Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 This year is quickly coming to an end. I appreciate all of you letting me come into your home each week. At this time each year I think back the past 12 months and those who started with us, but was unable to finish the year. They all…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 Christmas Day will be here in a few days. Hard to believe 2017 is almost over and 2018 will soon begin. I thought this week’s newsletter would be a short one, with everything going on and the holidays. But there is so much to share…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 From 1935 to 1943 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) sponsored the Federal Writers Project. The project employed over 6,000 writers around the U.S. They wrote on every subject imaginable, including a famous series of travel guides for the 48 states. The following article was published…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 In 1914 an exclusive auto shop located on North Washington directly east of the U.S. post office was owned by Oscar L Ritter, an Ardmore resident. In 1915 one-half interest in the business was acquired by Arthur Charles Sies from Portville, New York. Arthur was…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 Movie fever struck Ardmore in September of 1972 when the casting call went out for the movie Dillinger. Droves of star struck Ardmoreites turned out, and 97 were eventually employed for the movie depicting the crime career of the notorious gangster of the 30s. It…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 It is now Thanksgiving evening as I finish up this week’s newsletter. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving with all the food and family gathered around the table. Another year is coming to a close soon, and we should give thanks for all the…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 First bank in Ardmore The first bank to open for business in Ardmore, Indian Territory, was a private institution known as the J. F. Anderson and Son Bank. It was organized by J. F. Anderson of Denton, Texas and his son Charles L. Anderson. This…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 This week marks my 9th month of full time employment working on computers at the Michelin Tire Plant in Ardmore.  With a thousand computers scattered all over the plant it has been a real test on me some days. Some days I get home and…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 Last week I mentioned my internet connection problem and if not for switching to my laptop. my newsletter would have not been publish. Had that happened it would have been the 3rd time in the last 19 years of publishing my T&T.  But thankfully I…

PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402 Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823 This week I almost didn’t get out my newsletter. I have had an internet connection problem since tuesday night and still am working in my spare time to correct it. So this week’s newsletter is coming to you from my laptop instead of my usual…