I hope everyone has enjoyed Thanksgiving and took a moment to say thanks for all the good things that has come your way this year. I know we have as blessings have been bountiful at our home. Thank you God.
We had around 30 turkeys come strolling through our front yard the day before Thanksgiving. What a sight to see and be thankful to enjoy.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/Turkeys112614.jpg
Last Saturday Carter County received anywhere from 2 inches to 4 inches of rain. We need that rain so badly to help with the drought conditions. I know several farm ponds that have been completely dry the past couple years, but now they are full and running over in some instances because of Saturday's rain. These pictures of Mountain Lake NW of Ardmore in the Arbuckle Mountains was taken just last Monday (2 days after the rain). The water is really flowing through the control gates.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/MountainLake112414a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/MountainLake112414b.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/MountainLake112414c.jpg
But to really experience the power and magnitude of water flowing across the overflow control gates at Mountain Lake you need to see a video. Well guess what? I have a short video from a Reader that shows just that.
Have you ever wanted to save a video from Facebook? Here are simple instructions to do that without downloading any software to your computer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FIhkFldTFc
Through Ravia, Oklahoma, north to south, runs the railroad track. There is never a good time to be stopped by a train traveling through, but I know people, including myself, who have waited up to an hour for a freight train to finally move so cars can go on their merry way.
I was told 20 years ago that over 100 railroad cars every night carries crushed granite from the huge granite quarries south of Ravia near Mill Creek, granite and silica sand, points all over the United States.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/GranitePitMillcreek.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/GranitePitMillcreek2.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/GraniteLoaderMillcreek.jpg
This is a link to a video of the Cat 992C in action like was used at the granite quarry. It will give you some idea how big the loader is compared to a man standing beside it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdNSG-aTnrU
I made the map below using Google Maps to should an alternate route around the highway and the railroad tracks if one wanted to keep moving. Google shows this alternate route as almost 4 miles and 12 minutes to travel. I know I'll be using the route south if I ever get caught again by the train.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/maps/RaviaOKTrainMap.jpg
Gary Branigan sent in a photo of the old bell at the Nazarene
Church in Hollis, Oklahoma. The original church building was razed to make way
for a new church. The bell from the old church was transferred to the new
building, so that piece of Hollis history followed to the new structure.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/HollisOKbell112414.jpg
I received this follow-up:
"Hi, Butch, Too bad we can't see the yoke better. It's either
a C.S.Bell product or a knockoff thereof. Undoubtedly it was originally sold as
a church bell, because there is a tolling hammer bracket on the right A-frame.
So it might well have been purchased new for the previous church in 1928. Thanks
for the photo."
Carl Scott Zimmerman
Saint Louis, Missouri
- 19th c. home of at least 36 bell founders or resellers
Webmaster for http://www.TowerBells.org
* Avocation: tower bells
* Recreation: handbells
* Mission: church bells
Q. Okay Walmart shoppers, the
first Sam's Club, members only warehouse shopping center, was built in what city
in Oklahoma in 1983?
A. The first Sam's Club in the U.S. opened on April 7, 1983 in
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Q. TV personality, American
journalist, and political commentator Bill Moyers was born in what Oklahoma town?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of November 18, 2000:
"Hi Butch! I have been sharing the
newsletters with my mother and the persimmon one caught her attention just like
I knew it would. She sends you this message...."When I was a child back in the
1930s, I remember my dad going hunting in the fall and bringing home the first
of many ducks. The older folks were looking forward to the big pan of duck and
dressing....I did too, but I always waited for the duck's breast to be picked
clean and then daddy would 'read' it for me and tell us all what kind of winter
we could look forward to. I was so impressed, but as hard as I tried, I never
learned to forecast weather by looking at the breast of a duck! Daddy always
thought that I could, but I could always learn more by lying out in the back
yard in the summertime, watching the red ants race back and forth underneath my
camper cot. If they hurried... a bad winter. If they were leisurely...a mild
inter. (By the way, Butch...this summer they hurried!!!)"....Betty Warner,
Davis, OK. Thanks again for the newsletter.... we really enjoy it!"
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, the guy doing research on the
Ardmore Hotel. That is that the hotel on the corner of C and Main across the
street from the bank. I believe Steele Drug (I may be wrong about the name of
the drugstore) used to be on the bottom floor. You entered the hotel from the
Main Street side. The Glider Room was down in the basement. When we got old
enough, that was THE place to go. They had a bar and a small dance floor and you
could usually see anyone you wanted to see (and some who didn't want to be
seen!!). I can remember exactly what the lobby looked like but unfortunately,
I'm unable to do it justice by trying to write about it. Anyway, that's just one
little anecdote about the hotel!!!"
----------------------------------------------------
"I am totally impressed with Gary Simmons'
new website concerning the Ardmore Air Base. The information present here is
very revealing to me because I was away from Ardmore when much of the History of
the Base was progressing. I left Ardmore to 1940 and to school in Chicago for
two years. Later I enlisted in the Air Corps on Sept.13, 1942 and served until
mid Feb. 1946. I never really returned to Ardmore, as a citizen, until 1950. I
did manage to take a couple of 8 mm movies of the C-130 on the day it was flown
into the Ardmore Airbase - it was a very impressive occasion. Thanks Gary for
your excellent presentation - you should be commended for the in-depth research
you so graciously chose to share with so many others. I should tell you that I
have added your site to my "favorites"." -Ernest Martin
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons/
----------------------------------------------------
"Just received my very first issue of your
publication and am so pleased with it. I was born and raised in Sulphur. My
husband is also from Sulphur. So we are quite interested in news from that area.
We have a copy of the August 1971 National Geographic which has a wonderful
article about Oklahoma. Perhaps some of your readers would like to look for it
in their local library. Looking forward to your next issue. And thinks, so
much." -Alleda Stanford Hale and LeRoy Hale in Linden, California
----------------------------------------------------
"In 1920 to at least 1930 the Gypsy Oil
Company had an oil company camp which I believe was located north and a little
east of Healdton, OK. The camp consisted of several residences, and office
building, a warehouse and a bunk house. A lone Star Gas Company camp was located
on the road from the Gypsy Camp out to the highway which I believe was blacktop.
I am interested in finding the location of the Gypsy Camp on a map which I
obtained from the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. This map divides the county into
sections by EW County Roads and NS County Roads. I would greatly appreciate it
if you could refer me to someone who might help me establish this location. I
will be glad to reimburse them for their time and trouble. Please advise. Your
consideration in this matter is appreciated." R. E. Sterling, Sterling
Investments, 454 S. Woodward Blvd., Pasadena, CA. 91107
----------------------------------------------------
"This is a great corn dog recipe. It's
especially good with the sausage type wieners. Having the wieners warm and dry
keeps the dough on them during cooking.
Corn Dogs
1 r c. self-rising flour
1 r c. corn meal
2 tsp. sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 c. milk
12 wieners
Combine dry ingredients. Beat egg and milk
then stir into dry ingredients. Have wieners warm and dry. Dip wieners in
mixture and fry in deep, hot fat until golden brown."
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Gas prices today in the Ardmore area......
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/index.aspx?mss=152754
Non-ethanol gas (pure gas) stations in the Ardmore area.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/puregas.html
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"The old Red River bridge south of Hollis, Ok. has been
replaced by a more functional but very boring bridge." -Gary Branigan
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/HollisOKbridge112314a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/HollisOKbridge112314b.jpg
"Hi Butch, That article about the Tucker Cars was interesting. While living in San Francisco, CA. we often visited a place near the water (Pacific) called Sutros. It was a museum and in the center of it was a Tucker. It had the rope around it so folks couldn't mess with it. It was really something to see. When we had visitors we took them all over the area like Golden Gate Park, China Town, a ride on the trolley and Fisherman's Wharf. That was good times back when San Francisco was a great place. Mid 1950's." -H. Letterman
"Butch, I just finished reading T&T for this week and found the reference to the 2000 newsletter about Bromide very interesting. As you know, I spent most of my working life with Dolese Bros. Co and noticed in the article that the Bromide Quarry closed during the 1930's. As the 1930's was before my time, I do not know about the closing of the quarry during that time. It may be correct but if so it was reopened at a later date.
When I went to work at Big Canyon in 1950, Dolese was running three quarries, Bromide, Big Canyon and Richards Spur, north of Lawton. Bromide continued to operate until sometime in the 1970's or maybe the 80's. I am not sure when it was closed for the last time. Of the 3 quarries mentioned above only Richards Spur is still in operation. Other quarries have been added over the years. Dolese Bros. Co. has a very long and interesting history and has been a hugh force in the building of the state of Oklahoma. I treasure my many years of working for this fine company.
I remember as a small child going to Bromide to get the Bromide water. It was much stronger than the Bromide water that used to be in Platt National Park. I would like to have some of it today. Some years ago, I talked to someone who lives in the area and asked if the spring was still running. He said he did not know but if it was, you would have to walk in as the road didn't go there anymore." -Happy Trails, Roy Miller
"Regarding my favorite web search engine...one I've been using for years... Dogpile.com. Dogpile is five search engines in one...handy, b/c all search engines are geared to search differing areas in a more thorough way. Dogpile INCLUDES Google, so why limit ourselves to Google as the only "go-to"? Once at the site, we are given a few ways to search... Web, News, Images, Video, etc... VERY neat." -Donatelle
http://www.dogpile.com
Ardmore Community Choral Society will be presenting their annual Christmas performance on Sunday afternoon, December 7th, 2:30 p.m., and Monday evening, December 8th, at 7:00 p.m. This year's programs will be held at the Goddard Center in Ardmore. Please join us to really get you in the holiday spirit.
As you watch the video, notice the number of people watching from inside the terminal. Most people have no idea Delta does this.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_VGxfmDmEo
A unique and beautiful headstone at Rose Hill Cemetery.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14b/HeartsillMarker.jpg
Springer Christmas Parade ? Saturday ? December 13, 2014.
Open to antique cars, bikes, ATVs, floats, walkers and horse groups.
Entry fee is 1 new unwrapped toy. If you would like to participate, please meet in the Springer School parking lot on the South side of the school at 12:30 PM.
The parade will start at 1:00 PM. Volunteers are welcome and greatly appreciated. Come and enjoy the parade and the fun with us at the Community Center for refreshments after the parade.
Blowin in the Wind -Bob Dylan 1963
How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they are forever banned
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.
How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just don't see
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l4nVByCL44
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
Ardmore High School Criterions Online
http://www.ArdmoreCriterion.com/
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
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://cartercountyOK.us/
All previous issues of This & That can be found on my
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