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search.
Below is April 6, 2002 to May 25, 2002.
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Saturday May 25, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 266
A few weeks ago I received an email from a Reader inquiring about how some certain streets in the north part of town got their name. They were Cason, Turner, and Freeman streets. These streets are just off North Washington to the east in the Hillcrest Addition. This week when I was at the Military Museum inside the Greater Southwest Historical Museum, I found the answer to the question. The streets were named after Ardmoreites who served in WWII.
Speaking of the Military Museum, last November most of you will remember the current Carter county Sheriff, Harvey Burkhart, put on loan to the Military Museum a Thompson machinegun for display. The machinegun was purchased by the department in 1960 and had been in their vault for years.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/thomp01.jpg
One little unknown fact about the machinegun, is that on the side of the machinegun, next to the serial number, is some small dimples or dings. These dings represent the number of times the machinegun has been to the factory/armory for reconditioning, modification or whatever. The machinegun on display at the Military Museum here in Ardmore has 7 dings in its side.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mgdings.jpg
Recently the machinegun on display at the museum was placed in a glass case built by Museum volunteer Maurice D. Miller. Maurice has done an great woodworking job, building a case that will display the machinegun for future generations to view this piece of Ardmore's past. Maurice is one of many volunteers who work at the museum, greeting visitors, telling about items on display, and a lot of other helpful things that makes the museum a great place to visit.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mdmiller.jpg
If you have not been to the Military Museum lately, I assure you, you are in for a surprise. They have so much history there, and I mean more then just the everyday military items. For instance, on display is the Thunderbirds uniform of 1939.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/tbirds39.jpg
Another special display at the museum is the uniform and Army issued items of Ardmoreite "Bub" Harvey. Each year for Memorial Day Bub checks his WWII uniform out of the museum and wears it to the ceremonies. The uniform still fits him!
So, if you get a chance drop by the Greater Southwest Historical Museum and the Military Museum, and take a look around, you won't be disappointed!
Sometimes when I have a letter to mail, instead of walking across the street to the post office from work, I walk north a block to the Simpson Building (1917) later the Little Building, and now the Colston Building, at Main and "A" street SW. The Simpson building was a project of Ardmore oil man Roy M. Johnson. Roy Johnson was the only Republican to serve as Carter County Commissioner back in 1920. If you look closely at this recent photo, you will see something missing, something that has been a part of the building since the 50s. Its the 110 air conditioning units that used to stick out of the windows. A couple of months ago the Colston Building was outfitted with brand new central airconditioning and heating units on all floors. Oh yes, you will see one window a/c unit sticking out of the window on the back side (south side) of the building. But maintenance says that last a/c unit will come out soon.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colston5.jpg
Also several history buffs have been trying to figure out of there really is the initials or name of B.A Simpson somewhere on the outside brick walls, as local folklore has it. I took photos of each side in hopes maybe someone can see the letters in the wall.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colston6.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colston7.jpg
There is an old mailbox in the Colston building's lobby by the elevators. I would assume the mailbox is as old as the building itself, 1917. And this mailbox is a collector box for mail dropped through a chute from the upper floors of the building. The chute runs all the way down to the first floor mailbox. So tenents on the upper floors of the building, just walk over to the south wall by the elevator, place their letters in the maildrop, and the letters drop all the way down a chute to the first floor mailbox. Each day the downtown letter carrier picks up mail from the first floor box. Anyway, yes, sometimes I walk over to the Colston Building to mail a letter, there is just something about dropping that letter in this old mailbox this is almost as old as Ardmore.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mailcol.jpg
I've spoke about the Colston Building several times the past few years. They have the old electric generators in the basement, and the still working water pressure driven service elevator in the basement too.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colstone.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/watrlift.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/waterval.jpg
And they still have a couple of old safes in the basement.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colsafe.jpg
Speaking of old buildings, nearly everyone knows the old post office is located at North Washington and West Broadway. But not as well known is that the very first U.S. Court House in Ardmore was next door to the south where the present day Hamburger Inn is located. This photo shows the old U.S. Court House on the left (Wisnor
Hotel is on the right). I left this photo pretty large in size so you can see
the details. So give it time to download.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/uscourt1.jpg
I have the map of Carter county roads back online after months of being unavailable. I divided the county into four sections for easier loading and viewing. But each of these files are still large, so give them time to load.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/cartercounty/cmapcent.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/cartercounty/cmapeast.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/cartercounty/cmapnw.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/cartercounty/cmapsw.jpg
A friend sent me a memento from Ardmore's past this week. It's a cardboard cap that went inside the milk bottles of Hughes Diary. Hughes Dairy was somewhere out 3rd NE years ago. It says on the cardboard cap "raw" milk. Boy, do I remember the raw milk I bought for 95 cents a gallon at McKowan's Dairy on Springdale Road when I was 14 years old (early 60s). I'd ride my Sears Moped out there with that empty gallon jug strapped on the back, and exchange it for the most delicious milk I ever drink. In the mornings when I got up, I'd go to the fridge, get out that gallon of milk and pour some of that rich cream, sometimes 3 inches worth, that was on top! Boy, you can't get anything that tastes like that today. In fact, the milk today is so watered down, super heated, and every enzyme that nature put in it killed, today's milk is almost what dairymen of those days called "bluejohn milk". "Bluejohn milk was a poor quality milk, most of the time was pour out or fed to animals. But today it's called Skim Milk. There is more about Hughes Diary in the Mailbag below, along with a pic of that cardboard cap!
In the Mailbag below someone talks about the famous hanging that took place in Ada, Oklahoma in 1915, in which four men where hanged at once.
Another Reader sent me a photo of a hanging that took place here in Ardmore around 1905. The gallows was located behind 200 West Main (the old Federal Courthouse and jail. It was in the alley across the street NW from the courthouse on what some people might call Hinkle Street. The actual gallows would stand about where Taylor's Auto Body Shop is located now.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hang05.jpg
And for a long time I've been going to snap a pic of the boxes sometimes left on top of the "B" Street mail drop box on the east side of the downtown post office. I am always amazed how people will just leave a package on top of the drop box for later pickup and mailing by the postal employees inside the downtown post office. Dozens of vehicles will stop by the drop box, deposit their mail, and drive off, never bothering the packages laying on top. Many times there are several packages on top, especially around 5pm. This is an excellent example of the great townspeople Ardmore has, and this photo proves it. Try this in the big city with your package.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/po052402.jpg
Slideshow presentations available on CD for $3 each (includes postage)
Brown Springs, OK (15 photos)
Mannsville, OK (19 photos)
Bells of Oklahoma (over 150 photos of bells)
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/manncd.jpg
T&T Photo Albums:
http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
http://community.webshots.com/user/OklahomaHistory
If you want to save on long distance calls, check this out! One plan is 2 cents a minute!
http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Dear Butch: I own a few of Mr. Beaver's paintings and am very proud of them. Actually, I am wild about them. He was a great Indian artist from Ardmore. He and my father (Don Rickets) were friends and I met him a few times when I was a young girl growing up in Ardmore. My father worked for OG&E and Mr. Beaver would come by their operating office from time to time. His works can be found in important art museums in Oklahoma and in many other states. It is hard to place a value on your friends paintings without seeing them and knowing their sizes. They look quite small and that, of course, would affect their value as his larger works are what collectors want. Unfortunately, Mr. Beaver did not use acid free paper (he generally used something like poster board) so many of his works need restoration, but it looks as if these are in good shape. If your friend would be interested in selling them, I could arrange my schedule to take a look at them and try to get expert help in valuing them. By the way, his name was Fred Beaver (not Beavers). I think he may be found in reference works on Indian artists. The Goddard Center used to have some of his work in their permanent collection. I haven't been there in a few years so I can't say if they are still on display."
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"I saw the piece about Fred Beaver and it made me think back about 28 years. In 1974, my senior year in high school, my Latin teacher led a tour group of twelve of us on a trip to Italy and France for spring break. We spent the last three days in Paris before coming home. One night, several of us went to a restaurant called The O.K. Corral, which was fairly close to our hotel. The place had a wild west decor, as the name implied. We were sitting in a booth and I looked up at the picture that was hanging on the wall and was stunned to see what appeared to be an original Fred Beaver painting. If it wasn't original, it was a pretty darned good print, at any rate! It seems that good art (and Fred Beaver's stuff is GREAT art) has a way of getting spread around."
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"Hi Butch, Just wanted to 'thank you' for the nice CD you sent and I am enjoying. I owe you. So, you can expect a little gift from me in the mail soon. I have been reading your T&T of the 17th. and it always brings back so many memories of growing up in Ardmore. One chuckle I had while
reading about the movie houses they had then. I use to go to the Ritz when I was a kid and watch the Saturday afternoon serials until my poor Grandmother would have to come in and get me to make me go home! But, the real chuckle was remembering our minister who use to stand just outside the theater where the nice air conditioning would drift out and cool the air while he talked to all the people! He would watch and see who was coming in and out of the movie, and if it would
happen to be any of his flock we knew we were going to be 'preached at' on Sunday morning. He was one of many in those days who tried to tell us we were all going straight to Hell if we went in and watched those old sinful movies! However, the same people who preached that were some of the first to rush down and purchase that new TV set, so they could watch all those old sinful movies they warned us about! Life if strange! One man's sin is another ones happy memories. Go figure! Thanks for making our Saturday mornings out here in Nevada so pleasant with your T&T Newsletter. Keep them coming."
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"Butch, I am so thrilled to hear this. My family has been in Carter County since the 1890's, so I frequently send my parents (they live in Healdton; I live in Colorado) to the courthouse to look up information, only to find the records are lost! An example is my grandmother's marriage license. It existed at one time - my cousin has a copy of it. However, the original is missing. More than once I've sent my parents to look up information on court cases involving ancestors (one ancestor was murdered), only to find empty files. I hope with the records on microfilm, there will be a way for some supervision of the records. I believe people should have access to the records, but not to the point where they can walk away with documents. So, HURRAY!"
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"Hi! Butch. Are you sure that is a picture of the Mary Niblack School? It did not look like that in1938 when I first started to school there. It was similar but different front entrance and different stair well and balcony. It was a two room school with the 1st through 6th in the North room and the 7th through the 12th in the South room. Church and school programs were held in the top room."
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"Hi Butch, I snapped a picture of a bell for you today. It is located at Cushman Corner 8 miles north of Stratford. Now if I just don't ruin the film like I did before. I had stopped to look at a 1928 Ford Model A pickup that was sitting in front of a country store. They have a few antiques, honey, gifts, etc. They always have a large garden and will soon be selling fresh produce. The owner told me that she is already selling green tomatoes for those who like them fried. The pickup came out the same year that I did. It is probably in better running condition than I am. The last two days were beautiful. Hope you were out gathering some interesting stories for next week's edition."
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"There has been quite a bit of interest in Coopers and Colverts. In years past there were a lot of small dairy farmers in the county who supplied a lot milk for processing. One of those dairy farmers was Henry Hughes who lived on 3rd Ave east of Ardmore. He milked Guernsey cows. There were a lot of changes over the years on how the milk was sold and delivered. In the early years cows were milked by hand. They were milked twice a day seven days a week regardless of what the weather was for that day. There are probably readers out there that can give some pretty good details about dairy farmers and how they sold milk. Anita Rutledge can probably give information on the Hughes, her father. By snail mail, I am sending you an unused cardboard milk bottle cap from the Hughes dairy, probably from the 40s or so."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hughesm.jpg
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"Butch I sent you a message about the spelling of bodark trees. I wish to make a correction, the correct spelling is this way, Bois de Arc, three words instead of two." ppoindex@rcsis.com
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"Butch, Anyone looking for their Indian Heritage can go to http://www.RootsWeb.com click on Native American Data and put in a surname and use any tribe and they will get the Dawes commission rolls from National Archives Fort Worth TX. I did this and found my Father Grandfather and great Grandfather all listed as Choctaw Indians."
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"This is a picture of the bell from the USS Nevada that was removed before the battleship was sunk. The bell is housed in the Nevada State Museum. For reference, the bell is about the size of the Liberty Bell."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/navbell2.jpg
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"This is a pic of the bell over the Volunteer Fire Department in Virginia City, NV-- one of the richest mining towns ever. I wanted to enlarge just the bell, but had so much trouble, I gave up. Look closely at the ringer (is it called a clapper?). It is obvious I do not know too much about bells, but is this double sided ringer unusual? I have not seen another like it in the few bells I have paid attention to."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/navbell3.jpg
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"Reproduction of the Liberty Bell outside the Nevada State Museum in the capital, Carson City, Nevada."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/navbell4.jpg
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"Dear Butch -- I fell behind on the newsletters recently, but just discovered your artical on the Randol Hotel with pictures of the memorial. I find this very interesting, but you might want to include my late husband, Charles R. Milner (Bob) in the list of family members. Bob was the grandson of R. L. Randol and the son of Charles A. Milner. He was a lifelong citizen of Ardmore and Senior Trust Officer at First National Bank before his retirement in 1992. He remembered his grandfather Randol well, and we heard many stories of the hotel days (I still have a copy of one of the menus from the dining room) Just thought you might be interested." -Sue Milner
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"daddy's cousin was one of the infamous four men hanging at Ada. His mother is one of the ladies peeking thru the barn in the picture."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/adahang.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/adalynch.html
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"Not sure who you are, Butch, but a lot has been written about my family in your newsletter and notes. A lovely tribute from Robin Craft Grattet about my parents and their cafe in Healdton, Joy's Grill. About cousin Eddi-Rue: Yes she was born in Healdton. The house where she was born is still occupied in Healdton or was as recently as 2000. Known as Rue today, she was friends with Emma Jane Ervin and Earla Sue Pollard when she lived in Healdton. Occasionally those three little girls would take me with them on their adventures...especially to Mr. Tribbey's soda fountain at the corner of Fifth and Main in Healdton, where we would drink cherry cokes and charge them to Earla Sue's daddy! What a surprise when he was presented with a bill that had built up over several months... a total of $7.... that was a lot of cherry cokes back in the late 1930's!! Eddi-Rue moved to Durant where she started school in 1941, later moved to Ardmore to graduate from high school. Earla Sue Pollard moved to Ohio and graduated from high school, Emma Jane Ervin and I graduated from Healdton High School... she in 1950 and I in 1955. Rue and I talk on the telephone often, Emma Jane and I see each other at school reunions every five years; Earla Sue passed away in 1973. I believe that I am the link between Rue and Emma Jane....but I do think it would be fun to get the two of them together sometime! As I said at the start of this e-mail, not sure who you are....but enjoy reading the online "this n that".....thank you for some happy memories. Best Wishes." -Sonny McClanahan
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The creator of the Ardmore Airbase Website, Gary Simmons, came through his bypass
surgery fine, left the Oklahoma City hospital on Friday May 24th, and is
recooperating now. If it wasn't for the hard work of Ardmoreite Gary Simmons, there
would not be such a wealth of historical information on the Ardmore Airbase from the
1940s and 50s available on the Web. Thanks for your dedication Gary to building the
website, the long hours of research, and contacting people across the country. It is
appreciated by many. And welcome back home! You do serve a wonderful God!
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 3,770 files and 375mgs!
shipjo@swbell.net
dgadams@cox-internet.com
I almost had a piece of the puzzle this week of the birth mother being sought by the 37 year old ex-Ardmoreite. A Reader told me about about a lady who might have been kin, but because of a divorce 35 years ago, then a death, the contact I made could not shed any light on the birth mother or her relatives. But I have another lead now.... in Dallas. I'll check it out in a day or two. So the search continues. If you know any little piece of this puzzle, send me some email or call me. I still believe we can find this man's birth mother.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/childs.htm
Many of you know one of my favorite singers is Celine Dion. I think I have most of her CDs. I was listening to Radio Carousel in England the other evening and they played, what I thought at first to be Celine's song, "The Power of Love". But as I listened, I thought, that is not Celine Dion's voice. After the song finished playing, I found out, Celine was not the author of the "The Power of Love" at all like I thought. The song belongs to New York City born singing artist Jennifer Rush. When she recorded that song in 1984 for the first time, it went to #1 on all the charts throughout the world, especially overseas. You know, that Jennifer Rush might sing the song even better than Celine and for me to say that, takes a lot. She has one beautiful voice! And by looking at her Bio on her website, she has personal info that makes her unique. Her father was an opera singer and her mother a pianist. She lived 3 years in Germany as a child with her parents and speaks German fluently.
http://www.jennifer-rush.com/
I'm still listening to the Oldies Rock and Roll songs at Radio Carousel in England. I"m going to miss that station when they go off the air in about three weeks.
http://www.radiocarousel.co.uk/
A Reader sent me the following email this week:
"I ran across a poem in the Smithsonian that reminded me of your love of bells! Actually the article is called"Hells Bells" and was quite neat.It was about factory bells. You might be able to read it on their site. http://www.smithsonianmag.com Anyway here it is:
"Loud the morning bell is ringing,
Up, up sleepers, haste away;
Yonder sits the redbreast singing,
But to list we must not stay.
Now we give a welcome greeting
To these viands cooked so well;
Horror! oh! not half done eating---
Rattle, rattle goes the bell!"
-From an anonymous poem, printed in "Factory Girl's Garland", a literary magazine from Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1844
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
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Saturday May 18, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 265
On the north side of the Carter County Courthouse is Hinkle Street. I guess in recent times the name Hinkle Street was made a household name because the Sheriffs Office was located at 106 Hinkle in the north end of the Annex Building. Sheriff offices where downstairs and the county jail was upstairs on the second floor until 1990 when the jail was moved to the new present day facility one block to the east at 100 South Washington.
Hinkle Street was named after Ardmoreite John Homer Hinkle, a prominent businessman during the very beginnings of Ardmore. John Homer was born December 26, 1877 in Morrillton, Arkansas. His parents were Federal Judge John Homer and Mary (Morgan) Hinkle of Ardmore, and his sister was Hattye Hinkle Chandler. J. Homer attended Cole Military School in Dallas. He helped build cotton compresses in Oklahoma City, Ardmore, and Pauls Valley. For a time, he was in the land business in Ardmore, then later establishing a fire insurance business. He was one of the organizers of the Coline Oil Company and was associated with other oil companies. He was vice President of the Chickasaw Lumber Company and owned much property on Main Street in Ardmore. In 1911 he married Agness Segar, and they had two children, Homer and Beth. The Hinkles lived many years in Ardmore, died here, and are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. -From the publication Indian Territory and Carter County Pioneers
Family photo of Judge Hinkle, his wife, and two children, J. Homer and Hattye
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hinkle3.jpg
Photo of Ardmore businessman J. Homer Hinkle
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hinkle4.jpg
Hinkle Street in Ardmore is probably thought by many people to be only an alley. But it is an actual street and runs about 4 blocks from "A" Street SE to "B" Street SW parrelling Main Street on the south. Here are two pics I took, one looking west on Hinkle, the other looking east.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hinkle6.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/hinkle7.jpg
For several weeks now, and continuing for many weeks to come, an archivist is at the Carter County Courthouse archiving records to microfilm. She is Debbie Griffith with the Genealogical Society of Utah. She has been working in this capacity for ten years all across Oklahoma, placing Marriage, Divorce, Probate, Soldiers, Deeds, land, Widows, Pensioners and school records on microfilm. Before working for the Genealogical Society of Utah, Debbie was a Records Acquisitions Specialist for three years. Debbie also microfilms birth and death records, funeral homes and museums records where permitted. Her microfilm machine is almost a historical record in itself.... made in the 1940s. This is a pic I took of Debbie using her almost antique microfilmer. An old machine but works perfectly performing a much needed work for generations to come!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/archiv2.jpg
On April 20, 2002 Ardmoreite George Baumann passed away. I only met George Baumann once at couple of years ago at the Ardmore Airpark at the American Flyers Memorial. But he was a man you'd never forget. A personality and charisma I can not put into words here. Among the many achievements during his life, George Baumann was a pilot for American Flyers Airlines. I think his daughter, Cindy Seward, best describes her father so I have but that story in text form and available online for reading.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/textfiles/baumann.txt
1966 photo of George Baumann getting ready for work as a pilot. His son Teddy is beside him.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/baumann4.jpg
1968 photo standing beside an American Flyers Boeing 727 jet with his daughter Cindy
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/baumann3.jpg
2001 photo of George Baumann and his wife Peggy
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/baumann2.jpg
Photo of American Flyers Super Constellation flown by George Baumann
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/baumann5.jpg
Over a year ago I told everyone about a rarity in Oklahoma that can be found in the southeast part of Oklahoma in Pushmataha county. That county has only one red light (traffic light) and it's in Antlers, Oklahoma! There was rumor that Clayton, Oklahoma in northern Pushmataha county was going to put in a red light, but they never did. I check this week and Antlers still holds the title of have the only red light in the county!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/antlight.jpg
Healdton, Oklahoma recently set a monument in memory of Healdton's war veterans. This is a pic I took of the granite monument when it was laying on the ground at Wilson Monuments in Lone Grove. The monument was made possible by Buck Cantwell and Elaine Scott.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/healdww.jpg
A friend of mine ran across four Fred Beavers paintings at an auction in Altus, Oklahoma and was wondering if anyone knew how much the paintings might be worth. These are probably great collectibles, tempera water colors, absolutely beautiful. Fred Beavers, if my memory serves my correctly, was an Oklahoma Indian artist. Maybe someone can shed more light on these paintings.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/fbeav2.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/fbeav3.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/fbeav4.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/fbeav5.jpg
February 17, 1946 - Ardmore to install parking meters
Want a wordprocessor like Microsoft Office but can't afford the high price? Then OpenOffice may just fit the bill. It's got all the bells and whistles like MS Office, but it's free!
http://www.openoffice.org/
Slideshow presentations available on CD for $3 each (includes postage)
Brown Springs, OK (15 photos)
Mannsville, OK (19 photos)
Bells of Oklahoma (over 150 photos of bells)
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/manncd.jpg
T&T Photo Albums:
http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
http://community.webshots.com/user/OklahomaHistory
If you want to save on long distance calls, check this out! One plan is 2 cents a minute!
http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, I remember the Paramount, Ritz,(later the Park), Tivoli and of course the Globe theaters. Enjoyed many good movies in the last three, seems like the Paramount closed when I was still fairly young. I remember there was 2 or 3 drive in theaters, but remember the Skyview the best. I managed to spend quite a few very enjoyable evenings there. Lots of memories that we won't go into here LOL. Awhile back there was some mention of the Sports Club pool hall, that is where I learned to shoot pool. My dad would have beat me to death I think, if he had ever caught me in there. Of course what he didn't know didn't hurt him. LOL. He seemed to be able to know a lot of what I did though. I always wondered how he managed that. I have some very fond memories of Ardmore."
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"Several philatelic publications have noted that the post office at Hell, Norway, was closed recently (they close small rural post offices in Norway just like the USPS does here). That leaves Hell, Cayman Islands, as the only post office named Hell still open."
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"Hi Butch, the old milk bottles with the cream on top were really good. In the morning you could pour without shaking it up and pour it over you Post Toasties. They didn't get soggy before you could eat them. Now I very seldom eat cereals because the 2 or even 1% milk just doesn't cut it. I understand Bob Taylor's memories."
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"I remember Dr. Johnson, he delivered my brother that is almost 5 years my elder. There was also a Dr. Gibson that delivered me. Back then you didn't go to the hospital. I was 3 when I had my tonsils out and we went to Dr. Gibson's office and I can remember coming down on the elevator wrapped in my favorite quilt and my daddy holding me. The office was in the old Exchange National Bank Blding. Don't know what is there now but they had an old fashioned Soda Fountain there and when we went to town (my brother and I) we would go in and get a Cherry phosphate. That was so good after walking all the way to town. I feel sorry for people who don't have those great memories of living in a small town growing up."
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"Hey Butch..you were robbed on that apple Chick-a-pie! Almost half of it is missing! I wonder what happened to it? ? ? ? ? ? ? Surely, NO ONE could eat that much in one setting!"
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/chickpie.jpg
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Butch: re: the question about the birth certif of American Indians. I found mine at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. when I had to have one before working for Southwestern Bell."
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"Here is a photo taken around 1915, this is my best guess, of the Mary Niblack School SE of Ardmore."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mnsch15.jpg
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"Dear Friends- Just got a call from the hospital. They have rescheduled my surgery for 8AM, Saturday, May 18. They had some emergency cases that required dropping me back a day. Thanks for your prayers." -Gary Simmons gsimmons@brightok.net
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Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 3,770 files and 375mgs!
vernalwm@ardmore.com
shelbrit@arbuckleonline.com
We are still seeking any info on the birth mother of the 37 year old man and ex-Ardmoreite.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/childs.htm
Over in our sister country of England, each year about this time a radio station returns to the air for 30 days. The station is Radio Carousel 106.6 FM in Rothwell Northamptonshire UK, a Rothwell based community radio station. The station returns to the airwaves on Sunday 12th May, 2002 for 28 days only. It is one of the best stations if you like the 1960s Oldies Rock and Roll music. I remember back in the 60s how our parents and grandparents and others thought that music was so terrible for us teens. Boy, if they could return from their graves today and listen to the music, hear the lyrics, and see the videos, they would be really shocked. Many of us listened to the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, Manford Mann, The Animals, Petula Clark, and others. It all started in Liverpool, England. My aunt Pearl Vollborn Carmon would die a second time at what is being shown on TV today. I remember her coming to our house one Sunday night in the early 60s when I was watching Jerry Lee Lewis sing "Great Balls A Fire" on the Ed Sullivan Show, she just shook her head in disapproval.
http://www.rocknrollvault.com/timeline/britishinvasion.htm
Anyway, back to this great little Rock and Roll radio station in England, if you want to listen to their Oldies music, they have it streaming over the internet. All you need is a music player to listen to it. I use Winamp, its free and works great. http://www.winamp.com/
Here is a link to Radio Carousel website. http://www.radiocarousel.co.uk/ Just click on the Box "Listen" near the bottom of the Page, it's all live radio! Also they have some great old photographs from their past community fairs.
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday May 11, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 264
I've received several new pics of bells the past couple of weeks and several more
promised in a few days. My bell Page back up and running.... now with over 150 bells
from all across Oklahoma. If you know of one in your area of the state that I don't
have a bell photo of, let me know!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
Here is a map showing the counties in Oklahoma for which I do have at least one
photo of a bell. We've still have 34 more counties to go... if you know of a bell in
any county in white, send me some email about it! I know there has to be at least
one bell in those counties!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bellmap.jpg
Speaking of bells, a friend and his wife with on a cruise to the Cayman Islands a
few weeks ago and brought a bell for me. It's from the town of Hell in the Cayman
Islands. I guess you could call it the bell from hell. It matches the post card from
Hell I received from my Dad in 1991 when he made the same cruise.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/bellhell.jpg
I also have my Brown Springs Webpage back online. It has been the most visited
webpage of all my pages, except my webshots.com Albums. Those albums are nearing
20,000 hits!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/brownspr.html
About 8:30am Thursday May 10th the workers with the Chickasaw Nation Senior Citizens
program here in Ardmore made their monthly run on the courthouse. They brought their
delicious sausage, biscuit, and gravy breakfasts to everyone who was hungry at the
courthouse. And believe you me, after a long work week there were some hungry
employees that were sure glad to see those two guys. And the price is right too, one
buck for the breakfast. But there's more! This is the monthly bake sale held by the
Seniors at the Chickasaw Community Center at 949 Locust Street in Ardmore, and I had
the guys bring me a apple pie for $5 dollars. As I ate the pie, my mind would flash
back to the thin crust apple pies my great grandmother Ida Miller made on "H"
Northeast here in Ardmore when I was a wee kid 10 years old. She was part Choctaw
and could make the best apples pies. She made lots of mince meat pies, but I didn't
like those..... but I might try one now! I'd stand in the kitchen watching Granny
Miller prepare the apples for the pies. She had that little wood handle paring
knife, and could completely peal an apple and never break that long continuous apple
peeling. I thought that was so amazing. I'd try it, and needless so say I couldn't
do it. Here's a pic I snapped of the guys making their Friday run to the courthouse
with those breakfasts. That's Don Miller on the right and Carl Brown (center),
selling Carter County Clerk Cynthia Anderson and her employees their breakfasts.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/chicbreak.jpg
Here's a pic of that absolutely delicious apple pic I bought from them!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/chickpie.jpg
Speaking of the courthouse, if I tell you a secret you have to promise not to tell
anyone. The reason is this little piece of amazement may go into the McGinnis Book
of Records. Scattered around the courthouse grounds are several pecan trees. Right
the middle of the first fork in one of those trees is an Elm tree growing! hahaha
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/elmpecan.jpg
Saturday May the 18th is pick up day for the Share Program participants in Ardmore
area. Looks like some good foods on the menu.... contact Carole Ellis at
580-223-5287 for more details. Here the May Menu of all those delectables.
Deli Roast Beef - 1 LB. Chicken Breast Tenderloins - 14 OZ. Ham Steak - 12 OZ.
Ground Beef Patties - 1 LB. All Meat Sports Dogs - 1 LB. Potatoes - 6 or 1 bag
Cauliflower - 1 Head Lettuce - 1 Head Sweet Vidalia Onions - 4 Red Delicious Apples
- 4 Valencia Oranges - 4 Kiwi - 5 Pasta Shells - 1 LB. Jell-O Chocolate Pudding -
22 OZ. Tub
http://www.heartlandshare.com
I few months ago there was lots of interest and input from Readers about the local
theaters. Some of you mentioned movie theaters I'd never heard of before. I found a
website that lists all the theaters in the U.S. by state and town. Also lists
cinemas throughout the world.
http://www.cinematour.com/
Do you get tired of all those pop up banner ads when your surfing? Boy I sure do. I
saw that one about the small photo cams for sale pop up so much, I feel like they
have me under survelance. I found a program that really works great on stopping all
those pop up banners. And it didn't slow my computer down. And when it does "kill"
one of the annoying pop up ads, it gives a little beep. I love it! And it's a
freeware!
http://www.free.surfer.tc/mail
Want to get rid of all those < <<< you see in the Forwards you send out in mails?
This little freebie will do it, sure clean those cluttered up emails!
http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm
Slideshow presentations available on CD for $3 each (includes postage)
Brown Springs, OK (15 photos)
Mannsville, OK (19 photos)
Bells of Oklahoma (over 150 photos of bells)
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/manncd.jpg
T&T Photo Albums:
http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
http://community.webshots.com/user/OklahomaHistory
Our little group has talked over 3,400 minutes since May 1st! And now there is a new
program, only 1 cents a minute state to state including Alaska and Hawaii. And 1.9
cents per minute within state calling. There is a $14.95 monthly fee. So if you do a
lot of state to state calling, this Plan could sure save you some bucks! Here are
the steps....
Step 1. 101-6789 + 1 + area code + the number
Step 2. At the prompt, enter your Activation Code: 228072
http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hi Butch, Enjoy your T&T letters! Hearing about Cooper and Colvert Dairies takes me
back to when we were kids and rode our bikes to both places for free ice cream cones
at the back doors. Think it was Colverts that delivered our milk by milk wagon, and
I would enjoy watching that old horse that knew just when to stop as Clyde Green
would step off to leave our milk in those old bottles with cardboard caps with small
tabs on top, along with chocolate milk, butter, etc. The word homogonized had not
yet been invented, so the top third of the milk bottle was cream that was good for
coffee or we thought mixing and drinking and making the milk 'richer.' I think the
day Clyde and family struck oil in East Texas was the day he stepped off of that
milk wagon for the last time. His son, Don, lives in Tennessee now with his family.
Dr. Johnson, I knew quite well when I was a boy and for a time we lived near Lake
Murray and Dr. Johnson would take livestock for his fees as money was not as readily
available those days, and once took several goats and brought them to us to keep for
him. We kept those goats on our place, and my cousin, Benny Frank
Oliphant, taught them to climb up ladders leaning against trees, but he didn't teach
them how to get down so many mornings we'd get up and see goats sitting stranded in
the trees. Was rather amusing to me." -Bob Taylor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, For what it's worth, I ran a couple of the photos in this T&T through
Photoshop and did some restoration."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/coopcar.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch: Tell Ed & Juanita Jezek, to try looking on the 1910 census for Love County
,if their family is listed the person they are looking for will be about 7 yrs old &
in one of the columns by the name will be where the person was born also his parents
place of birth will be listed. The correct spelling for Perkins/Love County,
Oklahoma 1903 is " Chickasaw Nation, Pickens County", the present day counties in
Pickens County,I.T. are Carter, Love, McClain, Stephens, Marshall, Garvin, Johnston,
Jefferson, Grady,& Murray ,there were three more counties in the Chickasaw Nation."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Tell Ben Cooper, that we acquired a leather key holder with "Tom Cooper Motors"
inscribed on it, also I have a postcard like the ones your posted for "Tom Cooper
Ice Cream Parlor" & "Fleet Cooper Car Dealership" in my private collection. I also
have a postcard that's looking west on Broadway about where they cross over all you
see is a house about where EDX Computers is located (I think it may be the same
building or the one just East of it) postmark is 1922."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, The pic of the Tom Cooper retail store on W Broadway says it was taken in
1952. Couldn't be. The car in the middle of the photo, parked right in front is a 57
Chevy." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/cooper57.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch- We have an old school bell mounted on a pole at our Cimarron County Heritage
Museum here. The pole is short and kids are able to ring the bell with a rope. Also,
the United Methodist Church has a bell."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butch, for the person looking for the birth certt of a person born in Indian
Territory. Tell him that he can use a death cert. instead. My grandfather was born
Sept 3, 1876 in Mannsville, I.T. But I used her obit and the funeral home still had
her in the old funeral home book, so got the numbers of it and took a a picture of
her grave. I proved it." -Minnie Lou Watson Whittington
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Services for George Alfred Baumann age 73, was at First Baptist Church Ardmore,
Oklahoma with Reverend Alton Fannin officiating. He passed away on Saturday, April
20th, 2002 in an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma nursing facility. He came into this world
on August 2, 1928 in New York City, New York to parents George Bernard Baumann and
Lillian Elizabeth Baumann. He was preceded in death by his father in 1964 and his
mother in 1994 and a brother, Charles Francis in 1983. Survivors include: his wife,
Peggy of the home in Ardmore; daughter Kimberly Iacavone and son-in-law Dominic
Iacavone and grandchildren, David and Kelly of New Oxford, Pennsylvania; and son
Dirk Deon Baumann of St. Louis, Missouri; daughter Cynthia Diane Seward and
son-in-law Michael Arthur Seward and grandchildren, Rachelle, Andre, and Mariah of
Wichita, Kansas; son Teddy Randolph Baumann and daughter-in-law Heide and
grandchildren, Brianna and Brady of Park City, Utah; a sister, Lillian McGee from
New York and a brother, Jerry Baumann from New York.
He lived in New York and finished his schooling and left New York to pursue his
dreams of becoming a cowboy and a pilot. He worked on several ranches and taught
horseback riding and then started performing at age 17 in rodeos all over the United
States and South America. He was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association, now
called the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He was a regular contender at the
World's Championship Rodeo in Madison Square Gardens in New York, akin to the
present day National Finals Rodeo. After several years of rodeoing and horse
training, he decided to pursue his dream of flying. After he received all his
ratings and pilot's license, he flew for several companies and airlines including
American Flyers Airlines, Universal Airlines, and Capital Airlines. He also flew
scenic flights over the Grand Teton Mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He managed
the Hershey Air Park of Hershey, Pennsylvania where he also gave airplane rides in
an old WWII Stearman biplane and was a flight instructor of regular and acrobatic
flying. He also flew for two major companies here in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He never
really retired from flying and flew his last flight on October 23, 2001.
One dream that he pursued later in life was golfing. He wanted to be a great golfer.
He would usually be the first man on the greens in the early morning. He practiced
everyday. He golfed all over Ardmore with many celebrities and friends. Even
entering local golf tournaments and winning a few. George Alfred Baumann lived what
he believed; "You can do anything, if you are hungry enough." Services under the
directors of Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home and interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery
of Ardmore, Oklahoma."
Mrs. Cynthia D. Seward (daugher)
435 N. Erie Street
Wichita, KS 67214-4732
Ph: (316) 651-0839
E-mail: cindydseward@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Didn't know if you ever made it to Waurika to get a picture of the bell at the
Museum. As I was passing through, thought I would get a couple for you. To check
them out, click on the link below:
http://cards.webshots.com/cp-24360711-dxqQ-album/37197602VtFqBV
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have just read the T&T. I did so, enjoy your article, about Tom Cooper Farms. It
brought back a lot of memories. In the late forties and early fifties, I had two
brothers who were milkers, at the farms. I also remember there being and elderly
gentleman, that rode a horse to and from work there. I believe he tended the
chickens. They also had the best ice cream. I have been gone from the country around
there for fifty years. So I really enjoy your T&T. An avid reader."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"To the couple who came to Hot Springs, Little Rock and Arkadelphia, they really
missed some beautiful dog wood trees on the way to my home (OLD 67 South). Thanks
for all the good info I get from the T&T."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi Butch: I have checked the available records and believe that I was the only
glider pilot in WWII from Ardmore or Carter County. There were one or two glider
pilots who were stationed at the air base there, married Ardmore girls and later
lived there after the war. In fact, one of them, Earl Davis, still lives in Ardmore.
My AHS Class of 1942 will be having our 60th year reunion on October 5th and early
indications are that we will have a good turnout considering our ages and the way we
have been scattered about the US since '42. Thanks so much for your weekly letter,
it really means a lot to those of us who grew up there and have so many happy
memories that you sometimes recall." -Sincerely, J.D. (Don) White ww2gp@webtv.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I've been thinking about the note regarding the 37 year old man who wants to
find his birth mother. I met my dad when I was in my late thirties. He and my mother
divorced when I was only four years old. I want to give the seeker my story. I know
his struggle and I understand the questions he has. I always wondered if I looked
like my dad - where did these blue eyes come from? I wanted to know about his
medical history - for the sake of my kids. I wondered why he left and never
contacted me. I felt like I didn't know who I was. One half of the family tree was
invisible to me - I knew it was there, but I couldn't see it. Well, I was inspired
one day - and I felt strong enough and mature enough to deal with the facts...so I
started looking for him. I remembered an aunt had told me that he was born in Roff,
Oklahoma....so, I picked up the phone and called Roff information. When the operator
asked me whose number I wanted, I just asked for "any Thompson" (my maiden name) in
Roff. That wasn't good enough for her so I said to look for a John Thompson (my
dad's name). Lo and behold, they had a John Thompson. Heart pounding, I called him -
he wasn't my dad, but he was a first cousin - and he had a phone number of a sister
who had a phone number, etc.! Three phone calls later, I was talking to my dad on
the phone. To make a long story short, I now have the answers to my questions. I was
surprised to find out that he had been more devastated by the separation that I had.
We have a nice relationship now, and I see him once a year - he lives in Phoenix.
Last summer, I went to a family reunion and met cousins and uncles and aunts I had
never imagined. I bought a copy of my family tree and discovered my fifth great
grandad was a scientific scholar from Germany! His name was Ishmael Vineyard. That
is so cool. Now my family tree is a big old honkin apple tree (full of fruits!). I
love it. Good luck to the guy looking for his mother. I hope he is as fortunate as I
was. My advice to him is "just take what you get and make the best of it".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Question: Are you aware of a place noted as the Oklahoma Sanitarium? This shows up
in the 1900 Oklahoma census for District 256. The sanitarium was run by a Dr. John
Threadgill."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm looking for someone who might have a picture of the "O'Savior School /Chapel ",
it has been called both School and Chapel, it is located in Orr, OK (Love county).
The dates on the sign were Orr School Independent School District #1, 1899 - 1967."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Here are a couple of pictures of a bell. It is located in front of the Newkirk
Community Historical Museum, Newkirk, OK. Newkirk is the county seat for Kay County.
The bell is from the Oak Grove School which was a rural school in the area."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/newkbela.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/newkbelb.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If you are a person who prays, remember me around 8AM, May 17 as I have open-heart
surgery at Baptist Hospital, OKC. It will involve 5 by-passes. Found out last week
that I had the problem.">br>
-Gary Simmons - gsimmons@brightok.net - http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both my parents were raised in Troy, OK, although my father was born in Lebanon, OK.
They were born in 1915 & 1918 and both their families lived and still reside in
Troy, Mill Creek, Ada, Madill, and Tishomingo. My grandfather (John Lowry) owned the
gas station/store that is located in Troy on the highway. I made a trip to Troy last
fall and sadly to say, the old station is barely standing. My father's last name is
Griffin and my mother's maiden name is Lowry. I still have a cousin living in Troy.
His father was the County Commissioner for years in Johnson County. My parents have
enjoyed your newsletter and fondly remember some of the places you mentioned. I have
attached a picture of my mother's school class picture from Troy and one of the gas
station (in better days) with my grandfather standing in front."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/troy25c.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/troygas2.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Be advised that in addition to being the "spark" in getting the Remembrance
Memorial Park (American Flyers Memorial) up and going, Butch Bridges has also been
instrumental in promoting and receiving funds to establish a memorial honoring the
men who died in multi-crashes during WWII and the Korean Conflict at the Ardmore
Army Air Field and Ardmore Air Force Base. The second memorial will soon be in
place, thanks to the generous contributions of many. But his dedication to the
project doesn't stop there. Someone has to see that the area is kept presentable.
That includes keeping the grass mowed, shrubbery trimmed and alive, and trash
monitored. Butch and Paul Mitchell put in several hours a month of their own time
without compensation to see that the area is something that we can all be proud of.
Others including Doug Williams and men of the Air Park Fire Department, have always
been willing to lend a helping hand. Other Air Park tenants have supplied equipment
when needed. Tuck Wilkinson has been gracious in supplying advice, labor and
shrubbery for the project. As the word gets around, visitors from all over the
United States, relatives of those who died, will at some time, visit the site.
Hopefully, a garden club or various men's organizations will help on a rotational
basis in this long-term responsibility to keep it presentable. Mr. Bridges was at
the memorial early Saturday morning to replace a dead shrub, plant a tree and add
mulch to the flower beds. He not only has put lots of time in the project but has
also earned "sweat" equity on his days off. I happened to have breakfast with Butch
and some of our amateur radio friends last Saturday, and took this digital shot
later in the morning." -Gary D. Simmons
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/butchprk.jpg
More airpark photos:
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/aparkm2a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/apark2b.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/graymem7.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/visitor02.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/weeptree.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi, Butch, my brother is on your mailing list and sent Vol 6 Issue 261 to me,
knowing I would be interested in the locomotive 1108 article. The third gentleman in
the picture is MY DAD, Aaron Moore. I'm interested in who thought of this endeavor?
Where did this loco come from? Who purchased it? What was the route taken to get the
train to it current resting place? I believe I heard talk of moving it. Any info on
that theory? Thanks for seeing the need to recognize these hard working men. It made
me proud to see this picture again."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/loco1108.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I recently checked out Juno's free ISP service for a friend in Yukon and discovered
that they have an Ardmore access number. I just thought your reader's might be
interested in knowing about it." http://www.juno.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Re: Tyler and Simpson. I believe Arlie's last name is Blount. I think he had a son
in the class of '57. My dad went to work for Tyler and Simpson on Feb. 2, 1937.
Easter Clifton had been there for almost 20 years by that time so I believe they
were there during the days people came to town in wagons and buggies. Daddy worked
with Bill Hays, Dale Trotter, Leland Jones, Guy Givens, Eddie Ellis and a lot of
others. John Simpson ran the warehouse in Ardmore and Mr. Tyler was in charge in
Gainesville, TX I think. At least that is my dad's recollection."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Thanks for keeping all of us in touch with T&T. Here's a bit of important
information for your readers and all Ardmore High School Graduates about an upcoming
Ardmore High School Reunion: Class of 1967, 35 Year Reunion (We don't' really care
when you graduated, come join us!) Scheduled for July 26th and 27th 2002. For full
details browse to http://www.cyberflux.cc/AHSReunion and click on the "Reunions"
menu item. This web site is for all AHS Graduates! Log on and Register! We have
located about 179+ Class of '67 Graduates and lots have already confirmed! This may
be your best chance to see some of your old friends if you're a grad from the '60s.
So drop by our AHS Reunion Web Site and Register so we can contact you!"
"We are trying to locate the following class members: Mary Alford, Mary Ann
Bannister, Pat Barrett, Linda Belvin, Linda Black, Harry Bohannon, Vickie Boorman,
Danny Brush, Mary Bryant, Jeaneal Buchanan, Dwight Butler, George Cassity, Cheryl
Chappell, Janette Clift, Sam Cochran, Don Collins, Paula Digby, C. J. Dollar,
Beverly Dunham, Rodney Eades, Jim Ellis, Barbara Chalea Finley, Velma Frazier, Vicki
Freeman, Richard Lynn Garrison, Karen Graves, Sherron Hampton, Judy Hignight, Rose
James, Cecille Johnson, Carol Joiner, Dale Kelly, Kate Kilpeck, Paul William King,
Nancy Carol Lewis, Darrell Lorenzen, John Mannahan, Jim Marchesani, Wendy McMillian,
Stephan Miller, Carol Moon, Kelsey Morton, James Naylor, Phillip Norcross, Tommie
Palmer, Craig Pickens, Barbara Rice, Diane Ricketts, John Shorter, Cheryl Sikes,
Cindy Smith, Judy Smith, Lanny Smith, Lindy Smith, Sharon Spain, Steve Stelding,
Ricardo Stoughtenborough, Bill Swink, Carolyn Taylor, Judy Thomas, Linda Thomas,
Carl Vaile, Cheryl Vandermark, Adele Weigl, Pat Wells, Teresa Willard, Kenneth
Williams, David Willingham, Teresa Wofford. If you know the whereabouts of any of
the above class members, please contact any committee member or go to our web site.
We appreciate any assistance you can give so we will be able to include everyone."
Richard G. (Rick) Wise, AHS Class of '67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 3,770 files and
375mgs!
droberson@mac.com
ljlamb@hotmail.com
I've only received a couple of responses regarding the 37 year old man wanting help
in finding is real birth mother. I know if we work together on this, just maybe
we'll find the birth mother for this young man. Piece by piece the mystery can be
solved. I received the touching email below from a Reader concerning this tragedy
that happened 37 years ago here in Ardmore.
"Butch I was manager of a store on main street in l965 and I remember a Mr.
Seabourne bringing in a pretty young girl with him several times to pick up packages
of parts, etc. He was her stepfather and we all noticed he kept his hands on her. He
even asked about insurance for her, in case something happened, he said. It was
obvious to several of us that she was pregnant at the time. We heard later that she
talked to a teacher at school and discovered she was pregnant, not knowing what was
wrong before. It was turned over to the authorities and he confessed to abusing her
and making her pregnant. This may not be the same one, but I remembered it because
it was so sad."
A statement like that above makes the effort to find his birth mother worth it. We
may be able to make a wrong that happened years ago, right somehow some way. I
appreciate everyone's comments, concerns and even reservations on this matter the
past three weeks. If you have information that may help, call me or email me. Here
is the informational webpage I've made concerning this.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/childs.htm
The first Mother's Day proclamation was issued by the governor of West Virginia in
1910. Oklahoma celebrated Mother's Day that year as well. By 1911 every state had
its own observances. By then other areas celebrating Mother's Day included Mexico,
Canada, China, Japan, South America and Africa. The Mother's Day International
Association was incorporated on December 12, 1912, with the purpose of furthering
meaningful observations of Mother's Day. My mother passed away in 1990. I would give
anything to have her back, if only to just tell her I love her. If your mom is still
living, be sure and go see her on Mother's Day, or give her a call on the phone if
distance is a problem. Tell her you love her. Give her a rose. Spend some time with
her. Talk about the way things used to be. I promise you won't regret doing all
these things. You'll put a smile on her face. Sunday afternoon I'll go to the Carmon
family plot at Rosehill, lay some flowers on my mother's grave, tell her I love her,
but it's not the same after they are gone from our lives. Do it while your mother is
still here. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mymom.jpg
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday May 4, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 263
Last week, the first time in a couple of years, I had a problem with my Mailer
Program. I don't know exactly what happened, but after mailing to 400 people, the
program just stopped. So I had to start it running again, that's why some of you
received my T&T twice last saturday. As you know, the presses can't be stopped, and
when something like that happens, my heart stops. hahaha
Back in the 60s when I was a wee teen and worked at Hunts Grocery on 3rd NE after
school and during the summer months, the Cooper Farms refrigerated truck would
deliver milk and all their other products to the store. One of the drivers for
Cooper's was a man named Arlie. He was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet.
George Hunt, who worked for his dad at the store (Herman Hunt) told me that Arlie
was Arlie "Cooper". And I believed it for a long time. hahahaha. You know, I never
did learn Arlie's true last name.
Here is the info on Tom Cooper Farms from the Indian Territory and Carter County
Pioneers Book:
"In the mid 1920s Tom Cooper (pioneer automobile dealer in Ardmore, and long time
owner of the Oklahoma Transportation Company) was put on an ulcer diet of milk, but
the milk he was drinking didn't agree with him. Mort Woods, operator of the early
day Primrose Guernsey diary farm at Dornick Hills, persuaded Cooper to try the
Guernsey milk, and it filled the need. But the premium Guernsey milk cost 25 cents
per quart in comparison to only 10 cents per quart for the ordinary milk, and Cooper
persuaded Woods to sell him a registered Guernsey cow for $250. This was the start
of the Cooper herd.
In the fall of 1927, Cooper bought a herd of Guernseys in Missouri, built the milk
house on the farm, and began distributing milk in Ardmore. The guernsey heard
increased, and he bought more registered cows and bulls, and in 1931 he built a new
and larger milk house and huge barn which was a landmark on the Cooper Road
northwest until the barn burned a few years ago.
In 1932, Cooper hired a young graduate in agriculture from Wisconsin, Alvin R. "Al"
Guerkink, as farm manager, and together over the next 24 years until Cooper's death
in 1956, they developed the herd into a nationally famous herd of Registered
Guernseys and developed the 1,000 acre farm into a model of soil conservation and
quality feed production.
The Cooper Guernseys won literally thousands of championships, trophies and ribbons
at fairs and dairy shows in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska,
Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana and other states.
Most coveted award, won as many times by Cooper as any Guernsey breeder in the
nation, was the Premier Breeder Banner for showing of cattle raised on the farm.
Along with development of the champion Guernsey herd and dairy farm, Cooper
specialized in extra quality premium milk processed in their own diary plant. In
1941, Cooper purchased the old Ardmore Dairy Plant at 813 West Broadway and moved
the milk processing and bottling into town from the farm, while the plant at the
farm continued to be used to make butter and ice cream.
Then in 1948, Cooper attained a long time ambition to build an ultra modern dairy
plant in Ardmore. He built the million dollar plant between West Main and West
Broadway on K Street where the Cooper Farms headquarters, offices, plant and
distribution were located.
A few years after Cooper's death, his heirs sold the company, including the famous
Guernsey herd and dairy plant, to the Southland Corporation, which has headquarters
in Dallas. In 1982, the recent plant on West Broadway and Main was devastated by
fire. This farm served an important function for Southern Oklahomans, and will be
remembered for years to come."
Milk caps that were crimped on Cooper milk bottle which a friend gave me!
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/milkcaps.jpg
Tom & Fleet Cooper's Auto Garage, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Located at 401-403 West Main
where the First National Bank is now. 4th from front is Hoot Halloway, 2nd in grey
suit is Tom Cooper, (owner of Tom Cooper Dairy), first, in white shirt is Fleet
Cooper. Circa 1925.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/coopauto.jpg
This was the Cooper Farms on 12th NW by Uniroyal Tire Plant
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/cooperfm.jpg
This is a photo of Cooper Farms at K Street NW and West Broadway.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/cooper52.jpg
1950s picture of Fleet Cooper Motor Company which was located at 712 West Broadway
in Ardmore http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/fleetc.jpg
Ben Cooper sent me some photos of Tom Cooper taken around 1938, plus a couple of
photos that Tom Cooper took in 1981. All the pics are in the Mailbag below.
I was over in my old stomping ground on 3rd NE, and just two blocks east of where I
was raised up, I saw a surprise. At 1015 3rd NE they had a bell in their front yard!
It's not an old bell but one of recent manufacture. I friend of mine bought one just
like it brand new over at Durant along the highway a couple of years ago for about
$30. But just because it's not an old bell, it's still a great bell to own, with a
nice ring for cast iron.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/bella15.jpg
Speaking of bells, have you ever heard of the Liberty Bell of the West?
http://www.randolphcountyillinois.net/sub35.htm
I had a request this week for the program TurboTax for last year. Most people have
already thrown their's away. If you have a copy of last years TurboTax, send me some
email. Thanks.
Slideshow presentations available on CD for $3 each (includes postage)
Brown Springs, OK (15 photos)
Mannsville, OK (19 photos)
Bells of Oklahoma (over 110 photos of bells)
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/manncd.jpg
There are several good map websites out there now. I found one this week that's sure
quick and easy to use. Just enter a zipcode or town and in a few seconds the map is
in front of you. Then you can zoom in or zoom out or pan left to right. Nice!
http://www.earthamaps.com/
T&T Photo Albums:
http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
http://community.webshots.com/user/OklahomaHistory
I saw on the news where long distance rates are going up. All the more reason to
join our little group who are saving money on each and every call! 4 cents a minute,
hard to beat!
http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Dear Butch, I wonder if you know where I could look for some info. When I was on
the net last night I found an article about a Whit Moss being murdered at the
residence of H.H. McLain, someone had fired into his home, and Ross worked for him.
I was interested in H.H., it said he was a National Permit Collector for the
Chickasaw Nation, what is that? The date was Dec 1, 1894."
http://www.censusdiggins.com/texas_newspaper_1894pg1.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, you've had some messages about the movie "Dillinger" in your newsletter so I
bought a DVD copy from "Movies Unlimited" via the Internet recently. Nice to see
scenes of the Carter County Court House, main street Dougherty and many others from
our area. The "shoot out" scene in Dougherty is my favorite and the DVD version is
really great because with the digital zoom feature of a DVD player, it's possible to
zoom in on background features that you wouldn't otherwise see. As in the Dougherty
scene, while in still mode, you can zoom in on the railroad crossing way in the
background and see the cross buck etc. Anyway, after viewing the movie I decided to
drive to the Washita River bridge north of Mannsville that was also in the movie. It
still looks about the same as in the movie. While in the area I shot some photos of
the "Silo with the Tree" growing out the top. I know you have posted photos of it
before but I shot two photos from the inside of the silo. One shows the base of the
tree and the other shows the top and there's one outside shot as well. Just thought
your subscribers might enjoy an "inside" shot! Ha! As always, your newsletter is
great and your hard work appreciated by all. Thanks." -Dwane Stevens
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/silods2.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/silods3.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/silods4.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch: Thanks for the nice comment on the Randol Hotel marker. It was purchased and
set by the walking tour committee of the Ardmore Historic Preservation Board in
anticipation of the Downtown Walking Tour which will begin a little later in the
spring. This self-guided tour will include 32 historic sites beginning at the depot
and going west to Central Park, then turning back east to end up at the depot again.
Individual digital players will explain the points of interest and tour booklets
with early day photographs will give additional explanation of the historic sites.
There will be no charge for the tour."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Regarding the wholesale grocer warehouse, it was called Tyler and Simpson
Co. They had offices in Gainesville, TX and Norman, OK as well. I worked there for 7
years with some great people. The manager was Talmadge (Tal) Nutting, others were
Billy T Hays, Marion (Tonto) King, Guy Givens, Dale Trotter, Ronnie Hunt, Calvin
Blalock, Al Ringer, Willie Hunt, Alan Wood and many others. I worked there from 1961
to 1968."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, the name of the wholesale grocery business about a block south of the
Ardmore train station was Tyler and Simpson. They left there about 1955 give or take
a few years. I think they also had a warehouse in North Texas that lasted a few more
years. There was another wholesale grocery business called Williams Eubanks (I am
not sure about that name) on the east side of Caddo about a block north of main
street that went out of business about 1950. These two business' served the small
Mom and Pop grocery stores locally and were forced out of business by the big chains
as were many of the small grocery stores."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The food warehouse south of train station was Tyler & Simpson Co. And before that
it was Ozmond Wholesale. Ozmond Wholesale had a warehouse in Oklahoma City were
Bricktown is now by the tracks. I worked with Mr. Ozmond for about five years."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Butch, Here is information to prevent you from forwarding a virus via your
address book. Open the address book and open a new contact for the first name type
!000 Where you type the email address type WormAlert. As there is no such email
address listed and with the !000 it will be first in the address book no emails will
be sent by a virus. From "P C World" magazine"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi, I received two T & T's this week? Hit the old button twice did you? That is OK
it happens to the best of us sometimes. Boy do I ever agree with you on the virus.
Several years ago I got one and it completely demolished my computer before I even
knew what was going on.Not the computer itself, just all the programs and data I had
on it. I learned a very thorough lesson and I am really paranoid about virus'. I
scan and scan, even when I think I don't need to. The AVG is about the best I have
found, and it is free! And hey, if ever I send you a virus, just send it back, I
know how to fix that... Thanks."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So much talk about Eddi Rue McClanahan lately makes me want to ask a question.
Seems her mother's name was Rhue-Nell. I'm wondering if they were connected in some
way to the Rue family who came into the Old Wilson area by at least 1905. There was
an Ida Rue born 1888 in Missouri, who married Andrew Ivan Morris at Old Wilson
October 17, 1905. She had a brother called Bud Rue, born 1885 in Missouri. Don't
know what ever happened to Bud. Would sure like to know more about this family. If
anyone knows of them, please e-mail me at BnLFAMILY@aol.com Thanks for the
newsletter. I sure do enjoy it. Bud Caudle in Guthrie."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, My wife, Jackie Rogers Uhles is descended from the Randol Family. Her Great
grandfather, James Merritt Randol, was a brother of the Robert William Randol who
owned and operated the Randol Hotel. Family lore is that Robert also owned a
mercantile store (In the building with the Hotel?) and that Merritt worked in this
store until he moved with his family to Mannsville in 1901. The Randol's came to
Indian Territory to the vicinity of the present town of Ardmore about 1890 from
Dexter, Cook Co. Texas after their father, Maston Crawford Randol died. Maston owned
land north of Dexter near the Red River. Jackie has a coupled of nice photo of
Robert and his wife if you are interested. A grandson of Robert Randol, Charles
Robert Milner, is still living in Ardmore. Charles Robert Milner is the son of
Roberts Randol's daughter, Ruth and her husband, Charles A. Milner Jr. Robert Milner
has a Menu from the Randol Hotel. This menu lists the Bill of fare and the prices.
(Very Interesting) Jackie has a coupled of nice photo of Robert and his wife if you
are interested. Keep up the good work. I can always find something interesting in
your T&T."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, To the person who wrote in about the Food warehouse in Ardmore. It was Tyler
& Simpson. I do not have a picture. It was one of several locations they had. I
believe there headquarters were in Gainesville, Texas. I am pretty sure they were in
business in Ardmore from at least 1948 till they closed(?). I have a Want Book that
my folks used to keep a list of things they would buy from the sales rep when he
came around. They would deliver to all the small stores in the area and you could
also pick up at there warehouse. Feel free to pass my e-mail address on, in case
more info is required." HaneyRJ@prodigy.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi Butch, I hope you are having a good week. Please mention the following in This
and That. Also, the dogwoods are blooming in the Ouachita National Forest in
southeastern Oklahoma. I was told that the dogwoods at Idabel have been blooming for
over two weeks. I have uploaded newly edited photos to my web site of photos of
Chickasaw National Recreation Area. These are the same images that were on the site
previously. However, now they are larger, framed, and much nicer to see. The dark
images are lighter. Please stop by for a visit to http://chickasaw.homestead.com
Take a virtual tour of the park."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello Butch, I just love reading your articles on "This and That". I guess I am
what you call a "die-heart" Okie! I was raised in Sayre, Ok..do you know or have any
articles on people or history about Sayre. My Dad had the lumber yard there behind
movie house, but we have all been gone so long don't remember allot. Except what
your mind has pictured growing up. All my family is deceased,except one uncle in
Sayre."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"While in Ardmore, we ventured from antique shop to antique shop searching for
relics from the Tom Cooper Farms, dairy and car dealership, and the car dealerships
of Fleet Cooper, my uncles. We were fortunate enough to pick up a few historical
objects; among them was a baby book. What was unique about the baby book was the
baby was born on Tom Cooper's Farm, Tuesday, October 29, 1935, at 12:40 o'clock.
Even though the name of the baby was not mentioned in the book, the mother was noted
as Alice and father was G.W. Buckholts. The nurses listed [as best I can decipher]
were O'Dell, Davis and Mrs. Proux, and the doctor was G.E. Johnson. The baby weighed
6-pounds. Several names were listed on the Congratulations page, and those who had
given gifts were listed on the inside of the back cover along with the present they
had given. It would be interesting to know if any of the subscribers to your
newsletter may know who this baby book refers to. We did not find any relics from
the car dealerships owned by Uncle Fleet Cooper. In addition, I have attached a copy
of another artifact from Tom Cooper Farms. It is the front page of a recipe book
published by Tom Cooper Farms to help people make delicious dishes with a special
section on instant gourmet go-togethers." -Ben Cooper
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/cooprecp.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dave and I took a car-trip to Oklahoma in the summer of 1981, as I recollect. Dave
was about 13-14 years old, we were traveling in my 1980 Volkswagen Dasher Diesel (>
50 MPG!). It took us quite a while to locate the Cooper Dairy farm since Interstate
35 had been built right through the middle of the farm acreage. Once we finally
located the dairy, it was easily discernible from the Interstate (similar to photo
#1), but difficult to drive up to. People kept telling us where to go, but we always
ended up at dead end streets, probably because of the Interstate highway
construction, and our ignorance of the area. There were some hippie-type persons
working inside the main farmhouse, who told us they were renovating it."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/coop81a.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/coop81b.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have attached a photo of Fleet, Ben and Tom Cooper taken in the late 1930s at a
family reunion on Tom Cooper Farms property. Uncle Tom sponsored family reunions
frequently at the farm. I am not certain but I believe they were yearly events. From
left to right. Fleet Cooper, Ben Cooper [my dad], Tom Cooper." -Ben Cooper
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/coop38a.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Howdy, I just got back from vacation. I visited relatives in Little Rock and in
Arkadelphia. I drove the backroads home from Hot Springs and I want you to know that
it was some of the prettiest scenery I've ever seen. And such a peaceful drive. I'd
never seen that part of Arkansas before. And the mountains were just dotted with
clumps of gorgeous white dogwood trees. They're no Rocky mountains, but they're
taller than the Arbuckles---about 3,000 to over 4,000 feet high and covered with
green trees. I am pretty sure that I will take a long weekend in late October and
hit the same highway to take photos of the Fall Foliage."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, I tried to respond to the OU Grad Student who is studying the Oklahoma
version of the "Wild, Wild, West" (smile). When I was growing up in Davis we used to
drive down to Dougherty (our parents didn't know) using the back roads so we could
take a look at what was told to us was the remnants of a saloon that was built and
ran by Belle Starr. I realize that the building is probably no longer there however
some of the older folks who still live there might able to enlighten the Grad
Student with some of the old stories about the saloon - hey, it is worth a shot as
it is not to far from OU to Dougherty - besides, how better to get folks to visit
our beautiful part of Oklahoma - remember, Dale and Roy got married at Lincoln's
Ranch (now Healy Brothers) - made a couple of movies in the area - so we do have a
history."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey butch, email me the big scans of the pictures of the Woodford dam. Howard
Howell is my great grandfather and Floyd Young was a great uncle. Thanks."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wooddam6.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/wooddam8.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi Butch, I thought I would share this with you. I had a badly cracked bell that
would not ring and John Allen (at Consolidated Castings Co in Florida) recast it for
me. He used the old bell as a pattern and set up a mold and melted the cracked bell
and repoured it. Its like the same bell but no crack. Hope you like the pics."
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/newbellf.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/newbellg.jpg
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We are especially interested in the Indian census and the possibility of tracing
Juanita's fathers' birth certificate or record of his being born in Indian
Territory. We would need that record in order for her to qualify for the "First
Families of the Twin Territories" This is for descendants of the early settlers of
Oklahoma. His name was John Dave Porter. He was born in Chickasaw Indian Territory,
Perkins/Love County, Oklahoma on April 30, 1903. His parents name were Lyman Trumble
and Lowellyn (Nichols) Porter. The lived in the Greenville, Orrine communities. If
you know of a contact person that we might correspond with or if there is a e-mail
address please let us know. Thanks for any assistance that you might render to our
research efforts." -Ed & Juanita Jezek
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Just a couple of memories from recent items in T&T- Tommy Anastasio also worked for
E-Z Way food stores for a time, and regarding Broadlawn, I formerly owned and
operated a small store called "Church Music and Supply" at #30 address there, and
did a radio program from KMAD in Madill, called "Music with a message" for a few
months. Both ventures, the store and the radio, were exciting to me. I also did my
own commercials for Hill Top Grocery in Ardmore for a time, coached by Bill
Lauderdale, the announcer for KVSO at that time. What a bunch of varied memories!"
-Bob Farrington
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch: We really enjoy your T&T and all of the history you include. I remember so
many of the names and incidents you mention. Your father, R.V. "Battleship" Bridges,
and his brother, Paul Bridges, were aquaintances of my family. I was raised in SE
Ardmore and moved back here after being gone for thirty years. I remember the Carmon
Lumber Co at 3rd and "H" NE and other people and businesses you write about. One
item, the Dubiel Gun factory, was originally Hoffman Arms. I believe some of the
Dubiel decendants still live in Ardmore. The item that prompted this epistle was the
note from the person who worked at the Tivoli theatre since I worked there at one
time and would be interested in corresponding with that person. gilliam@brightok.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you for the information on Bud Ballew and the picture. My dad has long told
me that his father said that he was knew Bud Ballew and on occasion would share some
stories. It was great that we could put a face with this name."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
========================================================================
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 3,770 files and
375mgs!
bags@brightok.net
ww2pg@webtv.net
Three weeks ago I told about a 37 year old Ardmore born man looking for his birth
mother. I have a Webpage to display the info and facts that were given to me by him
and his family. I believe there is a lot of good information here, and surely
someone out there will be able to help us find his birthmother. Our group has worked
together on a number of projects, and I believe together we can find this man's true
birth mother. If you know anything, even a small piece of the puzzle, then let's add
it to the other info on the webpage. Just send me some email. Who knows, his mother
may be living in the Ardmore area right now! Wouldn't that be a nice mother's day
gift for him? http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/childs.htm
M-O-T-H-E-R
"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
-Howard Johnson
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday April 27, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 262
I stopped by this week and visited with Mrs Wilson at Wilson Monuments at Lone
Grove. She is an historian extraordinare and I always learn something from her. She
had two 1923 photos of workers beginning work on the Woodford, Oklahoma dam in
northern Carter county. One photo was taken before the land work started, the other
is after the dam was completed with the workers standing in front of the dam. I've
reduced the size of the photos on the links below, but I do have the photos much
larger with greater detail of the workers faces and all. With out question a person
could tell if they know or kin to any of the workmen in the photos.
(223k)
(243k)
The Ardmore Historic Preservation Board in Ardmore has set a beautiful marker on Main Street
designating the location of the old Randol Hotel. The Randol Hotel is where Ardmore
oil millionaire Jake Hamom was reportedly shot by his mistress, Clara Smith Hamon in
1921. Hamon died from his wound. The Randol Hotel was owned and operated by R. L.
Randol (1854-1939). R.L. had a son named Robert Luther (Jul 24, 1891 to Dec 17,
1966) and the husband of my great aunt, Eva Carmon Randol. (Eva and my grandfather,
Stanley Carmon were brothers and sisters.) I remember going to Robert Luther and
Eva's home in Ft Worth during the 1960s as a kid. Luther, we called him Luther,
worked for the Star Telegram newspaper in Ft Worth for over 30 years. The Randols
are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery at Ardmore. Here is a pic of the new Randol Hotel
marker on Main Street next door to the west at the parking lot from the Tivoli
theater.
This week I've addded another Slideshow! It's of the bell pics!! Over 110 of them in
a slideshow presentation. If you want one of the bell CDs, just send me $3 cash and
I'll see that you get one. I still have a slideshow of Brown Springs and Mannsville
at $3 each. The slideshow on Mannsville, Oklahoma consists of about 19 photos and
some other goodies burned to the CD. Either CD is $3 to cover expenses. Let me know
if you want one! Here's a pic of the Mannsville, Oklahoma Slideshow CD. The
slideshow of Brown Springs consist of 15 photos.
A Reader in Oklahoma City mailed me a 1901 wedding photo of Deputy Sheriff Bud
Ballew and his wife, Fannie Mariah (Harper) Ballew. The photo was provided to the
National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History (NOLA), of Laramie, Wyoming by
the great grand daughter of Bud Ballew, Ann Ballew Carlton. I had the pleasure to
meet Ann Ballew Carlton a couple of years ago when she and her husband were in
Ardmore. They live in Natchez, Mississippi. NOLA has an excellent eight page
write-up on Bud Ballew in their January-March 2002 magazine.
I upgraded my service with webshots.com this week. Paid $29 for two years of
unlimited photo storage. That will help with all the photos I'm uploading month
after month. My webshots.com albums have been very popular with over 10,000 hits
since I started using webshots. Over the next few weeks, I'll move the photos from
MokaXprs webshots to my OklahomaHistory webshots so all the pics will be on one site.
A Reader sent me a webpage that, among other events in history, is an extensive
photo gallery of the Dust Bowl years of Oklahoma. One can spend hours here just
looking at history!
This week I've received more emails with viruses attached than in any time since
1980 when I started using a computer. Everyday this week I get a dozen emails with
the w32 klez worm virus attached. Most of them are caught by my Internet Provider
(brightnet) with their software. Those that do get through are caught by my
Antivirus Program. If you have not scanned your computer for
a virus, using an up-to-date antivirus program in the past month or so, then I'll
bet you a hamburger from the Broadway Cafe YOU HAVE A VIRUS on your computer. I been
using the free grisoft.com antivirus software for a long time with no problems. But
there are a number of good antivirus programs available and some are Free. Which one
you use is your choice, but for Pete's sake, use one and use it regularly! Remember,
if you get an email with the w32 klez virus attached, that email is not from the
Sender shown in the FROM box. The virus gets that email address from the Address
Book in the actual infected computer.
Last summer I told how we took a few tablespoons of Amdro Ant Killer and put on the
several huge red ant mounds at the Airpark Memorial and in less then two weeks every
ant was dead. Not one ant moving around on or near the ant beds. The other day I
read that this same Andro pesticide (preferably gel form) will kill those big water
roaches that plague some households. The report by a university said MaxForce will
kill the roaches too, since both products contain hydramehylnon as the active
ingrediant in a grandular type bait.
April is almost over but our little group has talked over 7,200 minutes! Join us and
save on your long distance calls too! Several of you have taken advantage of their
toll free number service and got your own! Four cents a minute is an excellent rate!
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Mr. Bridges, I think that you may need to write an article about grandparents. I
have three wonderful kids that are in need of grandparents. Yes they have some of
their own but not like other grandparents. Atleast not like the grandparents of my
friends. The kind of grandparents that call and say why dont you bring the kids over
and let them play or spend the night. The type of grandparents that are thrilled
about seeing. If this is something that you would like to post on your site let me
know and I will give you the whole story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch , I read your This and That program and notice that you have a give away of a
cd rom disk. What are the rules on getting to win one of those. And what do you have
to do to win one of those. Seems like it would be very interesting to a history buff
like myself."
Note: If your new and want in the drawing for a CD, just send me an email!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Does anyone know of someone in Ardmore who can help me find a grandfather clock
repairman? We have one that worked great and sounded beautiful until I went shopping
for a day and lo it has never chimed again. Seems someone I love decided to speed it
up a little. We need someone who can make a "house call" Thanks."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch on the person sending the information about bodark trees and horse apples
that brought back memories. That is how we pronounced it but the spelling was bois
darc. It was a French name for the tree. The tree had a red center and wad used to
make bows with as it was very strong."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have a step daughter (I married her mother after she was born we had a son). Her
mom was raped at 13 and had a daughter put her up for adoption and spent the rest of
her life regretting it. She die a few years back. Two years ago her daughter found
me and found out her mom was dead but she found a brother and grandmother. She could
help the guy that's what she does now as she has 25 years experience in searching
out the truth."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear Butch, I held back from giving my opinion on the 13 year old girl as at the
time the girl being 6 years old did not make sense. I think it would be fine to help
him find the information as long as he is aware of the circumstances of his birth
and the fact she may or may not chose to meet with him. My parents separated and my
father chose not to have contact with me and it left a great gaping whole in my
life. Yet while he turned down my overtures to talk with him and meet with him when
I was twelve, twenty years and two heart attacks later he was ready for some closure
and to meet with me. It was neither joyous or a wonderful reunion. I found out I
didn't much care for him, I also met some siblings who I didn't care much for
either. Still I learned allot of family medical history and eventually a more full
genealogical history which has helped me to at least understand my family better. So
a magic wand wasn't waved and I didn't end up having wonderful new family. What I do
have is a gapping hole that has been filled and a better understanding of who I am
and where my family came from and what medical issues I need to attend to. Now as a
counselor I would suggest he be prepared for some very strong feelings to occur and
to have a strong family network and or resources where he can safely discuss the
issues and feelings he has if and when he does find her mother. The need to fill up
the void often reaches a point where people can't move forward until this particular
sandbar is crossed. In truth he has already made the decision to search and unless
as an adult she has specifically expressed a request she not be contacted then there
is no reason for you not to. How she may have felt at thirteen may be very different
now and she herself may have a void to fill and wonder how he turned out and is her
child ok. Still you have to chose what you feel comfortable with. You wont stop the
son only slow down his journey if he is really determined if you chose not to
participate. Good luck in what ever choice you make."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The closest I can come is it is like looking down expecting to see a hand and find
it missing and just feeling shocked and stunned and you are driven to find your
missing hand. Even if you can't reattach it, you want to at least know where it is."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear Butch, Thanks so much for This and That. It just gets better and better.
Through it you helped me find a cousin I never knew I had. Getting to know each
other has been a joyous experience...thanks to you!!! My newly found cousin and I
have a favor to ask of you and your readers. Can anyone tell us the address of the
home of Dr. von Keller; who built the hospital which bore his name? My cousin;
Gretchen von Keller Sullivan, is the grand-daughter of Dr. and Mrs. von Keller's
daughter, Helen von Keller Sullivan. Her mother was Frederika Rose Sullivan, aka
Fritzi; who was born and raised in Ardmore. Fritzi was the daughter of Helen von
Keller and Arden Sullivan, my great uncle. Gretchen and I will cherish any
information about Helen, Frederika, and Arden.....and their families. Thanks, Butch,
for your great help!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My great uncle, Russell Bard Brown (1889-1970) grew up in Ardmore and practiced law
there until about 1930. In an article about Russell's life in the Tulsa World at the
time of his death, it had the following to say: "It was while he was a lawyer in
Ardmore that Brown came into conflict with Buck Garrett, one of the last of the
colorful, two-gun "peacemakers" in Oklahoma. Garrett and his cohort, Bud Ballew, had
established a nearly indomitable political machine in Carter County, allowing
lawlessness to run rampant in the surrounding oil towns while they fortified their
own strongholds in the county seat. Public sentiment turned against Garrett, a Tulsa
newspaper reported, when a woman visitor from Duncan was "mistreated" on an Ardmore
street. Brown reportedly initiated ouster proceedings against the lawmaker with a
speech to an audience that included Garrett in which he attributed Carter County's
troubles to its own law enforcement office. Brown was appointed by the Governor to
conduct the proceedings, and despite numerous threats against his life, he succeeded
in deposing the sheriff in one of the last of the two-gun towns in the southwest."
When Russell Brown left Ardmore he moved to Washington D. C. and served for 30 years
as the general counsel of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
Upon his retirement in 1960 Gordon Simpson of Dallas who was then president of the
IPAA, commended Brown's service to the oil industry by saying: "For almost a third
of a century, Russell Brown has demonstrated a gifted perception of the problems of
the industry to which he has dedicated his life. He has fought it battles. He has
been its spokesman. He has been a companion to hundreds of its leaders. He has
become known as 'Mr. IPAA'." -Dick Lindsly - Frisco, Texas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Dear Mr. Bridges, I love reading your newletter although I have never lived in the
area. My ancestors on many side came from Oklahoma so I read it hoping for clues to
my family. I wrote you once before concerning my grandfather, James Alexander "Coot"
Byrd, who was a Marshall for Kingston, OK in 1927. He was killed while serving. Mr.
Dennis Lippe, of the Oklahomas Law Enforcement Officers saw the article and wrote
for more information. As a result, my grandfather is going to be honored at the 34th
Annual Memorial Service. According to Kingston newpaper articles, Mr. Byrd had lived
in the area for about 20 years. His father-in-law from his first marriage was also
in some kind of law enforcement, as well as various other relatives. Sure would like
to know more about the family. He was married to a Rena Hoggard and they had a son
Pete. She died after about 5-6 years I think and he married Grace Greer. They two
son, John and Ray. Mr. Byrd was killed in the line of duty when the youngest son,
Ray, was 4 years old. His widow, Grace, never spoke about him and the young boys
grew up knowing nothing about their father. If anyone out there knows anything about
these families I sure would love to hear from them. James A. Byrd was killed in
1927. Attached is a copy of the invitation for your information and interest. Mr.
Byrd had two brothers, Gus, and Earl, "Bud" and a sister, Ethel. All lived the areas
around Sherman, Dennison, Kingston, etc. I know I have rambled, but I keep hoping to
mention something that will strike a nerve in someone memory. Other names related to
this family are Laister, Greer, Sisk." -Anne galegg@yahoo.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch--just finished reading the T and T for this week---it is really interesting
to this transplanted Oklahoman! Often you have stories about food --they make me
hungry--things just tasted better at l6 than they do at 70. Anyway, about five years
ago I was in Okmulgee and had some fried zuchini at a cafe called The Silver
Dollar,they served it with a little cup of what tasted like Ranch Dressing to dip
the zuchini in. It was delicious and I later wrote my brother and asked him to go by
and beg for the recipe---he wrote back and said they were out of business.I know
Okmulgee isnt near Ardmore but I think The Silver Dollar may be a franchise and they
could be in Southern Oklahoma or one of your readers might happen on one while
traveling---if so, I would so appreciate getting the recipe for the fried zuchini.I
would appreciate it if you could ask your wonderful readers to be on the lookout for
that recipe." -sammie binkley
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From left to right the players were 1) an unknown gentlemen who just happen to be in
the store that day. He was not a local resident. 2) Herman Jackson 3) Clyde Haney my
father and the owner on the store. 4) a local rancher, who's name unfortunately I
can not remember.
"(Butch, the local rancher was my brother, O. D. Williams.) I still have my Dad's
set of dominos."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch- Regarding the National Geographic picture of Mr. Haney and the domino
players in Gene Autry, the man in the hat on the right is Authur E. Baldwin, a
chemical salesman and rancher from Wilburton, OK. He made regular visits to the area
to supply chemicals to farmer's and ranchers. He always stopped at the Noble
Foundation on his trips to this area. I believe he is now deceased. His wife was an
instructor at the college in Wilburton."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Was disappointed to see the misspelling of Segler in the article regarding the
Chief Of Police Les Segler. It was spelled everytime with an i instead of an e. I am
sure that was the error of the article and not from you. This has always been a big
error, since there were Sigler's in the area that were no connection to the Segler
family. Infact when I tell someone my maiden name was Segler, since I have lived in
Healdton for the past 35 years, everyone wants to know if I was related to the Jim
Sigler family in Healdton. No I was not. They were lovely people, well respected by
all. I knew of them, had in fact met them several times. But my name was Segler not
Sigler. The same is true of Ardmores past Police Chief Leslie L. Segler. His name
did not have an i in the Segler name. He is buried in the Cole Cemetery, formerly
Yates Cemetery. Along side of his wife Beulah (Hutchins) Segler. The ashes of John
Seaborn Segler, son, is buried between their markers. They have large markers.
Infact I noticed in the Daily Ardmoreite on Wednesday April 10, 2002, there was a
picture on the front page showing the restoration of the marker of Beulah M Segler
Wife of Leslie L Segler. Pictured by the marker are Charlsie Allen and Marvin
Palmer. There by Mr. Marvin Palmer's feet is the marker of John Seaborn Segler. To
the right and not shown is a matching marker for Leslie L Segler. Matching his wifes
of couse. I have about 22 photos in an album on webshots of the Cole Cemetery. You
can find it by user name. Just go there and click on find by user name type in
segseven. This will bring up the albums I have on there. Then click on Cole
Cemetery, Ardmore. I have enjoyed all articals and pictures in your This And That.
Look forward to reading it everyweek. Unlike a lot of people who read it on Saturday
morning, I can't wait and usually enjoy it on Friday night. Keep up the good work.
It is getting better all the time. Regards to you, A Fan in Healdton, OK."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, thanks for the 1947 photo of the original Hamburger Inn, where six burgers
for a quarter and a double feature movie with another episode of The Lone Ranger,
etc, all for for ten cents occupied much of many Saturdays!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hello Butch, I just wanted to praise the fine writing and stories in your This n'
That column. You mentioned Anastasio's Pizza Parlor That used to be in Broadlawn
Village. I have lived in Brantley addition for 29 years now, and I well remember
Ansastasio's Pizza, which was excellent. It reminded me of the pizza, that I got
while stationed in Germany during the 60's. it had the same great quality and taste,
of courses those pizza parlors in Germany were operated by Italian families. I also
would like to comment on Broadlawn Village, I delivered mail at Broadlawn Village
for over 12 years, and have seen quite a few changes in the little shopping mall.
After Anastasio's closed, due to health reasons of the owner, several other people
have tried putting in an eatery of some kind in the same location. Sadly none of
these businesses survived for more than a few weeks. Broadlawn Village is still a
great location to put in a business, but over and over I have seen people come and
be gone with in a few weeks of trying to start a new business. Most of these people
simply are not prepared to make the emotional or financial commitment to keep a
business going. My wife Connie, and I opened a business in Broadlawn Village in
1995, "Yellow Rose Floral." We love our location and being at Broadlawn Village.
Most of the business that went out at Broadlawn were because the owners retired and
there was simply no one to come in and take their place. I would love to see this
great little shopping mall enjoy the same vitality it had when I moved to Ardmore in
1971, to go to work for the U.S. Postal Service. I would also like to take the
opportunity to comment about Rue McClannahan. My first year with the Postal Service
in 71, one of my many jobs as a new sub was to deliver Special Deliveries, We did
this twice a day, early in the morning and late in the evenings when the mail trucks
would arrive. One early morning I was sent out to Hurst Road, with a Special
Delivery for Rue McClannahan. It was from Hollywood California. Rue McClannahan was
waiting near the rural curbside mail box at her parents home there on Hurst Road. I
had no idea who Rue McClannahan was at that time, and didn't think anything about
the Special Delivery being from Hollywood, Ca. She signed for the Special Delivery
and I returned to my daily routine. I also delivered mail to her Mothers beauty Shop
"Rue Nells." on Grand Avenue. Of course with in a year or two after I had this un
eventful encounter with Rue McClannahan, she was rapidly achieving celebrity status,
not just in Ardmore, but on a National level as well. Thanks so much for clearing up
that issue about the young girl who was 13 years old instead of 6 years old, that
gave birth to a baby boy. I was beginning to think you were entertaining a career
with National Inquirer. (Only Kidding Butch !) I enjoy your Weekly email very much
and hope you keep it going for many years to come." -Mike Jones mwjones@brightok.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hi Butch, I am a graduate student at OU and I am working on my thesis. I am
studying the connection that personal religious faith had in the western outlaw here
in the midwest. The group of outlaws I am studying are those that arose from
Quantrill in Kansas and ended with Pretty Boy Floyd here in Oklahoma. I have studied
these men (and woman) and many of them were active in their churches and had deep
religious beliefs but little has been written about it. But there has been so much
that has been written that is based on one or two sources and few things that are
new that I am now looking for NEW sources of material. I was hoping that maybe some
of your readers might have some newspaper clippings or journals or any information
on any of these men that might give me information. I am looking for baptismal,
Bibles, Journals, records, burial records, sunday school records, any evidence of a
religious nature of any of the people on my list. I know that many librarians have
things tucked away that no one cares about and I am hoping to find something of that
nature. I will give full credit for any information found. I can be reached at Pat
Spelling patspelling@ou.edu OR 1-877-424-3221 or local tulsa area 241-1748 I am
studying the following people: James Family-- Jesse, Frank Younger - Jim, Bob, Cole
Dalton - Grat, Bob, Emmett Doolin - Bill Belle Starr (Shirley) Bud Shirley Preston
Shirley Jim Reed Sam Starr, Hopp Starr, Blue Duck, Jim French, Henry Starr, Al
Spencer, Frank Nash, John Callahan, Eddie Adams, Pretty Boy Floyd, Verne Miller,
Adam Richetti, Ben Howell, Bill Cook, Cherokee Bill, Pat O' Malley."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boy, did seeing these pics bring back memories. I'd forgotten all about getting
those old movie bills from the Tivoli. You could pick them up everytime you went to
a movie, or you could just go by the Tivoli when they were opened and get one so
you'd know what movies were on that month. I worked at the Tivoli as a cashier when
I was in High School. Wow!!! A flood of memories just came back. Thanks, Butch. You
made my day!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The population of the county is listed as 45000. what was the population in 1941 or
1942? i counted 131 kia from carter county including 2 of my AHS classmates from
class of 1943, namely carl barnett and forest kerr. this seems like a very high
number from a small place especially if my hunch is correct the population was about
half of the present. thanks."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I enjoyed your first T&T article today about Louise Riotte's book, but cannot find
it. I found 16 book titles by her on Chickasaw Library's website and seven on
Ardmore Public Library's site but they were all about her gardening. Is the title
"Frontier Times" and where can I get a copy to read?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, somehow the information I requested became confused. Could you correct it
for me. Thanks. South of the ARDMORE (not Gene Autry) train station, about a block,
is now a feed store. I believe it was a food distribution warehouse in the 60's.
Does anyone know the name and perhaps a picture."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You spell ALL........ a l l Ha Ha. Just kidding."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All this writing about Eddie Rue sent me back a few years I would have to dig out
my pictures to tell exactly what year, but she came back here and married her High
School Sweetheart (one of her many marriages). I was doing wedding cakes at the time
and her mother called and asked me to do a small cake for her. I did and I have a
picture of Eddie Rue and my daughter that was taken when we went to her mother's
house to set up the reception. I did hundreds of cakes in my baking career but I
guess that was the closest to "Royalty" I came, Ha! Ha! I didn't think it was a
pretty cake as her Mom wanted it to have lots of Bright Pink Roses on it, said "Rue"
loved lots of color! Eddie Rue said it was beautiful and just like she liked them.
Guess that was what mattered. That marriage didn't last very long either."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have 2 Pizza Huts and a Dominos here in NY, but there are also many small family
owned places, Pudgie's, Rico's, Aniello's, Pizza Factory, Gino's, Picnic Pizza,
Fox's, and Brownie's. We eat pizza fairly often, and I occasionally will buy from
Pizza Hut or Domino's, but my favorite is Aniello's. The small, family owned places
make much better pizza and they do lots of business. There is a large Italian
presence in this town and the people who own the small pizza businesses are true
Italians."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Dallas Morning News obituary section on April l9th, 2002 lists WWII vet, Wilbur
Butcher "Spider" Webb who born and graduated from Ardmore High School. He joined the
Navy in l938 and was on the USS Oklahoma when it was attacked in Pearl Harbor. He
dived out of a porthole and started rescuing others. He later became a fighter pilot
assigned to the USS Hornet. While circling a downed pilot near Guam he spotted 40
Japanese fighters in formation, radioed for help, and shot down five enemy aircraft
before help arrived. Another time he swam a channel at Mountain Creek Lake in Dallas
to rescue a Corsair pilot whose plane had flipped after sliding off a runway. He is
survived by wife, Clio Pace Webb of North Richland Hills, Texas. Also a daughter and
three grandchildren."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was born in Shawnee and raised in Tahlequah, OK, quite a ways from the Carter
County area. I used to visit with Uncle Fleet Cooper 2-weeks every summer until
about 1952 and remember him being an avid baseball fan. He took me to several local
baseball games in Ardmore we enjoyed them together. I remember he enjoyed them
immensely. He supported the local Ardmore team and every time a home run was hit by
a team player, attention was drawn to Uncle Fleet because he paid $1 [if memory
serves me right] to every team player that hit a homerun. I doubt that he missed
very many of the games. I was told he hadn't missed a World Series in years. I
laughingly remember how he taught me to swat flies (the winged type) that seem to be
in abundance on spectators at the ball games. He was very good at it and could kill
several at one swat. It seemed like, Uncle Tom Cooper was always in Oklahoma City
when I was in Ardmore visiting with Uncle Fleet."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I wonder who that person is that wrote about the Castle Club? I used to go there
also, about the same time. And I remember Guy T. and Cox playing in the band. I used
to date Jackie Lee Davenport, and he, his brother Don and sister-in-law Evylene and
I used to go there all the time. I also remember poker games went on and Jimbo Yell
was amongst the players. Sure brings back some good ole memories. Thanks Butch for
making all this possible." -Saundra Brooks Hickey Herriott OKOKIEOK@webtv.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Here are a couple of pictures of a bell. It is located in front of the Newkirk
Community Historical Museum, Newkirk, OK. Newkirk is the county seat for Kay County.
The bell is from the Oak Grove School which was a rural school in the area."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I scanned up all my pictures of Gene Autry and posted them on the internet for you.
Go to this address:
In time, I want
to put all the other Okie photos I've gathered here as well."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"An AT&SF timetable that I have refers to a couple of places that I've not seen
mentioned in Butch's notes. I don't suppose you've heard of them at all? I will
write to Butch as well. The locations are:
Maurice - half way between Ardmore and Gene Autry, at MP 455.6
Mons - half way between Davis and Wynnewood, at MP 482.3
Rayford (Storage Siding?) - between Dougherty and Davis, at MP 473.1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Butch, It was fun seeing the menu from Anatstacio's Pizza. Since we lived about 2
blocks away, we went there real often, as I remember the pizza as being the best
I've ever eaten. Man, do I remember when I was about 12, going there with a bunch of
my friends for an eat all you can party. I can still feel the intense sensation when
we left of being sure my body might explode any second. Tommy Anastasio was a real
nice person. An interesting side story about Tommy. My dad (Dr. Lawrence Joers) and
I were swimming down at pool at the old air force base, which was still used then.
Tommy and his son happened to also be there. My dad and I were resting sitting on
the edge of the pool, watching Tommy carry his son on his shoulders in the shallow
end. Tommy started bouncing up and down in the water and accidentally ventured too
close to the slope into the deep end. As he came down his feet hit the slope, and he
started sliding right down to the bottom with his son on his shoulders, wrapping his
arms frantically around his head and neck. Tommy pushed off the bottom and popped up
and hollered, "help," and down they went again. The first couple of times everyone
thought they were playing and Tommy had it in control, bouncing up and down from the
bottom, but on the third surfacing we knew he was gasping wildly for air and in
trouble. My dad and I turned and looked at the young guy who was suppose to be the
lifeguard, sitting there watching with his mouth open. My dad, in his early 60s
wasted no time and dove in and pulled the boy from Tommy's neck and brought him over
to me, then quickly went back and helped Tommy to the edge. My dad was a small (but
big in my eyes!) man and Tommy had to be twice his size. From then on, I knew my dad
was a real hero, not just from all his medals and what I'd heard about him in WW2,
but in my life. That lifeguard, he never moved from his spot, frozen with a dumb-dog
look on his face. He may have still been there when they took out the pool years
later. Butch, this newsletter is the most fun. I'm really glad I discovered it.
Everyone has such great stories to tell, and you are a veritable fountain of
information." -Skip Joers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My heartfelt sympathy to Bill O'Heran in the loss of his beloved and beautiful
wife, Jean. Bill was a frequent writer to T & T. I had missed seeing letters from
him for several weeks then I learned why. Jean was a lovely lady and I know that she
leaves a great void in the lives of many. Bill, if you are reading T & T my son
lives in Canmore and works in Calgary. He said that he was going to give you a call
soon. He doesn't know you but I am sure that he would love to see or talk to someone
from "home." -Francis Dunlap dpdrinker@sbcglobal.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
========================================================================
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 3,770 files and
375mgs!
wcsmith@brightok.net
jshale@gte.net
"A true Southerner knows that "fixin'" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb."
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday April 20, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 261
Louise Riotte (1909 - 1998) was an Ardmoreite and wrote many column for The Daily Ardmoreite as well as her on books and short stories. Many of us will remember her for her promoting of organic gardening. I would stop by her house on 11th and K Street NW and in her back yard she had all kinds of neat projects growing. But what a lot of people either dodn't know or forgot about, is Louise Riotte wrote a story in the Frontier Times back in November 1980. It was published by Western Publications of Iola, Wisconsin, and was an article about Marshal Dow Brazil and Deputy Bud Ballew. There was bad blood between these to guys back in 1919 when Dow Brazil was gun down at the California Cafe on East Main and Mill Street (Stolfa Hardware now). Early that morning on January 19, 1919 the shoot-out between these two lawmen and Ardmore Chief of Police, Les Sigler, left Dow Brazil dead on the floor. Ballew and Sigler were arrested and Ballew brought to trial, but Ballew beat the case. But that is not the end of the story. In events that some say made a connection back to January 19, 1919.... Les Sigler lost his life in a gun battle with the brother of Dow Brazil, Bob Brazil, in Ft Worth, Texas in 1920. Bud Ballew was a short stocky man with firey red hair. Dow Brazil the 13th man to die from a bullet from Ballew's gun, but Brazil would be the last person killed by Ballew. Ex Deputy Sheriff Bud Ballew would lose his life in a shootout in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1922 with law officers in that city. There are many strange occurences and connections in the stories back around 1920, and Louise Riotte brought many of them to print in her story in 1980. Here is a photo of Dow Braziel.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/braziel.jpg
Here is a photo of Bud Ballew (standing on right) and Sheriff Buck Garrett (sitting on left) which hangs in Ponders Restaurant here in Ardmore.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/buck&bud.jpg
A Reader in Stigler, Oklahoma and x-Ardmoreite sent me some pics this week. Two of pics are posters he owns from the old Tivoli theater on Main Street.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/tivolit.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/tivolita.jpg
And this Stigler, Oklahoma resident has a pic that to me is really magnificent! It's the workers standing in front of the old 1188 Locomotive when it was moved to its resting place beside the Hardy Murphy Coliseum. His dad was one of the workers in the photo.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/loco1108.jpg
Here is the ID on those standing in front of the engine as the Reader knows it:
"Identification of individuals in the picture are: l - r: Ed Cole, Everett Purcell, Aaron Moore, Bob Smith, J.W. Shortes, Waco Turner, John Crowder, Kennith Ray Gibbs, W. Wilson, A. Sanders, P.L. Crowder, Hubert A. Wilson (my father), P. Landeros, L. Hughes and P. DeHaven. The listing up thru Waco Turner appears to be correct, however the persons identified to the right of Turner (his left) appears to be wrong. My father is the fourth person to the left of Turner and Kennith Gibbs is sixth person, so the identification of these individuals is incorrect. This picture appeared on the front page of the Ardmoreite on August 30, 1954. Others articles about the movement of the engine appeared on Aug 8, Aug 15, and one other date which I don't have, but must have been between the 15 and 30th, as the 30th is the last article that I have. All appear to have been published on the front page."
Another photo he sent was the menu from Anastasio's Pizzeria here in Ardmore. It was located in the Broadlawn Mall at Maxwell and Harris NW. I remember going there and eating great pizza. Now we are not talking about some of those chain outfit pizzas places we have in Ardmore today. We are taking about real New York style, made from scratch pizza, like back East. Tommy Anastasio (1922-1981) was from New York and he brought with him to Ardmore the old style pizza making that abounds back in the NY and NJ area. I sure liked Tommy Anastasio. I gave him his last ride on this earth, I'll never forget him.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/pizzeria.jpg
I told last week I put together on CD a slideshow of Brown Springs and Mannsville. The slideshow on Mannsville, Oklahoma consists of about 19 photos and some other goodies burned to the CD. Either CD is $3 to cover expenses. Let me know if you want one! Here's a pic of the Mannsville, Oklahoma Slideshow CD.
http://www.brightok.net/~bridges/ttphotos/manncd.jpg
I upgraded my service with webshots.com this week. Paid $29 for two years of unlimited photo storage. That will help with all the photos I'm uploading month after month. My webshots.com albums have been very popular with over 10,000 hits since I started using webshots.
