This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 24  Issue 1,245    Circulation 5,000      December 3, 2020
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My email address:  [email protected]
580-490-6823

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

A Glimpse Into The Past

Dundee School west of Healdton

Immediately after statehood in 1907, Dundee School District was organized by Mrs. Niblack, then Carter County school superintendent. The land for the school buildings was donated by members of the Dundee Christopher Oil Company, for whom the school was named.

Dundee was organized as a joint district including territory in Carter and Jefferson counties. However, a lawsuit over a technicality in the agreement resulted in a compromise in which about half of the Jefferson County territory was lost to the district.

The old Bowman schoolhouse southeast of McMan was moved to the present site and utilized for several years as the school building. Later it was occupied as a home for the home economics department and the band.

The first step forward in the school was the erection of a brick building in 1914 to 1915 while Mr. Bales was superintendent. In 1915 there were nine teachers in the system. In 1921 there were 21 teachers. The oil boom helped the Dundee School become one of the leading schools in Oklahoma. In 1925 there were 31 teachers and the enrollment had edged to 800 students. The valuation of the district at that time was $2,300,000 dollars.

A two-story teachers' dormitory was erected in 1921 and a large gymnasium and houses for the superintendent and principal were built. At the same time four frame buildings were erected for lower grades. A brick high school building with a large large auditorium was built in 1928 and the building was used until 1939 when it was razed and the present grade school and gymnasium was constructed.

In 1954 a building was completed for the lunch room and the band and two duplex houses were built for teachers homes. The superintendent's and principal's homes were remodeled and redecorated in 1956.

During World War II many families moved from the district and the number of teachers and students decreased. At present there are 14 teachers in the system including the superintendent, Earl C Everett. The enrollment is slightly more than 200.
-from Carter County History book 1957

October 1926
McCurtain County in the extreme southeastern corner of Oklahoma has been quarantined as a result of a smallpox epidemic. No one is allowed to leave or enter the county without a vaccination certificate issued within the last 5 years. So far there are 35 known smallpox cases in McCurtain County.

October 1950
George Norris had Post Toasties for supper at a public restaurant the other night. George always orders corn flakes for supper, but 50 years ago they used to be called Elijah's Manna. George says the law entered into the picture and compelled the Post company to quit calling the corn flakes after a Bible name.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/ElijahsMannaCornFlakes.jpg

I have been busy working unclaimed property and connecting people in this area with their unclaimed property at the Oklahoma State Treasurers Office in Oklahoma City. So far the dozens of connections with people has been in the $2,000 to $5,000 range but one was insurance money in the amount of $24,000. Its been rewarding to help people when we are living in financially hard times because of the pandemic. I know some of the over $328,389.55 I've united with its owners of unclaimed property (insurance money) will be a Godsend to those on hard times. I don't get any money for my service, but the reward of helping others makes it all worth while.

So with the above being said, how long has it been since you check your name or a family member's name? Its easy to do a search at the Oklahoma State Treasurer link below. I think every state in the union has a unclaimed property website through the state treasures website.
https://www.ok.gov/treasurer/

Q. Where in Oklahoma is Gloss Mountain?
A.  Six miles north of Fairfax, Oklahoma.
http://www.okmajordev.org/gloss-mountain-state-park.html

More info, Click Here

Q.  Where in Oklahoma is a crater 8 miles wide?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

Colvert Dairy milk man hat. -Robert Hensley
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/ColvertsDairyMilkManHat.jpg
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This is Marietta, Oklahoma main street scene in 2910.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/MariettaOklahomaMainStreet1910.jpg
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The Daily Ardmoreite
6-6-1971
NOTEBOOK
by Mac McGalliard
Random Notes From the Notebook
There was indeed, in early days, a "Burning Mountain" in the Arbuckles. In the Notebook the other day we mentioned a picture of a Burning Mountain in the 1908 book, "The Lure of the Indian Country and a Romance of its Great Resort," about Sulphur, Platt National Park and the Arbuckles. We had never heard otherwise about such a mountain, didn't know where it might have been, or whether it might be only a legend.

John L. Hoard, Ardmore geologist and oil producer, called to say "Yes," there was a Burning Mountain, where it was located and why it burned. John said his information came from Tom Jack, Sulphur oil man, who was born about one-half mile from the "Mountain" and has the land today. The site is some 8 - 10 miles south of Sulphur and about four miles west of U. S. 177. What was burning was natural gas seeping from Woodford Shale in a creekside cliff about 115 feet high. It may have been ignited by lightening, or perhaps some pioneer tried lighting his pipe too near the cliff. How long did it burn? The picture we have was published in 1908. John said he believes the fire went out during the 1920's, so it must have burned for at least 15 - 20 years. He said the cliff looks now like clinkers or cinders from a coal fire.

Museum Memories
Compiled by Melinda Taylor
The Wilson News May 3, 1917
Giant Snake, 35-feet-long, kills and swallows whole turkeys, pigs and chickens on Saturday night at 8:00 o'clock. Also Torillo carnival, at the fairgrounds.
May 25, 1917, Optician for Wilson - Dr. J. O. Berry, recently of Tulsa has located in New Wilson. He has as well equipped an office as will be found in a city, and is an eye expert with 25 years experience. He is a big man in stature with a pleasing smile. He is located at the Crescent Drug Store. Wanted: The Wilson Bottling Works will buy large, slick bottles.
June 1, 1917, "Complain of Shock" - Some complaint has been made about the blasting in the sewer ditch which is being dug in the alley north of Main Street. The explosions jar the business houses and , it is said, has damaged some of the bricks.
June 8, 1917, Notice - On account of high cost of operating and other expense, ice that has always sold for 1$ per three-hundred-pound blocks will be $1.20 each, Respectfully, Wilson Ice and Storage, C. W. Tuck.

The Wilson Museum is closed at this time due to COVID 19 but we are doing curbside pick-up service through December 31. For great gift ideas look on our website. http://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org for online shopping or call and leave a message 580-668-2505 for curbside pickup.
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Below is from This and That newsletter archives of December 4, 2008

Even though I'm not good with my camera at night photos, I did take a couple of Central Park all decked out for the Christmas holidays. It is quite a sight to behold, and if you live near Ardmore, I hope you can get by to see the beauty.
 http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/CentralPark120308a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/CentralPark120308b.jpg
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 "I have attached the only railroad photo of Lone Grove that I have in my collection. It was taken by a good friend of mine, Ken Fitzgerald, back in 1976. Ken is an expert railroad photographer and a rail historian and he was able to photograph the old Ringling Line just before it was taken out of service." -Dwane Stevens
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/LoneGroveRRCrossing081576.jpg
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 "Butch, I remember my father telling me of a wagon yard that was directly behind the old Daube's store. I can still remember the old well that was there. My father told me stories of spending the night in the wagon yard when he and his brother would bring cotton from Berwyn to Ardmore. I don't know its name."
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"Hi Butch, I spent my first 22 years (starting in 1935) in Carter and Stephens counties, including two summers in Ardmore, between terms at OU. So I became familiar with the towns along Highway 77. After finishing up at OU, I moved East, living at various times at three places in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, all fairly close to Philadelphia. The last place I lived back East was Lancaster, PA (pronounced Lank'-ister by the natives). Lancaster and Philadelphia are connected by highway 30, AKA Lancaster Pike, about 45 miles.

Starting near Philadelphia going West to Lancaster are the following towns (among others): Overbrook, Wynnewood (pronounced Win'-wood by the natives), Ardmore, Wayne, Berwyn, and Paoli. There is even a Purcell, but it is far West of Lancaster.

This can't be just coincidence, and I'm hoping you or some of your readers will know the history of this transfferal of Pennsylvania names to Oklahoma." -Orval Gwinn
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11-18-1913 ~ A Masonic Lodge building, two stories high is to be erected at once in Wilson by the Masons of Hewitt, who yesterday closed a deal for lots on which to erect the building. This is the first secret order to commence a building in Wilson, but practically all of the church organizations have secured locations to be put up in the near future.
4-14-1913 ~ New Wilson, the infant city on the line of the ONM&P, is proud of the new high school building just completed. When the town was first organized, it was decided to invest ten thousand dollars in a new high school building. Each room is equipped with its own heating plant, which makes each independent of the other. Prof. A. A. Rogers will be the head of the school, and will be assisted by Mrs. A. A. Rogers, Miss Florence Corley, Miss Ruth Hewitt, Miss Marian Prater, Miss Alice Woods, and Miss Helen Goff.
11-11-1913 ~ Wilson is the "Wonder city of Carter County, the fastest growing place in the state at the present time." Only in an oilfield where faith has been followed by rapid development could a town grow so fast within sixty days time. With the telegraph service being installed by the Ringling Railroad, and a complete telephone system throughout the town and surrounding country now in operation, Wilson is in direct connection with the entire world. Wilson now has 800 people and 500 teams. Everything that goes to the Healdton field must come to Wilson by train. The town has four lumber yards, three oil supply houses, two hotels, a half dozen restaurants, a steam laundry and a moving picture man in town.
12- 8-1913 ~ New Wilson. Mr. foster has just completed a hotel on the west side of town which will be known as the Teamster's Beanery. Miss Shannon of Marietta has built one of the finest rooming houses in the city. Rhodes Brothers of Stroud have purchased the dry goods business of Mobley, the tailor. Work will soon begin on the grading of the streets and oil will be sprinkled daily, which will be one of the greatest boosts for our little city of nearly 3,000 people.
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"The colder it gets the better I like it, by the fire." -Butch Bridges

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

"Friends Make Life Worth Living"
Lone Grove, Oklahoma
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net

 

Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Oklahoma Bells: http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
Bill Hamm's Cemetery Database
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/carter/cartercm.htm
American Flyers Memorial Fund - Administration Webpage
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/crash66.html
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/airbase/
Carter County Government Website
http://cartercountyok.us

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