teenagers in 1950s, we were really ornery.....that's when Matt walked the beat in downtown and we used to drag Main all night EVERY night!!!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Dear Butch, I was appalled to hear that Rose Hill Cemetery was vandalized. I have about 30 relatives buried there. Please keep us posted through T&T on any news about this crime and if they catch the vandals."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi Butch Oh were my cheeks tingling this morning, when I read the newsletter, I couldnt believe people responded to my nursery rhyme, I did have to laugh !!! I thought it was only a British known nursery rhyme, one of the letters describing the game, was very close, but we never used a password ? but never mind... Afraid I cant comment on the other rhymes, Green gravel and the other never heard of them. hahaha"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Butch Simon School (Simon, Oklahoma) wasn't in carter county but thought you might be interested anyway. Some of the names may be wrong or spelled wrong they were hard to read."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/simon16.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Squeeze Inn Cafe at 119 East Main in Ardmore, 1963"
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/squee63a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/squee63b.jpg
"Attached is picture of the Squeeze Inn cafe. Nell Stinson is working at the counter. Blackie, the Barber is sitting at the counter with Tressie St. Clair. Picture made 1968 Ardmore."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/squee68a.jpg"picture is the New Dixie Cafe and I think the picture was made possible during the years 1944 or 1945. The man is George McKee. The address of the New Dixie Cafe was 13 N. Washington St. in Ardmore."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/ndixiec.jpg"Tressie St. Clair and Evie Sadler worked at Dixie Cafe together and one owner was Butch Carson in 1950. Evie Sadler is the little woman, first lady on the right. I have put a small X to show which one is Evie. The middle lady with the X is Tressie St. Clair." http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/dixiegrp.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Zita School (in Carter county): "The following is the entire description: DESCRIPTIVE BOUNDARY AND OFFICIAL RECORD OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 68 "Beginning at S.W.cor. of sec.31, thence east one mile, thence north one-half mile, thence east one mile, north three miles,thence west two miles and thence south to point of beginning.". Approved October, 1917"
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Check this out.. it may be something Carter County needs on their phone system. *grin* A friend of mine sent this to me. Stop and pick up your phone and try this. It only takes 20 seconds and no matter how hard a day you may be having, if nothing else, it will bring a smile to your face."
1. Call Deutsche Bank / National Discount Brokers at 1-800-888-3999
2. Listen to ALL of the options (it only takes a moment)
3. After hearing the 7th option, press 7 and listen
EVERY company should have an Option 7
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hi Butch. Someone was asking about a Clawfoot bathtub. I dont know if this is the same thing or not, but this add came out in an Odessa TX trade paper. "Antique Cast Iron Lions Paw bath tub. Excellent shape. $500.00 915-367-1818 Or 915-553-0039."
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "My cousin mailed me this postcard of Turner Falls, and I figured you would love to see it....don't yet know how to edit out the other photos, but am sure you will be able to do this. I think there's a date on the postcard."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/tfallstx.jpg
---------------------------------------------------------------------- "When you had the newsletter that had the stuff about the Durwood Baptist church I had talked to you about the name Durwood. I believe you told me that the name meaning was "the gate keeper" I thought that was cool since that's what I do so could you tell me if that's right. I've looked through the internet and can't find anything." bawana@stoutlocks.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================"A firey horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty "Hi Yo Silver!" The Lone Ranger. "Hi Yo Silver, away!" With his faithful Indian companion Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains, led the fight for law and order in the early west. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again!" -September 15, 1949
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday August 18, 2001 T&T Weekly Vol 5 Issue 226
I was off work Friday, so I decided to take a little trip south, to Gainesville, Texas among other places. But on the way I ran across a little sign with an arrow pointing east. The sign was located 5 miles south of Marietta, Oklahoma on old Highway 77 and read, "Wikle's Water Works.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle8.jpgCuriosity got the best of me, so I staged left and headed down a narrow Love county road, that y'd off to the south about a half mile down the road. I finally arrived at a brick house with a building behind it that read "Wikle Water Works and Ice".
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle7.jpgI went inside to a little office, and found Mr. Roy Wikle, talking on the phone.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle4.jpgMr. Wikle and I talked for a while, he said he and his wife, Evaline, opened the water bottling business in 1995, but they had lived there since 1974. The water comes from 4 wells on his property and pumped into the building. He went on to tell me that lately, the "big boys" were trying to put him out of business but he wasn't budging. This wirey little man may not be a big boy, but I bet he is like a wild tiger if pushed into a corner.
Here's a close-up pic I took of Mr. Wikle standing in front of his bottling machine.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle5.jpgAs I left I took a picture of his water vending machine at the front of the building. It cost 25 cents for a gallon of his well water, and you supply your own jug.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle6.jpgOf course he has water already bottled in jugs and 20oz bottles that he sends out all over the country. If you or anyone you know wants some good tasting south central Oklahoma well water, contact Mr. Wikle at 580-276-2913. Let's see what we can do to help Mr. Wikle keep his family owned business up and running. His mailing address is Route 2 Box 170, Marietta, OK 73448. Tell him I sent you!
Here is Roy Wikle's business card
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle3.jpgAnd here's a look at the label he puts on his bottled water.... a beautiful Indian maiden.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wikle2.jpgHere's a photo of the Indian statue in front of Reva McKinney's Style Shop in Marietta, Oklahoma. The statue was carved out of a tree by a guy in Lebanon, Oklahoma using a chain saw.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/revawood.jpgAnd I can't drive by Thackerville, Oklahoma without pulling off the Interstate at Mile Marker One and checking out Brown Springs. Its green and beautiful right now.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brnspg8a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brnspg8b.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/brnspg8c.jpg
Two guys came by while I was at the springs and told me they found another springs bubbling up out of the ground just a mile or so on east down the dirt road in a pecan grove. The springs is just off the road south and has a fence around it. Guess I'll check it out next time I'm down there in Love Valley.
And now we come to the "sign" that greets every traveler entering Oklahoma from Texas.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/oktxsign.jpgThe pledges for the new Ardmore Army Air Field memorial are coming in nicely. In one week over $800 has come in from 21 pledges. A gray granite monument big enough to hold the 50 plus names, will cost nearly $1,000. To place a Autumn Rose granite monument like the one already out there, will cost about $1,500. If you or anyone you know can help us reach our goal, please pass this plea on to them. We've done it before, and I know working together, we can do it again.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/airbase.htmlSpeaking of Gene Autry, Oklahoma, when I went up there last weekend to check on the Memorial Park, I stopped in town, next to the Gene Autry Mueseum and ate breakfast at the Tumbleweed Cafe. I've heard the girls make a pretty good hamburger too. Guess I'll eat one next time I'm up there.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/tumble8.jpgAnd you know I want to give credit where credit is due. Paul Mitchell lives just a few 100 feet north of the Airpark Memorial Park. He's became a committee of one to see the grounds is kept clean, mowed, and beautiful. He checks on it constantly, and his efforts have taken some load off of me, having to go up there so much. And I will say the memorial site is b