Since March 1997 this week's newsletter came close to not being published.
I downloaded a program called SlimClean from the website www.slimwareutilites.com last weekend. The website is Microsoft Certified so I was not worried to download and install the program. The program was supposed to clean the trash from my computer to make it run faster, etc., but after running it neither my Internet Explorer or Google Chrome browsers would let me on the internet. Everything else worked ok, I could even FTP to my website, log in to other computers using Remote Desktop, etc., just couldn't get on the web.
After several evenings of trying everything I knew to try to no avail, I gave up and ran my ToDo Backup program restoring my computer to about a week ago. Thankfully I did not lose any of my 19,000 photos, 17 year's worth of weekly newsletters, nor anything else on the computer.
I have been using Easeus ToDo Backup religiously to backup my computer almost every weekend for many years. I've only had to do a system restore a couple of times during those years. Easeus ToDo Backup is free for home use, and it has never failed me. That is why I continue using it and after the ordeal the past few days, it has been a lifesaver for me.
I have a 500 gig external drive I
backup my entire hard drive to using ToDo Backup (makes an image file). I
am thinking about buying a terabyte drive since they have come down in price,
that way I can have several months of backups on 1 external drive.
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/download.htm
Needless to say when I got everything
restored this week, I did a backup.
In light of my computer problems the past few days, this week's T&T will be
short and sweet.
The Daily Ardmoreite, June 1930 - Charles Smith, who is now serving a five year term in the state penitentiary at McAlester, will be returned to Carter County for a hearing in connection with the charge of murder filed against him after Jim Hutchinson, Healdton policeman, died of a gunshot wound, said to have been inflicted by Smith.
Ardmore's federal jail before statehood (1907).
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/FederaJailArdmoreIT.jpg
This is Ardmore's Hardy Sanitarium located just south of the old Harvey Douglas funeral home on B SW. Dr. Hardy would later open up a new hospital in the SW corner of B and 1st SW where the present day post office is located.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/HardySanitariumBstreetSW.jpg
I heard through the grapevine the old Monty's Diner/Longhorn Diner, will re-open this weekend under the name Fatbelly's Diner. The manager the past 12 years at Ardmore's Grandy's on North Commerce is opening up Fatbelly's in Lone Grove. I can't wait to try their hamburger.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos6a/MontysDiner6a.jpg
And to think I ate catfish just last Saturday on Main Street. I haven't aten Tilapia in several years, and I won't eat any more catfish unless the restaurant owner can tell me where the catfish came from. United States. Period. By the way, the video is not for the weak stomach.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/h1nEPzsFpc0?feature=player
I can hardly believe I've paid out nearly $1,100 the past 6 years to watch only 12 or so channels on Dishnetwork. They offered 120 channels but we only watched about 12 of them on a regular basis. I cut the umbilical cord to Dishnetwork 2 weeks ago, bought 2 over-the-air HD antennas, and signed up at $8 a month (first month is free) for live streaming movies on Netflex through our smart TV. We couldn't be happier! I was amazed at the clarity using the over the air high definition antenna compare to the poor quality we received through Dishnetwork. You can sure see the face wrinkles. lol
Last Monday Akins Concrete was across the street from the courthouse on B Street SW pouring a new concrete floor for #23 B Street SW. The building will be the new home of the sushi place that is presently located at B and West Main.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/AkinsConcrete061614a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/AkinsConcrete061614b.jpg
Some of the pavers I've sandblasted this week.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/LonnieStewartPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/TheSampsonsPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/CatronPavers.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/JimmyHefleyBrick.jpg
Larry Muck retired from OG&E.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/LarryMuckPaver.jpg
And last but not least my old northeast Ardmore buddy Luther Wooley. 37 years with the City of Ardmore. That's a long time.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/LutherWooleyPaver.jpg
I only have about 6 of the better quality tan pavers left and about 6 tan pavers in not so good condition, maybe with large chips or blemishes in them. I do still have about 30 nice red pavers that are perfect for engraving. Hopefully in about a month I will have a fresh supply of tan clay engravers pavers by Whitaker-Greer Bricks back in stock.
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/RedEngraversBrick.jpg
Q. Where is the shortest state highway in Oklahoma?
A.
State Highway 153 (abbreviated SH-153) is a short state highway in Love County,
Oklahoma. At 0.50 miles (0.80 km), it is the shortest non-suffixed state highway
in Oklahoma. SH-153 connects U.S. Highway 77 in Thackerville, Oklahoma to
Interstate 35 at mile marker 5. It has no lettered spur routes.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/ShortestHighway.jpg
Q. What is the oldest incorporated town in Oklahoma.
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of June 17, 2000:
Learn how to right correctly.
http://www.drgrammar.org/
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"Hi Butch, Wherever I travel T&T has
become a part of my weekly enjoyment. I have a favor I would like to ask of your
readers. An old hobby of mine is to visit and map out old Ghost Towns and
aviation graveyards. Though I have visited several throughout the U.S., I have
not discovered any in Oklahoma where I now reside. I was wondering if any T&T
readers would know of any and if so, would they share them with me. Thank you,
Butch, and keep up the great service you generously give to us all."
----------------------------------------------------
"Could help me in finding out some
information on the Hugo, OK Smallpox Epidemic. My great Grandmother died and was
buried in a mass grave there. I am trying to find newspaper articles, or any
information on that time period. The smallpox epidemic would be around the year
1912 in Hugo, Okla. Thank you for any help you can give me."
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Gas prices today in the Ardmore area......
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/index.aspx?mss=152754
Check gas prices by town or zip code anywhere in U.S.
http://www.kmov.com/traffic/gas-buddy
Non-ethanol gas (pure gas) stations in the Ardmore area.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/puregas.html
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Butch when I was growing up around Milo and Healdton etc. we knew that Mountain Lake as Woodford Lake since that was where it was located.. I haven't been there in years." -Nellie
"I grew up there and attended Dundee School and Wirt Baptist Church until I graduated. Brings back memories but the pic is years before my time there." -Carole Brooks
Dog bites lady from Colorado visiting the Oklahoma state capital. -Cecil
http://newsok.com/colorado-woman-recovering-from-dog-bite-she-received-during-oklahoma-capitol-visit/article/4910905
And again, that's twice in less then a week, biting two women.
State sets up traps. -Cecil
http://newsok.com/after-dog-bites-at-oklahoma-state-capitol-security-officials-set-cage-traps-put-up-warning-signs/article/4936677
"Butch, Thanks again for including my message in your latest This and That. I always enjoy every one of your publications. I?ll be coming down to Gene Autry on July 5th to sing at the final reunion of Berwyn School. You may recall that the name of the town of Berwyn was changed to Gene Autry on Nov 16, 1941, but the name of the school was never changed." -Les Gilliam
"Speaking of Ragtown, anyone remember Trash Hill? I remember driving through it a time or two and was always curious about the name." -Jim Foreman
RE the monkey tree at Sulphur: "I turn south on 12th street (first red light) in Sulphur coming into town from the west, turn south go to park entrance then turn left. I don't know exactly how far it is. It is on the north side of the road. I will approximately estimate about halfway between the 12th street entrance and highway (177) that goes south out of Sulphur. Not sure if that helps much. Next time I am in Sulphur and I have time, I'll drive it and get the distance.
"Clipping the Panhandle from the N.E. to S.W. and about ten miles South of Kenton, OK, the Santa Fe Trail crossed our beloved State. This commercial & military route opened in 1820 and closed 1880 with the introduction of the railroad going West. Heaviest traffic was noted in 1849 during the Gold Rush in California. This trail started in Franklin, MO, and ended in Santa Fe, NM. In Kenton, OK., the foot print of the old Studebaker Wagon factory can be found. On the horizon, just above the top of this marker, one can make out the worn tracks made by the thousands of wagons that traveled the Santa Fe Trail." -Bob Gates
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/SantaFeTrail2014.jpg
"Following the defeat of Quanah Parker and the Comanches in Palo Duro Canyon Texas in 1874, and his surrender at Fort Sill, the Texas Cattlemen were able to "drive" their Longhorns from Texas to processing plants in Kansas, and on further North to Montana. It is believed that some 3,000,000 head of Longhorns traveled along the "Great Western Trail" aka the "Texas Trail" through Western Oklahoma. This route enters Oklahoma South of Frederick, travels North just East of Altus & Lone Wolf, and on into Kansas. In 1888, the Kansas Legislature halted this migration due to a disease brought into the State by ticks burrowed into the cattle." -Bob Gates
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/GreatWesternTrail2014.jpg
This is a really interesting piece of photography work. The 10 photos were taken during WWII and compared to the same area today. To get this link to work. Left click on the original photo and it will become the exact same location today. Repeat the motion to take it back to the original 1940s. The photos are high definition so give all 10 time to load.
http://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/apr/image-opacity-slider-master/index.html?ww2-dday
Criner Hills Volunteer Fire Department garage sale is Saturday June 28th.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CrinerhillsVFD062814.jpg
Q. "Thanks for all the info about Mountain Lake. Do you know the hours you can fish and also the different kinds of fish in the lake. Does anyone know how many steps there are to the top?"
A. 81 steps from the bottom to the top of the dam.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/MountainLake041507r.jpg
Recent photos of Mountain Lake.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/MountainLake061114.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/MountainLake061214.jpg
"The hours are 6:00 am until sunset. We have Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Perch, Carp as well as others I'm not aware of. Mountain Lake is #2 on the top 10 lakes for biggest bass caught in Oklahoma! It's 255 acres. Bass fishermen are the primary fisherman here. Two man boats only, nothing over 10 horse power, trolling motors are preferred. Campground below the dam is $12 dollars for tents and $25 for electric. There is a City Lake Permit $2.50 for one day, $5.00 for three days, or $12.50 for the year. You can buy those here at the lake or Wal-Mart in Ardmore. Permits are for 16-65, disabled veterans do not need permits. Exit 53 West off of I-35 and go west 8 miles to Woodford Road. Turn back north 2.5 miles right past the Daube Ranch. Come visit the Beautiful Mountain Lake!!!" -Cheryl McCleskey Robinson
This picture was taken today at Mountain Lake after the rain.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/MountainLakeRain061914.jpg
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Bells of Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Carter County Courthouse Paver Project
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/pavers
Save on long distance calls, just a couple cents a
minute!
http://www.CheapLongDistance.org
Ardmore High School Criterions Online
http://www.ArdmoreCriterion.com/
Oklahoma Bells:
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
American Flyers Memorial
Fund - Administration Webpage
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/crash66.html
Official American Flyers
Memorial Website
http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafm
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force
Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
Mirror Site of the Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/airbase/
Carter county schools, past and
present
http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistory
Carter County
Government Website
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/
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