If you're looking for a certain article I wrote in a past issue of "This & That" you might find it faster by doing a "search" with your browser. With Netscape just click your mouse at the top at EDIT and then FIND and type in the word or words you're looking for. If you use Internet Explorer, just click on EDIT and then FIND ON THIS PAGE to do a search.
Below is January 1, 2005 to January 24, 2005.
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January 24, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 410
Some of you will remember the phone interview last month with Joe Leonard Jr at Gainesville, Texas where we talked about his book Bah Bah Blacksheep. His book centers around Haney Liddell and the two bank robberies he orchistrated in 1928 at Marietta. This book is one of those that once you start reading through its 100 pages you cant put it down, and that's exactly what I did with mine. Haney Liddell first rob the bank of Marietta in January 1928. After Haney and his accomplices shooting to death Sheriff Long at the bank, Haney remained on the run for nearly a year. He reportedly hid out in Love's Valley along the Red River down by Thackerville. I have spoke before how this area is like the end of the earth, where a person could easily get lost in those back woods, and unless he wants you to find him, you wont. This is exactly what Haney Liddell did, and remained hid out for nearly a year knowing a murder warrant was out on him.
But in December 1928 Haney Liddell came out from hiding along that muddy river and ventured into Marietta again with an Indian accomplice with one thing in mind... rob the Marietta bank. But this time things would turn out different. The two would rob the bank, and make it to the getaway car that is running in the alley behind the bank, but because the alarm had already been sounded, they would be met with a hail of bullets from 50 mad townspeople. The home made bullet proof vest Haney was wearing would not save him. His accomplice died on the spot, but Haney would die from his wounds in the Marietta jail a few days later after developing pneumonia and menigits from the pellet wounds to his eyes. I dont wont to give out too much of the story, you need to read it all for yourself, but one interesting event that came to light a day or two after the shootout, was even county judge James Mathers would be arrested and jailed for allegedly not turning over all the $8,000 of stolen money he helped retrieve on a farm SW of Marietta where it had been buried.
Anyway, a lot happened in those 11 months between the two bank robberies, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in some great local history to get hold of Joe Leonard for the details on getting your hands on his book Bah Bah Blacksheep. Joe lives in Gainesville and his email address is lin45@ntin.net or go to my Interview Webpage for more info on the book and the telephone interview. By the way, there is some great photos in the book, including a couple of the toll bridge across the Red River on Highway 77. In the 1920s it cost 45 cents to take your automobile across the bridge and return was free as long as you did so within 48 hours. A man and a horse was 10 cents and a pedestrian on foot was a nickel. Like I said this book is full of history, you wont be sorry you invested in this book! <----- Click Here
Last week one of Lone Grove's churches was destroyed by fire. I took this photo of the church on July 27, 2001. The Lone Grove Assembly of God Church was completely destroyed by the fire. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
In my last T&T we told about Ardmoreite Temperance Babcock coming back home and going to do some fiddle teaching. What I failed to do was put the special codes in for my 160 or so AOL subscribers so you can pull up the photos. So here those two pics are again. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I want to thank those of you who help keep my history website running by purchasing time with the Tel3Advange long distance. Until February 15th you get an extra 500 free minutes, so that means for the initial $25 purchase you have 1,362 minutes (2.9 cents/min) available to call anywhere in the U.S. And if you are lucky enough to live in one of the large metro areas with a local access number, that total comes to over 1,800 minutes (1.9 cents a minute). Thats almost 23/31 hours of talk and you have up to 2 years to use it! Cheap Long Distance
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"I ran across your website while researching my family roots. Issue 284, Volume 6 contained two photographs of the Adino Griffin family. Would it be possible for you to retrieve those photos and email them to me? I am interested in this family as a possible ancestor connection. I would also like to know who sent the photos in. If you are reading this, please contact me" -Marilyn Griffin Conner genie_ology@sbcglobal.net
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"Butch, Smear 63 was used on any open wound on livestock to prevent infestation of screw-worms. When the Govt. released sterile flies and eradicated the screw-worm back in the 60's it went off the market. I used gallons of it back then but haven't seen it around in nearly 40 years."
E.R. Walt, Rising Star, TX
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"Butch, Smear came in a glass pint jar, with a dobber inside. It was black and thick, and you couldn't get it off your hands very easy. It was used on cuts, abrasions and bull caves after castration, to keep them from getting Screw Worms. Also a spray can called a bomb, it was purple. It killed the Screw Worms and wouldn't come off your hands either. Both were probably made by quite a few different companies. After the Screw Worms were eradicated they probably stopped making it." -Troy Loard
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"You were asking if anyone ever heard of a Medicine called Smear. I remember it very well, but it was called Smear 62. I grew up on the M.V. Haws Ranch at Tyler, Ok. My Dad Melvin Gardner was the Ranch Foreman. When we worked cattle, dehorning & Casterating we always used Smear 62. I don't think it was an Antibiotic, that was back in the 40's. It was a thick black smear that you sealed the wound opening with. That was before the eradication of Screw worms & that helped to keep them out of the wound. I do not have any, and have not seen any in years." -Tawana (Gardner) Fleming, Byers, TX
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"The smear you are talking about was screw worm medicine. They would hatch from fly eggs in cuts and wounds and would be living down in the wound. The dauber was used to push the smear down into the wound. It had I think some ether, and volatile oils. Dr. LeGear was one brand of it." -J R Moore
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"It was Blackleaf 40 that we used on roosts in the hen house to kill lice and mites. It was the one laced so liberally with nicotene." -jim dyer
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As for the telephone changing from an operator to a dial system, I have one memory of that. Irma Bailey was my babysitter from the time I was 2 or 3 until I started school. It was so much fun to be with her; I learned a lot and wish I could remember more. It was also a treat when Charlie would bring home a bag of dough from Small's bakery for me to play with and watch it rise. I never got tired of watching the dough rise--maybe that's where my chemistry inclinations came from! Anyway, Irma learned one thing from me--I taught her how to dial the phone! Maybe she only let me think I taught her, but I think I really did because for the longest time, when she needed to make a call, she would get me to do it for her. One day she asked me to show her how I did it. Irma died when I was in third grade, and I still miss her. She was really loving to me. Anyway, keep up the good work--I look forward to the T&T in my inbox!!
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"Butch, I noticed someone inquired about how Stobtown got its name. There use to be a huge iron post driven in the ground right in the middle of the crossroads on Meridian and what is now Stobtown Road. On that spike or post was a huge iron wagon wheel and attached to the outer edge of the wagon wheel were mailboxes for many of the persons living in the surrounding area. The postman was saved many miles of hard driving on dirt roads in all kinds of weather by having all the mailboxes in a central area. My Grandparents lived in the house on the northwest corner of the crossroads and the church was located on the southwest corner. Many stores came and went on the other two corners through the years. Thereby acquiring the name Stobtown over the years. Even after the mailboxes disappeared and the postman was required to deliver longer routes, the 'stob' or post remained. I don't recall at what year in time it was finally removed by the county as a safety hazard!"
Kathryn Donham Davoult
Las Vegas, NV. goody2shu@nvtel.net
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"There was a school at one time on the southwest corner of the intersection of Dogwood Road and Concord Road. I've heard it called the old Mary Niblack School but Mary Niblack Road is one mile west of there so I'm wondering if it might be the location of the old Concord School. Concord Church is just east and a little south of the intersection." -Gary Creecy
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"Butch, I noticed a letter in the last newsletter about the B-17 crash in the Arbuckles. The timing of this struck me odd as I just finished a custom model and diorama base of a B-17 Crewman. I included the photos here. It is of my wife's Grandfather who flew over Europe as Radio Operator/Gunner on a B17 named " Hank's Battle Wagon". I do 12 inch scale Military Models and custom display bases. I am looking for a local venue to display some of these soon. Thought I'd share this little tribute to the guys who served in skies here and abroad. -Bryan Pullen <----- Click Here
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"Butch: I told you a few weeks ago that Dieter Brothers Bar-B-Que in Lindsey, TX was the best that I had ever eaten. My wife Nettie and I, and our friends, Jimmie and Larry Simpson found a new place tonight that has Que as good if not better than Dieter Bros. We motored over to Greenville, TX and ate at Randy White's Hall of Fame Bar-B-Que, and it was delicious. There is another Randy White Bar-B-Que place in Frisco, TX in case any of you Ardmoreites are down that way shopping." Scott Bumgarner, Sherman, TX
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"Butch, I appreciated the message from Charles Smith that Earl Allen had passed on. I had Mr. Allen for seventh grade science more years ago than I care to admit publicly. He was an excellent teacher. On the last day of school he showed us a picture, a picture he had been saving to send us off onto a great summer. He shared with us a picture of an atom. I remember his excitement. Even though I did not "see" the atom, I did understand the importance of the picture, and I caught his enthusiasm. Science has always had a special place in my heart because of Earl Allen. One other thing I would like to share is that when the old Junior High Building was demolished, he told the workmen he would like to have some of the brick from the north side of the building. Why the north side, the workmen wanted to know. Mr. Allen explained that his room had been on the north side. The workmen, so Mr. Allen told me after I became a teacher myself, carefully extracted a load of bricks from the north wall of Mr. Allen's classroom. He took them home. I believe he used them to either floor his patio or make a wall on his patio. He was very proud of those brick." -Charlsie Allen <----- Click Here
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"Is there anybody that has maps of the area where Lake Murray is now before it was turned in to the lake? I am most interested in the graves that are located at Tipps Point. This was probably a homestead at one time. Keep up the good work!"
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"free plants and trees" <----- Click Here -------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAYSAYERS---- I can't believe anyone would attack your fine and heartfelt attempt to inform and entertain us. You should delete them from your mailing list, and if not, they don't have to read it. Hang in there Butch (or should I say Admiral), you are appreciated. Keep up the great work." -Jerry Landrum
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"Butch here's some pics from the WWII re-enactment held at Fort Washita on Jan 22, 2005. There were many people dressed in uniforms and had original and reproduction gear, weapons, and uniforms. The mortars and machine guns were fully operational (using blanks of course). The machine guns were fully automatic and the mortar projected smoke bombs. As by rule in all re-enactment battles, the Americans were victorious! A real treat for anyone who has never been. I took the liberty of using the Sepia function on some of the photos to "antique" them. A fantastic event held in our area! Thank you FORT WASHITA STAFF for hosting this. Enjoy." -Bryan Pullen <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Loved the photos of old Davis. The first one is a pic showing south to north - the fire department on the right and the old Freeman building on the left then across Main street the building on the right is the old Union Bus Station (now the Davis Police Department) the one on the left is the First National Bank of Davis. Picture appears to have been taken from the alley way just north of our old cleaner building.The second photo is looking east to west down mainstreet - bank is on the right and the Freeman building was built on the right. Don't remember the first all that well as it was taken a little before my time however, the second one really brings back memories. Did you notice the Christmas decorations across the street? This was what I was referring to in one of my earlier e-mail messages in comparison to the ones the GS took of Ardmore this year. What a contrast between then and now, huh? The old Chevy truck going through the intersection appears to be the one my Uncle (Bill Williams) owned there in Davis (without the stacks that he put on a little later). Thanks again for bringing home some fond memories of my childhood." -Poss <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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The Duncan Banner, June 24, 1893
Drowned or Buried Alive
Gainesville, TX-- A horrible story was brought here today from Rosston, near the west line of this county. Drowned or buried alive, accident or murder, are questions which arise usually when it is considered. About two weeks ago the parents of TED POTTER, 12 years old, who lived near Shdell, Wise county, were told that their son had been drowned at Clear creek, which is in this county. The news was brought to them by some young men with whom young POTTER had gone swimming in the afternoon. They related with much emotion how Potter had ventured beyond his depth and had sunk to the bottom before they could reach him, and how they had searched without success for his body. As soon as the stricken parents recovered from the shock, a party was organized to seine the river. The creek was seined for ten miles and more than a week was spent at the work, but without avail. All hope of recovering the body had been given up until Thursday, when a small lad, who had accompanied the crowd, made to his parents some revelations almost too horrible to believe. According to this lad's story the older boys of the crowd had some enmity toward young Potter, and when they all plunged into the water the older boys ducked him for revenge. Potter was strangled at the first ducking, but the boys continued to plunge him until his body became limp. Then they took the body out on the bank, so the boy says, without any effort to revive him, dug a shallow grave and consigned the limp body to the earth. In the meantime they guarded the smaller boys vigilantly, and after they had buried young Potter, drew them up in line and threatened instant death to the one who should reveal an inkling of what had occurred. The threat had its effect until Thursday when the boy made the revelation, as related. The body was found where it was buried.
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At Ryan Last Tuesday
Ye Banner man, in company with MART ARMSTRONG & Col. JIM WEAVER, with visions of a big fat time and an inflated stomach, took in the big picnic at Ryan. We went down on Monday in order to get an even start on Tuesday. We were met at the depot, not by the Mayor and a brass band, but by a hackman, who hauled us up town, at two bits a haul. Arriving in town, we were tendered the liberties of the town by the hack driver, which we proceeded to take. After wandering around in an aimless and non chalant way for some time we proceeded to the hotel; the ram rod of the concern, looked upon us with an air of suspicion at first, but we finally convinced him that we did not belong to the Star gang or the Texas legislature; this seemed to relieve him, (the rant rod) and he agreed to let us stay all night for a dollar a head, spot cash. Tuesday morning came, so did about 5,000 people to help the Ryan people celebrate. We hunted up the hack man, who was very anxious to haul us to the picnic grounds at two bits a haul, per head, a gwine and a corain, we closed the contract at once and were soon landed in a briar thicket on the banks of the placid Beaver, we proceeded to take in the sights and some lemonade; we then listened to some speeches, then ye scribe was ready to go home, so we began to look around for our trio. They (MART & JIM) had followed off a monkey and a band organ; after some dilligehee, we recaptured Mart, but Jim Weaver was still missing. We made a thorough search, but could not find him, we learned afterward, however, that he had floundered himself on barbecued beef and that GEORGE LAMB had him standing in the creek as a remedy for the founders; of course we had to leave him. If you want to know anything else about the Ryan barbeque, just ask MART ARMSTRONG. Later--The lost is found and once more there is joy in the camp. Jim Weaver has returned from the Ryan picnic a little lame in his off foot, but still in the ring and ready for the big barbeque here next Tuesday. Mr. Weaver reports the picnic at Ryan a brilliant success, ample provisions were on the ground, and that that was good too, to feed the immense multitude and plenty left. Everybody seemed to enjoy the occasion hugely and all went home singing praises to the Ryan people for their big heartedness and liberality in entertaining their neighbors and friends on the occasion of their first anniversary.
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November 25, 1893
City Barber Shop, J.W. ROLLINS, propr. Send at once to JOHN SEBASTIAN, Chicago, Ill., and receive, postage paid, the slickest deck of cards you ever handled, only ten cents per pack, in stamps or coin.F.R. LEONARD, Collector, Duncan, I.T.
Dr. J.W. VAUGHAN, local dentist
W.F. McINTYRE, real estate broker and investment acnt.
O K Wagon Yard, WALLER & GIBBS, prop'ts. This wagon yard is located on Oak and Fourth Streets, near the school building, west of depot. Horses boarded by day or night.
Organs, Pianos, Musical Instruments, Singer Sewing Machines, and attachments. J.F. ROGERS Duncan, I.T.
When at Marlow, Stop at the City Hotel T.J. CHAPEL, propt.
City Bakery J. PARMELEE, Propt.
Duncan & Velma Hack and Mail Line Leaves Duncan at 6 a.m. for Hope, Arthur and Velma every Monday. Wednesday and Friday, returning on the same day. Fare to Hope, 50 cents, to Arthur 75 cts. to Velma $1.00. H.T. AKERS, Propt.
Masonic Lodge, W.T. HOWELL, R. L. MARCH, J.W. ARMSTRONG
K. of P. Mistletoe Lodge #17, meets at Castle Hall every Wednesday E.H. LUITWIELER & H.M. WOLVERTON
Royal Society of Good Fellows GT. FRAZIER and W.J. GRAY
Legal Advisors POTTERF (sic?)& HARDY, Ardmore, I.T. TAYLOR, WOLVERTON AND RODGERS, Duncan, I.T.
Mr. W.H. CONN, of near Petersburg, I.T. brought cotton to Duncan market Wednesday.
Mrs. E.P. KIZER, of near Marlow, one of the Banner's very best friends, has our thanks for a big dollar (not a 65 cent silver dollar) but a genuine 100 cent green back dollar for one years subscription to the Banner.
Mrs. E.M. MILLER, our worthy music teacher, was called home to Belcher by telegram announcing the serious illness of her husband.
Mr. E.W. HOUSER, of Fort Worth, brother of our own handsome and affable FRANK, arrived in the future gateway Thursday and will remain the guest of his brother several days, will a possibility of locating here permanently.
Messrs. J.A. WILLIAMS and J.M. LEMMON, two prominent farmers from Keltner, I.T. have moved to Duncan.
Mr. CARTER KEY and family, and other farmers from Loco, I.T. were trading here last week. They sold their cotton at Ardmore, but came to Duncan to buy their supplies where they could get them cheap.
Mr. W.F.Pruitt, paid for a subscription to the Duncan Banner.
Messrs. JIM & ERASTUS COPELAND, ISAAC CLARK, & Uncle JOHN MANN, all good and substantial farmers of the Arthur neighborhood, were in the city with cotton.
Our handsome young friend TOM HART has accepted a position with W.E. SCOTT, our clever furniture man.
Capt. A.W. PARKER came in from his farms near Ardmore last Tuesday.
Examination of the 6th Grade on Physiology. The questions, twenty-five in number, were taken from Thompson's Teacher's Examiner. The grade of each pupil was as follows: ELIZA COLBERT 84, CORNELIA WILBURN 76, G.C. DUNCAN 75, FRANK BOURLAND 65, J.N. WILKERSON, 78, J.E. ARMSTRONG 82, TILDEN FISHER 65, & J.H. WOODRUFF 60.
Died near Velma, I.T. November 21st, 1893 of Pheumonia, (sic) Mr. WILLIAM MORRISON, aged about 45 years.
HORACE GIBSON, our good looking man about town spent several days with friends at Ardmore this and last week.
Messrs. IRA WALLACE, HENRY GORDON, W.D. POGUE, & BOB FRENSLY of Velma were visitors at the Banner office last Friday evening.
Mr. J.Y. MIDDLETON, Duncan's new post master received his commission the first of this week, and will take charge of the office Monday next. Mr. JAMES TURNER will assist Mr. MIDDLETON in the office until Christmas.
Mr. W.J. AKERS, was visiting Bowie and Montague, TX last week.
Boot and Shoe Shop, near Frensley Bros. & Co. store Duncan I.T. W.B. DYER
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February 10, 1894
Walter Lowe was arrested at Ardmore Wednesday. He was turned over to Sheriff ROGERS of Gainesville, TX. Lowe is wanted by Johnson county authorities.A government employee at the agency, who, for obvious reasons, does not want his name mentioned related to a Herald reporter that Wednesday night he had occasion to build a bonfire on the ice in the Canadian river just above the agency. He left it burning and went home yesterday morning and when he returned he was surprised to see four coyotes sitting on the ice on their haunches in a circle about the black embers. He approached them and while they made frantic efforts to get away, they seemed fastened to the ice. He procured a club and dispatched all four. His theory is that they sat down on the melting ice, attracted by the fire and froze fast. -El Reno Herald
It is reported that a man named HAWKINS froze to death on the river northwest of Muscogee, during the recent cold weather. One DREW and HAWKINS were firemen on the Drew ferry on the Arkansas river, they ran the boat on a sandbar and could not get it off. They took the horses from the woman's wagon and swam ashore. She stayed on the boat by choice. Hawkins froze to death before he got home and Drew is so badly frozen it is thought he will lose his hands. The woman stayed on the boat all of that night and until nearly night the next day and when rescued was nearly frozen.
At Pawnee recently a lot of Indians saw some Lagoes give a bear dance and take up a collection. Next day those Indians appeared and gave a war dance. Then they took up a collection. The Indian is at last catching on.
TOM JONES, alias ARKANSAS TOM who was captured by deputy marshals at the INGALLS battle and who is under indictment for three murders, has been removed from Stillwater jail to the United States jail at Guthrie. It was believed the DALTON'S had laid plans to release him from jail.
Sheriff JACKSON of Canadian county has returned from an unsuccessful attempt to capture HOWLING WOLF, on of Blaine county's Indian prisoners who escaped from the El Reno jail. HOWLING WOLF has a fleet-footed horse and leaves his followers far behind at his will.
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The Chillicothe Constitution, Chillicothe, Missouri, Saturday, June 26, 1909
Oklahoma Mob Cheats the Law
Wilburton, Okla. June 29--A mob of fifty masked men took SYLVESTER STENNIEN, a negro known as 'Alabama Red' from the jail here today and lynched him. The negro on Thursday shot and killed ALBERT TURNER, a deputy constable, who had attempted to arrest him.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is also an unnamed deputy sheriff described as being killed near Okeemah, Jan. 18, 1917 in the Chillicothe Constitution in a short item.
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"If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." -Mark Twain
See everyone in the next issue!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 21, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 409
Some of you may remember I shared some photos I took in April 2003 at Mountain View Mall here in Ardmore of a fiddle hoedown of sorts. Several area fiddle players were meeting at the Mall on Fridays evenings and anyone who stopped by could hear some real good music from several stringed instruments. <----- Click Here
One of those in the group those Friday nights was an Ardmoreite named Temperance Babcock. She was in Nashville last year getting some real great experience and learning from the professionals all the tricks of the trade. And guess what? Temperance just moved back and is going to do some fiddle teaching, and believe you me, she can burn a fiddle up.
Temperance Babcock has been playing the violin for 17 years. She has studied under world renowned teachers: Felicia Moye, Lucy Robert of the Manhattan School of Music, and David Russell of the Cleveland School of Music. Three years ago she decided to focus her time and energy on BLUEGRASS which resulted in a move to Nashville in August of 2003. She studied with Grand Ol' Opry fiddle players, Daniel Carwile, Carl Franklin and Hoot Hester. Temperance was also a guest performer with Nashville bands The Time Jumpers, David Peterson & 1946 and recorded with members of Ricky Skagg's band Kentucky Thunder. Anyone who wants to learn the violin/fiddle needs to get hold of Temperance.... she is booking students right now.
Like I said earlier, Temperance has just moved back to the Southern Oklahoma area and is opening a string studio. Lessons are available in classical, bluegrass and country fiddle. So if you have the least bit hankering to learn fiddle, send Temperance an email for details! temperance_babcock@sbcglobal.net
PhotoI was talking to a T&T Reader this week, and one thing led to another. He said back in the early 60s his father used some antibotic type medicine on his cows that everyone called "smear". He said it was a blackish liquid that came in a bottle with a dubber like shoe polish. His dad would but the medicine on the animal's cuts and sores. Does anyone remember smear? Is it still around? Maybe someone has a bottle of it laying around we can get a picture of it. I looked and looked on the internet and found no mention of a medicine called 'smear'.
In my last T&T I spoke about a 'beaver dam'. Well, I can't get it everything right in every issue, what I should have called it was a beaver house. Even tho I may not get everything right, we'll keep going. Anyway, I appreciate everyone keeping an eye out for my mistakes. Sometimes I dont do enough proof reading, and a mistake will slip by. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I received an email this week with a couple of interesting pictures attached. The pics are of the Concord School, but exactly where it is the writer was not sure. If I remember correctly, wasnt there a Concord Baptist Church east of Ardmore, out Springdale road a few miles, then south a mile? Does anyone recall the name Concord school.... where it was located? <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I received an email this week from Gary Simmons. He's seeking some special help, and hopes a T&T Reader may be able to fill in the blanks.
"Butch- I need help from your readers. Pfc. Melbourne Roy "Bud" Rieke was killed in a B-17 crash north of Ardmore, September 24, 1944. While in training at the base, he and his wife, Zatha, lived in Ardmore with a family that "treated them like their children." They were to have a child in February. This information was included in a letter written to his brother late the night before he was killed at 11:30AM the following day. Perhaps, by a "small world" chance, someone who reads this will remember the Ardmore family and address. I have had contact with Bud's brother who was in the Army at the time in the Aleutian Islands and was unable to attend the memorial services for his brother in Iowa. I have furnished details about the accident, etc. to him and feel that anything else that can be supplied about his brother's time at Ardmore will help with closure. If anyone has information (pictures, experiences) about the Ardmore base (1942-46 and 1952-1959) that will help with preserving that time of history, please contact me." gsimmons@brightok.net "In Memory Of" <----- Click Here
I think we have stumbled across another deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty and not listed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington DC. This killing happened in 1915 at Pawnee, Oklahoma. The officers name was Robert Moore (see the mailbag below for more info).
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Thought I would let you know I was looking at the pictures of the beaver dam and was wondering if you were referring to a beavers lodge? instead of a dam? Keep up the good work."
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"I think you have a beaver home rather than a dam Butch. And the stalks are what they usually use for that." -T. E. (Thal) McGinness, Houston, TX.
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"Butch, I've always heard that Stobtown got its name from a stob (hitching post) in the middle of the intersection by the church. I don't know if it's true, but I'm sure there are several stories out there."
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"Butch, your posting of the Trooper Memorial Website made me remember this picture I took a few weeks back. It is located just West of Waurika on Highway 70. Not a very good picture as I took it thru the windshield. Note the flowers someone has place at the base of the sign." <----- Click Here
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Davis, Oklahoma late 1940s. <----- Click HereDavis, Indian Territory <----- Click Here
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The Daily Ardmoreite, July 15, 1947
Father and Son of Gainesville Die in Crash of Plane
Trip Home After Turner Falls Holiday Ends in Disaster; Plane Falls Just South of Marietta IRA KING, 35, and his 10-year old son, BILLY, en route to their home in Gainesville after a holiday spent in the Turner Falls area, burned to death in the wreckage of King's light airplane around 7 p.m. Monday on the south outskirts of Marietta. The light plane, traveling south developed engine trouble a few hundred yards beyond the south boundary of the Marietta city limits. The engine cut out and the plane plummeted nose down into a field, three or four hundred yards from the nearest house. It caught fire and the two passengers were trapped in the wreckage. The bodies were badly burned. Rescue workers could not remove them until the fire had burned itself out. King was a half brother of Mrs. JACK GANT of Ardmore. His mother died when he was quite young and he was reared by Mrs. Gant's mother, Mrs. WILMA KING, HARGROVE and BOUNDARY. Survivors include his wife, a younger daughter and another son. Services probably will not be until Friday.Double Funeral Rites Planned
Double funeral rites for WILLIAM IRA KING, 34, Santa Fe railroad brakeman, and his son, BILLY IRA, 12, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Whaley Memorial Methodist church, Gainesville, Texas. The two died in an airplane crash Monday evening near Marietta. King and his young son had flown from Gainesville to Turner Falls for an afternoon outing and were returning home at the time of the accident. Burial will be in Gainesville with the following relatives in attendance from Ardmore; his mother, Mrs. WILMA KING, and half-sister, Mrs. JACK GANT, who have been joined by Mrs. Gant's sister, Mrs. P.S. HORTON, and her husband of Lubbock, Texas, and their father, ALLEN KING, Fort Worth, Texas. They plan to go to Gainesville Thursday morning.Born in Davis
King was born August 17, 1912 at Davis, and moved to Gainesville when he was eight years old. He received his education in the Gainesville schools, and had been a Santa Fe switchman the past six years. A member of the national guard a year prior to the World War II, he was a member of the First Baptist church and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. George Carroll funeral home is in charge of burial arrangements.
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Mr. Bridges, Do you know anything about this school? My Dad went there when he was 6 years old. He is in this picture. His name was Clint Holt. All I know is that it was in or around Ardmore. He referred to it as the Indian school. If you have any information about it I would appreciate you sharing it with me." -Bessie Manning <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Hello Readers. By chance do any of you have an old photo of the men that worked for OG&E back in the early days? My father, Clint Holt worked for OG&E back in the late 20's and early 30's. Just thought maybe someone may have one and would like to share. I remember him telling my siblings and me stories of those early days. Just thought it would be a nice thing to have. Thanks." JBdustbunny@aol.com
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"Good morning Butch, great job, believe this is one of your better ones. Re: the unidentified man buried at Davis, here is you another "project". The grave should be opened and a DNA sample taken. I believe there is someplace where DNA records are kept, so perhaps his dna could be checked through that computer for a possible match. It's a shame he lies there unidentified. It was a wonderful gesture for you to look up the grave site, and put flowers on it. May God bless you, and your work. You touch a lot of lives." Jerry Landrum, aonestorage@sbcglobal.net
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"I find it ironic that the "corpse" site is situated just to the south of the "COPS" headstone at the cemetary. Had never noticed this until I looked at the second picture you provided in this edition of your T&T. Thanks again for following on this story - interesting reading and I hope we have more readers chime in with offers to look into this matter as well." <----- Click Here
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"I recently obtained a picture post card of the old Edens Restaurant that was located next to the Tivoli Theater. The phone number on the postcard for the restaurant was 559. Can anyone tell me when the phone numbers in Ardmore changed? I assume they went from this format to the "Capital 3" format, such as CA3-1234." -Mark Coe
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"Another great T&T - always a treat to read and see what you and your other readers have to say. Really like the articles about the BBQ places that you have been running of late. Back in the late '50s we used to drive out to Tatum, Oklahoma - west on Highway 7 between Hennipen and Ratliff City where they undoubtedly had the best BBQ in the world. Of the two or three places that made and sold BBQ in Tatum the one just on the southwest corner of town was the best. Thanks for bringing back some fond memories of very very good BBQ."
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"Butch, a dear friend, Earl Allen, an Ardmore Retired Teacher and Counselor passed away today. Earl taught Math and Science and Counseled in the Ardmore Schools for over thirty years before retirement. He was involved in Real Estate and loved to fish for Crappie during his spare time. Earl was part of the era that included such educators as Leighton and Mrs.Peddy, Bryan Oakes, Leroy Ritchey, Lloyd Gibbs, Homer Tipps, Tip Jacobson, Juanita Arrington, Wayne Byrd, Robert Goins, Mr. and Mrs. Benham, J. C. Dunn, Gordon Sturdevent, Mrs. Evans, Marzee Douglas, Mrs. Luster, Lena White, Lodene Pearson, Weldon Perrin, and many others I can't recall at the moment. All of these educators preceded him in death. Earl's life touched many, many people. He will be missed by all." A Friend, Charles Smith
------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ardmore Statesman, Ardmore, Oklahoma
Saturday, January 2, 1915
New Film Company
Oklahoma City--A new frontier film show is under way with Oklahomans in the spotlight. This is the Eagle Film Company which was incorporated here this week with a capital stock of $12,000, the incorporators being E. D. NIX of St. Louis, formerly United States marshal in this state; WILLIAM TIGHLMAN, former deputy marshal, police chief, and frontiersman; and CHRIS MADSEN of Guthrie, long associated with Nix and Tighlman. The film is to be educational in that it will attempt to show early days as they were without the incidental romance that has been notable in one successful Oklahoma desperado film. The first undertaking of the company is to be a mildly exciting flicker, 'The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws.' Some of the acts will be staged exactly where the incidents to be portrayed took place. With the pictures will be prepared a book by William Tighlman, giving the history of all bandits that the territory has known and of the officers who drove them to the end of their lawless careers.Notice of Sale of Real Estate by Guardian
ARCH LEWIS and VARNIE LEWIS, minors, WILLIE JOHNSON guardian
Divorce: G. C. PAINE vs. PAULINE PAINE
Saturday, January 23. 1915
Wedding at Deese--B. D. KING and MISS ADA L. ELLIS were married at the home of REV. COOLEY. After the brief ceremony they returned to the home of the bride where many friends met them and wafted the many cares of life into happiness. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. D. L. KING, merchant and extensive farmer at Deese. Guests present: J. D. NEELY, MISS ELIZABETH NELMS, MISS LASSIE KING, MISS ATELIA KING, Mr. and Mrs. FRANK JORDAN and Mr. and Mrs. NEEDUNM.For a New County There is quite a movement on foot in the western part of the county to have a new county formed, to be composed of the western part of Carter County, the northwestern part of Love County, the southeast part of Stephens County, and the northeast part of Jefferson County. With the Healdton oil field located in this territory, the county would be a rich one.
Order for Sale of Real Estate
PERLIE LUELLA HAYES and BERTHA ELLIS HAYES, minors; guardian OLA HOLLOWAY
ISRAEL LEE GARDNER and DONIE ESTER GARDNER, minors; guardian STERLING WILLIAMS.
Saturday, January 30, 1915 Death of Mrs. WHITTINGTON
Mrs. ALICE HARR WHITTINGTON, aged 53 years, died at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Whittington Hotel.
March 13, 1915
Strayed or stolen from my place two miles east of Provence, one gray horse. Notify J. L. JONES at Provence.When you go to vote, remember GEORGE V. WHITE for chief of police.
Provence News Notes
W. C. REED moved into the house lately vacated by D. C. JAMES. MR. Reed is from Poolville. Mr. James moved to New Wilson.CHARLES MCDANIEL is able to be up after a four weeks stay in bed with pneumonia.
DR. T. W. DENHAM has returned after a visit at Goliad, Texas.
ROBERT L. RODGERS is confined to his room with pneumonia.
Provence Literary Society meets every Friday night.
Our section foreman, J. H. GALE, was called to the beside of his mother last week at Terrell, Texas.
F. R. STEPHENSON lost a fine cow last week, one he had just paid $55 and was easily worth $75.
MRS. MAUD HOLLEY spent Wednesday with MRS. J. W. FAIR.
A. W. HARRIS and wife have returned from Mineral Wells, Texas where they went for her health.
B. F. BUTLER has a sick child.
MRS. TONA JONES is able to be up and attending to her work.
R. C. CLARK went to Anadarko Monday as a witness for the C. R. I. 7 P. R. R.
W. L. BURNS moved to Roff.
Notice: L. E. EDDY, administrator of the estate of JIM LEWIS
Saturday, March 27, 1915
Provence News
Little BERTHA HOLLEY is confined to her room with tonsillitis.NEWT STEWART is working for MRS. PRUITT.
MRS. MINNIE LOGGINS left on Monday for McAlester where she will represent Provence Grove No. 64, W. C. at the state convention.
W. T. MILLER was in Provence.
G. W. REED planted corn on the 29th.
W. T. WILLIAMS, our enterprising gin man, has just completed the neatest home in Provence and moved in last Wednesday.
J. L. JONES, who advertised in the Statesman for a lost horse, came home and found the horse dead in a canyon where some stock had kicked it.
BRO. STANDIFER of the Free Will Baptist profession filled his regular appointment here Saturday and Sunday.
The Choctaws had a big time at MARY NIBLACK Sunday.
MISS GRACE PARLIER spent Sunday with MISS BLANCHE HILL.
J. V. HOLLY was in Ardmore on business.
MRS. G. H. DAVIS is still confined to here room. This is her sixth week.
MRS. E. P. PRUITT was in Ardmore on business.
W. C. BURNS and family Sundayed with the J. H. FOUNTAIN family.
Provence is soon to have a blacksmith shop.
WILLIE SPEARS is working for F. S. BECKHAM.
D. W. HILL, who got his leg broken some three months ago, is getting along nicely.
Healdton News
HENRY DAVIS and family visited relatives here Saturday and Sunday.JAMES WATSON is in McAlester as a delegate to the W. O. W. convention.
MRS. W. F. MCKNIGHT and granddaughter MILDRED WATSON are visiting relatives at Cairo.
HAZEL HEALD is visiting her sister, Mrs. HENRY DAVIS in Ardmore.
Our school is still going on but with only one teacher it is crowded and the children are not doing very well and are gradually dropping out.
Old Grandma PETTIT is quite sick.
S. H. WALKER, 68 years of age, died this week at the home of his son-in-law , LIGE TEAGUE, and was buried in the Healdton cemetery.
JOHN ROSE, about 45 years of age, died near Healdton this past week. He was a Woodman and the Healdton lodge helped care for him and bury him. He was buried at Bomar/ Bowman Point.
Mr. and Mrs. MOBLEY have just moved here from Dallas. He is the new engineer at the Healdton Pump Station.
Mr. and Mrs. BEN HEALD gave C. H. HEALD a surprise dinner on Wednesday, March 17, celebrating his 72nd birthday. The immense birthday cake which was bake at Berry's Bakery in Ardmore was extremely beautiful. When the party entered the dining-room, 72 tiny white candles on the cake were burning brightly. There were 12 guests.
Local Notes
CECIL FRENSLEY and MRS. DOW BRAZIEL left Monday for Waco, Texas where their father FRANK FRENSLEY, who formerly lived here, suffered a stroke of apoplexy.The local lodge of Eagles has purchased from H. C. POTTERF lot 3, block 583, on South Mill Street, where the lodge expects soon to erect a building for its use.
News has been received in this city of the death at Shawnee Saturday of E. D. HAIGHT. Mr. Haight formerly resided in this city. The burial was at Gainesville, the old home of the deceased.
P. L. MARTIN will soon move his stock of groceries from his present stand on Washington Street to the new building on Broadway. It is reported that he will be succeeded on Washington by MR. AGEE, who was formerly one of Mr. Martin's clerks.
The local refinery has promised to donate enough crude oil to build a mile of road being built between the city limits and the Chickasaw Lake.
One of the prettiest displays of potted plants and cut flowers ever seen in Ardmore is on exhibition at the SHUMAN floral home on West Main St. Mr. Shuman has a splendid florist in charge of his greenhouses and he is now reaping the benefits of many hard years of labor on his flower farm.
Saturday, April 3, 1915
N. H. MCCOY Dead
The city was saddened Tuesday by the announcement that N. H. MCCOY, one of Ardmore's oldest and leading citizens, had died early that morning. Mr. McCoy came to Indian Territory and settled in Ardmore in the early years of this city. For many years he was deputy clerk of the southern district of Indian Territory under Judge C. M. CAMPBELL. For quite a period he was secretary of the local commercial club. He was 56 years old and is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters, none of the children being here at the time of their father's death.Red River Bridge Open Denison, Texas--On March 1, the magnificent steel bridge spanning Red River, four miles north of Denison, linking the great tributary in Oklahoma to Texas.
Enterprise School
Lone Grove, March 29, 19115Enclosed find the Honor Roll for the Enterprise School.
RUFFIE GOLD, STELLA HATHAWAY, WALTER LOUGHRIDGE, MAY LEE, PEARLIE PIKE, ENNIS SHEPARD, HUBERT SHEPARD, DELBERT HUNT, IMOGINE KILLINGSWORTH, LESLIE KILLINGSWORTH, MYRTLE BAREFIELD with ADDIE LOU MORGAN as their teacher.
NELLIE GOLD, ALLIE HUNT, LILY HUNT, LANNIE KING, TRAVIS LEE, HOMER LEE, CLIFFORD PACE, DENTON STILL, NORA VERNON, ALLIE VERNON, BEULAH WISLON, HASKEL BUSKIRK, MATTIE EZELL, JEWEL GREEN, ALFORD KING, HAROLD KILLINGSWORTH, HESTER HIGGINS, IRVIN VERNON, WILLIE EZELL, ITHA KILLINGSWORTH, IRA VERNON, MATTIE PAYNE, EARL BUSKIRK, IDA SHEPARD with ALMA JONES as their teacher.
Provence News
G. W. REED gave the young folks a dance Wednesday.LEONARD HOLLY was in Ardmore as witness in court.
J. V. HOLLY was in Ardmore on business.
A. J. HARRIS and wife have returned from Wapanucka.
DR. W. T. DENHAM was in Ardmore on business.
Local Notes
W. A. COLLEY has purchased a half interest in the CLAUDE STUBBLEFIELD grocery.BOB BRAZIEL and SAM ELLIOTT were convicted at Fort Worth Saturday in federal court for attempting to introduce liquor in the Indian Territory portion of Oklahoma.
April 10, 1915
Nelda School Notes
F. A. TINDALL's little baby was scalded by a pan of water which was on the floor.MISS EFFIE COFFEE was taken sick with pneumonia last Thursday.
JUDDIE SCOTT returned from a visit at Coalgate.
JESS KING and CHARLEY TOWNING are working at Mulkey for Mr. WALKER. They visit homefolks every Saturday and Sunday.
The Nelda rabbit-twisters are CLAY MCDOWELL, TAD GIBBS, CLARENCE MCDOWELL, CHARLEY SCOTT, WAYNE DAVIS, HUGHEY DAVIS, and DADD DAVIS. Some of them have learn to dance or at least go through the motion.
Notice of Sale
MARCUS ROBERTS and JACK ROBERTS, minors by S. L. RIDGE, guardian
Sale: SAMMIE J. FRY and BERTHA FRY, JOE BASTINE and STELLA BASTINE, O. W. JONES and MINNIE W. JONES, JAMES H. STEWART and wife, I. T. BIDDLE
Divorce: SALLIE MAY GASSETT vs. HARVEY GASSETT
Divorce: O. C. MCBRIDE vs. A. C. MCBRIDE
Saturday, April 17, 1915
New Mayor in Charge
Mayor--L. V. MULLENChief of Police-J. R. HUTCHINS
Thompson Acquitted
From the Ringling News
ROBERT E. THOMPSON of Leon was acquitted of killing J. W. TOBIN at a rooming house about three weeks ago.Saturday, April 24, 1915
Healdton Notes
The bayou has been out of banks lately and a great deal of waste oil has come down the creek and some big fires have been raging.A wedding, which came as a surprise to their many friends, was that of OITS RATCLIFFE and MISS JIMMIE ALLEN, daughter of J. R. ALLEN. They slipped away to Ardmore and were quietly married on the 12th, returning to Healdton last Sunday. She has lived here for a number of years and is an exceptionally bright and capable young lady. He has served a term with the U. S. Navy.
The primary teacher, MISS THELMA HARRIS of Ardmore, who came and taught a month in our school, has returned to her home. School closes in two weeks.
FRANK DOANE, who has been working on the railroads in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and California, for the past twelve years, is visiting his sister, MRS. JOE POOLE.
We have a restaurant in our town now. It is located on the lower floor of the W. O. W. hall and is conducted by Mr. and Mrs. W. F. MCMAHON.
ALF WATSON spent a few days in Madill.
J. W. ORME went to Dallas to buy spring goods.
Local Notes
G. A. CROOKS, instructor of golf at the McAlester County Club, has been secured for the Dornick Hills Country Club and members will have to take advantage of his services in learning to play golf.
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The Daily Ardmoreite, July 3, 1899
Mannsville
E.L. JONES and T.J. WHITE have returned from a business trip in Texas.
Wilson
WILEY McNAIR is visiting relatives here.
A good crowd from here attended the singing convention at Durwood yesterdayDurwood
Mr.McLAUGHLIN and family left yesterday to visit relatives and friends in Parker county, TX
Mr. SEARCY has returned from a trip to Ardmore.
Miss DORA HUFF returned to Ardmore today accompanied by BUD CORNELL
Prof. KING is quite sick.
Miss BATES visited Province yesterday and returned today.
Miss PEARL PROVENCE of Provence was here today
Thackerville
Our town is now incorporated.
JESS HOLLAND is a candidate for mayor and GEORGE WOODS a candidate for city marshal.
Oakland
D.E. CLOUR of Crystal Springs, Miss. has been elected principal of the schools at this place. Miss MOLLIE BITTICK of Ryan is assistant.JUDGE BRADFORD has returned from Oklahoma City. He found his son, LEWIS H., who is in business there, in very bad health.
GILIE, the little 8-months-old babe of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. TROOP died at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and will be buried tomorrow at Pike.
Suit was filed in the United States clerk's office Saturday by SUSAN J. SELLERS vs JAMES L. SELLERS for divorce.
Watermelons are on cold storage at Heath and James'
Police Judge GALT is hearing evidence this afternoon in the case of assault on one TUCKER, in which a number of black boys are charged with committing the assault. The court room was well filled and considerable interest manifested in the case.
FONDIE, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.A. CROMER is still sick, not dangerously however.
LIS STAPLES and family left today for Sulphur Springs.
W.H. POPE was in the city yesterday from Purcell.
JOHN L. SIMPSON of Gainesville was in the city yesterday.
A.A. CHAPMAN is in the city looking hearty and pleasant.
TOM E. GEREN of Denton went up the road this morning.
Misses MATTIE and SUISE FRAME will enjoy the picnic at Sulphur.
Mr. and Mrs. ERNEST TRULOVE are visiting with friends in Gainesville.
FRANK McMURRAY one of South McAlester's prominent business men is here.
R.L. SANDERS and SUMNER HEALTH will spend the Glorious Fourth in Gainesville.
Mr. and Mrs. J.S. CLARK are spending the summer months in Los Angeles, Calif.
Miss ETHEL SMITH who has been in the city the guest of Mrs. A.C. CRUCE will leave this evening for her home in Gainesville.
MERRILL W. JOHNSON, attorney, went to headquarters at Pauls Valley this forenoon.
CHARLES E. TROUTMAN, Architect made a business trip to Wynnewood this morning.
NELSON WOLFE, Nebo,a prominent Chickasaw citizen was among our visitors today.
CHARLES WHITEMAN returned to Sulphur Springs this morning for the benefits of those waters.
Mr. and Mrs. W.R. STEPHENSON leave tomorrow for a visit to Mt. Vernon and Mt. Pleasant, TX
TISDAL & TISDAL have opened up an insurance office in the Randol building. These gentlemen represent a line of campanies that offer the very best protection and as they are men ripe with experience in the insurance business and have located in the best town in the Indian Territory, we predict a liberal patronage for them.
SPIEGLE is headquarters for 4th of July fireworks.
Merit always wins. The firm who realized this years ago and have always kept the very best goods and sold them at a small profit, have built up an immense trade. To BIVENS & WILLIAMS this honor belongs, since February 15, they have sold three cars of buggies and carriages, a record never reached before by any buggy house in this country. They have buggies from $35 up and a full line of farmers' hacks and carriages.
Mrs. WILL ROBERTS and baby accompanied by Mrs. ROBERT'S mother departed yesterday for a visit with relatives at Sherman TX.
T.F. SEAY leaves tonight for a month's visit to his old home at Camner, KY. He has been with SIG SIMON & BRO.
Mrs. J. L. KENNEY after a pleasant visit to her brother, Judge W.T. NIXON, left on the morning train to join her husband in Dallas, TX.
JOHN HAMMER JR. and DAVE FRAZIER, JR. will be among the peace officers at Sulphur Springs tomorrow, they left for that place today.
Mesdames MAUDE COAKER and OLLIE HAILEY of Gainesville have been spending a couple of days in the city, guests of their friend Mrs. C.D. CARTER.
Judge J.M. WILSON, editor of the Gainesville Register, is spending a day with his daughter, Mrs. C.D. CARTER.
J.F. McMURRAY of South McAlister is in the city. He says that a petition for the incorporation of his town is now pending and that the opposition is practically removed. This means incorporation for our sister town.
Miss EMMA NORRIS who has been in the city quite a while the guest of her sister Miss MALLIE will leave this evening for her home at Paris, TX. Miss Emma has made many friends who regret her departure.
W.G. CECIL and DON LACY left this afternoon by private conveyance for Sulphur. They will picnic there tomorrow and Mr. CECIL will visit the Rock Island country.
January 13, 1915
OFFICER SHOT TO DEATH BY BANK ROBBERS
Pawnee, OK---The three robbers, who stole three thousand dollars yesterday from the First National Bank of Terlton, and killed Deputy Sheriff ROBERT MOORE, have been discovered. Two were captured and are in jail here. The third member of the gang escaped. Most of the money was recovered.Terlton, OK--Three unmasked men robbed the First National Bank of Terlton of $3,000 Tuesday afternoon shortly after 2 o'clock. BOB MOORE, a deputy sheriff of Pawnee county who followed the robbers about a quarter of a mile from town was fired upon and killed by the robbers. In a running fight between the robbers and posse of citizens two horses ridden by robbers were shot and one of the bandits captured. He is now held a prisoner in Terlton. The robber, when his horse fell beneath the ball of bullets, fell upon his rifle which was rendered useless. He immediately threw up his hands and surrendered. In the sack which was tied to the pommel of his saddle, a portion of the money, mostly bills, was found. The three captives who saw Deputy MOORE killed, assert that the robber now in cativity, is not the one who killed the deputy. Shortly after 2 o'clock three unmasked men entered the First National Bank, commanded F.E. ULLISON, the cashier, a bank customer, and the assistant cashier of the bank to throw up their hands after which the banks ready funds amounting to $3,000 in currency and silver was gathered up and placed in a sack by one of the robbers.
After the funds had been tied in the sack, the three robbers marched the two bank officers and the customer out of the bank and about one-fourth of a mile out of town, where five horses were tied.
Deputy MOORE when told of the bank robbery started in pursuit, keeping in fields adjacent to the road. When the bandits with their captives stopped where the five horses were tied, Deputy Moore emerged from a corn field in an effort to fire upon the robbers without endangering the live of the three captives. Two other men had joined the three robbers and when Moore had seen to leave the field, he was fired upon and fell dead. The three robbers with their two companions then mounted and rode away, after one robber had tied the money sack to the pommel of his saddle.
The robbery Tuesday was the fourteenth bank robbery to occur in Oklahoma since last May. Eleven of the robberies have been daylight raids. An effort is being made to have the fifth session of the legislature to appropriate $10,000 to be used in the capture and prosecution of bank robbers. Terlton is in Pawnee county about sixty miles west of Tulsa and in the oil belt.HAS LEASED LEADING HOTEL AT YALE, OKLA.
The hotel Yale, at Yale, Oklahoma, in the heart of the Cushing oil fields, has been leased by Col. C.M. BRYAN, proprietor of the Randol hotel of this city and will take charge at once.
The son, and son's wife, Mr. and Mrs. A.D. BRYAN, will have the active management of the new hotel while another son, MARVIN BRYAN, will have the management of the Randol hotel here. Col. BRYAN will spend his time between both places, looking after the wants of the traveling public.
Mr. and Mrs. A.D. BRYAN will leave here tomorrow to take charge of the Yale. This is the only hotel in this thriving new oil town, and the traffic is especially heavy there at present. Mr. BRYAN believes there is a future for the town, and is going to take a chance on a good hotel there for one year at least.
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I think the Mailbag is one of the most interesting parts of my T&T. It is there I we hear from people all over the country. Its where a lot of history is shared, all through the power of an email. As you can guess I get quite a few emails each week and I try to put as many as I can in the Mailbag. But some dont make it and a few I purposely leave out. I try to keep the emails in line with the theme of my website, mainly history. Plus I try to keep my newsletter clean. But I do get some pretty strongly worded emails sometimes, to strong for a 'family friendly' newsletter. I've even some from time to time that makes me feel under attack. lol. But to the naysayers I'll just quote what Adm. David Glasgow Farragut said in 1866. <----- Click Here
"Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" -Adm. David Glasgow Farragut 1866
See everyone in the next issue!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 19, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 408
Last week a Reader told about a fairly new BBQ place in Ardmore (opened Oct 4, 2004). As soon as I learned of it, you know me, I had to go try one of their BBQ sandwiches. Boy, I was not disappointed. That sliced BBQ beef just melted in my mouth. I got the mild sauce and it was great. They have a menu of items, but I just started with their BBQ combo: sandwich, chips, and drink... all for $5. Mr. J's is owned by Virgil and Beverly Jones and as soon as I went in they made me feel right at home, the most friendly folks. I took a pic of Rev Jones (they call him the Boss of Sauce) and his wife Beverly. Joyce McGee was there too helping Beverly, she was kinda camera shy, but maybe I can get a pic of her next time. Their place of business is at 417 East Main right next door to where the old Number 2 Fire Station used to be back in the 60s. And next door to that old fire station on the corner of D and East Main is where Kenneth Chandler's Service Station use to be. I worked there a couple of summers as a teen. Anyway, Mr and Mrs Jones have some real good BBQ, stop by and try it sometime! I must get there soon and try those BBQ ribs next! <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
Here's a pic of that old service station where I worked for Kenneth Chandler back in the 60s. Just to the right of the station is where Kenneth had what we called the grease rack. It was a raised metal running board where the tires followed up, til the car was above ground about 3 feet. Of course the grease pit was partially in the ground and thats where I'd change oil in cars. Boy, it always made me so nervous when I had to drive a car up on that rack, carefully following those two tire troughs, trying not to jump out of the trough. I remember one time in particular the customer decided he would drive his own car up the ramp. He got it up there alright, but his 4 tires were not in the trough, they were all four perfectly sitting on top of the sides of the trough. I also remember a few times when someone would get one tire out of the trough, and we'd have to use those tall bumper jacks to slowly and carefully jack the car up and inch it back over into the trough. Kenneth would get so mad. lol <----- Click Here
Last month we talked about a man who was kidnapped in 1954 in Ft Worth by a David Fred Hagler Jr who would later set the unknown man afire and push the body inside a car off a road in the Arbuckle Mountains in an attempt to collect insurance on himself. The plan fell through and Hagler was charged with murder and went to trial in Murray county. Investigators were never able to identify the man Hagler killed and he was buried in an unmarked grave at Davis, Oklahoma. I was able to find the concrete marker that only has one word on it, corpse, near the front gate of Greenland Cemetery. It was hard to find since the small piece of concrete is a couple of inches below the ground's surface. I bought some flowers and put on the grave, maybe some how he knows Oklahomans are a compassionate people, and sad he lost is life in our state. Maybe by some miracle someday he will be identified and his next of kin notified. He is buried 26 paces north of the Main gate in Green Hill Cemetery at Davis, Oklahoma. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
A Reader told me last week about a beaver dam being built southeast of Ardmore on the Noble property near the north edge of Lake Murray (Red Cedar Rd and Hwy 70). The beaver dam is located at the north end of the highway coming from Martins Landing where the road ends at Highway 70. The dam is on the north side of Highway 70 in an area that has turned into kinda of a marsh with all the rains lately. The strange thing about this dam, is these little beavers used ingenuity when it came to building it. Since there was no trees nearby they mainly used cattail stalks. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
I saw on the Ardmore news this week an interview with a police officer named Josh Braziel of Hugo, Oklahoma. I had to wonder if he might be a relative of U.S Marshal Dow Braziel of Ardmore back around statehood. So you know me, I had to call Josh at Hugo to find out. He doesnt know if he's kin or not, but his great grandfather has always said that if its spelled Braziel, then they are kinfolks. Come to find out Josh grew up in west Texas. Dow Braziel was killed in 1919 by Deputy Sheriff Bud Ballew at the California Cafe on East Main, the same place where Stolfa Hardware was located. Dow is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery here in Ardmore. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, I am writing to see if any readers could tell me who was Dr. W. T. Howell and where was he from. My maiden name was Howell. I have traced my genealogy on the Howell family way back to the 1600's and couldn't find this name, but there were alot of Howell's in the Ardmore and Lone Grove area. Thanks!" -bj (howell) fullingim
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"Butch, I have noticed several articles lately about Stobtown. I was just curious as to how many of your Readers knew the history of Stobtown and how it came by it's name?" -Allen Flowers, Stobtown, Ok.
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oktrooper.com is a web site dedicated to highway patrolers who lost their life in the line of duty from 1941 to 2003. you have to see this. I thought it was really neat. <----- Click Here
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"My Ardmore history outline has grown a bit, so am sending it to everyone." -Mark Coe <----- Click Here
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"I am interested in buying the annual high school yearbooks for 1939, 1941, 1943. If one of your readers would know how I might obtain any one or all of them, I would appreciate a E mail. Thank you." milescity@webtv.net
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John Robert "J.R." SEYBOLD (on right) Ardmore, I.T. May, 1890 <----- Click Here
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"Here is the pic (circa 1906) of Fred A. Brown's home in Comanche, Oklahoma. Also, you've probably read this before, but here is an interview conducted in 1937 with Fred Brown." <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"Regarding the "Daube puppets" that we all enjoyed seeing at Daube's Department Store, they were given to the Greater Southwest Historical Museum. They were refurbished and stored at the Museum. They are displayed each year during the Christmas season and bring back memories to all of us. This Christmas season they were shown during " Santa's House" with over 2,000 area children having the opportunity to see them and hear the story. I don't know the exact year they were placed at the museum, but, the Museum Board was delighted to have them to preserve and share with future generations." -Helen Thompson
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"I am researching some of the cemeteries. I read somewhere a year ago that there was a plane crash in Thackerville on July 14, 1947. There was a father and son killed in it, William Ira King, his son's name was Billy Ira King. They are buried in the Fairview cemetery in Gainesville. Does anyone know anything about it? Thanks." -Christy
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Oklahoma's lawmen <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, Just wanted to thank you for keeping up the good work and especially for the new version of the newsletter. We really enjoy the old editions of the Ardmoreite and other Oklahoma History tidbits you put in it. I really enjoyed seeing the photo of Stobtown Freewill Baptist Church. I had attended that church since the first day it opened its doors until we left there in 1961. It was good to see all the old familiar faces and remember the good times with all these people. Keep up the good work. We enjoy watching for your latest T& T out here in Nevada." -Kathryn Davoult, goody2shu@nvtel.net
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The Daily Ardmoreite
July 3, 1899
"People who handle the yardstick have but little idea of the years of study and experiments that were necessary to secure the standard yard measure," observed an official of the coast survey. "Bird a famous scientist, made the first standard yard in 1700, but the English government did not legalize it until 1824. Ten years afterward, when the house of parliament in London was destroyed by fire, the standard yard was lost, and England was again without a standard yard of length. Sheepsbanks next made a standard measure, which the English government adopted, and, so that it could not be again destroyed by fire, four authorized copies were made of it. One of these was deposited in the royal mint, another in the Royal society, another in the observatory at Greenwich and the fourth was imbedded in the walls of the new house of parliament. "The standard yard measures which are owned by the government are copies of the original, one of which is owned by the coast survey. The United States naval observatory has one also. The delicacy of its construction may be gathered by the fact that a change of temperature of one-hundredth of a degree of Fahrenheit has been found to produce a sensible effect on the length of the bar." The cost of the construction of the original standard yard measure involved the labors of Bird and his assistants for nearly six years. Sheepsbanks was 11 years in producing the accurate copies which he made from Bird's original measurements.--Washington Star
***
Lines from Leon
P.B. ARTHUR has begun the erection of a large store house, and when completed will add materially to the look of our town. There are others comtemplating building soon. There is a fine opening here for a drug store, then if we had connection with Ardmore by telephone we would begin to put on the airs of a city. Quite a party from our community went to Mud creek fishing to be gone a day or two. Prof. J.L. COATNER of Oakland began a school here Monday.
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Epistle from Antioch
JOHN WORLEY and family of Nickle Hill are visiting relatives and friends here this week. WM. BLEDSOE and family of Anson, TX has moved to Antioch. BEN NICHOLS and family of Tom Green county, TX has moved to our burg. JAKE WORLEY of Oklahoma, is visiting in and around town. The little two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. JUDD WEBB, died last Monday and interred at Orinne Tuesday evening. C.J. McKINNEY and family left Wednesday for Van A'styne, TX for a visit to their old home. Mrs MABLE SPEAR of Roff, I.T. and WARREN STEWART and sister, Miss INEZ, of Ardmore were visitors at S.M. McKINNEY'S Saturday. JOE NICHOLS is on the sick list this week. A dance was given at the residence of TOM LEEPER Friday night and enjoyed by all present. Mrs. IRA HOLT of Marietta is visiting relatives here. MEMORY CHILDERS has gone to Marietta to work on the new building at that place.
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Healdton Happenings
Threshing will begin on the INGRAM farm as soon as it is dry enough.
Picnics galore all around us. Sympathy is quite general in this section for Ardmore, which place seems unable to furnish its customers with an annual outing Picnics at Ardmore have heretofore been looked forward to with bright anticipations. We fear the old adage "penny wise and pound foolish" has caught her. LUTHER HUNT of the Chagris community buried a little child here the first of the week. JOHN COOK, a worthy citizen of our town, learned of the death of his little baby child in Oklahoma yesterday at the home of his father R. COOK. The many friends of Dr. TEAGUE are glad to see him back after his two weeks visit to Texas. It looks natural to see J.W. ORME and his family back among us. Drummers have been very plentiful in town the past week, STIEFEL, DOAK, WHITEMAN, GILLENWATER, and others.
***
Monkeys to Pick Cotton
Paris, TX--SETH WARNER, a leading long-staple cotton planter of this county, has received a letter from W.T. KNIGHT of Hazlehurst, Miss., proposing to ship him 50 monkeys, to be used in gathering his crop in the fall. He offers to send a trainer along and guarantees them to pick 125-150 pounds per day each. He claims they gather cotton cleaner than black labor, at less than half the cost, and pick in all kinds of weather. They belong to the sphagtalis species. The males weigh 110 pounds and the females 90. They were successfully experimented with last year at SMEDES and on other Mississippi plantations
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Tecumseh, OK--HUGH F. GERAH, the saloon and sporting man, formerly of New York, who was shot here by Policeman Crank, a few days ago, is surprising the people as well as his physicians, by refusing to die. When he was shot Wednesday evening the doctors gave him until midnight or possible until morning, to live. Notwithstanding their predictions, he still lives, with two bullet holes through him, one of which pierced the right lung. It is now thought that he stands a chance of recovering.
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January 1, 1915
The Dodson Saddlery Company of Dallas, which has not kept a salesman in Oklahoma for several years, has sent a man here for the 1915 business. The representative of the company here is J.A. WALKER of Greenville, TX. Mr. WALKER stands six feet three and weighs 310 pounds. He is the largest traveling man in the state and while he is large, he is very active. He has a fund of strength and health and good humor and the men who sell leather goods will remember him after seeing him once. He will go over his territory before deciding where he will locate, but the pretty streets, good schools, natural gas and companionable people of Ardmore appeal to him and he is thinking seriously of naming Ardmore as his headquarters. Mr. WALKER left today to visit Overbrook, Marietta and Thackerville and will return tomorrow.
**
Mr. and Mrs. JAMES F. KEPLEY and their little daughter are Ardmore visitors today. They are from San Antonio, TX, but came here from OKC, where Mr. KEPLEY has business connections. They are making plans to locate in Ardmore. Mr. KEPLEY is interested in oil holdings in Carter county.
**
OKC--WILLIAM M. TILGHMAN said today that when the legislature convenes here next week he will renew his efforts to have created a body of rangers whose duty will be to rid the state of bank robbers. Tilghman was formerly chief of police of Oklahoma City, and at one time a deputy United States marshal in Oklahoma. In the early days of Dodge City, KS, he was a marshal at that place.
**
OKC--A resident of Seminole county has kept track of the killings in that county since statehood--perhaps not with pride, but with interest in the progress that has been made by law enforcement. His schedule shows that the most recent killing, which occurred the day before Christmas, was the 136th in the seven years since Oklahoma became a state. This is the leading county in the homicide list, although the distinction has been had by other counties in the past and there are others now that are close up to the Seminole county mark. Of these killings six have been of deputy sheriffs and two were lynchings. It is noted that the criminal court of appeals has never reversed a case from that county which involved any of the degrees of manslaughter.
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Walter, OK--J.O. DOWD, a pioneer citizen and business man, and former mayor of Walter, was found dead at his home here early today, shortly after a pistol shot was heard in his room. A bullet had entered his head just behind the right ear. DOWD has been in the furniture business here for several years. He had not arisen, and his wife was cooking breakfast when the shot was fired. Death was almost instantaneous. He leaves a widow and three grown children. A son resides in Kansas City. Dowd was 51 years of age.
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The Oil Exchange Cafe, established some months ago by A. ENLOE, and which is located on Main street, near the union depot, has changed hands. Mr. Enloe sold his property to R.E. BRIDGES of Ardmore and R.V. DIXON of Waurika. Mr. Bridges has been a resident of this city, and has been connected for some time with the business he purchased. Mrs. Dixon is now here, and Mr. Dixon will move here soon from Waurika.
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January 3, 1915
Those who have moved to Ardmore: W.M.WADE has moved his family here from Oklahoma City and is connected with the firm of Mullen & MullenTOM COOPER has moved here with his family from Stigler, OK and will have the gates agency of the Ford car, and will operate a garage on A Street Northwest, in the Phillips stone building.
JOHN H. WILLIAMS and his family have moved here from Oklahoma City. Mr. Williams will represent the Iten Biscuit company in this portion of the state. They will make their home on W. Main Street near the home of Mayor ROBERTS
T.J. POLLOCK has moved from his farm near Newport. He owns the home at 15 Fifth avenue Northeast, between Washington and A streets and will reside here in the future. Mr. Pollock is one of Carter county's most progressive and active citizens.
J.A. BURDELL returned here Friday night from Little Rock, AR. He is interested in the Rock Island Oil and Gas company, and whether his company is successful or not, he will continue to reside in Ardmore and will embark in business here.
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FIRST MONDAY IS TRADES-DAY IN ARDMORE
Every farmer everywhere knows what a convenience it is to him for his county seat town to maintain a first Monday. It is a general sales day and trades day. The farmer who has a spare horse, mule, or cow can get the cash for it on these trade days. Merchants are always glad to cooperate with sales day and they usually offer attractive bargains in merchandise goods for that one day. ROGERS Bros. have inaugurated the trades day and the first sales will be conducted by them.
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Visitors to Ardmore
R.L. BENNETT of Marietta
Mrs. CLYDE JONES of Wapanucka
DON HASTY of Chickasha
Mrs. HENRY SWAINE of Waxahachie
J.S. SMITH from Granbury TX
TRENTIS TAYLOR of San Saba, TX
PANSY BATES and VIVIAN WARREN of Marietta
SIMON SMITH of OKC
STELLA BUTT and JOANNA RICE of Marietta
CLINT WOODS of Wichita Falls, TX
S.W. TERRY of Glenn
W.E. HORNADAY of Gainesville
JOE W. MOORE from Wilson
JAY WILSON, an oil well driller from Healdton
W.R. CONINE and wife from Sherman are visiting their son Dr. R.C. CONINE
H.R. PUTNAM, editor of the New Wilson News
Mrs. C. L. SMITH of Honey Grove, TX visiting daughter, MRS. NEIL CROSS
Dr. S.A. FRIEDSAM of Leon visiting COL. R.A. WHITE
Prof. ROBERT MICHAEL from Provence
Mrs. F.R. HELSLEY, and children, MELROSS and WIGGS from Oklahoma City
SYD J. WHEELER, attorney of Madill
FOY WHITEHURST from Madill
Mr. and Mrs. C.E. CHOATES and daughter from Denison visiting Mr. & Mrs. W.H. BUMPASS
Mrs. ROY POTTER and Mrs. CANTER of Gainesville, guests of Mr. & Mrs. W.D. POTTER
Mrs. C.O. BUNN and children of Oklahoma City
Mrs. A. KlOSKI and Miss KLOSKI from New York City
Miss BERTHA FROSSARD of Sulphur
Mrs. R.P. POLAND and sons, of Grigsby, Poland
Miss PAULINE HIGDON of Oklahoma City guest of Mrs. MARK KIRKPATRICK
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Miss ELISE POTTER, Miss ANNIE ANDERSON, GEORGE ANDERSON, EARL FLEKER AND MILLARD VERNOR return to Norman today, where they are attending the University.
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Mrs. C.B. HANKS has returned from a visit with relatives in Dallas.
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Forty-two cars of horses were shipped out of Fort Worth in the past few days. The horses will be taken to Norfolk VA and loaded upon a boat for shipment to Europe for service in the war.
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January 4, 1915
ENTRANCES AND EXITS AT COURT HOUSE
There was a transformation scene at the county court house this morning when the newly elected county officers assumed the duties of office and the retiring incumbents gracefully resigned to the will of the sovereign people as expressed at the polls last November. JUDGE FREEMAN administered the oath of office to the following: county judge T.W. CHAMPION; county clerk, SHELTON TYRE; county attorney, A.J. HARDY; county treasurer, JOHN YELL; county superintendent of public instruction, L.M. THURSTON; county assessor, R.S. HENDON; sheriff, BUCK GARRETT; and JAMES R. TALIAFERRO, G.W. YOUNG, and GEORGE EVANS, county commissioners from the three commissioners districts. Others mentioned: LENA GLENN, S.M. PARKER, W.A. MARTIN, W. F. BOWMAN, B.W. DUKE, W.F. CESSESS, ADAM ALEXANDER, COLEY WALLACE, MISS FENCHER, VEANNUS HOLT, J.T. TAYLOR, T.P. ARNOLD, E.L. RUSSELL, W.M. KIRKPATRICK, WILL OAKMAN, and M. BUFFINGTON. Sheriff Garrett has not made the appointments of his deputies yet.
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The Ardmore Statesman, Ardmore, Oklahoma, Thursday, Jan. 2, 1919
Christmas tree at Confederate Home
On last Thursday at the Confederate Home the 'old boys and girls' of that institution were treated to a genuine Christmas tree with the typical packages of candy, cornucopias filled with nuts, etc., such as is the joy of everyone having "Christmas in his bones." COLONEL SNEED, secretary; GEORGE HENRY BRUCE and DR. MCNEESE of the Board, and several of the Daughters of the Confederacy, under the leadership of MRS. ARTHUR WALCOTT, had charge of the affair, and a dozen or more visitors came out from the city. The old folks seemed to enjoy the occasion immensely, and awaited the calling of their names as the presents were removed, with the same ardor that animated their grandchildren around similar trees in their far distant homes. Besides the packages of goodies, each inmate was given some useful present and in the top of each cornucopia was placed a bright silver coin. Preceding the distribution of presents, short talks were made by H. G. SPAULDING, editor of 'The Ardmoreite' and E. L. GREGORY, editor of the 'Ardmore Statesman.' JUDGE W. B. JOHNSON was then introduced and made an address which roused the enthusiasm and cheered the hearts of the audience. He is the son of a Federal soldier and a native of Kentucky. He quickly caught the sympathy of the old soldiers and won their hearty applause.Cowardly Assassination
On Thursday of last week, M. L. ALEXANDER, real estate dealer and land owner of this city, went to his farms located in the north part of Love County, south of Wilson for the purpose of showing some farm land to two prospective tenants whom he took with him. At the same time, County Attorney-Elect RUSSELL BROWN, BEN MOBLY, LEWIS DAVIDSON, and some others went to the same locality bird hunting. Mr. Alexander and his two prospective renters stopped with one of his tenants for the night while Brown and his party went to another farm residence about a mile further south. The next day, a little before noon, a man came to where Brown and his party were hunting and told them Mr. Alexander had been shot from ambush and his body was lying in a field a little over a mile from the field where they were, warning them a the same time, it might not be safe to go near the body just yet. Brown and the party went to the spot where they were told Alexander lay. They found the body. Mr. Brown states that there is a ridge not far from where body lay, overgrown with bushes and from this ridge the assassin's bullet was fired.Curfew Law
MAYOR WILLIAMS has ordered the enforcement of a curfew law which has long stood on the stature books of the city. It requires all persons under the age of 16 to be off the streets by 9 o'clock at night unless accompanied by their parents or guardians. The police bell will sound nine times at 9 o'clock each night and within 15 minutes thereafter all the 'fryin' size must be off the thoroughfare and safely housed at home or they will be taken to the city jail and their parents notified to come and get them. Much petty thieving has been done lately by boys under 16 and many girls of immature age are found street walking and carrying on immoral practices. Hence the action of the mayor to compel good and bad alike to get under cover before curfew rings. The order seems to meet with approval by the entire public except, possibly some of the 'flappers.'Thursday, January 23, 1919
A Mass Meeting
To request mayor and commissioners to take steps preparatory to adopting a new charter for Ardmore. On last Thursday night, in spite of the rain, there was a good and well attended mass meeting held at the Convention Hall. The purpose of the gathering was to formulate a request directed to the mayor and commissioners of the city that they call an election for the purpose of choosing freeholders to draft a new charter to be submitted to the voters of this city.Sparks Oil Company
On Monday last the stock holders of the Sparks Oil Company held their annual meeting in the office of Moore & West, Simpson Building when the following directors were chosen for the coming year: J. I. MURRAY, S. A. MAXWELL, JOHN R. HICKMAN, and DR. SADDLER of Coalgate, E. C. WYMORE, JUDGE A. T. WEST, and O. S. SPARKS of Ardmore.Provence News
HERMAN PARLIER left Tuesday for Kingston where he will take charge of a barber shop.JON BOWLING and family have recovered from the flu.
JESS HOOSIER and family left for Tishomingo where he will work on the C. R. I. & P. R. R.
REV. LINDSLEY of Kingston filled his regular appointment. The Free Will Baptist people called him to the pastorate of the church another year.
JOHN PAUL sold his farm to MRS. ARNOLD for $650.
J. V. HOLLEY was in Ardmore for lumber to repair some houses.
Provence Camp No. 226 elected and installed; A. F. HARRIS, C. C.; EDWARD WILLIAMS, A. L.; J. H. GULE, clerk.
ED DONOVAN rented the J. H. FOUNTAIN place.
LES JONES and family moved to the home recently vacated by A. J. AVANTS.
J. H. JONES has moved to the R. L. STANFORD farm for the 1919 crop.
EARNEST SHILLINGS and wife are visiting his father-in-law J. D. WALL and family.
JOHN E. ELKINS is working on the Provence section.
JOHN PAUL has moved to Provence and occupies the DeArmond residence.
CAPT. CRISWELL of Texas spent Sunday night with W. T. WILLIAMS. He is on his way to Fort Smith, Arkansas.
MRS. F. JONES is convalescing.
H. B. GRAY sold his wagon and team to J. A. EASLEY for $275.
PROF. G. C. ADAMS and his assistants, MISS MAY WILLIAMS and MISS OLA LIGON, spent Saturday in Ardmore.
REV. GEORGE HICKS of Kingston is the pastor of the Baptist church at Legate.
M. VOLINO has purchased a span of horses from JOHN LUCKEY.
Business Directory
KIRKBRIGHT's Letter Shop
HARDY Sanitarium, Dr. Walter Hardy, proprietor.
U. R. FOX, physician and surgeon
BROWN & BRIDGMAN, the live undertakers and picture framers, 300 W. Main
Bring your subscriptions to BOMAR Drug Company, 15 North Washington St.
Keep-U-Neat Cleaners, 121 North Washington St.
CARTER Transfer and Storage Co., 301 East Main
January 30, 1919
Fire at Healdton
Owing to the crowded condition of the columns last week, mention was not made of the big fire at Healdton, this county. An entire block was burned, and for a time, the complete destruction of the best business section of the town was threatened. But a fortunate shifting of the light breeze blowing enabled the 'bucket brigade' to stop the fire before it reached either of the banks. The loss is estimated between $75,000 and $100,000 with insurance very much below the loss. It was the first serious fire which the hustling little city of 2500 has suffered in its two years of existence.Pep O Gasoline
The Chickasaw Refining Company has embarked in the retail trade in Ardmore. They have established a filling station at the corner of Broadway and Washington streets where they are supplying the public a much higher gravity gasoline than the average that is offered on this market by the other companies having filling stations in the city. They have adopted the trade name 'Pep O' for their product and have applied for its registration as a trade mark. The Chickasaw Refining Company is one of the first of the big industries to establish itself in Ardmore's Industrial Addition, north of the city. They produce so excellent a grade of gasoline that the management decided to give the local community an opportunity to obtain the 'home product' at one of the most prominent corners in town. They might well adopt the slogan 'Ardmore's High Grade Gasoline for Ardmore Cars.'February 13, 1919
State vs Landers
MRS. IDA LANDERS, who killed her husband and father-in-law out near the Clinton school house several miles east of Ardmore last June, was placed on trial last week for killing old Landers. County Attorney RUSSELL B. BROWN having disqualified himself because of his former law firm having been employed to employed by the defendant, T. B. ORR was appointed by the court to conduct the prosecution. .The verdict of the jury was not guilty.Sherman Convicted
C. I. SHERMAN, who killed SAM DOW at the latter's home in northwest Ardmore last March, was found guilty of manslaughter and given four years in the penitentiary.Deaths
MRS. MAUD B. COTNER, wife of the ex-mayor JAMES A. COTNER
MRS. ALICE B. DINGS, wife of P. C. DINGS
February 20, 1919
In District Court
ELMER and W. F. FINLEY, charged with robbery, were found not guilty.W. C. DRIVER, accused of killing WYLEY WILLIAMS last year in the northern part of the county, was adjudged not guilty.
WALTER STROUD, police officer of the city, accused of killing a man in the performance of his duty, was dismissed by the jury.
O. S. BAILEY, charged with killing JOE DUANEY last August on East Broadway, was found not guilty.
BERT TUCKER, charged with killing JOE FORD, was found not guilty.
LULA BROWN, accused of killing her stepfather, wounding her mother, and shooting herself, was acquitted.
TED HOGUE, RALPH FAULKNER, and BARD CALDWELL, charged with holding up and killing S. M. NATIONS, former deputy sheriff of Garvin County, was brought to an end by Ted Hogue withdrawing his plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty of murder. The cases against Faulkner and Caldwell were dismissed.
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We make war that we may live in peace. -Aristotle
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 14, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 407
In last week's T&T we had a 1958 picture of the congregation standing on the north side (last week I said south side, but its the north side) of the Stobtown Freewill Baptist Church north of Lone Grove. Since several Readers wanted to see the faces in the photo, yes, one even said he was in the photo, I uploaded the 900k file to my website. The larger file will let anyone see the faces of the individuals very easily, even the faces in the church's windows. This is a large file, so if you're on a slow as molasses dial-up modem, it may take a few minutes to download. <----- Click Here
Kenneth Updike has been out running around Oklahoma with his digital camera. He's snapped some pics of threes bells in Oklahoma. This first bell is at the Coalgate, Oklahoma Presbyterian Church. <----- Click Here
This second bell Ken took a picture of is located in the town of Verden. Its at the First Baptist Church of Verden. Verden is located west of Chickasaw on the Caddo/Grady county line. <----- Click Here
And thirdly, this bell is in Carter county, far west end of the county at the Reck Cemetery. Reck is about 5 miles south of Highway 70 and 76. The Reck school used to be across the road from the cemetery, and this is where this bell used to be, at the school. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
A Reader sent me a pic of her 1962 Wilson, Oklahoma teacher, Mrs Exie Harvey. Also in the criterion's page is another Wilson teacher, Mrs. Jessie Pass. <----- Click Here
Will Rogers was first an Indian, a cowboy, then a national figure. He now is a legend. <----- Click Here
The longest multiple arch dam (Pensacola Dam) in the world (built in 1940) is located near Langley, Oklahoma. Length: 5680 ft. length of shore line: 1000 miles <----- Click Here
The free program UltraShredder V3.0.0 shreds files by overwriting them 199 times with random characters, saving it to disk each time, and then bypasses the recycle bin. If the file were to be recovered by a restoration program, they would only be able to see unintelligible characters on disk where the file used to be. The program is very small with a minute memory footprint, and makes no changes to your system whatsoever. <----- Click Here
A T&T Reader wrote in this week, suggesting changing a street name in Ardmore to Will Rogers Drive. You can find his email in the mailbag below, and even vote on the proposition.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch: After WW2 started, I was going to the NYA welding school in Ardmore and lived in Healdton. In driving back and forth to school and back to home, I remember a very small sign on the north side of the highway that said Stobtown with a small arrow pointing to the north. After all these years, I still remember that little bitty sign board." -Lavin Farrar, Nampa, Idaho, mudflap4@rmci.net
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Dear T&T, I may be able to help Pat McKee (or anyone else) out with his Dawes Rolls Problem. I have about 8 1/2 years tied up in research of the Dawes and the Applications. We also have a group on Yahoo dedicated to the Dawes. You can link to the group from one of the links below." -Richard Alleman <----- Click Here
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"Butch, here is a link to get military service records for family members or anyone that wants old military records. It easy to use." <----- Click Here
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"In your recent T & T, if found a reference (dated March 6, 1914) to BROWN & BRIDGMAN undertaking rooms. Do you know of any records remain for this period of their operation. My research leads me to believe my grandfather (Robert Moore) probably died in Carter County during this time frame. If so, someone had to care for his body, until my grandmother was notified and came ( from Pittsburg/Latimer County area ) to "bury him". Any enlighten you may offer will be greatly appreciated." -Ida Moore Elliott ndalle@texhoma.net
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I came across this wonderful description by a pioneer settler arriving in Ardmore in 1889. -Mark Coe"Father met us at the depot, and on the way to our new home we saw a public well and watering trough in the middle of Main Street. I remember how my sister and I gazed at the cowboys standing at the well with their ten-gallon hats, black-and-white checkered shirts, and slant-heeled boots. The spot seemed to be attractive to the town's hogs, also, as they had made a wallowing ground around the trough. Before reaching home we saw our first rattlesnake and prairie chickens. The first winter we were visited by a fierce, mangy herd of wild horses that stayed near our house for quite a while, snorting and pitching and making it unsafe for us children to venture outside."
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PARKING METER. Conceptualized in 1932 by Oklahoma Cityan Carl C. Magee, the parking meter was a modern solution to a modern vexation, parking congestion. Carl C. Magee arrived in Oklahoma City from New Mexico in 1927. In his former life he had worked as a reporter for an Albuquerque newspaper, exposed the Teapot Dome scandal, and testified against Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall. Magee was later arrested for manslaughter in an altercation with a New Mexico judge but was acquitted. Surviving these episodes, he came to Oklahoma City to start a newspaper, the Oklahoma News. Traffic congestion problems in 1920s and 1930s Oklahoma City typified those of most major American cities of the day. In Oklahoma in 1913 there had been an estimated three thousand cars; by 1930 there were five hundred thousand, most of which were registered in Oklahoma County and the capital city. The problem was that people who worked downtown occupied all of the parking spots every day, forcing retail customers to park far away from stores. The city had placed time limits on parking, with enforcement performed by traffic police who chalked tires, marked time, and gave tickets on hourly rounds. The parking situation came under scrutiny by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce in 1932. Appointed chair of the Traffic Committee, Magee assumed the task of solving the problem. Magee decided that the situation required the invention of a small, windable, inexpensively made, mechanical device to "time" the use of each parking space. In 1932 he designed and built a crude model and on December 21, 1932, filed for a patent. In order to refine the concept and build a real working prototype, he joined forces with the Oklahoma State University Engineering Department. Together, they sponsored a design competition with prize money of $160 for the winning design and $240 for the submission of a working model. The contest ran from February 17 to May 6, 1933. While several students built models, unfortunately none of the submissions was acceptable. Professor H. G. Thuesen joined the project soon afterward and enlisted the help of Gerald A. Hale, former engineering student and 1927 OSU graduate. For the new model, dubbed the "Black Maria," they created the interior parts; a local plumber made the exterior shell. By late 1933 McGee, Thuesen, and Hale began looking for a manufacturer. The MacNick Company of Tulsa, makers of timing devices used to explode nitroglycerine in oil wells, contracted to manufacture the unit. On July 16, 1935, 175 meters were installed and tested on fourteen blocks in Oklahoma City, and when the system proved successful, the city placed meters all over downtown. Magee then raised money from 125 businessmen and incorporated the Dual Parking Meter Company, with offices in the Commerce and Exchange Building, Oklahoma City. The units were first trademarked as the "Dual" and later as the "Park-O-Meter," under patents held by Magee. After World War II a new organization, Magee-Hale Park-O-Meter Company, manufactured the product in Oklahoma City, and Dual was sold to an Ohio company. The impact of the parking meter was threefold. First, it straightened out Oklahoma City's parking problem. Second, it brought revenue into the city coffers through meter money (a nickel an hour) and parking fines (a twenty-dollar fine for each violation). Third, it stimulated a huge growth in the assessed valuation of downtown commercial property. Carl C. Magee had started a trend, and parking meters sprang up in cities across the nation. BIBLIOGRAPHY: LeRoy H. Fisher and Robert E. Smith, "Oklahoma and the Parking Meter," The Chronicles of Oklahoma 48 (Autumn1970). H. G. Thuesen, "Reminiscences of the Development of the Parking Meter," The Chronicles of Oklahoma 45 (Summer 1967). <----- Click Here
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"The postcard photo of Main Street in your January 12 issue of T&T is quite interesting. You mentioned that the photo must be before 1918 because the Colston Building does not appear. The street car tracks are another hint. Street car service began in 1907, so we know the photo is between 1907 and 1918." -Mark Coe <----- Click Here
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"I was wondering if any readers remember a good number of music stores in downtown Ardmore before we had G&G on N. Washington. There were several places which sold organs, pianos, and other instruments. There was Luke's up on West Main, and one near Daubes on East Main, I think the name was Chenoweth & Green. (sp.??) I remember when growing up I would hear people tell of remembering Luke's would peddle organs and pianos throughout the county and maybe other areas. I was very young, and the people telling that were up in age. I was wondering what brands of instruments were carried, and etc. There used to be articles in The Daily Ardmoreite about a piano recital being held in town. I remember when there were numerous piano teachers in town, and they would often take their students to contests in Durant as well as other places. It seems I never hear or read of any piano students going to recitals and/or contests. Does anyone care to enlighten many of us regarding what and how or if many young people are playing piano these days? I know the schools do a wonderful job with band and orchestral instruments, but I am just curious about keyboards especially piano. I know electronic keyboards seem to have replaced electronic organs as well as pianos in many instances. Can anyone go anywhere in Ardmore and buy a new regular piano these days?By the way, I remember the Community Band ---- way back when they played for the public in the Civic Auditorium. This band was volunteer and was open to anyone who wanted to play. It seems Mr. Raymond Gabbard directed this band at one time, and I hope some other names come up also. I even remember Ardmore had a Community Chorus which was directed by Mrs. M. Rawlins, and they had some great programs. I remember as a small youngster one of their Christmas programs singing the Carol of the Bells. I thought that was most fascinating as I had never heard that piece before. I was very small, but that song really caught my attention."
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"Butch, Here I thought that being retired from electronics since 1988 that I would have forgotten every thing but I understood every word on that site about Light Bulbs. You took me down memory lane with those Photo's from Lawton OK. I was stationed at Fort Sill from 61 to 64. I knew all the people who put on the Easter Passion Play and easter sunrise program in the Holy City. I volunteered to play Joseph in 1964 after many rehearsals just short of dress rehearsal I got orders for Germany and had to bow out, missed my big chance for stardom." -P Poindexter <----- Click Here
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"Butch: You have been talking about barbeque in recent issues. There is a new barbeque place in NE Ardmore that you may not be aware of. It has been open less than 3 months. I checked it out earlier this week and both the ribs and beef are excellent. The place is:Mr. J's Barbeque
(Phone in and carry-out only)
417 East Main
226-4422
It is open Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat until 11:00, Wed until 6, closed Sunday and Monday. The owner is the Rev. Virgil Jones, Jr., an associate pastor of the Tabernacle of Praise Church. I don't believe anyone will be disappointed with the food. In addition to the barbeque selections: ribs, pulled pork, sliced pork, sliced or chipped brisket (sandwiches, slabs, dinners), he also has a great Pecan and/or Sweet Potato pie. Do your taste buds a favor and give Mr. J's a try." -Len Mitchell
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"Butch-- What ever happen to the old Criner Ranch, located about three miles southwest of Plainview school, in Ardmore. There supposed to have been oil wells drilled there, is it oil fields now, and does it belong to Criner heirs."
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"I was wondering about the possibility of renaming Mt. Washington Road. Since the school that it was named after, is no longer in existance, and the fact that we have a Washington street, it just stands to reason to end the confusion. People who are strangers to Ardmore could be driving north on Washington Street and turn west on Monroe street in front of Will Rogers School and the next street they see is Mt. Washington. Why not call it Will Rogers Drive, since it starts at the school? Let's get some input from the public about this." -Howard Robinson, Ardmore <----- Click Here
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The Daily Ardmoreite, November 26, 1905
A Good Officer
The announcement that Deputy J.B. JONES had resigned was received with regret in Ardmore and at Cornish where he has been located. The people were indeed sorry to see this faithful and efficient officer quit. Mr. Jones has proven to be one of the very best officers in the service of the government and he did much to rid his section of the bad men that gave trouble. He has brought as many if not more offenders of the law to Ardmore as any other deputy in the service. He treated criminals with kindness, but he enforced the law rigorously in his section and for his faithful duties he has won the respect and confidence of the Cornish community. He was one of the most popular officers employed by Marshal Colbert.New winter goods ready for your selection at STOLFA'S, the tailor.
You will please keep in mind that there are no more closets cleaned at twenty-five cents, except those of widow ladies and that is done on condition that they send the money to me. If my collector has to hunt them up, it is fifty cents. If you will leave the fifty cents at home, you will do me a great favor. Yours for business S.J. BOYD
The Majestic steel range is stove perfection. Nothing can equal it. Sold by BIVENS, CORHN & FRENSLY
U.T. REXROAT has returned from the oil fields where he remained for several days. He says the Santa Fe now has 100-barrel well and is putting in a number of new rigs.
Basket Supper There will be a basket supper Nov. 30 at the home of MRS. LIZZIE PITTMAN on Carter Street. Young men bring your girls, and young ladies, bring your baskets. Everybody invited. For the benefit of the South Baptist Church.
MISS EUGENIA POTTER of Dallas is in the city attending the bedside of her aunt, MRS. E.E. GUILLOT
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November 29, 1905
Loco
EVERY CROOKS of Mountain Grove said a MR. SULLIVAN of Center Point entered the Loco academy last week.Mr. DURLING'S house is nearing completion
J.M. ROBBERSON has returned from West Texas, where he located the 2 (+?) mules that were stolen from him and shipped to Texas some time ago. We predict that some one will have the opportunity of breaking into the "pen" soon, where mules are not easily secured.
MRS. W.H. RADER and daughter, MISS MATTIE EWING, went to Comanche Friday.
Traveling men who make this town say we have the best town between Santa Fe and Rock Island railroads.
MR. DOTSON was here Friday doing some surveying for MR. LEFTWICH.
W.E. O'NEAL, MRS. O'NEAL, MISS EMMA ADAMS AND MISS ABBIE HALL of Loco academy, attended the M.E.A. at Alma last Friday and Saturday. They report having had a splendid time and were royally entertained by the Alma people.
Elk
POOL & MAJORS have just put in an 80-horse-power boiler at their gin here to replace one which exploded.MR. POOL'S new two-story residence is completed and makes quite an addition to our town.
The trustees are making some much needed improvements to the school house. PROF. BOOTH'S school will soon be full of students.
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November 30, 1905
Cemetery Notice
To all persons interested notice is hereby given that the town council of the incorporated town of Marietta, Indian Territory, did on the 25th day of August, 1905, enter into a contract with G.A. STARRET for the mutual exchange of titles to the old and new cemeteries situated near the town to procure the removal of all bodies now buried in the old cemetery before the first day of April, 1907. All persons having relatives buried in the old original cemetery of said town are hereby notified and requested to make arrangements as early as possible to have the same removed to the new cemetery, each person so removing being entitled to a deed to a lot in the new cemetery free of charge. B.C. LOGSDON, Mayor & F.H. SHERWOOD, Recorder
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December 1, 1905
School Ma'ams Aroused
PRINCIPAL OF COMANCHE SCHOOLS STIRS UP A HORNET'S NEST.
Lawton, OK--"You can't do two things at once; you can't teach successfully and prepare for matrimony at the same time--to try to do so is to lead a double life and obtain your salary dishonestly." Such are statements made by Prof. TOM REYNOLDS, principal of Comanche, I.T., school during a speech made at the Rock Island Teachers' Association held at Marlow recently. The result is he has brought upon himself in hay-stack heaps the ill feeling and animated animosity of all the unmarried female pedagogues of this section of the universe.
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December 8, 1905
WRECKED BY DYNAMITE
Sherman, TX--The explosion of forty-two sticks of dynamite at a telephone construction camp near Saddler this morning completely obliterated the camp and the three men who occupied it were badly hurt, one being in a precarious, probably dying condition. The injured men are: BARNEY McCARTHY, both legs broken, one in three places, the other in two; bone of right arm shattered, severe bruises and burns over body and face and nose broken. W.R. ELLIOTT, face severely burned and right leg badly bruised. A number of painful cuts over body. JIM WRIGHT, badly shaken and bruised, burned about face and right arm lacerated.The men are employed on the North Texas construction between Sherman and Gainesville and are members of a force in the employ of ROBERTS and STICHT. An attempt to thaw out the explosive caused the disaster. The men stepped away from the tent for a few minutes and on returning found a stick of the explosive on fire. McCARTHY, no knowing the result of a sudden jar or chill upon the stuff, seized a bucket of water and dashed it upon the blazing stick and in a second the explosion came.
McCARTHY and WRIGHT were prostrated but ELLIOTT was blown bodily over a willow tree. The tent was completely obliterated and what was not blown away was set on fire. McCARTHY was taken to St. Vincents's hospital and others to their home in this city.
Notes From Duncan
Attorney E.L. BLACKBURN of Corsicana TX is here today investigating oil in South Duncan.Hon. W.I. GILBERT is attending district court at Chickasha this week.
Cards are out announcing the marriage of W.L BUMPASS to MISS LENORA FROST
JOHN COUSINS of Tyler TX is prospecting in Duncan with a view of locating.
J.G. MILLER visited OKC the first of the week. His daughter, MYRTLE, who was attending school there, came home with him. His other daughter, LIZZIE, will return home next Friday and remain until after the holidays.
W.L. TERRY of Gorman TX has bought half interest in the MILLER & NEWLAND grocery business. He will take charge about the first of the year.
W.M. GATES & BRO. will open a gents' furnishing store here about the first of the year.
DR. CONGER and FRANK FUQUA are building three nice residences on their farm four miles east of town.
L.T. WEAVER has returned home from a three weeks' visit to his ranch at Big Springs, TX
DR. W.T. HOWELL is confined to his bed with la grippe
Chickasaw Capital--AMOS HAYS was elected senator from Pontotoc county to the Chickasaw legislature at the special election Saturday to succeed SAMPSON JOHNSON
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December 11, 1905
Wynnewood's New Postmaster
Recently the town of Wynnewood lost its postmaster. After his death two or three persons made application for the place. Each made the fight interesting for the others and in the final wind-up DR. E.E. NOVELL secured the place. DR. NORVELL is not only popular with his party, but is popular with the people as a whole. Dr. Norvell was born in Batesville, AR, Sept 6, 1872. He is a graduate of the North Arkansas College and is also a graduate of the medical department of the Vanderbuilt University. In 1898, he was appointed postmaster at Britton, TX by President McKinley. He moved to Wynnewood in October of 1900. Dr. Norvell has always been active in Republican politics and has made many friends.Notes From Duncan
A large 3-story brick hotel is planned for and will be built here in the near future. It will take 3 good hotels to meet requirements in our town.
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December 17, 1905
Comanche Cullings
A Few Items from the Hustling City on the Western BorderSince the signing of the contract with the board of directors securing the Oklahoma & Texas railroad, Comanche real estate has been changing hands rapidly and at a greatly advanced price.
There is from thirty to forty handsome new residences going up in Comanche and at present it is impossible to get carpenters enough to do the work that is demanded.
The machinery of the Chickasaw Pressed Brick Plant has arrived and a large force of hands are now at work putting the machinery in position. MESSRS. QUITT and CAMERON hope to have the plant in full operation by the first of January.
J.F. WAYMIRE will move his pressed brick plant here from Addington and with the plant here that he already owns and operates will give Comanche a pressed brick output of 75,000 pressed brick daily. The weekly payroll when these three plants are in operation will be approximately $1,500 per week.
The contract has been let for our new $7,000 hotel and work will be pushed rapidly until the building is completed and opened to the public. MESSRS. PATTY and HAWHEE are the proprietors.
B.E. MASSEY'S new brick business house is nearing completion. It is a building 32x120 and when completed will be one of the largest buildings in Comanche.
Comanche's three large gins have been entirely inadequate to handle the cotton that came here this year and the contracts have been signed for the erection of two more large gins, making us five of the best gins in the Chickasaw Nation, and it will require their combined efforts to keep up with the immense amount of cotton that comes here.
E.O. BENSON and family of Rhode Island are now on their way to Comanche, so writes Mr. Benson. Mr. Benson is the proprietor of the ice plant and is coming to commence work on the buildings for the plant. The machinery has been here several months and the operators have been temporarily held up pending the completion by the factory of the boiler for the large engine that will be required to run the plant. Cold storage and an ice cream factory will also be a part of the business.
Arrangements have been completed whereby Comanche is to have a complete system of waterworks within the next year. The franchise for the same will be taken up by the city council in a few weeks.
The Methodist-Protestant church people will erect a handsome new church house here during the coming summer.
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D.A. HERRING, to whom the last gas franchise was issued by the city council has returned from the east where he has been for some time on business in connection with the establishing of the gas plant here. Mr. Herring stated yesterday that the piping for the gas had been shipped out of Philadelphia and that he was expecting to get the supplies in a short time. When asked whether he would supply the city from the gas well at Wheeler, he replied that he had made no arrangement with the owners of gas wells at that place, and that leases had already been taken on most of the wells there. He said that work would begin at once, when the supplies arrived.
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One- fourth off on boys knee pants suits at D.J. TREADWELL & CO.
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The brick work has been begun on the two-story building for T.L. HOLLAND and MRS. PITTMAN, just south of the city hall. A 1-story building will be erected between that and the city hall. This building would also be built two-stories only that the city has a contract with the owners not to build over a one-story building against the hall as it would cut off the light, this building will probably be built two stories in the future. The two story building will be the largest store house in the city off Main street.
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During holiday week fire hazard increases more than 100 percent. Insure your home today with WALCOTT & MULKEY
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"Live your life so that whenever you lose, you're ahead." -Will Rogers, Okahoman
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 12, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 406
I'm all smiles when I get something I wasnt expecting in the mail. I remember as a kid reading the back of cereal boxes, and saving the box tops or whatever was required, just so I could order something, and wait weeks in anticipation of that package. This week I received a brown manila envelope in the mail, and inside was a booklet printed in 1981. The name booklet is named 'The Tree Tracers' and its published by the Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society of Lawton, Oklahoma. Of course in the booklet has the usual cemetery records of Lawton and Comanche county, a store house of info. But in the center of its 115 pages is 14 pages of the 1894 Business Directory of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Wow! Some really great stuff! Its called the Dobson Directory and list all of the businesses of Ardmore by groups along with many company ads, plus local historical info. In the weeks to come I'll be sharing some of the info from this old directory in my T&Ts. <----- Click Here
Here is a scan of a "Deacon's Certificate" belonging to Lamar Howell (1914-1969) of Lone Grove. He received his certificate in 1933 from the Free Will Baptist Church at Enterprise, Oklahoma. The Enterprise area was just northwest of Lone Grove where the Enterprise school used to be located. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
This is a 1923 photo of Enterprise school where Lamar Howell went to school. Lamar would have been about 9 years old when this photo was taken, so he just may will be in this group of students. Around 1930 Lamar owned a service station at D and 2nd NW here in Ardmore. <----- Click Here
This 1958 photo is shows the members of the Stobtown Freewell Baptist Church standing on the north side of the church building. Stobtown is north of Lone Grove on North Meridian Road. In the scan I did of this photo, all the people's faces could be seen very clearly, and also there was at least one person standing in each of the windows along the building. This pic has been reduced in size. <----- Click Here
One more down, two more to go. I received a picture this week of Carter County Sheriff Willis Tennyson. He served two terms as sheriff from 1943 to 1947. Following Tennyson was two more sheriffs I do not have pics of, Howard Johnston and Jack Powledge. If you know where a picture of either one of these lawmen might be, please let me know. <----- Click Here
Speaking of law enforcement, most of us have had a taste at one time or another of those hated parking tickets. I remember in the early 1960s my grandfather Carmon and I went to Dallas. He parked somewhere downtown, and when we came out, there was a parking ticket. Since we lived in Oklahoma, he just threw it away. Of course today whe all the computers, a person can't get away with that, you will be found. Anyway, some of you will remember those deposit boxes below the parking meters in Ardmore..... where you dropped the fine money in, if you didnt want to contest it in court. Here is a 1975 Ardmore Police parking ticket. No, it is not mine. LOL <----- Click Here
Mt Washington School was just north of Ardmore proper, on Mt Washington Road. The school is no longer there, so its now just some photos and memory of those who attended the school. Here is the 1944 Commencement Exercise from Mt Washington. Attached to and behind the commencement is the baccalaureate program, but I was afraid to separate/bend/fold it so I could scan it. <----- Click Here
We have a few Readers in the Poolville area. Here is a picture of the Poolville school. Its sure got a nice looking belfry above the entranceway. I wonder where that bell is now? Maybe someone will remember where the school was located and let us know. <----- Click Here
This is of downtown Ardmore with all the townspeople in the streets. I know it was before 1918 because the Colston Building is not shown. On the south side where the Colston building is, thats where Ardmore City Hall used to be located along with the water department. The 3 story building on the left is at South Washington and Main. I believe this was the buiding damaged during the tornado of 1946 and had to be torn down. Maybe someone can fill us in on this 3 story building. The photo was published by Hoffman Drug Co. <----- Click Here
I stumbled on some great pics of Mt Scott by Lawton, Oklahoma on webshots.com this week. I dont know who's photo album, but glad they put the photos online. Also a pic of the Lake Hefner lighthouse, and photos of the prairie dogs near Lawton are good ones. They may not live near Lawton anymore though, but may have been transplanted to the Ft Worth? If someone knows, write back and tell us. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
If you ever did wondered why light bulbs burn out, here is a webpage dedicated to that question. This info page even goes into what is the best kind of light bulb to buy and a lot more details. <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hi Butch, When I was a teenager, my younger brother and I used to ride the Santa Fe Chief from Ardmore north to Perry Oklahoma several times a year. We ate or had a snack in the diner -- and we noted that the conductors had their own special dialect. Wish I could spell the names of the towns phonetically the way they said them. I recall Paulllllllllllllllls Valley - with 'Pauls' drawn out and low, and 'Valley' higher and much faster. I also recall the Community Concerts here in Ardmore. But my recollection is that they were at what we now call Heritage Hall. (Was it the Civic Auditorium?} Anyway, a special treat for us was when we got to hear the Ames Brothers sing -- long before Ed Ames went solo."
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1911 ..... Sulphur, Oklahoma- County court records and the county seal were stolen several times from one side of town to the other until the East side courthouse was dynamited. The problems were finally resolved and East and West Sulphur buried a hatchet and horseshoe (on display in the Sulphur museum) in Washington Bridge spanning Rock Creek. <----- Click Here
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"Speaking of wonderful teachers-I would like to mention Mrs. Jessie Pass, my first grade teacher from Wilson, and Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Patton from Plainview Home Economics teachers.Weren't ALL our teachers caring and wonderful?" -Jo Summers
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OBIT - JOHNSON, Jerry Noel, 57
Idaho Press- Tribune, January 8, 2005
Jerry Noel JOHNSON, 57, of Star, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, at the Relyea Funeral Chapel 318 N. Latah Street, Boise, Idaho. Interment will follow at the Meridian Cemetery. Arrangements are under direction of the Relyea Funeral Chapel. Jerry was born July 28, 1947, in Ardmore, Okla., to Earl O. JOHNSON and Jessie P. WILLIAMS. He married Kittina M. MARKHAM on Oct. 13, 1976. They raised their two daughters, Christy and Adria. Jerry was a Baptist minister until he retired due to health reasons in 1997. He spent the remainder of his years enjoying his two grandsons, Justen and Trenten He is survived by his wife, Tina; children, Christy and her husband, Steve, and Adria and her husband, James; sister, Delores; brother, Syahniel; as well as many other extended family members. He will be missed by all, including his close companion, Dog. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Red Cross in memory of Jerry.
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"Liked the articles about Bob and the Texas Playboys. Can remember lying in bed there in Davis and hearing them play for the adults in the "old barn dance" building just west of where Ballard's Dairy Queen was built. Seemed like the music went on for hours before we would fall off to sleep. On another note, on my last trip back to Oklahoma this past summer was privileged to sit next to Mister Maxwell of Maxwell Motors of Pauls Valley. Bought my first new car from him in December 1963 - Ford Galaxy 500 - two door automatic - V8 - wrote out a check for it and had it delivered to me in Davis on my 21st Birthday by the late Jockey Ayers. During our conversation Mister Maxwell informed me that elderly Mister Ballard was still making Burgers at the Dairy Queen their in Pauls Valley on occasion. Now that was a walk down memory lane for the both of us."
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Oklahoma ghost towns
<----- Click Here
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"Butch I like getting the T&T more often."
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microsoft anti spyware free program
<----- Click Here
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"Butch - I would like to find someone in Ardmore that is interested in repairing donated electronic equipment, then giving it back to needy people in the Ardmore and surrounding area. I, myself, have several pieces that are too good to throw away, but have minor problems. After seeing the fellow on the news that did this with bicycles, I thought if someone could do this with radios and CD players, etc., they could have a lot to give away by next Christmas." dddollar@sbcglobal.net
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"I have sent you this link to view, told you the north west (England) always gets battered with the gales etc, when I looked out this morning I saw neighbours fences blown over, trees uprooted, tv aerials blown down, and damage to my property some roof tiles have blown off, and funnily I have just been watching a film called 'A Man Who Sued God' because the insurance companies wont pay out for weather damage, saying it is an act of God!" <----- Click Here
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"As far as I am concerned, Dieter Brothers Bar-B-Que in Lindsey, TX is the best around these parts. My wife Nettie, and I and Jimmie and Larry Simpson drive from Sherman about once a month to eat there, and it is well worth the miles to eat there. We have seen folks from as far away as Ardmore and Davis eating there also. Best regards." -Scott Bumgarner
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"Speaking of Christmas photos of Ardmore. Does anyone have a picture or two of the Daube's Department Store window with all the marionettes? When we were little that was a Christmas tradition to walk down the sidewalks of Main Street to look at the Daube's windows. It was so cool and I swear that I took my son there, too, when he was little. When did they stop putting up the display? And what happened to it? Someone should try to track it down and maybe put in it their window. It'd bring back memories for a lot of folks and maybe start a new tradition for the youngsters." -Kathi George, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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The Library of Congress is posting 2,240 Civil War maps and charts and 76 atlases and sketchbooks, while The Virginia Historical Society and the Library of Virginia are adding about 600 items. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050110/ap_on_re_us/civil_war_maps
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"I have a relative that is on the Dawes rolls but didn't show a roll number. Has anyone done any research that can point me in the right direction. The relative lived in the Caddo area according to the Dawes rolls." -Pat McKee mck530@aol.com
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The Daily Ardmoreite, March 1, 1914
WOLF WAS FINED FIFTY DOLLARS and Given Some Good Advice By MAYOR ROBERTS In Police Court Yesterday he was registered at the police station, and in addition to his regular name, he publicly announced on the streets of the city Friday night that he was a Pennsylvania Wolf, and wanted room in which to properly howl when the spirit, or rather the spirits, moved him. He wandered into a local drug store and insisted upon a perfect stranger smoking with him. When informed by the stranger that smoking was not one of his bad habits, he whipped out a young cannon, jabbed the muzzle into the waist line of the stranger and told him that he wanted to see some incense arise. This started a young stampede that was ended at the Royal theatre, where he created more consternation by the display of his six gun and women and children made a hasty exit. About this time he ran afoul of a policeman who proceeded to put a crimp in his hilarity and he was landed in the city bastile behind the cold bars of a cell. Yesterday morning he was in a repentant mood and pleaded guilty to charges of carrying a gun and disturbing the peace, and was fined twenty-five dollars in each case, which was paid. He went back to the oil fields a sadder, wiser, and poorer man to the extent of the above amount.PERSONALS
Those mentioned in the city of Ardmore yesterday:
F.H. JOHNSON of Durant
G.H. LLOYD of Sulphur
HENRY MORRISON of Durant
J.W. HALL of Bennington
PORTER NEWMAN and C.P. ABBOTT of Durant
H.E. DRIDER of Mannsville
W.C. GEERS, VANE BENNETT and W.T. WARD of Tishomingo
J.M. DAVIS of Sulphur
DR. DOW TAYLOR of Woodford
W.H. WILLIAMS of Pauls Valley
A.O. WOLF of Springer
N.L. HALE of Davis
O.J. STAMP and J. LEE of Wapanucka
J.R. SHANNON of Wynnewood
J.H. WHITE of Mannsville
HOTEL QUESTION IS POPULAR
The announcement that CHARLEY FRALEY would build a hotel at the corner of Broadway and A street, NE, appearing in the issue of Friday, was good news to many citizens of this city because they realize that Charley Fraley usually does what he sets out to do, and at present he has made up his mind that a hotel is a necessity that he must furnish.ADV---DYER BROS. Transfer and Storage
We move anything, including houses .................. Phone 294 (There is a picture with this ad of a large flat bed wagon with a team of mules hitched to it.)March 2, 1914 TWO CAME FROM DUNCAN
BILLIE KELTNER and CARL FRENSLEY arrived here today from Duncan. Mr. Frensley is a son of R.B. FRENSLEY, one of the pioneer merchants of Ardmore. He was born in this city and has come back here to make this place his home. He is a cousin to the FRENSLEY boys of this city. MR. KELTNER is also looking for a location. He went to Madill this afternoon and will visit Wilson and the oil fields and will come back to Ardmore on another investigating trip. He does not know where he will locate, but thinks better of Ardmore than any other place. Mr. Keltner has been a merchant for a number of years, and is a conservative business man.You had better buy a home in Ardmore while prices are right. See R.T. DALLAS, phone 504
TO TRADE--Three residence lots in Boulder CO., for Ardmore property. HENRY FULTON, Phone 696
FOR SEED SWEET POTATOES write W.C. MORGAN, Mustang, OK
CITY LOANS--Long time, low rates, best contract. Phone 96 O.M. REDFIELD or A.C. BAGBY
CITY LOANS--In the Georgia State Buying Assn. See E.E. GUILLOT, No 9 N. Washington St.
I SELL AND RENT TYPEWRITERS and handle ribbons, carbon paper, oil, etc. G.P.
SELVIDGE Phone 310
PERSONALS
Those visiting Ardmore today
H.C. CHOWNING and W.H. LAWRENCE of Madill
W.M. FULTON of Durwood
W.S. HATHWAY of Tishomingo
G.B. AKERS of Woodford
A. PALMER of Davis
F.B. PITTS of Durant
A.E. MALDEN of Marietta
H.E. BROULLARD of Wapanuoka
C.L. SMALLEY of Cornish
FRED CHILDRESS of Ada
J.R. ALLEN is preparing to open a stock exchange in the Mackey Telegraph office building for the purpose of dealing in local oil stock.
COLEMAN and LASHER have moved from the old courthouse building now being overhauled by its owner, JOCK BAIRD, to the ground floor of the Noble Building, in the rear of Young's Furniture Store.
Royal Arch Masons, Ardmore Chapter No. 11 R.A.M. will meet tonight at 7:30...G.H. BRUCE, H.P. and J.L. GALT, Sec.
MASTER GEORGE SAYRE is reported much better. He has been ill with la grippe.
MISS MAMIE DAVIS is spending a few days in Sherman, the guest of friends.
MRS. ED ALLEN entertains tomorrow afternoon all the members of the Christian Aid Society and their friends at her home on North Washington.
Healdton---Several new stores are going up out in the field and out there they report good trade. ZAN WILLIAMS will get his share of the trade, so they say.
MR. APPLE, J.B. SPRAGINS and many others were out yesterday.
The infant of T.F. Blevins was buried here this week.
MRS. HETTIE COLLINS is home after quite a visit to Ardmore.
MISS LUCILLE ORME is visiting relatives in Pauls Valley.
The rig is about ready for work here near the town.
S.M. TYER is making a full-hand in the store of MR. ORME.
CIGAR STAND IN COURTHOUSE
MRS. BERTHA BRYANT has obtained permission from the board of county commissioners to open a cigar and news stand in the lobby of the county courthouse and this will be done within a few days.ADV--WRIGLEY'S SPEARMINT PEPSIN GUM 20-5 cent packages for 85 cents
March 4, 1914
POST OFFICE NOW AT WILSON
New Wilson is the name of the post office located 20 miles west of Ardmore on the Ringling-Hamon road. LAWRENCE DUNLAP, brother to ERRET DUNLAP, of this city, was named as the first postmaster of the new town some weeks ago. Heretofore the post office has been at Hewitt, located a mile away, and the citizens of Wilson have had to hire some one to carry their mail to them. The name of New Wilson does not attract like the plain old name Wilson. Twenty years from now New Wilson will not sound good, but for some reason the post office department at Washington put the prefix to the name, and CHARLEY WILSON who is now in Sarasota, Fla., and for whom the town was named, ought to get the name changed back to just plain Wilson.COUNTY FARM TO BE SOLD
The board of county commissioners will offer the poor farm for sale to the highest bidder and will dispose of their large farm north of town. After the selling of the large farm a patch of ten acres will be purchased, a good house will be built and the poor of the county will be cared for on a small patch rather than upon a large farm. This statement was made last night by G.W. YOUNG of Berwyn, who is a member of the county board. Mr. Young says the farm is operated at too much loss. It is too large for the county to handle at a profit and a smaller tract of land and better improvements will be the plan of the present board. The county farm is a very fine piece of property. The land produces well, it is in a high state of cultivation. Some good crops were made last year, but with all that the board, it seems, does not feel justified in keeping the property. It could be made into an ideal dairy or truck farm and ought to sell well, when the commissioners are ready to put it on the market.PERSONALS
MRS. JOHN CARLOCK returned today from a visit with relatives in Fort Worth.
A.M. GOOCH, representing the Colorado Life Insurance company is here from Hartshorne, visiting with V. ROY SHORES and transacting business.
MR. and MRS. J.D. DIXON, who have been visiting with MRS. DIXON'S sister, MRS. WM. FIELDBINDER, for a few days, has returned home.
Those in the city today: CAL STEWART of Holder
J.W. HALL of Bennington
F.H. JOHNSON of Durant
M.S. STIDHAM of Atlee
T.J. WHITE of Mannsville
ATTORNEY HENRY W. CARR of Pauls Valley
ED NEIL of Lindsay
DR. A.E. DAVENPORT from Oklahoma City
MISS SARAH ADAMS, who has been trading leases since the oil fields were opened is sick at her room at the Whittington hotel. She is quite ill and will probably be moved to the Hardy Sanitarium.
S.S. TOLSON, the congenial clerk at the Whittington is taking a layoff for a few days, and L.W. STOUDER is doing the day work and ED DRENNAN is on duty at nights.
E. HARDING, the commercial agent of the Rock Island, is here from McAlester.
W.G. DITZLER, who resides at Norman, was here last night mingling with the oil crowds. Mr. Ditzler is now on the road and his family resides at the seat of the state university, where his children are in school.
WALTER FREEMAN has leased the Sammons Lumber yard building on Washington street and will open a garage.
MRS. JOE WILLIFORD is suffering an attack of pneumonia.
C.M. McCLAIN, the man for whom McClain county, Oklahoma, was named, is in the city visiting his son.
W.S. MORRIS, of Wichita Falls, who has been spending the winter in Fort Worth, is in the city for a few days, the guest of ARTHUR and HOMER ADAMS.
MRS. JOHN L. GALT and daughter, FLORENCE, leave today for Spring Place, GA., where they were called by the serious illness of MRS. GALT'S mother.
DR. N.L. HALE of Davis was in the city today on business.
OTIS COFFEY of Lone Grove was here today.
HEALDTON OILFIELD MAPS --For Sale-- Also Township Plats --JEWELL WHITTINGTON at the Whittington Hotel
March 6, 1914
ANOTHER KILLING LAST NIGHT
As the result of a difficulty that took place near the union depot late last night, CLARENCE SEELEY lies died (sic) at the undertaking rooms of BROWN AND BRIDGMAN, and his brother-in-law, TOM HUTCHINS, is in the county jail. Just what the difficulty was about no one knows but the principal, who has made no statement. There were no eye-witnesses to the killing and the defendant has said nothing to enlighten the officers. After the shooting, HUTCHINS was brought to the county jail by an officer who was close by at the time and placed in jail. The killing was done with an automatic pistol and the victim was hit three times. The preliminary hearing of HUTCHINS will probably be had tomorrow, according to a statement of COUNTY ATTORNEY BLEAKMORE.COMING FROM DUNCAN
BILLIE KELTNER, who has been here several days from Duncan, has about decided to locate here and go into the retail grocery business. MR. KELTNER is an old time citizen of Indian Territory and has many acquaintances and friends in and around Ardmore.ROBERT F. SCIVALLY and family will move here next Monday from Springer. Mr. Scivally has purchased the W.A. LEDBETTER home on North Washington street, which is one of the most handsome homes in the city.
W.M. EDWARDS, formerly a clothing merchant at Chickasha, has sold his mercantile interest in that city and is on a tour of the state looking for a new location. He is in Ardmore now looking over the situation here.
C.L. BYRNE has been called to Texarkana, AR, by the death of his brother, L.A. BYRNE, who has been at ill health for several months. He was a prominent business.
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"Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble." -Arabic Parable
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 7, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 405
I was thinking this week how we sometimes we get so busy going about our jobs everyday we forget about the person in the building doing the job that might seem unimportant at times, or maybe they just get lost in all the shuffle. But when that person doesnt make it to work one day, then they are missed. Like when the floors dont get swept, the trash cans emptied and new trash liners, the bathrooms cleaned and paper towels replaced, and hand soap put in the dispensers, the bags of trash carried out to the dumpster, the carpet vacuumed, We have a person just like that at the courthouse. His name is William Douglass. This week he had a birthday, he's 79 years young! Technically William is not employed by the courthouse, he's employed by a program that started out in 1965 called Green Thumb, but today that program is called Experience Works. William works 3 days a week from 10am to 2pm so if your down at the courthouse look around the first floor, he's be busily working, and wish him a happy birthday. Happy Birthday William, you are appreciated! <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
A Reader wrote in this week asking what is that big steepled church seen in the upper right hand side of the photo last week. That is the First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"I grew up in northeast Oklahoma- Muskogee and barbque meant Slicks.The best in the state. Dad and Granddad would take me there when Mother and Grandmother were out of town and they were keeping me. They always told me not to tell where we ate. It was years before I understood why they said that. Back then Slicks was on the "wrong side of the tracks". But boy was it hard to wait until Mother and Grandmother were at Farm and Home week and I could have that good barbque laid out on oil cloth and a piece of butcher paper. Them being gone also meant fishing everyday and getting as dirty as I wanted. (even to the point a pair of shorts and a shirt were thrown away). My Place on the east side of Muskogee also makes outstanding ribs and brisket." -Janice
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"Just a few thoughts regarding the photos in this weeks T&T. Liked the photo of the caboose, wish it had been one of the old wooden ones that used to run the tracks between Davis and Ardmore - that would really take us down memory lane. Also wish we had some of the old Ardmore Main Street Christmas photos of the past for a comparison with the ones Gary took for this year. Man what a difference 50 years can make with Christmas and the decoration we used to see in Ardmore - 50 years ago they would stretch all the way across main street and then some. Thanks for some fine memories."
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"Wow you sure do get around the block with email addresses. I was surprised you could end SBC so fast without a big penalty. I tried to get DSL early on but was on the fringe of the service distance and it did not work at my address and I sent all the equipment back and canceled since it would not work. It took exactly one year from that date to get all the charges off my telephone bill including the early disconnect fee. I finally got a young lady to give me her number and extension so I would not have to start all over explaining the problem. With that it still took three more billing cycles to get all the charges off. Mind you I never got hooked up for a second but the fees and bills kept piling up to over $500.00. Needless to say I won't go back to SBC for an ISP. Cableone is too expensive but I have had very little problems since I went with them on broadband."
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"My grandmother had one of the copies of the Ada Hanging picture under a glass table top when I was growing up and I've been fascinated with it since then. I also had heard for years that a man known as Troy Tipton, former owner of Tipton Printing in Ada, had the original negative of the photo. I have always been fascinated by the little boy looking in through the slats in the barn wall and wondered if he had ever been identified. Could you please tell me if he has, that you know of. I would appreciate it." <----- Click Here
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"I used to ride the train from Dallas to Chickasha when I was living here back in the stone age about 1955-1957. I can't tell you how much I loved it and eating in the dining car zooming past the scenery was the ultimate. Although we stopped at just about every town along the way, it was still wonderful. I've attempted to make reservations for me and some of the grandchildren to take a ride, but not only is the cost exorbitant, but a down-in-the morning and back-in-the-evening trip is not possible to anywhere. I'm still working on it, and since they are older now, maybe spend the night somewhere, because it was such a thrill for me. When I got off the train in Chickasha, I took a taxi (25 cents) (we didn't own a car) to my home and walked into an unlocked house. How cool was that? Thanks for bringing up the subject. The trains have always been a special memory of mine." -Tomi
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The story of the great American Moon Pie. <----- Click Here
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"Butch, The George Moore mentioned in the train robbery, I think is my grandfathers brother, my grandfather was born on 8/20 1872 and died 10/12/1952 his mother was Tennessee ( Bell ) Moore. His brother was named George. The story I heard about the train robbery his brother held the horses while the train was being robbed and the robbery went bad a man was killed. He was sentenced to hang but later was change to life because he was so young. Years later was released from prison. I would like more information if you find any more on his trail." -Terry Moore
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"The photo of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys is fantastic. The band had a daily radio show on KVOO in Tulsa from 1934 to 1942. The photo is most likely from this period. Oh, and fiddle player Johnny Gimble did not join the Playboys until 1949." -Mark Coe <----- Click Here
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"Butch, Regarding the Bob Wills photo in the last This and That, I did some research and was told by a gentleman from www.texasplayboys.net that this was a widely distributed publicity photo taken in Tulsa in 1942." -Judy at Tabletop Homestead, Oklahoma http://home.earthlink.net/~tabletophomestead
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"Reading this made me think about the teachers from Ardmore who made an impact in my life. From my elementary years at Washington I would have to say that three of the teachers there made a definite impact on my life. Mrs. Mary Brimager (I know I'm spelling wrong & I hope she'll forgive me) was my Art teacher for three years and I know I gave her grief, but I truly feel like I owe a lot of my artistic abilities to her. Plus she was always happy and fun to be around. My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Cleo Dupy (her daughter, Joan, was a friend & classmate in High School, too). I still have the little ceramic lamb that she gave me for Christmas that year. It sits proudly on my knick-knack shelf and every time I look at it I remember her sweet, calm spirit and it always makes me smile. Then there was Homer Tipps in the 6th grade. I'm sure he was glad to see me "graduate" from grade school, but he was my absolute favorite. I think he was the one who instilled my love of history and geography. He could be harsh sometimes, but I'm sure it was for our own good. And as I grew older and would run into him somewhere in Ardmore he would always have a smile for me and would ask me how I was doing. I'll never forget running into him in the grocery store one day and getting to introduce him to my son, Steven, who himself was attending Will Rogers. Mr. Tipps truly seemed proud of me that I had such a polite little boy. He was one of the best.Then what can I say about my High School teachers. They were awesome!! Barry Lawrence was my Drivers Ed teacher. Holy cow!!! He was hilarious and he deserved a medal for getting me through that class without killing someone. HA!! He would be proud to know that I have held a perfect driving record until last month when I got in a fender bender at the Walmart parking lot. Ha! Mrs. Johnson, my typing teacher, was such a sweet person. Mrs. Morrison, my English teacher, always teased me about my infatuation with Donny Osmond and I know I should remember her married name, especially since her daughter Taylor went to school with my son. But I'm sure she'd understand knowing how flakey I was in school. HA!! They were all awesome teachers, but I saved the two best for last. Mrs. Shirley Hann, Home Economics, and Johnny Crutchfield, history, will always be my two favorite teachers. I think I had Mrs. Hann every year that I was in High School and all I learned about sewing and designing I owe to her and her patience. I have many happy memories of being in her classes, which I shared with her daughter, Jenny, and with Jimmie Harris & Ruthie Chapman. Gosh, I remember the first year they let boys take Home Ec. We didn't know whether to be shocked or thrilled to have them in class to flirt with. I was on the yearbook staff and remember taking pictures of some of them cooking. I definitely did not want to be their guinea pig. But I adored Mrs. Hann and still do. Then there is Johnny Crutchfield, or "Crutchipoo" as we so lovingly nicknamed him. Never did know whether he hated that or not. It was because of him that I wanted to be a History teacher. I wanted to be able to instill in other kids the love for history and learning that he did in me. Unfortunately, life led me down a different road and though I am not a history teacher, I am still very much into reading history books and for the love of history in general. He was one of the best, most fun teachers I'd ever had and he was even one of my son's teachers when he made it to high school. And now he's in politics and it doesn't surprise me at all that he is. I have followed his career in politics through the Ardmoreite website and every time I see a story on him it brings back memories. It's just too bad that people don't realize how much teachers effect their lives until it's either too late or they've moved away. For all my teachers I sing to you my praises and a tip of the hat--- you may never know just much impact you made upon all of us. God bless you, one and all." -Kathi (Pritchard) George, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Ada Evening News, January 2, 1905
Sherman, TX--The Sheriff's office is without a word of additional information relative to the two men who stand charged with the burglary of W.C. JONES & CO's store in this city and the subsequent homicide of Sheriff W.M. RUSSELL of Hugo, I.T. who had them in charge and was enroute to Texas. Up to this time every rumor of their having been seen has been followed closely and shown to be groundless.
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Ardmore, I.T. Fire Friday night destroyed J.P. MULLEN'S residence and contents.
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DICK MAULDWIN, HUDSON ROCK, AND REGGAR FLOYD were in Stonewall Sunday taking in the sights.
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CHARLIE BREWER returned Sunday from several weeks stay in California. Charlie at one time was express agent at the Frisco.
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Flieshman's yeast sold at the CITY BAKERY.
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Mrs. Dr. THRELKEIT of Allen is in the city.
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Messre, CHARLIE, SAM, JIM AND WILEY WATSON, of Francis were in the city.
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"My name is Faye Heffington doing research on our Robeson line. You said the Ardmorite went back to 1892 at the Chickasaw Library. R.E.L. Robinson was the son of John Marion Robinson/Robeson and ran away to Arizona sometime after the 1880 census. I have found accounts of what I believe to be his death on the Island of Tiburon, May 26, 1894... killed by the natives while he was on an expedition. Possibly cannibals. He was a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner and evidently used the last name Robinson instead of Robeson his father used. Family tradition of his death match these reports. His name was Robert E. Lee. Anyway...we have been looking for an account that might be in the area around Cooke County Texas where his parents lived giving more information. Does any one do look ups on this newspaper?" Trixieboots@aol.com
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"I've been reading your This N That for a short time now and really enjoy it. I keep looking for mentions of Holbrooks or Beards in Oklahoma. My Holbrook folks left Menlo Georgia about 1909 and moved to Carter County - Ardmore. Thomas Hiram Holbrook and his wife Margaret Key Holbrook and most of their children sold everything in GA and moved after their oldest child, Anna Elizabeth died. Anna Elizabeth married Robert Eli Hooks and then died from strychnine poisoning. Robert Eli Hooks took the kids and moved to Ardmore also. Thomas Hiram owned several businesses in Menlo: saw mill, general store, grist mill, and farmed. In OK, he truck farmed and loaned money for a living. Asberry Holbrook and his wife, Sarah Beard, left GA before 1900 and also ended up in Ardmore. The Beards left Georgia in the 1890's. Joseph Beard married Sarah Saphronia Holbrook (sister of Thomas Hiram and Asberry). They lived in Gainesville, TX, Denton, and then Ardmore. Joseph died about 1916 and Sarah S. died 1948 in Waco. They are buried at Rose Hill. Do you know anything about this family?" -Missy Mayne, Cave Spring, Georgia mmayne@floyd.edu
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"Hello Butch, The request from Vera Bray Anderson of Lindsay, Oklahoma about the murder victims in the rattlesnake cave is a true story. Information about the case can be found in the book "The Law West of Fort Smith" by Glenn Shirley. Also, Vera may want to visit our Oklahombres.org bulletin board and post a message. The users of our web site may be able to give her additional information." -Dee Cordry <----- Click Here
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"Bud Stevens was an outlaw who killed a county sheriff in Texas and he and his wife moved to Sorghum Flats. Bud was still a bad man and became a crony of a Negro at Berwyn named Bully July. They were on the scout together. On one occasion, Bully killed Bud in the Arbuckles for his property. He then went and told Mrs. Stevens that her husband was injured and needed her. She packed a bag and went with Bully into the mountains. He then killed her and threw her and her carpet bag into a deep pit in the mountains. Bully then went so far as to brag to a friend he had killed both of the Stevens. The friend told the law and Bully killed his friend. A posse found the body of Mrs. Stevens in a pit just as had been reported. Bully was arrested, tried and hung at Ft. Smith. The story can be found in the section Myths, Legends and Stories on the Murray County website. <----- Click Here
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Bud Stevens was on the lam since he had killed Deputy Sheriff in Grayson County, Texas. Sorghum Flat was the perfect hiding place in the remote Arbuckles on the Washita River. But, a posse from Texas finally tracked him down and Stevens took off to a Negro community north of Berwyn. Here he took up with another character of the same bolt of cloth named Bully July. July and Stevens formed a partnership and began importing whiskey into the Territory. One day July killed Stevens in the Arbuckles and stole his property. He then went to Steven's wife and told her that her husband was hurt in the Arbuckles and was calling for her to come help. July killed Mrs. Stevens and threw her body into a cave. Some time later, July was at a Negro picnic and told a friend of the killings. This friend told others and July killed him for talking. The law finally got wind of the killings and a posse was formed to search for Mrs. Steven's body. They found her body and her carpetbag in a cave in the Arbuckles. July was arrested, taken to Ft. Smith for trial and hanged. <----- Click Here
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"Butch, this is in reply to Vera Bray Anderson's request for information about the "Murder Cave" in the Arbuckles. this cave is located about three miles east of Springer on Lumberman's road and about 1.5 miles north on private property. The murders took place in 1881. The story goes that Bud Stevens was 36 years old and a horse thief from Texas. Ella was the daughter of a respectable Texas farmer, she had fallen in love with Bud despite their age differences. She was 17 at the time. There is no record that they were ever married but lived as husband & wife. They lived at the Woodford and Dougherty communities until setting up housekeeping at a remote cabin high in the mountains. In the same area lived a black family named Loftus. Their son was named Henry Loftus and he had a friend whose name was Martin Joseph. They became horse stealing accomplices of Bud Stevens. One day they told Bud they knew where a large herd of horses were in a valley in the mountains. They wanted Ella to go with them to help so she packed a lunch and the four of them took off in search of the horses. They had stopped for their noon meal and they lured Bud a short distance away and shot him and left his body where it fell. They then told Ella that Bud had fallen from his horse and was badly injured and needed her to come to his aid. They had only gone a short way when they pulled the girl from one of their horses and assaulted her. Then Joseph shot and killed her. Before killing her they made her reveal where the money she and Bud had was hidden in their cabin. Then they tied her body on a horse and took it to the cave on the South slope of the Arbuckles and threw it in. The bottom of the cave was about 60ft. down. A few months later a drunk Loftus told his brother William about the killings. Joseph found out about it and slit Loftus's throat. William told his parents why Joseph had killed Loftus and the elder Loftus went to U.S. Marshal J. H. Mershon with the vile story. The old Mr. Loftus took the Marshal to the cave but they decided they couldn't get to the girls bones so they found the remains of Bud Stevens and put them in a sack and took the remains to U.S. District Attorney Clayton. He didn't think anyone would be to concerned about a dead horse thief, but he told them if they could recover the remains of the girl they would have a case. The Marshal returned to the cave with a posse, one of whom was a man named John Spencer who they lowered down into the cave. He had a revolver and a lantern. It took him two tries but when he got to the bottom there were rattlesnakes entwined all in the girls bones. He fired the revolver and the concussion blew out the lantern. He was then able to relight the lantern and had them throw down a sack so he could collect the girls remains. They then had enough evidence to go to trial. Martin Joseph was found guilty and sentenced to hang by Judge Parker. He was hung on June 29, 1883. The "True West" magazine had a great article on this tragedy in the March 1991 issue. The article was by Glenn Shirley, a famous historian." -Tom Rankin, LAZY S RANCH, Springer, OK
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"I find that a man is as old as his work. If his work keeps him from moving forward, he will look forward with the work." -William Ernest Hocking
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 5, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 404
If there are any statistic lovers out there, like me, you can check out the stats for my OklahomaHistory.net website at the link below. For instance click on December 2004 and you'll see we had over 56,000 Hits that month. And this does not include the Hits to my original website on brightok.net host. December 18th was the biggest Hits day, topping out at 4,535. It's interesting my Bell Webpage still gets the most visits with Browns Springs a close 2nd. And my interview with Charlene Gilliam had almost double the listeners then any of the other interviews. And guess what search engine brought the most visitors? Yep, google. Have you been googled lately? That's the newest buzz word in todays world of social standings. lol <----- Click Here
Remember, I have a new email address..... butchbridges@OklahomaHistory.net
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"All this talk about the BBQ sandwiches reminded me of reading a snippet in one of your previous T&T's about Lt. McKerson's closing down. When I'd read that it saddened me and brought back memories I hadn't "visited" in a long time. As a little girl living on "G" Street NE (just a block away from Washington Elementary) I remember fondly of the times when either my dad or my grandpa would go get BBQ from McKerson's and bring it and all the fixin's home for a meal. Oh, my gosh, I am confident in saying that I have never had any BBQ since that tasted that good. It just melted in your mouth and the baked beans and potato salad just made the entire meal perfect. It's such a shame that it had to close. Time can be quite cruel to us sometimes. But luckily memories can still bring back the taste of the BBQ dripping down my chin right now and my brother and me arguing over who was going to get to scrap the bucket that the BBQ came in. My dad usually solved the arguments by scrapping the bucket himself. Ha!! Thanks for all the memories that you stir in us, Butch. Don't know what we'd do without ya!" -Kathi George, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma, Monday, January 25, 1915 From the Duncan Banner
WILLIAM GORDON Dead-William Gordon, aged 69 years, died at his hands on the JOHN RICHARDSON ranch, 14 miles east of town, Jan. 11 after a long illness from pneumonia. He had been in ill health for sometime following an injury from a fall.Funeral of FOSTER HUDSON-The remains of FOSTER HUDSON, who was killed in a fight in the oil fields near Drumright Saturday night, arrived here Tuesday and the remains were interred in the Duncan cemetery. Funeral services were conducted at the home of BILL DUNCAN at 2 p.m. and were heard by a large concourse of people.
Boy Fatally Injured-CLYDE BILLUPS, aged 12 years, was fatally injured in a fall from the 9:24 passenger Wednesday morning train. He had boarded the train at Marlow and was riding on the steps of the coach when the accident occurred.
From the Sulphur Democrat
McMillan Gets Appointment-On Monday, Attorney General S. P. FREELING notified JUDGE R. MCMILLAN of his appointment as assistant district general.Healdton, Jan. 23- Cold and wintry weather for last two days. A child was buried here yesterday, died in the oil fields, failed to learn the name. DR. SMITH and MR. DAVIS were attending court in Ardmore two days this week. MR. KINGSBURY of Tishomingo is here visiting relatives. HENRY DAVIS of Ardmore is here arranging for drilling a rig in section 16, south of here. LON THOMPSON and C. THOMPSON are in Ardmore today.
El Reno is the home of the man who has just issued a book with the title 'Dull Knife Raid.' Ardmore can boast of a noted picture show play writer and refuses to be outdone.
Pardons Granted by Governor
MAURICE WEIGHTMAN, brother of MRS. ALVERTA B. GENTRY, and one of the principals in the famous Gentry murder case, was one of the 58 inmates receiving expiration pardons from Governor R. L. Williams. Weightman was 19 years old when a shot was fired killing Thomas Gentry, his brother-in-law, an Oklahoma City businessman. Weightman was the shooter according to an accomplice, JESS MACKEY, who turned state's evidence. Mrs. Gentry was sentenced to life imprisonment for her part in the plot to kill her husband.General Farm Conditions
CHARLEY DAVENPORT was here today from Glenn. He says the cotton acreage reduction in his section will be greater than the general acreage over the county. He says many farmers never have a hog to kill or a cow to milk. But the farmers who do have stock are doing very well, but those who depended entirely on cotton are in pretty bad shape, some of the children do not have shoes and clothing so they are not attending school. He is of the opinion that the compulsory school law will not be enforced this winter. Mr. Davenport has built two houses this winter and has been busy himself, but there is little work to be done at wages in the country.Lost-a photograph of mother and baby in frame. On the wrapper was written 'From M. W. SHRIVER to L. C. HIVICK.' Finder please notifies CLAUDE STUBBLEFIELD.
Wednesday, January 27, 1915
Forgers Sentenced
Ringling, Jan. 26-BERT JONES and CHARLES COKER were sentenced to one year for forgery. Trail of Coin Thru Streets Causes Arrest Houston, Texas, Jan. 27-It was a trail of coins and bills nearly two miles long, which they dropped from their loot in their haste to escape, which enabled the police to capture the three men who robbed the Guaranty State Bank of over $5000. All three were wounded in a battle with the officers, when they were caught dividing the money in their room. They are now in the hospital. Later they were identified as JOHN BOWMAN, HART AUSTIN, and DIGGS NOLEN, all well known characters.Lewis Gets Fifty Years in State Pen The jury in the case of the state vs CHARLES LEWIS for the murder of RAY PACK returned a verdict of guilty and assessed his punishment of fifty years.
The case of the state vs DOW BRAZIEL for killing TOM GREENWOOD was called and promises to be a hard fought case. The defense is represented by attorneys MATHERS, NORMAN, and ROBNETT while COUNTY ATTORNEY HARDY and Assistant BOWMAN are being assisted by MOMAN PRUITT of Oklahoma City. The jury was selected, after a prolonged argument over the qualification of one juror. The jury: W. L. SOUTHWOOD, a farmer of Joiner City; W. W. TRASK, retired in Ardmore; W. W. MCELROY, a farmer at the Soldiers' Home; B. F. WYMORE, a merchant at Ardmore; W. M. SHANNON, retired at Ardmore; R. C. HOLBROOK, a farmer at Ardmore; J. S. KELLY, a farmer at Lone Grove; S. L. TALIAFERRO, a farmer at Lone Grove; ROY ALEXANDER, a clerk at Ardmore; J. C. BARR, agent for the Rock Island; JIM RAGSDALE, a salesman at Ardmore; J. C. BOUCHER, a farmer at Ardmore.
Funeral Thursday
The remains of LEON BROWN, who died in Johnson City, Tennessee at the government hospital there, arrived by express over the Rock Island road. The remains were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. SAM A. APPLE at 216 First Avenue, SW. Funeral services will be Thursday afternoon at the Apple home at 2 p.m. Rev. W. R. SELVIDGE of the Baptist Church will conduct the service. Deceased was a brother to MRS. T. C. BRIDGMAN and was known to many Ardmore people. He was a soldier in the Spanish-American War and when his illness came, the government did all in its power to save his life. He was taken from one hospital to another, change of climate and change of specialists did no good. He was taken with rheumatism and complications arose that put the case beyond the skill of physicians.Memorial
Little GEORGE ELLIOTT, born June 19, 1912, died January 22, 1915 at Healdton. He was the grandson of GEORGE GORDON and wife LIDDIE GORDON and the son of EDD. ELLIOTT and wife MAYTEE ELLIOTT., Thanks to the help of friends and neighbors: Mr. and Mrs. EARNEST TEAL/TEEL, Mr. and Mrs. K. WALLING, MRS. HENRY SHORT, MRS. KUHLMAN, MRS. MACK RILEY, MRS. BOB COLLINS, MRS. TOM SEAGER, MR. EDD BENSON, MRS. A. C. MULLINS, MR. J. P. KILGORE, MR. S. L. GOINS, MR. PICKETT, MR. SPIDER BROWN.Dixie, Jan. 26-REV. HAMPTON, county missionary of the Baptist Church, delivered a most appreciative sermon Sunday afternoon. THANKSY, DR. GARRETT's little daughter, has been sick with pneumonia, convalescing now. The school attendance has been irregular for the past two weeks due to so much sickness. Mr. and Mrs. JOHNSON entertained the young people of the Dixie with a singing Sunday night. MISS EVA COLLIER and mother visited our town Saturday evening.
Thursday, January 28, 1915
Braziel Case Now in District Court
The case is attracting considerable interest from the prominence of the parties concerned and the attorneys for the state and defense are waging a hard legal battle. Witnesses called; J. H. ATKINSON, M. E. ATKINS, DR. BEST, DR. GILLIAM, TOM OVERSTREET, WEST BARKER, WILL MOOREHEAD. Gilliam, Overstreet and Barker testified that Greenwood was attempting to draw his gun. W. H. ROGERS was called for the defense, and then Deputy Sheriff BROWN of Oklahoma County, here as a special enforcement officer, testified to the plans among the officers to meet at the California Restaurant. He supported the evidence of ARTHUR NESBITT, also a special officer, who told the meeting and seeing both the defendant and the deceased. DR. R. D. MOORE testified that Braziel fired the first shot. BOB HUTCHINS, the last witness, said that Greenwood struck Braziel but Braziel fired the first shot.Love County Farmers Are Organizing The farmers of Love County are beginning to organize for their mutual benefit and to form good roads clubs. Meetings have been held in several localities already and the movement will not stop until every school district in the county has been organized, say the promoters of the plan. Last Friday night, the citizens of Marsden met at the school house and perfected the Farmers' Co-operative Association for the financial betterment of their condition and also to further the good road movement. Officers elected: J. H. REIGH, president; DR. T J. JACKSON, vice-pres.; J. C. WHATLEY, sec.; ROYAL HARRIS, secretary. They will act as a legislative committee whose duty it will be to keep in touch with the state legislature and endorse any measures presented that are for the betterment of the farmers,
Snider Is Waurika Postmaster
A.L. WALKER of Waurika, secretary to the speaker of the house, received a telegram from CONGRESSMAN SCOTT FERRIS telling of the appointment of CHARLES SNIDER as postmaster at Waurika in place of J. L. MORGAN, republican. The fight has been long and tedious, but the democrat candidate won.Friday, January 29, 1915
Braziel Case Progressing in District Court Twenty witnesses were examined yesterday, three more at the night session. The next witness to be called by the defense will be GEORGE WYATT. Last night witnesses, L.S. STAGGS, H. O. WILSON and R. A. DIGGS. H. O. Wilson, a merchant at New Wilson, testified that he and his wife were having dinner at the restaurant, and that he had finished before his wife and was on the sidewalk when the shooting began. He stated that Greenwood fired the first shot. Deputy Sheriff HORACE KENDALL was summoned as a witness. This morning, Braziel took the stand in his own behalf and told of the shooting. .. TOM FORD was questioned.
Sunday, January 31, 1915
DOW BRAZIEL Acquitted by the Jury
At the concluding argument by Moman Pruitt which began before midnight and well past midnight when he concluded. The jury retired and in a few moments, returned a verdict of not guilty as charged.The Dornick Hill Country Club House
Work on the Dornick Hill Country Club House is progressing rapidly as the weather will permit. Dornick Hill is going to be the recreation spot in this locality when all is completed.Monday, February 1, 1915
Early Days of Mining History in Old Chickasaw Nation HENRY J. BRENNAN compiled a map years ago that points out with unusual correctness the deposits of oil as they have proven late to be. The old timers were handicapped by the system of land titles that prevailed at that time.Died Today from Wounds of Knife BARNEY BROCKETT who received knife wounds Sunday night, January 17, died from his wounds at the Hardy Sanitarium. The parents of the young man reside in this city. At the time the trouble occurred, FRANK CRINER was placed under arrest charged with the crime.
From the Waurika News-Democrat WILLIE HOLCOMB, living east of Sugden, killed a large gray eagle Sunday and brought it to Waurika, Monday for exhibition. It is the largest bird of the kind we have seen in this country, measuring 7 feet 2 inches from tip to tip. The eagle was sent to a taxidermist at Ringgold, Texas to be mounted.
From the Wilson News
We are informed that Mr. Parks has withdrawn from the management of the Ezy Theatre and Mr. and Mrs. Nowell have taken charge. Mr. Nowell has had the operating and mechanical end of the business in his hands since Mr. Parks took charge, Mrs. Nowell has been in the ticket booth. The name of the theatre will be changed to the Yale Theatre.From the Marshall County News Democrat County Superintendent Fox, who has just returned from a week spent in rural schools, states that the conditions of the Marshall County schools were never in better shape. Mr. Fox says the teachers are all doing good work and the students in every district are advancing rapidly in their studies.
From Kingston Messenger
Last week, J. P. 'Grandpa' CARSON died at the home of MRS. J. W. MCDUFFEE, his daughter, after an illness of about two months. He was 79 years old, born in Ohio and served as a Union soldier. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since young manhood. He is survived by seven children, his wife having died some months ago. He was buried at Woodville, the funeral sermon being preached by REV. L. H. FULLINGHAM.Wednesday, February 3, 1915
Three Hotels Now Owned by Col. Bryan
COL. C. M. BRYAN of the Randol Hotel has returned from Waurika where he closed a lease on the Stuard Hotel in that city. The Stuard is a modern brick hotel of 50 rooms, steam heated, hot and cold water in each room, every room is an outside room, well ventilated and well heated. Waurika is one of the good towns of Oklahoma; it has six oil wells drilling within a radius of 6miles of the town. It is the home of the Rock Island shops, a division point on the same road, and it is an excellent hotel town. Col. Bryan is now operating the Randol at Ardmore, the Yale House at Yale and the Stuard at Waurika. His headquarters will be in Ardmore and the other houses will be operated from this center.McMillan, Feb. 1- Some of our farmers are sowing oats. N. F. ORR is reported sick. DR. CONE left here Saturday for the Choctaw Nation where he will locate. He has been practicing medicine here for two years. JESS WINSTON and sister MRS. DYER of Ardmore visited their father, DR. WINSTON and relatives here last week. W. C. EMMETT died last Wednesday of heart failure. He was living over near old Weaverton. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and was in good standing. He was buried here. R. R. ROY and wife went to Madill today.
JACK DAVIS of Porum Fame Here Today
JACK DAVIS of Hugo, whose home was formerly at Muskogee, and who is the Jack Davis of the Porum fame, is an Ardmore visitor today. On the ninth of this month he and three other defendants will be tried in Muskogee in the federal court on a charge of obstructing the U.S. mails. This charge grew out of the robbery of a Katy train and the same defendants were tried two years ago for the train robbery and were acquitted. Mr. Davis says he does not know what evidence the government can have to jeopardize him at this time. His son, JOE DAVIS, aged 22 years, is one of the four defendants. In the past 40 days he has been arrested, charged with robbery of three banks, one at Keystone, one at Kiefer and one at Baxter Springs. In each case it was shown that Davis did not do the work and he was acquitted. At the time one robbery was committed, the young man was waiting on his mother in a serious illness and two physicians were there.Suits filed in district court: W. H. SEIPT vs W. P. DAVIS, foreclosure; O. M. REDFIELD vs R. F. ELLISON, judgment; W. R. RUSSELL vs ZELLAH RUSSELL, divorce; Ardmore Oil and Gas Co. vs CLAUDE BELL et al, cancellation of stock and damages; W. M. REEDER vs Crystal Oil Co., damages
During the month of February only, I will reduce the price of art lessons to ? the regular price. ALBERTA MARONEY, Maroney-Seymour Studio, phone 1040.
Thursday, February 4, 1915
In Distress and Needing Assistance
MRS. KAHN, one of the active workers of the Benevolent Society, reported this morning that she has received 5 applications for assistance and asked that publicity be given the fact through the columns of the press. She states that it had been suggested that a 'bundle day' be set aside and every one who is able to contribute a bundle of some sort to help alleviate the suffering that is as prevalent in the city today as it was before the holidays.Before the holidays, the public generally in a spirit of generosity responded to the cry for help, but after the holidays were passed the matter was dismissed from their minds as settled, when the fact remains that want exists now as it did then and needs the attention of the benevolent society every day in the year. The suggestion of a 'bundle day' seems to be a good one and should meet with a hearty response from the public generally. Any person who desires to assist the needy ones of the city are requested to communicate with Mrs. Kahn at her home or with Mrs. Curtis, county probation officer, and the matter will be attended to immediately. <
New Caf? on Washington Street
HARRY BROWN, who has successfully conducted restaurants and cafes in this city for a number of years, has closed his business on West Main street and will open a family caf? in the basement of the Washington Apartments, corner of Washington and Second Avenue, opposite the Selvidge Business College. The caf? will be conducted as a family restaurant and will cater to the dwellers in the flat district, of which it is the direct center. Mr. Brown states that he has had this in contemplation for some time and believes the dwellers in that neighborhood will appreciate it enough to give it generous patronage. Mr. Brown is an expert chef himself but also has secured the services of another, capable of catering to the tastes of the most fastidious. The furnishings of the new caf? will be of the finest and will have a reception room aloof from the main dining all. Mr. Brown states that he will be open and ready for business within a few days.Friday, February 5, 1915
Pioneer of Ardmore Died Last Night
MRS. N. J. BRAZIEL, aged 66 years, died at the family residence, 1103 W. Broadway, last night at 11:30. She had been in bad health for some time and had been confined to her bed for several weeks. The funeral services will be held at the family home tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m., conducted by Dr. Butler of the Broadway Methodist Church and Rev. W. T. Freeman of the Carter Avenue Methodist Church. The Braziel family was among the pioneers of the old Indian Territory and the family moved to Ardmore 19 years ago. Besides her husband, the following relatives of the deceased were here at the time of the death: MRS. LEE WHITE and MRS. LULA GREER of Durant, daughters; DOW, BOB and JOHN BRAZIEL of this city, sons; MRS. LILLIAN AUSTIN of New Mexico, daughter; MISS EDITH BRAZIEL of New Mexico, granddaughter; MRS. BEN FRANKLIN and MRS. DAVE HOLLEY of this city, daughters; MRS. LULA BROWN of Ardmore, MRS. STREET of San Antonio and MISS JENNIE TRIMBLE of Durant, granddaughters and WILL POWELL of Marietta, nephew.Sunday, February 7, 1915
Tuesday of Each Week
Beginning with next Tuesday, 'bundle day' will be inaugurated in the city by the Benevolent Society and an opportunity given those who so desire to contribute toward maintaining the poor people, many of whom are in actual want at times for the bare necessities of life. Appeals for clothing have been coming to the society with alarming regularity. Mayor Roberts has agreed to furnish a 'rig to gather the bundles for the society and a telephone message to his office at the city hall, to Mrs. Kahn, or to Mrs. Curtis, the probation officer at the courthouse will immediately start things in action. It is not necessary to confine your gifts to clothing, a sack of flour, a side of meat, groceries, anything a family can use will be accepted and put to good use.Dixie, Feb. 5- HAZEL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. JACKSON, who has been sick with pneumonia, is improving. CLOVIS BURNS, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. BURNS, died Sunday and was buried Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. ED JOHNSON's little daughter was buried Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. School is progressing nicely, quite a few absences on account of sickness. GROVER WISDOM's house burned Wednesday night, origin of fire unknown. H. S. DUNN died Wednesday evening and was buried Thursday evening. Mr. and Mrs. A. P. HENRY and MISS HELEN KEISER attended the basketball game Saturday night at Loco. G. W. NEWMAN, one of the hustling merchants of our town, is an Ardmore visitor. CLARENCE JACKSON and KEITH JOHNSON were visitors at Wirt.
Dundee Is New Town
The fight made against the payment of what was considered unreasonable rentals in Wirt for lots will result in the moving of the town states a report direct from the field. ROY M. JOHNSON and GEORGE A FAULKNER have surveyed a townsite of 48 acres in the northeast corner of section 7-4-3, near the schoolhouse. It is stated that 9/10ths of the merchants and businessmen in Wirt have already engaged lots in the new town. The name to be given the new oil field is Dundee and is named in honor of the Dundee Petroleum Company. The lumber yard, the machine shops and nearly all the merchants will move at once. Title to the property was perfected yesterday. Those who favor the town of Dundee state that lots can be bought in fee in the new town for the cost of six months' rental in Wirt. Efforts to secure the moving of the postoffice have already begun. A gas line will be started at once to Dundee. A church will also be moved there. A hotel man from Wilson will start on a new hotel there and the business men have begun to subscribe for stock for the organization of a bank. Roy M. Johnson will take a liberal share of the bank stock. Mr. Franklin was asked about the proposed move yesterday. He stated that there were a few disgruntled persons in Wirt but he had closed leases with the postoffice and with the larger merchants for another year.The Town of Dundee
The Ardmoreite was shown yesterday the names of the persons in Wirt who have subscribed for the purchase of 108 lots in new town of Dundee. Jones-Everett Machine Company took 12 lots; the Western Rig & Lumber Co. took an equal amount. Housemovers state that is will not cost more than $50 to move any house to the new site. Dundee is located one mile from the town of Wirt. Main Street will run north and south. Two lots are reserved for a bank and two for a hotel. The land was purchased at a government sale by George A. Faulkner and Roy M. Johnson shared in the purchase. Out of six tracts purchased by Mr. Johnson, this is the only tract that failed to be in oil producing area.Monday, February 8, 1915
Looks Like a Townsite Fight Now
What appears to be developing into a townsite squabble is brewing at Wirt or Ragtown, the oil field town that grew from a few shacks to a village of some proportions within the past year. There seems to have been some trouble between the owners of the townsite and the renters as to the price to be paid for the leases.Prominent Citizen Died Saturday
R. F. LEE, age 53 years, died at his home three miles west of Newport, Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. after a lingering illness of Bright's disease. Deceased had been a sufferer for a number of years with this malady, but until recently, he was able to do some of his farm work. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen. The remains were brought to this city this morning and the funeral was held under the auspices of the Masons at 2 p.m. this afternoon. Deceased is survived by a wife and ten children, nine of whom are residing in Carter county. His son Will is living at Cleburne, Texas. Mr. Lee was one of the best men in this county and the family and community suffered a great loss, when he died Saturday. The funeral was largely attended by friends and members of the fraternities of which he was a member.From the Johnston County Capital-Democrat
J. M. MALONE was taken to the Ardmore sanitarium last Saturday, suffering from a sever attack of blood poisoning. He died Tuesday morning and was brought to Tishomingo for burial Wednesday.T. DRAPER and wife left this week for Falfurrias, Texas where they will make their home. Mr. Draper has been in the produce business here fro some time and made good. We regret to lose Mr. and Mrs. Draper but wish them much success in their new home.
From Marshal County News-Democrat
At his home near Antioch school house, W. C. EMMETT, an old and respected citizen of this county, fell dead Wednesday afternoon last week. He had been working in the field all day and had eaten a hearty supper at evening. Arising from the supper table, he fell dead as he started to leave the room.Back on the Old Run
CONDUCTOR COOK, after working east of Hugo for several days, is again taking up tickets for the Madill-Ardmore short run.From Pauls Valley
The remains of GEORGE POWELL were shipped here, arriving Tuesday morning from Deming, New Mexico where he died Saturday at 4 o'clock after an illness of several years. He has been suffering from tuberculosis for several months. Mr. Powell formerly lived here where he was well and favorably known, having been principally in the county near Whitebead. He was for several years engaged in the restaurant business.Healdton, Feb. 6- Quite a windstorm here. We hear of little damage outside of the oil field where 16 rigs were blown down. EMMET CHASE has moved to his farm, four miles northwest of here. JEROME WILSON has a very sick daughter. Our school is getting on in fine shape.
Candidates for the chief of police: DAVE E. BOOKER, W. H. ROGERS, D.W. BUTCHER, WILL FRASHER
Candidates for mayor: L. V. MULLEN, W. R. ROBERTS, FELIX K. WESTPublic Auction Indian Land
Case No. 11363, ABEL WILSON, Choctaw Roll No. 10805 for 157.59 acres in Carter County, some land reserved for townsite of GrahamCase No. 10791, WASH JAMES, Mississippi Choctaw Roll No. 651, 390 acres in Carter county
Abandons Business College
PROF. G. P. SELVIDGE, who has for the past ten years conducted the Selvidge Business College here, has closed the college. Free tuition in the city and state schools cut down the profit.From the Street Stories
Bundle day is every Tuesday and the mayor will furnish the transportation. If you have anything to donate, be sure to telephone Mrs. Curtis, Mrs. Kahn or Mayor Roberts and you will be waited upon."CAP" HENSON, an old timer of this city, formerly a U. S. deputy marshal, and well known to the older citizens, is in the city for a few days visiting with friends. He is connected with the Burns Detective Agency with headquarters in Kansas City.
A.C. BAGBY, who for 12 years has been a citizen of Ardmore, announced his candidacy for the office of First Ward Commissioner. He is an East Texan and was reared on the pure democracy that Texas boasts of.
For the juror list:
W. E. SPENCER of Reck
J. R. PENNINGTON of Ardmore
DANIEL KING of Deese
CLAUDE STUBBLEFIELD of Ardmore
MIKE GORMAN of Ardmore
A.S. CARPENTER of Fox
WALTER COLBERT of Ardmore
MORRIS SASS of Ardmore
SAM WILSON of Ardmore
E. B. PUGH of Ardmore
A.B. RAWLIN
WILL PRATER
CHARLEY BLEDSOE
O. L. DENNES
E. F. RISER of Woodford
W. M. WILSON of Ardmore
J. J. DOOLEY of New Wilson
W. A. EDWARDS of Ardmore
C. M. BRYAN
SKEET MARTIN of Baum
JOHN HOFFMAN
T. L. HAGLE of Provence
B. T. TARVER
VELIE SUGGS
WALTER THOMPSON
JIM ROGERS of Hewitt
W. D. TEAGUE of Healdton
GUY LEDBETTER
A.J. MITCHELL of Lone Grove
BEN HOLT
W. R. BURNITT
C. H. DAVENPORT of Glenn
WADE RITTER
BARTLEY MCGEE
HAROLD WALLACE
JOHN HARMON of Brock
BURL MUSGRAVES
S. S. TOLSON
A.E. ABSHIER
For March court jury:
DICK DONLEY of Deese
C. M. SARCHET of Ardmore
LOUIS ROCKFORD of Woodford
TOM ELLIS of Ardmore
R. S. STUCHEL
W. F. HOOKS
JOHN W. MASSEY of Healdton
J. C. PIERCE of Poolville
MAX WHITTINGTON of Ardmore
T. J. SLOAN of Milo
W. M. SENTAR of Ardmore
W. D. BRYANT of Brock
J. M. HARTNETT of Ardmore
J. T. AVERY of Newport
B. S CURTISS of Ardmore
W. C. DEWITT
R. E. VINEWARD of Springer
GEORGE CLAYTON of Brock
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"To be or not to be, that is the question." -William Shakespeare
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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January 4, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 403
By now most of you probably know I been have problems with my new internet providers. Of course I had to drop Southwestern Bell's DSL, they wouldnt let me mail out all my newsletters. One thing I noticed, my sbcglobal email address was flooded with spam in just 4 days. Boy, they need to get better spam catching software. I have seen hardly any spam come in to my cableone email so far. Hope it stays that way. Anyway, I think my cableone email and internet is working better, getting it fine tuned I guess. But still not positive, just watching it day by day.
Here's a good detailed photo of Ardmore in 1910 looking west of Whittington Hotel. <----- Click Here
This is postcard photo of the old Eden's Restaurant that used to be next door to the Tivoli. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, I'm hoping some of the "This & That" readers can help me out. Hopefully, someone has a picture of Dr. S.S. Haberly. He was a doctor, who made housecalls during the 1940's and early 1950's, in the Wapanucka-Coleman-Fillmore-Milburn areas and perhaps other areas, too. He lived at Wapanucka but moved to New York, in the late 1950's, where he passed away. He delivered me and I'm sure he delivered quite a few other babies who now are grownups and regularly read "This & That." (In fact, at least one baby was partly 'named' after him--Jack Haberly Ballard!) I've never seen a picture of Dr. Haberly but would appreciate it if someone could email me a picture or tell me where one is online. Also, any scans of him or any news items would be great. Thanks, Butch!" Larry Rowland larryd1_99@yahoo.com
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"BTW, while they aren't as cheap as the place you wrote about in Ardmore, Dieter Bros. BBQ in Lindsay, TX, which used to be Metzler Bros., makes a really tasty chopped beef sandwich. One of those and a beer and you won't need to eat for a long time--not because of heartburn either. Next time you're down this way, give them a try."
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"Hi Butch, I just recently found this website and have really enjoyed what I have read. I live in Lindsay, OK. My Bray side settled in the Springer, Healdton and surrounding areas and I am very familiar with your area. I have a puzzle that I thought maybe you of some of your readers might be able to help me with. Here goes:Back in the 50`s, we were driving around with my Grandmother Tye and she wanted to turn south of Davis and drive over to the town of Daugherty and see how much it had changed. Somewhere on that road she looked at the side of the Mountain and said, she wished she knew which cave her relative had been found dead in with his new bride who was sixteen years of age. I was just a teenager myself and this story was very interesting to me. She said it was a relative named Bud Stevens and he and his new bride were murdered and thrown into a cave and later their bones were found among a bunch of Rattlesnakes in the cave. I have thought of this story over the years and was wondering if you or anyone else knew of this murder. I don`t know the year it happened. My Grandmother was born in I.T. in 1896. Don`t remember if she said if she knew when it happened. Hope someone can help with this. Thanks and keep up the good work." -Vera Bray Anderson, Lindsay, Oklahoma
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"In today's I saw Gerald Cobb had written about teachers at AHS... Miss Fry was a great typing teacher and being fresh from the WACs, she still wore her uniform(it was a suit) and walked up and down in front of the class. We had two of the latest (new) electric typewriters in her class. She was also the debate/drama teacher. She was a hoot. Have a great day! Here in Texas Hill Country we have Cedar Fever and it's awful!!!! Feels like the flu but worse!!!"
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In Memory of Ted Fowler
Born 25 March 1910, Wanette, Ok. in Pottawatomie County Died 28 Dec. 2004, Wichita Falls, Tx.
Age 94 years, 9 months, 3 days
Funeral services conducted from the Owens and Brumley Chapel in Burkburnett, Tx. Thursday, December 30, 10:00 a.m.
Wayne Fowler and Barry Napier Officiating PALLBEARERS: Greg Fowler ~ Mark Fowler ~ Barry Napier ~ Ricky Skaggs ~ Lewis Rackley ~ Steve Kirkpatrick
Interment in the Randlett Cemetery, Randlett, Oklahoma.
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We're really going to miss Dad;
Of that you can be sure!
But now he's up in heaven;
Where he's happy and pure.
He was always full of fun;
And He loved good jokes.
But most of all,
He love being with funny folks.
His stories were surely great.
Tall tales he loved to tell;
We've heard them over and over,
So we too could tell them well.
We know he'll live forever;
He lives on within our hearts.
And now he and our mom,
Are no longer kept apart.
So please, will you understand?
As we wipe away our tears.
His worries are all over;
And he no longer carries fears.
And we're oh, so very thankful;
For his example and his love
And we know some day soon,
We'll meet him in Heaven above.
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"Just read the T&T blurb on your wildlife adventure at Lake Murray. Think that's the same bird I've heard called the Killdee around here since I was little.(That's a long time as I'm turning 72 in a couple of weeks.) Summer before last I noticed one in the area north of my house a couple of hundred feet as I mowed. Once I noticed the mother was disturbed I located her nest and mowed around it for several weeks until it was empty. Just did an internet search and the names killdee and kildeer are interchangeable. Seems the little critter is named for the cry it makes. Also enjoyed hearing about the BBQ sandwich at the Worlds Smallest Convenience Store, I'll have to try one."
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"Butch, Hope you enjoy the movie *Home In Oklahoma* as much as I did; as a matter of fact, it was you that suggested it in one of these This and Thats. a) You will be proud of the shots of *Rainbow Falls* (I think that was what they called it). b) They had some round brown metal buildings shown in the back ground that I do not remember. Maybe you will. c) I used to fly with Skip Healy in a number of his airplanes when I was a kid and was looking for the airstrip in the movie. Had flown an OSU airplane into the Flying L when I was in college. Those were really fun days! -Gary Heartsill
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"Do you remember the live music series called Community Concerts? The performances were in the AHS auditorium. The one I remember the best was two brothers (from Spain?) who played classical guitar. The series brought fine musicians to Ardmore at an affordable price. I played in the school bands from 5th grade until I graduated high school. Mr. Gabbard, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Spence and others cultivated in me an appreciation of music that has been a life long pleasure." -Mark Coe
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"Butch, Your article on BBQ sandwiches brought back some fond memories. Did you ever eat a BBQ sandwich at Raymond's BBQ Stand on I St. N.E. back in the fifties? It cost a whole 35 cents, and pops were a nickel, which I could rarely afford. I had to settle for a chili sandwich for 10 cents or if I had a lot of money I would sometimes buy a wiener sandwich for 15 cents. Delicious!!!" -Gary Creecy
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"Butch here is a photo of my wife's family who used to own a dairy on Mt. Washington road circa 1880-1900. Carl & Frank Gabriel. They are Lula Bell Whitley's (Bob Longino's grandmother)brothers. The family owned and worked a dairy around Mt. Washington Road in Ardmore. (Notice the gun.)" -Doug Williams <----- Click Here
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For Immediate Release:
Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officers Survive 2004
The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial organization reports that Oklahoma's law enforcement officers survived 2004 without a single line-of-duty death. The shooting death of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Nikky J. Green near Devol on December 26th, five days before the end 2003, was Oklahoma's last line of duty death and was the only law enforcement line-of-duty death for that year. In 2002 that year's only line-of-duty death came when Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Christopher Van Krevelen was killed in a single car accident in Enid on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, and was Oklahoma's lowest number since 1997. The only Oklahoma law enforcement officer to loose his life in the line-of-duty that year was Mayes County Deputy Sheriff Sean D. Earp who died when his patrol car collided with another vehicle in Pryor on July 27th. Oklahoma lost four officers in the line-of-duty each of the next three years (1998-2000). Two officers died in the line-of-duty in 2001. The last year that Oklahoma did not have a single law enforcement line-of-duty death was 1991 and suffered the loss of only one officer each of the next three years (1992 -1994). 1995 was law enforcement's deadliest year on record in Oklahoma with the loss of sixteen officers including twelve federal officers killed in the April 19th bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. All of Oklahoma's fallen officers will be honored during the 37th Annual Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service, Friday, May 20, 2005, at 10:00 A.M. at the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial in Oklahoma City. For further information go to the memorial's web site, which is under construction, at http://www.oklemem.com or contact Memorial Chairman, Dennis Lippe at (405) 619-2066.
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"I once rode the train with my girlfriend Shirley Hamilton from Ardmore to Guthrie to go to Rainbows Grand Assembly when we were about 16. I think I have written here before (altho I'm not sure - if so, please excuse - it's the "Old timers" I guess...) about taking the train with our four children (6 mo. to 4 yrs. at that time..) from San Francisco (Richmond actually...) to Clovis, New Mexico - where my folks came from Texas to pick us up ... On the way back our 6 mo old daughter cried pretty much all the way.... After we got home and took her to the Dr we discovered she had mumps. I do hope she didn't expose anyone on the train causing them to get them too. Years later we were in Lisbon, Portugal on a Saturday and I realized the bullfights would be going on in Madrid the next day - Sunday....so decided we should take the overnight train to Madrid. On the way I was surprised looking out the window to see caves where people were living - with tv antennas on them. I looked to see if our children (11 to 15 by then...) were as surprised as I was - only to discover that they were totally oblivious to what was going on outside the window - they were discussing things and people in their school. So much for educational travel....Ha. In "recent" years (about 12 years ago...) we were driving with our 8 yr-old grandson Andrew and a granddaughter Jennifer (about 3)when we stopped for the train to go by. (the one you rode from San Jose to San Francisco Elizabeth...) I asked Andrew.. "Do you remember the time you and I took the train to Millbrae and Popa picked us up?" And Jennifer asked "And me Popa? I rode the train too??" I said "No, Sweetheart you were not born yet." At which point she began to cry and was very upset "Why didn't you take ME on the train too??" When we got home she told her Mother "Popa didn't take me on the train..." Lo.Ahhh.... children..." -JoAN Chamblin Serrata in San Francisco
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"Thank you so much from Canada for keeping me on your list. I so enjoy your newsletter each week. It is a highlight of my life. I even share many with friends. We learn so much. Happy New Year." -Dee
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The Daily Ardmoreite, October 12, 1898
Dr. N.T. BOMAR died at his home on Cottonwood street and was buried under the auspices of the Odd Fellows, of which organization he was a member and had been for many years. Dr. Bomar lived for many years in Gainesville and had many friends who deeply regret his death. He was a true man to his friends and lived and died an honest man.--Gainesville Courier
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The free boat at Mannsville crossing is now floating on the placid bosom of the Washita, while a barbed wire fence on the opposite bank prevents its leaving by land.
*****
The (Ada) Evening News, January 25, 1905
South McAlester, I.T. --The American Osteopractic School of South McAlester was chartered here Tuesday. Branch institutions are to be located at Ada and Miami, I.T. A new treatment founded by the president, J.W. Shields, is to be taught. An infirmary will be conducted in connection with the school.
***
Since the acceptance of the invitation to visit South McAlester tendered President ROOSEVELT Saturday arrangements for his entertainment here are under way. As there are a number of original Rough Rider regiment in Indian Territory, many of whom will be unable to attend the reunion at San Antonio, it is probably that these comrades will meet the chief executive here and be his personal escort while visiting South McAlester.
***
Lawton, OK--Because he feared BERT HARPER and wife were making an attempt to take from him ANNIE DOUGLAS, an orphan girl of 13 years, WILLIAM RAY entered the home of Harper and in frenzied indignation attempted to take the life of the latter by firing upon him with a revolver. Harper was shot in the face and neck, but is not seriously wounded. Ray mounted a horse and made his escape. He has not yet been apprehended by the authorities. Both men have families and live next door neighbors.
***
South McAlester, I.T.--Deputy United States marshals raided all joints at Haileyville and Hartshorne arresting nine gamblers at Haileyville and confiscating nine gallons of whisky. At Hartshorne ninety gallons of Choctaw beer was spilled. Choctaw beer is a home made beverage highly fermented. It is made of hops, malt, dried peaches, burnt sugar and raisins. Over one half of the convictions in the central district court are for manufacturing this beverage. It is a high favor among the foreigners at the mining camps.
****
Marriage Licenses
The following marriage licenses have been issued by Deputy Clerk Constant during the past few days:
J.G.McBROOM, age 24, and LILLIE PIERCE, age 18, of Maxwell.
MARCUS L. BIRMINGHAM, age 28, of Tyrola, and ETHEL M. ORR, age 18, of Baum.
WM. H. LONG, age 50, and MARY R TODD, age 50, both of Ada.
J.L. HEATHMAN, age 21, and MYRTLE LEEPER, age 19, both of Roff.
***
February 9, 1905
The city council of Ardmore, I.T. granted a franchise for an electric street car line.
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December 19, 1905
Dr. ARMSTRONG, traveling surgeon M.K. & T Ry., is in town.
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Best watch on earth for $1.00 at Sprague Bros.
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Mrs. A.M. CROW and daughter are in from the ranch today.
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J.C. LITTLE of Roff is in the city.
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A.A. MONTEE of Muskogee is in Ada today.
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JAMES L. CART of Allen is a Tuesday visitor.
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J.R. YOUNG returned from Konawa Monday where he made sale of the Ada postoffice boxes used in the old building. The purchaser was ROBERT LOVELACE postmaster of Konawa.
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"Butch here is a 1938 photo of Bob Longino ( Bob Longino Reality) that lived at the base of the viaduct. He is Sheryl's distant cousin. I thought that the band uniform from Ardmore looked good. If it is a band uniform." -Doug <----- Click Here
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"Butch we were at Scheryl's grandmothers this weekend and were looking at old photos. I came across this one of Bob Willis and his band and it is signed. But the fiddle player is not Johnny Gimble. Anyone out there, can you date this photo? Thanks." -Doug Williams nascar88@cableone.net <----- Click Here
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The (Ada) Evening News, March 29, 1905
A colored deputy marshal was shot at a dance at Boynton last Saturday night while attempting to arrest a white man. He died Sunday as a result of his wound.
***
Deputy United States marshals are still hunting in Spavinaw country for the WYCLIFF boys, who are wanted for the killing of a deputy marshal several weeks ago.
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Last week 240 acres of land supposed to be underlaid with oil, located near Chelsea, was sold to a California syndicate for $35,000.
***
Madill, I.T.--The oil house in the rear of the west side of the public square block caught fire Monday afternoon and being fanned by the severe wind came near burning the brick and stone business block. The entire fighting force of the town turned out and by an hours heroic labor the block was saved. The loss was about $500.
***
April 28, 1906
The rubber back covers are pronounced by experts to be the greatest thing yet invented for the billiard and pool tables. Try them at the Harris Hotel.
***
Deputy U.S. Marshal CHAPMAN Friday night escorted to the Ardmore jail one BILL STANTON of Sulphur for selling liquor. Last term in court he received twenty days confinement in jail, whereas he was to return to Sulphur to arrange his affairs and report at the Ardmore office for incarceration the following Monday. This he failed to do, hence the officer's assistance. Bill claims he went to Ardmore once to serve the time, but after taking a reconnoitering stroll around the prison premises, his courage failed him and he hiked back home.
***
A marriage license was issued today to EDGAR BURGESS, aged 21, and EDNA DRAPER, 19, both of Coalgate.
****
September 10, 1906
At a count of ballots today for or against the change of the name of Ada, there were cast twenty-seven for the change of the name and twenty-six against. Following are the names suggested and the number of votes received for each: Mountolive/1, Laurada/1, Portland/1, Granada/6, Winona City/5, Frisco City/13. A number of votes were thrown away from the fact that many were signed by the same individual and several were voted by friends of children who could neither read nor write, which is strictly against the rules of the contest. The count was made by Governor BYRD and A.M. CROXTON and verified by the News.
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December 19, 1912
Buy a present really worth while to the whole family--one that will long out last the first few days following Christmas--a nice new modern Bungalow in Donaghey Addition, up to date in every particular. Five rooms, entrance hall, bath, pantry and closets, two lots. A real Christmas bargain $700 cash balance easy terms. See WILL A. GUEST
***
The report of the corporation commission shows that since statehood 606.5 miles of railroad have been built in Oklahoma. During the past three years the state has led all others in building new mileage. Evidently the laws of Oklahoma are not such a bugbear to the railroads after all.
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"No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure." -Emma Goldman <----- Click Here
See everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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Saturday January 1, 2005 - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 9 Issue 402
I'm starting the new year out in the fast lane! Got my Southwestern Bell DSL line hooked up this week, and all is working now, after a couple of road bumps on their end. As you can see from this email, I have a new email address now....... butchbridges@sbcglobal.net My old brightnet email will still work for a while, costing me $2.50 a month to keep it. Please make note in your Address Book of my new email from Southwestern Bell, dont wont to miss anyone's emails.
As many of you'll know, I'm always on the lookout for a good BBQ sandwich. Last week I was over on "A" Northeast and decided to try a BBQ sandwich from the "Worlds Smallest Convenience Store" (11th and 'A' NE). This is the same location of the old Taylor Foods back in the 1960s. It turned out to be an excellent BBQ sandwich. And what I learned later was these sandwiches are made from Cripple Creek BBQ, no wonder they were so good tasting. Cripple Creek BBQ is made at Tulsa by The Chili Bowl Company (918-663-9229). They have been making chili and BBQ for many years. And what really surprised me was how much chopped BBQ was on my bun, so overflowing, you have to eat it with a fork. Plus I got this huge soft drink, all for $2.49 plus tax. If you want to try some delicious Cripple Creek BBQ on a bun, I recommend trying on at the "Worlds Smallest Convenience Store". You wont be disappointed. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
Also last week I was crossing the railroad tracks on East Main and saw a caboose sitting on the track. Cabooses are pretty much a thing of the past around here, and when I saw it sitting all by itself, I had to stop and take a pic. <----- Click Here
In the mailbag below there is a email from Claude Roberts and family of Juneau, Alaska. Claude was in Ardmore a few years ago visiting Healdton, Oklahoma. Claude is true history buff, owns several old antique autos. When he was here we traveled to Lake Murray to see the sites. While there Claude pointed out something very interesting that most people wouldnt have never noticed, including myself. A little bird was on the ground making a peculiar chirping sound which Claude recognized as that of a killdeer bird. We stopped, he said watch this, and as we slowing approached the killdeer bird, she acting like she had a hurt wing, and trying to get us to follow. Claude said she has a nest on the ground and wants us away from the eggs. Sure enough, we looked around closely and there well hidden in small rocks and grass were two little bird eggs. There is so much beauty to see and learn in nature, if we just take the time, and have a good teacher like Claude. Here is a picture of the killdeer bird I found on the internet. <----- Click Here
We talked last week about the 1947 'Home In Oklahoma' movie starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. And lets see, there was Gabby Hayes, and the Flying "L" Ranch Quartet (Flying Licken Ranch of Davis) and the Sons of the Pioneers singers, and lets not forget the "smartest horse in the movies", Trigger. Well, this week I received my DVD of the movie (less than $10 total). Now to watch it and see if I can figure out when in movie they put on that replacement tail of Triggers. lol <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
The Daily Ardmoreite, October 12, 1954: A state crime bureau agent said today a man believed to be a Fort Worth industrial executive could have been baked alive by a fire fueled by his own body's chemicals. The charred body of a man was found in a burned station wagon Sunday in the Arbuckle Mountains south of Davis. Officers said the cause of death was a mystery. STEEL WESTBROOK, state crime bureau agent, said today a closer check of the victim's blood showed it contains less than 10% carbon monoxide, which is bare minimum, he said and explained "that means it is possible he suffered immediate death from sudden intense flame before he could ever draw one or two breaths". WESTBROOK and Murray County officers are sifting a mass of clues pointing to foul play. WESTBROOK said robbery remained a strong motive. He said a third check of the auto's molten ruins failed to disclose sign of a $1,400 diamond ring, expensive watch and a wallet with more than $200 known to have been carried by the Ft. Worth man identified as David Fred Hagler, Jr. and is assumed to be the victim. WESTBROOK said a major clue may be a flashlight found standing on end at the roadside about 100 feet from the station wagon. He said a set of fingerprints was lifted from the flashlight. J.F. KRUTS, Oklahoma City, told police he was driving near the scene and saw three men in a station wagon fitting the same description.
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"I read about the guy that burned up in the Arbuckles. there was a trial. I can't remember a lot about it but they had stopped and bought gas at Langs Service station out on 12th and E NW in Ardmore. I just remember going to the trial. don't remember what the outcome was."
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The Daily Ardmoreite, October 14, 1954: Fort Worth--- DAVID F. HAGLER, JR., admitted, after hours of questioning by officers, he was in Oklahoma over the weekend, near the spot of the bizarre slaying with which he is charged. Mr. HAGLER was accused in a murder charge filed in Sulphur, OK yesterday of killing "JOHN DOE" since the corpse had not yet been identified.
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"Butch, In reference to the man found burned in the car and the trial being held in Sulphur. I was coaching and teaching history at Paoli High School at the time and took my history class to hear the trial. As Charlene mentioned, it was very interesting to them." -Edgar Wallace
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"I did an article for the Ardmoreite on the first anniversary of the event, interviewing the funeral director who handled and buried the body. At that time the exact location of the burial was being kept secret to avoid crowds, but he did take me to it so I could photograph the grave for the article. He also told me (but not for publication at that time) that the body had been embalmed before it was burned. I just checked Google, also, and found that the connection to Jack Ruby was tenuous at best, through a third person, Jimmy Dolan, a mob enforcer who knew them both. An additional search however turned up another name, Frank St. Clair, as having been a friend of Hagler's who confirmed that the "accident" had been an insurance fraud scheme. Now that 50 years have gone by and all applicable statutes of limitations have run their course, there might be an interesting story there if anyone wants to dig deeply enough for it. Incidentally, another name from the Ardmore area popped up in the page that connected Hagler and Jack Ruby: that was George Fuqua, who was the terror of bootleggers during the mid-fifties until being shot dead by Dallas police while en route to hold up the finance office at Carswell AFB. After Fuqua's death, the FBI "got a tip" that he had been the killer of Orville Lindsay Chambless, the "flying bootlegger." and agents "discovered" the skeletal remains near Will Rogers field southwest of Oklahoma City. I was told, however, that the bureau's informant actually witnessed the killing, on the farm of Fuqua's parents near Healdton, and that Chambless had been buried there unbeknownst to the parents -- with the body being relocated by agents prior to going public about the discovery. The removal was to protect the parents, who had absolutely no connection whatsoever with their son's criminal activities. Fuqua was a most interesting character, and quite active in Carter, Jefferson, and Love counties during 1954/1955."
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The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma. Sunday, November 22, 1914 G. R. WEST of this city who is entering upon his ninety-first year, has the distinction of being Ardmore's oldest citizen and for one of his advanced years, is remarkably alert and active. He takes a keen interest in the affairs of life and is deeply interested in the great war that is raging on the other side of the Atlantic.
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"hi butch: someone was asking for comments on teachers and looking at some of the names brought back some memories.. of course. first, to qualify my remarks, i will admit that i wasn't a star pupil.. probably delt alot of misery to some of them. Eugene Todd, bless his little ole heart, was just out of the army after ww2 and had some hangovers therefrom. he would walk into class and announce "as you were" etc. we were taking a test one day and i was stumped on an answer. for the answer he asked what i thought of from the word po-taaa-toe. i said "spud" and put that down for the answer. of course he was trying to make me think of Cato, the greek whatever he was, i missed that one. he called me spud from then on. bo d'ark beam, also just out of the service. asked me what was our nearest heavenly body. i looked around the room and said "pat phillips", whom i had a crush on and was sitting across the isle from me. nancy fry. typing teacher. fresh out of the w a c s. i had broken my pinky finger where i couldn't shift into caps. each day she would meet me at the door with a roll of tape for me to tape my pinkie without it bending double when i attempted to shift into caps. enoughfornowbye! -Gerald Cobb
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"Good evening Butch, and a very Merry Christmas. I attended Washington School in the late "40's" for first through the fifth grade (went to Lincoln for the sixth) and remember the school carnivals quite well. I think I liked the "fishing booth" best as you never knew what would come out on the end of your line, but could rest assured something would be there. That was much better than the carnivals that came to the fairgrounds where you were prone to get nothing at all or something of little or no value. The cake walks were fun too although there was no guarantee of winning at those." -Dale Gant
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"Ancestry.com has the old newspaper archives including the early Ada newspaper, but there are useful newspapers. One resource for south central Oklahoma history is the Wichita Falls, Texas newspaper which has several articles about this area from 1908 to 1965 including information about the Jake Hamon murder and Clara Smith trial. The Atchison, Kansas newspaper has several articles about the Chickasaw Nation and north central Texas area in the 1880's - early 1900's" <----- Click Here
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"Hello Butch, We here in Juneau, Alaska, wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Many thanks for all the hard work you do on your T&T. It is read several times here at my house. Hope to see you again in a couple years." -Claude Roberts & Family
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The Daily Ardmoreite, November 18, 1910: The combination railroad and wagon bridge across Red river north of Denison has been opened for wagons and vehicles. This bridge was erected by the M.O.&G. railway company for their tracks with an apron on one side for horse-drawn vehicles and an apron on the other side which is expected to be used at some future day by an electric line that has long been projected north from Denison into Oklahoma. This is the first bridge for vehicles that has been erected following the disastrous floods of the spring of 1908 which carried all railroad and wagon bridges in the Red River valley away.
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"I shot a few pictures Christmas Eve and Christmas morning." -Gary Simmons <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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Here's a picture of Hattie A. & E. Z. West with their son, John. John was my great-uncle, brother of Ben. From what my mother has told me, Hattie had kind of salon at her house where people dropped by all the time. They were one of the founding families of Ardmore, I think, and owned lots of property there.I asked about the wagon yard because someone in Ardmore told my mother that there was a picture of it at the historical society, maybe, and it was labeled the West Wagon Yard, but that someone told this person they had no idea why it was called West other than it was on the west side of town. I'll have to get down there & see it.
I know E.Z. died in 1920. My grandfather, Ben N. West, died in January of 1927, and Hattie died on October 19, 1940. John West died in 1904 at the age of 20. My grandfather died of some kidney disease that would be easily treated now at the age of 50 and left my grandmother, Artie Holt West, a widow at 27 with three small children. They operated a neighborhood grocery store for years. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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The Daily Ardmoreite, December 5, 1893
A telegram was received in Ardmore today, stating that the body of IRA BIRD had been found murdered near Wynnewood. BIRD was a prosperous farmer and was well known by a number of people in Ardmore. No particulars could be obtained.
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GREEN & CO. will kick the bottom out of holiday goods. We mean business. Come and see our well assorted stock. CORNER DRUG STORE
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W.R. HEATH, ESQ., a prominent attorney of Pittsburg TX and JAMES D. STAFFORD, Sheriff of Camp Co., TX were in our city yesterday and expressed themselves as much pleased with the life and bustle exhibited, and on being informed that it was a dull day for business wasted to know how things looked when we had a good day.
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GOVERNOR WAITE, of Colorado, who gave himself a notorious reputation by declaring for "blood to the bridles," is again before the public announcing that the free coinage of silver shall be the law of his state. He states officially that arrangements have been made whereby he will coin for the state, independent of the national government, all the silver product of Colorado. In speaking of the scheme, the Fort Worth Mail has this to say: GOVERNOR WAITE'S scheme to have Colorado silver coined in Mexico, the coin to bear the Mexican and the Colorado coat of arms, is a desperate makeshift of the mine owners to unload a depreciated metal on their own people that cannot win. It would have nothing but a bullion value and it is hardly probable that even a Colorado bank would accept it as anything but bullion. Even, should the scheme materialize, the only thing that it would really show would be the actual difference between a good and bad dollar.
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October 1, 1898
Wednesday one bold, bad man, solitary and alone, by himself and without assistance, held up and robbed JASPER DeGARMO, collector for SULLIVAN & LONG, wholesale grocers, and relieved him of $300 of the firm's cash. This occurrence took place between Elmore and Foster in broad daylight. Officers are on the trail of the highwayman and will probably succeed in bringing him into court---Valley News.
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The walls of the new jail are nearing completion and long before our court term begins here the prisoners in the U.S. jail will occupy the new apartments in the society west end portion of the city.
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JIM DARLINGTON, is on trial at Fort Worth charged with the murder of FIREMAN WHITAKER on a Santa Fe train below Saginaw on the night of July 21. The trial is attracting much attention, the court room being packed. Several witnesses from Ardmore are in attendance. GEORGE MOORE an accomplice, who was arrested in Ardmore, will have a trial later. Some sensational developments are expected during the progress of the trial.
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November 18, 1910
The combination railroad and wagon bridge across Red river north of Denison has been opened for wagons and vehicles. This bridge was erected by the M.O. & G. railway company for their tracks with an apron on one side for horse-drawn vehicles and an apron on the other side which is expected to be used at some future day by an electric line that has long been projected north from Denison into Oklahoma. This is the first bridge for vehicles that has been erected following the disastrous floods of the spring of 1908 which carried all railroad and wagon bridges in the Red river valley away.
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Fire visited Mountain View and burned one block of frame buildings, and for a while threatened the entire business district. Among the losers are the Manhattan Hotel, Johnson Brothers' meat market and bakery, Baker's photograph gallery, the Star Restaurant, a barber shop and pool hall all burnt to the ground.
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November 22, 1910
The Wynnewood high school building was destroyed by fire this morning. The fire was discovered by some of the children as they approached the school building, and before the alarm could be given and the fire company respond the fire had made such headway that they could only save the buildings near by. The building was the old Indianola Synodical College building, which the public school board had purchased about a year and half previous. It was a four story brick building worth about $25,000. All of the furniture and most of the books were burned. One of the professors had to jump from the second story, having been cut off from the stairway by fire while trying to save the public library.Fire practically destroyed the Methodist parsonage this evening. Miss Blackwood, the pastor's daughter, had to jump from the second story of the house, she was uninjured.
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McAlester---ADOLPH WYNSKI was killed in a resort at Krebs last night with a big butcher knife, a hole being cut in his chest and also one in his throat, either wound would have been fatal. GEORGE THRELKELD and STEVE OTELLO are in jail and a justice is holding an inquest.
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Lawton---A divorce was granted to WAH-YAH-PITTY from TESSY-WAH-MOON-ARD by District Judge J.T. Johnson today allowing the squaw alimony. The testimony showed that the Indian buck had abandoned his wife and fled with another Indian maiden. This was the first case in which alimony was ever granted against a Comanche Indian in Southwest Oklahoma.
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Dragged To Death
With his body mangled almost beyond recognition and his right leg wrenched from his body, ALFRED CRAYBLE, aged 48, a farmer near Lawton, was killed today when his team of mules became frightened at an automobile and ran away.
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November 23, 1910
S.S. BUTTUM, aged about 65 years, who gave his address as Carnegie, OK, lies at the police station in a very critical condition the result of a fall from the porch of Carter Hotel sustained by him early last night. The police were notified that a man had fallen from the upstairs rear porch of the Carter Hotel on A street and hurried to the scene to find the old man lying upon a pile of stove wood, where he had fallen, they took him to the police station and summoned the city physician, who made the examination and found several ribs and his collar bone broken. On his person was found a few trinkets and a Masonic pin as well as a small star badge marked "Private Detective". He is being cared for at the city jail and will be moved to the sanitarium as soon as he can be moved. He came to the city several days ago and has been stopping at this hotel during this time. *** Yesterday afternoon the fire department was called to extinguish a blaze that was consuming the grass in the yard of the MULLEN HOUSE occupied by DR. ABERNATHY, in southwest Ardmore. COL. D. REDFIELD was walking along the south side of the street when he was caught by a line of hose and thrown violently to the ground dislocating his wrist and knee. He was carried into the house and a physician called to attend him. He spent a very restless night, but is reported much better this morning.
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The State Herald, Ardmore, Indian Territory, October 31, 1895
A Boy Killed
Thursday evening, deputy marshal COVINGTON brought to Ardmore ABE ROSS, aged about 18 or 13 years, who lives near Rayville, about 20 miles from Ardmore. The boy is charged with the murder of his companion, ELIJAH MEYERS, a youth about 15 years old. Both boys belong to families who are highly respected in their neighborhood, and the affair has caused a great deal of excitement in the heretofore quiet neighborhood.District Court
The jury in the celebrated case of old man EARL on a charge of cattle theft returned a verdict of guilty. OSCAR FINLEY and FRANK VAUGHN were convicted on the same charge with Earl and will share the same fate. JIM MUSGROVE was also found guilty of cattle theft. HODGE FRANCE was tried on a charge of obtaining goods under false pretense and was acquitted. The case of Earl, Finley, and Vaughn attracted more attention than any others tried during the present term, and the ablest legal talent was employed in their defense. The following were sentenced to Leavenworth pen.: DAN RUSSELL, CHARLES LEE, S. W. STEPHENS, WILLIE CARSON, SAM THOMPSON, ARTHUR GRAVELY, WALTER LAYMAN, WILL BRUMER, OSCAR FINLEY, LEE BIAS, MATT WALKER.Failures at Roff
The general merchants of BARBOR & WALLING were declared bankrupt.Wouldn't Do
About dusk yesterday evening, REAGAN DENTON, who has for some time been conducting a hokey-pokey joint on the East Side, entered the lunch stand of T. H. WILCOX, just across the bridge west and made himself disagreeable that he was given to understand that his room was preferable to his company. This incensed Denton who rushed at Wilcox but was knocked down. As he arose, he drew a knife, and when reach began slashing wildly. Wilcox was taken by surprise and before he could make any defense, he had been cut three times on the head and face, a deep gash in his left arm and two wounds in his loins. A surgeon was called. the wounded man is in dangerous condition. Denton was taken in charge by deputy marshal REYNOLDS and will begin a preliminary trial.Commissioner's Court
G. W. DUGGER, a farmer, came in town yesterday and disposed of two bales of cotton to J. N. BARALL, who paid him a good round price for the staple. In a short time a complaint was made against Dugger in commissioner WALCOTT's court charging him with disposing of mortgaged property. Representatives of MUNZESHEIMER & DAUBE testified that the firm had a mortgage on Dugger's cotton crop. The case was dismissed when it proved that Dugger had sufficient funds to pay the firm's claim.The poor of the city will be help and the cold blasts of winter will have fewer subjects of misery this year than ever before in Ardmore. A systematic effort is being made by the people in general to provide mean for the support of the dependent. One of the first moves will be the play Friday evening at the opera house by home town talent.
WILLIAM AMOS, a Choctaw, was found dead in the road ten miles east of here Friday. He was shot and it is thought that he was assassinated. Printed in the South McAlester Capital.
The Davis Progressive says that E. WELL, an old gentleman living near Nebo, was assaulted last week and badly beaten.
To Their Reward
On last Wednesday night, MRS. ELIZABETH LAWRENCE, living near Wynnewood, became dangerously ill. Her son, D. M. LAWRENCE, a merchant at Wynnewood, was sent for. In his haste to see his mother, his vehicle overturned and he received injuries from which he died at Sunday morning at 7 a.m. His mother lingered until noon Sunday, when she passed over the river. They were well known in Cooke County and had many friends in Gainesville. The remains were taken to Whiteboro for interment.Hurry the Work
The completion of one of the wells designed to furnish an adequate water supply for fire protection was generally considered only as a start in the work of providing the fire department with ample facilities to fight fire. But it seems that is now viewed as the finishing task. No effort to raise money to sink the other wells has availed nothing and nothing can be done until the money is raised. Every man can see the advantage of urging the movement to give Ardmore fire protection.November 14, 1895
Diphtheria
DAN J. KENDALL who came up from Gainesville reported that diphtheria had broken out in Gainesville. Two children of DISTRICT JUDGE BARRETT died suddenly of the dread disease.The State Herald and Daily Chieftain of Ardmore have changed hands. J. C. MARTIN and B. S. CRUTCHFIELD of Fort Worth, bought the plant. R. W. MCADAM, the former manager, is still connected with the editorial department.
The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma
Monday, January 11, 1915
In the district court for the January term, only two murder cases are to be tried, that of CHARLEY LEWIS for killing RAY PACK and DOW BRAZIEL for the alleged murder of TOM GREENWOOD.The people of the city are anxiously waiting for the time when actual work will begin on the federal building to be erected at the corner of Broadway and Washington streets. Chickasha already has its completed and Ardmoreites are longing for the one appropriated to them by Congress. The lot at present is being used as a wagon yard and stove wood market and horse jockey stadium, carpeted with mud when it rains.
Tuesday, January 12, 1915
Voice Heard of Children at Evangeline
DR. DOW TAYLOR of Woodford sent to MRS. CURTIS here today a check of sufficient size to purchase warm clothing and blankets for eight children in the Evangeline Home and said he would send other gifts to the home from time to time. Dr. Taylor is one of the public spirited citizens of this county, he is always ready with his help and that help is of substantial nature. He has built up a good practice in his home community and has done a great deal toward agriculture in the county. He has a ranch of pure bred Jersey cattle. It is not one of the big ranches, but is of pure bred stock that will be an uplift to the livestock industry.Funeral Tomorrow Morning
Services for MRS. T. N. COLEMAN will be held tomorrow morning at 9:30 at the Coleman home on North Washington Street by REV. FRANCIS K. BROOKS, Bishop of the Western Diocese of Oklahoma. Interment will be in the South Cemetery near the grave of her father, COL. L. L. BLAKE. Here to attend the funeral are: her mother, MRS. L. L. BLAKE who came from Memphis, Tenn. where she is spending the winter; Mr. and Mrs. TOM GRAHAM of Idabel, Mrs. Graham is a sister; Mr. and Mrs. HAL BUCHANAN and MISS RUTH BLAKE from Memphis, Mrs. Buchanan and Miss Ruth are also sisters; MRS. JODIE ADAMS of Brownsville, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. BO BLAKE of Marietta; FAYETTE BLAKE of Oil City; Mr. and Mrs. HOPKINS and Mr. and Mrs. RAMEY of Denison, Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Ramey are sister of Mr. Coleman; MRS. O. C. NELSON of Paris, Texas, another sister of the Mrs. Coleman. She was engulfed in flames when using some gasoline in her kitchen; her husband wrapped her in bed clothing, but she was horribly burned. Realizing her situation, she made two requests. She asked that DR. THOMAS S. BOOTH take Jerry, her older daughter and that her mother MRS. L. L. BLAKE take the younger daughter, NELSE. The tragedy is made sadder by the invalidism of her husband, T. N. Coleman who has been fighting for his life for several months and had been Southwest Texas and Colorado for his health. He has been at his place of business but a few times in the past two years. Mr. Coleman came here in his early manhood from Illinois and married TOMMIE BLAKE, the woman who has been so ruthlessly torn from him. Mr. Coleman has been a tireless worker and built up one of the largest drug stores in the city and owns the building on Main Street, also several farms near the city.Thursday, January 14, 1915
Young Laundryman of This City Displays Nerve, Erects the Most Modern Laundry in the City.
FRANK COOK, who started working 15 years ago and who has never been idle from that day until this, has just opened what is the most modern and best equipped laundry in this section of the state. Mr. Cook began the laundry business by gathering 'bundles on foot' when the first laundry was opened by ROLLINS and BLAKEMORE in this city, when the town was young and from that position he has advanced through every grade of the business up to proprietor.Friday, January 15, 1915
Killing on East Main St. Last Night
'BUCK WILLIAMS,' the notorious character with police and penitentiary record behind him, was shot and instantly killed by JIM CHANCELLOR early last night at Chancellor's place of business on East Main Street.Wednesday, January 20, 1915
Carter County Boy
B. S PARKER accompanied by his father, J. A. PARKER from Woodford, was here today. Mr. Parker left this country eight years ago and has spent three years of that time on the Hawaiian Islands and five years on the Pacific coast states. He has observed that he has seen and has a fund of information about the countries he has seen that is worth a great deal. He has given close attention to the study of English while he has been away and is preparing newspaper and magazine articles covering the information concerning the different countries he has visited.Grafting in the Name of Charity MRS. CURTIS, county probation officer and head of the local benevolent society, requested this morning that a notice be served on all police and deputy sheriffs in this city and that they report to her any cases of want that are brought to their notice and let the matter be taken up by the society. This is done to protect not only the officers, but the public as well, as there are some persons going over the city at present soliciting aid who are unworthy and whom the society has helped in the past to no avail. A case of this kind was reported yesterday to the society, and upon investigation, they found they were not only feeding a worthy one in distress, but several sons and daughters and their families as well, who are able to work and should have been at some employment. The practice of large families moving from the country to the city during the cold months and then depending on the charity of the society to sustain them is also getting monotonous. Yesterday, a family of ten persons with two horses, arrived in the city and asked assistance until they could find employment. They were not modest in their demands, they desired chops and hay for the horses in addition their bill of stuff for their own use. Mrs. Curtis informed them that the society would not feed their stock and the first was going to be the last bill of goods they might expect from the society, so it is up to them to get busy and find work of some kind. The society is taking care of a number of worthy cases this winter and they are in position to know the circumstances of every call they have. For that reason, they desire the police to notify them immediately when they are appealed to for help.
The Ardmore Daily Press, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma
Sunday, December 14, 1924
New Post Office at Dillard
Dillard, thriving oil field community for many years, is to be officially recognized and is to have a post office; it was announced yesterday by E. V. MORTON, who is to be the postmaster. Morton has tried two years unsuccessfully to secure a post office at Dillard. Two thousand patrons can be cared for at the Dillard office now.Prominent Farm Owner held for Ringling Murder
Jefferson County is considerably aroused over the fatal slaying Friday night of PETE HENDERSON, 23 years old young farmer, at a dance in the Mud Creek community, six miles south of Ringling. G. W. MCCANN, a prominent land owner and farmer, surrendered to the county authorities and is being held at the county jail at Waurika. Henderson is 60 years of age and has a large number of friends in the county.Tuesday, December 16, 1924
JAMES MATHERS to Form Partnership with SMITH MATSON
James H. Mathers, formerly county attorney and pioneer attorney of Ardmore, leaves this week for Oklahoma City where he will form a law partnership with SMITH MATSON, presently judge of the Supreme Court.Legion Holds an Interesting and Active Meeting Decision to hold annual services on the first Sunday in January was the outstanding feature of last night's regular business meeting of the American Legion Post.
ALBERT SWANN who resides in the Springer community was arrested on charges of shooting his brother-in-law.
17 Arrested for Various Charges
Seventeen arrests over Saturday night was the report of DEPUTY SHERIFF DWIGHT BELL. .. A raid was made on MRS. CRICKETT BENEFIELD at Dillard was staged by Bell and four arrests were made.Deputies Put an End to Poker Game
DEPUTY SHERIFFS CON KEIRSEY and J. DUNN interrupted a perfectly good poker game in which five card experts were deeply absorbed early last evening when they raided a hamburger stand on East Main Street. There was a signal to the players if an officer entered, one of the officers went to the back and watched the game through a back window.MRS. ELIZABETH BROWN Buried Here Monday
MRS. ELIZABETH BROWN, 72 years old, mother of RICHARD BROWN of this city, died Sunday afternoon at the son's home, 1416 McLish Avenue, following a short illness. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, REV. J. T. MCCLURE of the First Methodist Church, officiating. She was a native of Tennessee. Survivors: her brother J. B. BOONE of this city; twos sisters, MRS. MCDANIEL of Ardmore and MRS. B. M. WORSHAM of El Paso, Texas; two daughters, MRS. C. W MORRISON and MRS. CHARLES HARLAN of Houston, Texas; four sons, H. L. of Arkansas, W. J. and F. A. of Tennessee, and Richard of Ardmore. Pallbearers; W. H. PRATER, M.M. BRAMLETT, ROSS BAKER, WALTER GRIPON, CLYDE HARRISON, and W. W. MARTIN.Thursday, December 20, 1924
ED SANDERS Said to Have Brutally Beaten ED DEWITT
...in the Marietta jail, ED SANDERS, a farmer held for complicity with his brother ALVIN SANDERS for the slaying of BABE SHIPMAN, is said to have brutally beaten ED DEWITT to death after Sanders was in jail less than 5 minutes.. DEWITT was in jail on a charge of stealing corn after being arrested at Courtney Flats; his mother is supposed to reside at Carbon, Pittsburg County.Fire Fighters Have Hard Task due to Cold One of the bitterest and most disagreeable tasks that ever confronted the local fire department was the fire which destroyed the small wood house on the corner of D street and Third Avenue NE. The property was owned by MRS. OLLA HOLLOWAY and was not insured. CHIEF TIPPIT placed the loss at $150. It was four degrees below zero when water thrown on the roof sheeted the structure in a coat of ice. Only one other fire has ever been fought in anything like as disagreeable weather locally. In 1918 the Yale Hotel, a big wooden structure on the corner of Broadway and Caddo, was destroyed.
Tuesday, December 30, 1924
CHIEF KIRBY Requires.
W. P. SWEENEY, assistant police chief, and plainsclothesman WHEELER tendered their resignations to Chief of Police JESSE KIRBY yesterday. .. FRANK SMITH, for 10 years sheriff of Love County, has accepted the position of assistant police chief and will assume his duties on January 5.Wednesday, January 31, 1924
BUCK GARRETT Was Illegally Ousted from Sheriff Job
A decision of the Supreme Court handed down yesterday declared that the verdict of the district court here presided over by Judge Oldfield of Oklahoma city in February 1922 resulting in the ousting of Buck Garrett from the office of sheriff was illegal and asserted that the officer should have not been thrown out of office.Wedding Held at State Vets Home
MISS ALLICE PLANK and E. M. JACKSON of Ardmore were quietly married New Year's Eve in the parlors of the State Confederate Home southwest of the city. REV. GEORGE W. LEWIS, superintendent of the home, performed the ceremony. Miss Plank is 19 and Mr. Jackson is 23 years old.Woodford Has Farr High and Lowe and Anticipates Victory
Determined to carry out to completion the successes of earlier games, the Woodford Prairie Dogs invade Ardmore Friday evening for their first game of the season with the junior high school cagers as their opponents. The contest will be stated in the gymnasium of the Ardmore team and promises an abundance of thrills. Considerable enthusiasm has been manifested by the Woodford students and the patrons of the school over the basketball team and its successful preliminary games. 'With a Farr, for long distance shots, a Lowe for that position and a High to play up in the air, how can we lose?' is the popular slogan, FARR, LOWE, and HIGH are popular and skilled members of the regular team. Other players include DOWDY, MYERS, TAYLOR, POLLOCK and NOBLE.Saturday, January 3, 1925
Confederate Vet Succumbs at Home
PINKEY P. SHUFORD, veteran of the Civil War and inmate of the State Confederate Home, died yesterday morning at 1 a.m. He had been in poor health for some time. Funeral services will be held this morning at 10 from the state home with REV. GEORGE LEWIS, officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill. He was born in Newton, North Carolina, July 28, 1845. He served throughout the Civil War. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. ELY / ELI R. SHUFORD, early residents of Newton. He is survived by a nephew who resides in Oklahoma City.
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Butch-The "ole-timers" will probably remember the radio program "Breakfast Club" but may not know that Ardmore Army Air Field was recognized by the popular program."Ardmore Army Air Field was saluted by the Don McNeal Breakfast Club radio program, October 10, 1944. A "march around the breakfast table" feature accompanied by band music was dedicated to the Ardmore field. Don McNeal and Nancy Martin, the program's vocalist, commented on the praise given the base by Jack Baker, a former singer on the program, after his earlier visit to the field. Many men at the field listened to the broadcast having been informed that the base would be honored. The Blue Network broadcast the program over KVSO, Ardmore. The Breakfast Club has been invited to present a program from the field."
Memory Joggers, 1942-46 <----- Click Here
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website <----- Click Here
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"Hello Butch, Would you know where I could locate a book about Overbrook, Oklahoma? I think it was an Overbrook school teacher that wrote the book." -Edna
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"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." -John Wesley
HAPPY NEW YEAR and see everyone next time!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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