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Below is July 5, 2002 to September 26, 2002.
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Saturday September 28, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 284
A Reader loaned me her 1973 Reporter's Notebook by Mac McGalliard the other day. The book is 150 pages in length and really has some interesting columns in it. These selected columns are from his Reporter's Notebook columns of 1,000 that appeared in The Daily Ardmoreite from 1964 to 1973. This book is chocked full of history from south central Oklahoma.
The first piece of history Mac McGalliard tells about in his book is about Wild Woman Cave in the Arbuckle Mountains near Turner Falls. The big cave is located southwest of Turner Falls on the old A.J. Chapman place. The cave has three miles of passageways, a water falls, and a huge "snowbank" of calcite in it. This particular piece of local history Mac talked about in his Reporter's Notebook column of The Daily Ardmoreite on February 6, 1964. Mac interviewed a number of people to get to the bottom of who is this "wild woman". Turns out to be a young girl around 1920 named Ethel Hindman. Ethel Hindman was a dare devil of a lady back in the 20s and was the only one daring enough to go down that cave's vertical wall at the time in search of water. After she accomplished this feat, someone called her a "wild woman" and the name for the cave stuck ever since. She did find water at the bottom of the cave and told those on the surface where to drill the water well. These are some photos I found on the Net of Ethel Hindman. They are slow to download, so be patient. Whatever happened to Ethel Hindman? No one seems to know. http://www.rootsweb.com/~okmurray/Arbuckle_Mts/ethel_hindman.htm
If you can ever get your hands on one of these little jewels, do so, you won't be disappointed! http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/report73a.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/report73b.jpg
On Thursday, September 25, 2002 Williams and Williams Auctions out of Tulsa conducted an auction at the Jimy Brady Rose Ranch north of Ardmore. One of the items on the auction block, including land, that interested me was the Shapleigh bell, manufactured in St Louis Missouri by Shapleigh Hardware Company. I would like to have had the bell but when I went over $150 I dropped out. The bell finally sold to someone for $225. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9a.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9aa.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9ab.jpg
Here are the auctioneers with Williams and Williams out of Tulsa. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9s.jpg
Here are other photos I took that Wednesday evening at the Brady Ranch north of Ardmore. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9b.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9c.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9d.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9e.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9f.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9g.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9h.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9i.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9k.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9m.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9n.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9o.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9p.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9q.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/brady9r.jpg
Here is a rare 1890 photo of a Chickasaw Nation Indian Policeman taken at Duncan, Oklahoma. His name was Toi-tah-ner-ew. His badge read, "US Indian Policeman". The original glass negative was owned by Dale Terry, newsman for KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas back in 1968. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/toitah.jpg
We have some more workers from the Genealogical Society of Utah at the courthouse archiving our public records to microfilm. These four workers are working everyday archiving land records, school records, old records from Indian Territory, deed records, mortgage and lien records, Chickasaw Nation Indian citizens and slaves and land allotment records, plat maps of Ardmore and other indexes. Workers Ray and Marilyn Ostler of South Jordan, UT will be here until February 2003 microfilming. And Jerry and Lynn Adams of Jerome, Idaho will be at the Carter County Courthouse for about a year helping microfilm courthouse records for future generations. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/ostler9.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/adams9.jpg
Here is a close up of the inside workings of their 1940 something Recordak microfilmer they are using to archive all those records. This a Recordak Model MCD-2 Serial number 251. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/recordak.jpg
A Reader in Woodward sent me some pics of bells in that area. This first bell is at the St Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Beaver, Oklahoma (Beaver county). http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/cabrini2.jpg
This next bell is in the small town of Forgan, Oklahoma up in Beaver County. It is beside The United Methodist Church there in Forgan. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/forgan.jpg
This bell is located in Harper County at May, Oklahoma. It's at the Church of God Holiness church and has been at this same church over 80 years calling people to services. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/maycog.jpg
Here is a brass bell in Harper county at the town of Laverne, Oklahoma. Its at the United Methodist Church there in Laverne. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/laverne2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/laverne3.jpg
This next bell is in Gate, Oklahoma which is in Beaver county. This bell is located at the Friends Church in Gate. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/gfriends.jpg
This is a large red bell located in the belfry of The United Methodist Church in Gate, Oklahoma (Beaver county). http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/gateumc.jpg
As you can see in my Oklahoma map, it is almost all yellow! Only 16 counties to go, and I still believe we can make this goal by December 31st. We need help in the northeast part of Oklahoma with several counties in white there. Also Pushmataha county. If you know anyone in the counties in white who can help us with a bell photo, let me know. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bellmap.jpg
On Tuesday night, September 24th, at 7:45pm I received a strange call. It was a recording telling me to "call DiscoverCard at 877-553-0228". The message repeated about four times. I wrote the number down and called. Another recording answered and said "please enter your 16 digit Discover Card number". I thought hum, this is strange. After a couple minutes wait, the recording said, "if you do not know your 16 digit Discover Card number, please stay on the line and a representative will be with you". When this guy on on the phone he asked me for my 16 digit discoverCard number and then my social security number. I told him I didn't want to give that info out, so the conversation was over rather quickly. hahaha. We need to be very careful when taking calls like that. There are so many scam artist out there, seeking to take our money.
In the early 1960s when I was a wee teen a friend of mine talked me into becoming a representative of a company in Houston, Texas that sold Swipe-a-Shine. It was a shoe shine in an aerosol can. Boy, I bought two or three cases (12 to a case) and sold them to my relatives and anyone else I could talk into buying one. I thought I'd was going to be rich! hahaha. I remember after using the stuff a few weeks, your shoes developed a coating and cracks in the coating developed. I still have one of those Swipe-a-Shine containers as a memento of my young entrepreneur years. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/swipecan.jpg
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/ I hope most of you have visited the "new" Carter County Government website. Its not really new, it started on January 8, 1996, but I been busy the past week or so revising the entire website. I have most of it done, but still have a few webpages to do. I been adding photos as time permits. But time is something none of us seem to have enough of. I havn't even had time to clean up my office. If anyone saw it, they would think a Texas twister had hit it. I've got to take some time and get it cleaned up. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mydesk9.jpg
Our little group has gone over 12,000 minutes for September. Crystal clear calls, no switching! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Butch, I saw that you had anther bell from Pottawatomie County. This is the only one I know of. It is in front of the Police Station in Shawnee, Oklahoma." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/shawneeb.jpg
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"Thanks, Butch, Thanks, not only for the newsletter, but I especially appreciated this week's "Handy Keys" & "Mouse Wheel" items. Very valuable info."
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"My mother passed a way, but I have pictures of people and my mother's Method Sunday School class of 1913, even a picture of the Plumbers of Ardmore of 1922, that is not all, an old newspaper clipping of Wiley Post and his wife and another couple. Pictures I would love to know whom the people are, like one of the Ardmore Cop Mr. Wade Peterson standing next to his motorcycle, perhaps the one that he and other cops that chase Bonnie and Clyde down Main street of Ardmore. John Parker and a Mrs.Muller even the Gibson family. I could go on, but there is many pictures. One thing for sure, my grandpa had a plumber shop on Ave. C, he and another plumber made it in the Guiness Book of Records. My Grandfather's name was William R. McDougal. My mother use to help her dad a lot, also, her name was Vera Irene McDougal, later married my father, Jeff Jones. If anyone can help me to figure out as to whom some of these folks are, I would give a big Thanks too." -Vera Jones, Jr., Sr.
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"butch, they may have put chocolate milk in the brown bottles but the reason they are brown was that they put vitamin d fortified milk in them because when they put them in the clear ones the sunlight broke down the vitamin d fortification, so they started using brown bottles that filtered out what ever broke down the fortification."
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"Hi Butch, Speaking of teachers many of us had as youth anyone remember Mrs. Dawson? She was my first grade teacher at Washington School. I think Mrs. Carson was my second grade teacher. I was back and forth between Washington and Franklin Schools so I'm not for sure which teacher I had at each school. Mrs. Coffman was my third grade teacher. Anyone remember Mr. Stamper, Mary Ringer and Mr. Biles? I lived on 6th NE and walked to school many times. Ida Mae Wilson lived a block or two from school and when I passed her house lots of times we walked the rest of the way together. I knew Basil Moran very well. I used to cross the street from school and head to his store to buy a "Big Time" candy bar. Remember those? Later on Basil owned B & H Auto Supply and that was my first job. I delivered parts to repair shops here in town. I last talked to Basil about six months ago before he moved to Okc. He will be missed. I too am curious about the whereabouts of old school friends like Linda Priddy and Ida Mae Wilson. I have information on a few of them."
------------------------------------------------------------------------ "For those of you who wish to spend an afternoon sitting on the grass or in your lawn chair and savoring a good old-fashioned "Concert on the Island", this coming Oct. 19th, from 2pm til 6pm. This is a FREE family affair hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the rain date is Oct. 26. "The Reeves Brothers" are playing and good time can be had by attending! (At the same time, the Fire Dept. is having a Beans and Brisket dinner.Their cost will be minimum and all proceeds go to help make our Fire Dept.even better.) Our first Concert on the Island was in August, near 400 people came out and enjoyed the summer entertainment. This assured us that there is a definite need for this kind of fun, so we decided to host it every 4 times a year. We ask for donations to help us with our Trails Project. Our Last concert helped us raise around $1200.. Many of you remember Medicine Park from childhood, and over the years the town disintegrated and it lost it's charm. We now are more beautiful than ever, thanks to all the volunteers who have worked so hard to renovate the swimming area in Phase of 3 phases. New sidewalks, gas pole lights, new bridges and beautiful gardens now decorate the area. It's an ideal place to appreciate nature. Bring your cameras and sketch pads for a wonderful day in Medicine Park! Thanks Butch for the mention and such a wonderful newsletter!" -Joy Willingham/The Purple Parrot http://www.muralsbyjoy.com/purple_parrot.htm
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"Hi Butch, Speaking of teachers many of us had as youth anyone remember Mrs. Dawson? She was my first grade teacher at Washington School. I think Mrs. Carson was my second grade teacher. I was back and forth between Washington and Franklin Schools so I'm not for sure which teacher I had at each school. Mrs. Coffman was my third grade teacher. Anyone remember Mr. Stamper, Mary Ringer and Mr. Biles? I lived on 6th NE and walked to school many times. Ida Mae Wilson lived a block or two from school and when I passed her house lots of times we walked the rest of the way together. I knew Basil Moran very well. I used to cross the street from school and head to his store to buy a "Big Time" candy bar. Remember those? Later on Basil owned B & H Auto Supply and that was my first job. I delivered parts to repair shops here in town. I last talked to Basil about six months ago before he moved to Okc. He will be missed. I too am curious about the whereabouts of old school friends like Linda Priddy and Ida Mae Wilson. I have information on a few of them. Butch you and I were at Washington and Ardmore Jr. High at the same time."
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"Hi, Butch, Just had to reply about the reader who went to Washington Elementary. She named off several of the very same teachers that I had when I went there from '64 to '69. Mrs. Sherman was my 2nd grade teacher, too, and she definitely was strict. I got paddled one day for wading a puddle at recess. Good thing I had on a raincoat, though. Mrs. Cox was also my 3rd grade teacher. I always liked her because she had red hair just like mine. She'd take up for me when the kids teased me about the color of my hair. I remember Mrs. Arrington, but I had Mrs. Dupy for 4th grade. Later on in high school I graduated with her daughter, Joan. My 5th grade teacher was Mrs. Brimager, but I do remember Mrs. Zumwalt. Seems like she was always in charge of our class plays. I remember that I always felt intimidated by her, but not sure why. My 6th grade teacher was Mr. Homer Tipps and he was definitely my favorite, but Mrs. Dupy & Mrs. Brimager were a very close 2nd. After growing up I'd run into Mr. Tipps in the grocery store or someplace and he always remembered me and my brother. That always made me feel special. As for your readers friends, my dad, Ray Pritchard, used to work with Barbara Coleman at the old Gibson's department store. I never did get to tell all of dad's old friends that he'd passed away. It'll be 2 years now on October 10. I tried to get the Ardmoreite to print an obit, but they never did. And Shirley Higginbotham was friends with my mother's 2 younger sisters, Mary and Jeannie Parker.Speaking of Priddy's, do they still sell their sandwich spreads there anymore? I always loved their tuna salad and their ham salad spread and most definitely their pimento cheese spread. I've never been able to find another brand that beat theirs."
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"From Beth Gunn, Arlington, TX: This is a picture of the Franklin Grade School, or First Ward, in Ardmore (1923 or 1924) with all the students on the steps. Mr Cisco was the principal and the teacher was Mrs. Wolverton (I think that was her name). Elizabeth (that's me) is directly back and to the right of Mr. Cisco." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/frank23.jpg
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"Also, here is an old picture of the Healdton School - this picture was in my paternal grgrandmothers things. She was Minnie Lee STEWART YORK. Pictured in the front row sitting, boy with the blonde hair and shoes on is my grandfather, Minnie's son, Harlton Franklin YORK - who changed his name as an adult to Jerry Frank YORK. He was born in Carter Co., Healdton, OK, in 1912.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/heald20.jpg
Becky York dalton@imbris.com I host Jefferson Co., OK GenWeb site so if you ever get photos of that area - I'd love to have them for the genealogy site. Here's the site if you care to take a look: Jefferson County, OK CC & listmom" http://www.rootsweb.com/~okjeffer/
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"Somewhere I have an old photo made by Darrell's Studio in Healdton, must have been late 40's or early 50's, of an air force plane that evidentally crashed during a storm around, I think, Wilson. My dad and Darrell went together to get the photo and I wasn't very old."
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"Hey Butch, Sitting here reading the T&T and thinking back to my school days. The complaint of teachers now seems to be too many kids for one teacher. Maybe they need some of the teachers from the past. I went to Franklin School from about 1941 to 46. We had 2 classes for each grade and each grade had 30 + students. There were no kids who couldn't read when they left the grade we knew because we had to read aloud. My first grade teacher was Miss Walker, 2nd Miss Carpenter, 3rd was Miss Corn, 4th was Miss Lasiter (I had her again in 7th or 8th) 5th was Miss Love, 6th was Miss Rice. They had complete control of their class. If there was a student that didn't behave Mr. Johnny Newcomer could handle the situation. I got into trouble once in the first for talking and again in the 4th for talking. But anyhow if Parents do what they should and allow teachers to handle things at school. Those really were the "Good ole days". Thanks for sending us the T&T."
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"Thank you for adding my name to your mailing list. Many names that are mentioned bring back memories to me. A reader wrote in several months ago about living in Ardmore on A st NE, and then later moved to the NW section of town. If that persons father's name was Joe and mother's name was Jessie I would like to hear from them again as they are long lost relatives .My fathers name was Bryan and Mother's name Jewel. Thanks for your help in passing the info on." deeinmilescity@webtv.net
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"Today the stories of Kings Lake was very interesting; so this is my short story: My brother, Ira Junior Bridges, played High School football with one of the King boys & could tell many stories about NE Ardmore if he had a PC like we have. My brother Paul & I walked the sandy NE 3rd moving small herds of Kings cattle from King's home-place to other grassy pastures. We handled the cattle move, walking in the sandy 3rd Ave and using our home-made cattle whips for our "Cattle Drive''. Each time someone writes of happenings in NE Ardmore of tales in the years of late 1920's or 1930's; I read T&T many times. I just wish my Ardmore brother had a PC so he could give Butch NE Ardmore history."
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"Oh I have been humming and singing harvest moon this afternoon also, it's very infectious isnt it."
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"Hi Butch, I sure enjoy your website. I was sure surprised to see pictures of some if my relatives on it. The Pittmans and the Wests. Alice Pittman Edwards was my aunt and Elvie and Harold(Doc) West are cousins. I was born in Baum and went to the Baum school in 1936.The picture of the old Baum store sure brought back memories. Milford(Jock) Gibbs owned the store at that time. I lived about one quarter mile from the store. When I was learning to ride a bike I ran into one of those gas pumps.Then in 1938 moved to a house on top of the White Hills near the Lone Cedar cemetery. Used to walk through Simon Pittman's yard going to school. When I was in Oklahoma three years ago I checked the old schoolhouse and it was a hay barn. Sad. They closed the school and we were transferred to Dickson. I attended there when they put the rock around it and completely rebuilt it. Oh the memories..Keep up the good work."
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"Just to let you know that the old bell from the old Teller School that was lying on the ground is up!! Has been up for a while, just slipped my mind to tell you! Oh, those wonderful senior moments, ha. Such a shame that it has a crack in it and will not ring." http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/leebel2.jpg
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"Dear Email Friends, This is a reminder and update regarding the public shows on my fall schedule.
Sept 27/29 - Gene Autry, OK (Sept 28 show is sold out!) Oct 1-26 - Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO. Three shows per day 11am, Noon, 1pm. (Closed Mondays) Nov. 1 - Moberly, MO - College - 7:30pm Nov 7 - Altus, OK - High School - 6:30pm Nov 9 - Cross Timbers Opry, Stephenville, TX - 7pm Nov 16 - Centennial Hall, Lindsay, TX (just west of Gainsville) 7pm (with band) Nov 23 - El Dorado Dinner Theater, El Dorado, KS Call 316-320-4444 for reservations. Hope to see you somewhere along the trail. Thanks." lesgill@poncacity.net http://www.lesgilliam.com
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"This is a picture of the old Young's school that was about six miles north of Baum. It was on the old road to Berwyn(now Gene Autry).The Young's cemetery was close by.My Grandfather was buried there in 1900 and and my Grandmother in 1940. The Baum school was about one half mile east of the Baum store toward the white hills. Amos Wolf was the teacher in 1936. I will try and find a picture of it. Would it be possible to get the e-mail address of the person who entered the info on the Pittmans or give them my e-mail address? I believe it is a cousin of mine in Ardmore.Thanks for the picture of the Young's school house. They also used to have church in both school buildings at night and Sundays. Take care." http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/youngsch.jpg
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"Man, you have asked for it now! While browsing thru the last quarter of your back issues, I noticed that everyone is remembering old stores, which is right down my line because that was my parents' (Robert D. and Delphinia Ward) business from before I was born (1936) until 1956. When I was born, they ran the store on the southeast corner in Woodford, OK. I have a photo of them inside the store, taken late in 1935; will send you a copy when I locate it. A little later, when I was 1-2 years old, they ran (funny you should mention it!) the Milo store for awhile, and my mother was Postmistress in the Post Office, which was about a 6 x 9 foot cubicle in the southwest corner inside the store. The old store was solid red brick with a concrete porch all along the front. In 1939 they moved to Wirt, OK, and started the "Ward's Grocery," which they ran until my dad died in 1954, and then my mother kept running it until she sold out in 1956. If I can find pictures of the Milo or Wirt store, I will send them to you also. By the way, I would appreciate your putting me into the next drawing for your history CD. Thanks." Keith Ward RKWard@SWBell.net"Here is the picture inside the old Woodford store, taken late in 1935. My mother is by the stove and my dad on the right. If you enlarge the picture and scan around the shelves and in the showcases, you can find some interesting old brand names." -Keith Ward http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/woodstor2.jpg
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"I'm sending you a picture of a Baum School VBS.....Some of the people listed there are Julie Love, Shorty West, Ollie Carroll, Annie West, Mae Battle, Elvie West, Lawanna Scruggs Tynes, Clem Love, Hazel Cavner, Leland Cavner, June West, Billie Edwards, Glenda Battles, Charlene West. Thought you might like it." http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/baumvbs.jpg
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"I was born in Oklahoma City, Okla. in 1943 @ St. Anthony's hospital. We lived in Mannsville, Okla. from 1944 until 1955. Then we lived in Tishomingo where my maternal grandparents, Sam and Mamie Faulk lived for about a year. Then moved to Ardmore until 1958 when we moved back to Britton, outside Ok City and moved to Houston, Tx. in 1958. I have lived in the Houston area ever since. My father's parents, Francis Marion & Sarah Elizabeth Koons moved from Wayne County, Kentucky to Thackersville in 1914. They are buried in Marietta. My father was buried in Mt. Zion cemetery in Thackersville in 1995. My GreatGrandfather, Dave Faulk of Kingston, outside Madill, was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representative for 13 years. His son, Pryor Faulk, was the District Attorney in Marshall County for several years. His wife Emma Jane Little was kin to Sebastian Little and Sebastian County in Arkansas was named after him. She was also kin to Quentin & Ruel Little from Ardmore, Okla. My father, John William Koons, was a salesman and mechanic for Ferguson Tractors in Ardmore for several years and I used to go to work with him and we would go eat at the Hamburger Inn. That wonderful smell of grilled onions filled the air all around. I attended Ardmore Junior High in the 7th, 8th and 9th grades. Thanks for putting my name in the drawing. I really enjoy your newsletter and all the pictures." -Loretta Koons
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Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 4,100 files totalling over 400mgs! If you have not entered the drawing for a Free CD, and want in, just send me an email! Here is a pic of those history CDs. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/t&tcd.jpg
And here are those two winners for this week!
jawaler@1starnet.com
kbyers711@ardmore.com"Red River Valley" by James Kerrigen, 1896
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That brightens our path for awhile.
CHORUS:
Come and sit by my side if you love me,
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved only you.Won't you think of this valley you're leaving?
Oh, how lonely and sad it will be,
Oh, and think of the dear heart you're breaking,
And the grief that you're causing me.CHORUS
From this valley they say you are going,
When you go, may your true love go, too?
Would you leave her behind unprotected?
When she loves no other but you?
CHORUS
I have promised you, darling, that never
Will a word from my lips cause you pain;
And my life, it will be yours forever
If you only will love me again.
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday September 21, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 283
A Reader asked me the other day where Morgan Township was located in Carter county. I couldn't answer the question at that time, so went to the library and looked it up. There were 7 Townships in Carter county. They were Graham, Hewitt, Akers, Lone Grove, Berwyn, Morgan and Wilson. Wilson Township covered the southeast part of Carter county, where the "old city of Wilson" was located before the town of Wilson moved to its present location in the southwest part of the county in Hewitt Township. To answer the question, Morgan Township covered an area around Ardmore. This map will help visualize where the seven Townships were located inside the county. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/cartertn.jpg
It was mentioned in T&T issue a couple of weeks ago that Carter county artist Jim Miller was alive and well, living west of Wilson, still doing some painting in his retirement years. A Reader told me there was a Jim Miller painting hanging on the wall at Arbuckle Communications here in Ardmore, so I went there last week and took a picture of it. Jim Miller did this western painting in 1970. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/jmiller9.jpg
Ann Randolph retired from the OSU Extension Office here in Ardmore after 19 years of service about two years ago. But the other day Ann brought by a photo of the bell she installed in her yard. Also some of you will remember in April 1999 we talked about Ann and her husband John building a house SW of Ardmore on Hedges Road. Their new home is built to withstand a 165 MPH wind. But their new home was not complete until they set this bell in place!! Home Sweet Home! http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/randolphb.jpg
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
Dentist Dies of Poisoning
The Daily Ardmoreite
Friday, February 7, 1936
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Dr. J.F. Collier of Lexington passes away at Countyline
COUNTYLINE, Feb 7. -(Special). Funeral services were held at Lexington for Dr. J.F. Collier, 60, Lexington dentist, who died in a Countyline, Oklahoma hotel room Wednesday afternoon of poisoning. According to Dr. Guthrie of Countyline, who was called to the hotel by attendants who found the dentist unconscious, death was due to poisoning. Collier had been in the Countyline community, Dr. Guthrie said, for several months, driving back and forth to Lexington. He lived two hours after he was found in his room. No definite reason for his drinking the poison was known, Dr. Guthrie said. The incident occurred in the Stephens county section of Countyline.
I been working on revising the Carter county government website the last few days. Carter County Government website went online for visitors on January 8, 1996 making it the first county government in Oklahoma to be on the World Wide Web. The website has grown a lot in its nearly 7 years of existence and reaching a total of nearly 90,000 hits! http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/
HANDY KEYS. Before that Windows key (the one with the Windows logo in the lower left of the keyboard) gets rusty for lack of use, look at all the handy things it will do for you: By itself, it displays the Start menu. With D, it minimizes or restores all Windows, with E it displays the Windows Explorer, with Tab it cycles through active applications on your taskbar, and with F it displays the find function for all files. Use it with F1 to display Help, with R to display the Run command, and with Pause/Break for the System Properties dialog window. With Shift + M, the Windows key will undo minimizing all Windows, and with Ctrl + F it will display the find: computer dialog window. All these work on at least Windows 98 and XP operating system and you can experiment on the others as you please.
MOUSE WHEEL. That wheel on your mouse (if you have one) can be useful with Internet Explorer. With the Ctrl key depressed, moving the wheel forward or backward resizes the font. With the Shift key depressed, the wheel moves you backward or forward to other sites visited in the current browsing session.
A Reader asked me this week "what is a Harvest Moon". The Harvest Moon is no ordinary full moon -- it behaves in a special way. Throughout the year the Moon generally rises about 50 minutes later each day. But near the Sep 23, 2002 12:56 AM EDT autumnal equinox, the day-to-day difference in the local time of moonrise is only 30 minutes. The Moon will rise around sunset that night -- and not long after sunset for the next few evenings. That comes in handy for northern farmers who are working long days to harvest their crops before autumn. The extra dose of lighting afforded by the full moon closest to the equinox is what gives the Harvest Moon its name.
Next Saturday morning, September the 28th is pick up day for those of us in the Share Program. Here's a listing of all the goodies in the 28th pick up: September 2002 Menu - $15 (plus sales tax Oklahoma Only) plus $1 Transportation Cost.... Ground Beef - 1 LB. Lean & Meaty Beef Sandwich Steaks - 14 OZ. Ring Bologna - 12 OZ. Chicken Thighs - 2 LBS. Lean Boneless Pork Chops - 1 LB. Onions - 2 LBS. Celery (sleeved) Cabbage - 1 Head Baby Carrots - 3 / 2 OZ. Pkgs. Potatoes - 6 Red Peppers - 2 Ginger Gold Apples - 4 Thompson Red Seedless Grapes - 1 LB. Spaghetti - 1 LB. http://www.heartlandshare.com
WorldxChange long distance users are reaping the savings. I'm predicting the month of September will exceed any previous month in our long distance usage. Our little group is awesome! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
I've received some priceless photos this week via email from Readers. Some true pieces of history that are worth a thousand words. I have told people many times this is not my newsletter, because with many of you sharing the stories and photos, it would not be what it is today. Thanks to everyone of you who help make this one-of-a-kind newsletter possible! Now to the Mailbag!!
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Tell the lady with the Colvert milk bottles that the dark one was for chocolate milk. My Uncle John delivered for them for years in a horse drawn wagon. The old pony was one of those that would walk down the street even with him while Uncle John would walk across the yards so his trips back to the wagon were very short." -T. E. (Thal) McGinness, Houston, TX
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"Medicine Park is an awesome place. Peaceful, beautiful and rustic al rolled in to one. Joy's gallery is full of delightful things. For angel collectors, there is an angel store. People wanting a great meal, will find it at the Riverside Cafe. I've never seen catfish so big swimming in my life. You can even feed the fish while you wait for your food. Right from the sliding glass door at your table."
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"Hi Butch, Just read the T&T and so much of it brought back many memories. We thought the Hilltop Cafe was our second home! We would go there with our dates or after a date (if they didn't take us)! They served the best apple pie in town with a piece of American Cheese melted on top! I also remember there was always a gallon jug of pickled eggs on the counter anytime you went there. They must have filled it up several times a night with all the guys fighting over them. It was a great place to hang out! Thanks for the T&T!"
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"HI Butch ! and greetings from upstate New York.... We have a large contingent of Amish families all around this area where I live and I love to buy the wonderful baked goods and fresh produce that they sell along the roads and at flea markets and such. They also make beautiful furniture and quilts. Someday I hope to be able to purchase some of these items for my home. I have friends who have had work done on their homes by the some of the local Amish men and the work is superb.. you don't get much better than this. I love to go for rides on the weekend out in the countryside where they live and watch them do farming work with teams of horses, it's amazing. I have also gone by homes where the women were outside washing clothes by hand and hanging them out to dry while young children played in the yard nearby. On Sundays I have seen many families in their dress up clothes driving down the road in their horse drawn buggies probably heading to church services. I would think that they must live an awful hard life, but their work ethic and close family ties are something to be admired."
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"Butch: The Hilltop Cafe was Evelyn's Chicken In The Rough during the 1950's. They had really good chicken in a basket, served with honey, a roll and fries. They also put a "fingerbowl" on the table to dip your finger's in and remove the grease from the chicken as you ate it. I had never seen a "fingerbowl" the first time I ate there and tried to drink the water, but realized it was not for drinking as it was rather warm One of life's embarrassing moments. Also, Rick's Roost was just down the hill from the Hilltop Cafe, and also on the east side of the highway. Rick's was a popular hangout during the 50's."
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"Butch, our little town of Grandfield keeps getting smaller all the time. But until about 3 or 4 years ago we had a small barber shop. The barber died. Also the Bell Refinery was located here for many years. When it left here the town went too. Also my husband's family are decendents of the Whittingtons from Ardmore (Whittington Hotel people)." -Minny Lou Whittington, Grandfield, Oklahoma
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"Butch, I saw in your 9/14 T&T where someone mentioned a couple of my former teachers at Washington School on 5th NE in Ardmore. Eula Galt Sherman was my 2nd grade teacher. I never knew her maiden name until I read it in your column. Also, Lily Chandler Cox was my 3rd grade teacher...ditto for her maiden name. Mrs. Sherman was a wonderful teacher, very strict, but we learned a lot. Every morning we started our day with a scripture reading by one of the students and the Lord's Prayer. Some of our assignments were to learn verses as well as whole chapters in the Bible. One of them was the 23rd Psalm and the 100th Psalm, both of which I remember in full to this day. The 100th Ps. is pretty lengthy and would have been especially so for a 2nd grader but we learned it and recited it individually in class. She also made special hats for our fall carnival. You could buy those hats for about a dime and then wear them during the evening's activities. I remember getting to buy a hat one year and was so proud to own it. Mrs. Cox was also a great teacher. Years later I was working at Memorial Hosp in the Xray Dept when she came in for some tests. I told her my maiden name and she said that she definitely remembered me. I don't know if that was good or bad (haha). Was it because I was a good student or trouble maker? I remember a substitute teacher we had one time (probably more than once) when I was in Mrs. Cox's class...a Mrs. Davis. She was a retired teacher and had a granddaughter, Susan Davis, at Washington Sc. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Roberts (Dr. Boyd's daughter); 4th grade I had Juanita Arrington; 5th was Carolyn Zumwalt; and 6th Louise Thomison. I remember all of these teachers vividly and have nothing but happy memories from school. Was honored to see not only Mrs. Cox when I was at Mem. Hosp., but Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Arrington, and Mrs. Zumwalt as well. Mrs. Zumwalt's husband was the hospital accountant when I first worked there. They all remembered me. Mrs. Zumwalt was one of the reasons I decided to go back to college after my children were born and work toward a teaching degree - the profession I am now in. I had the pleasure of telling her that. She said it "made her day" to know that she had such a positive influence on at least one of her students. We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and I sometimes felt a little "dowdy" compared to some of the other students (even at Washington), but Mrs. Z always managed to compliment me on something every day. She also "made my day"...many, many times! I often wonder about some of my schoolmates from Washington...Ida Mae Wilson (heard she is in NY): Mary Thomason (I believe she is a teacher); Beverly Lewis; Linda Owen(s); Barbara Coleman (see her occasionally); Janice Patton; Linda Priddy (of Priddy's Fine Foods); Shirley Higginbotham; and that Stanley Carmon Bridges - don't know what happened to him but heard he is quite popular on the Internet. Butch, your column helps us share our memories of the "good old days" and keep those happy times alive in our hearts. Thanks for all you do."
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"Seeking information on the "mail hack" that originated in Durant, Oklahoma picked up the mail, delivered it to all the small post offices en route to Ardmore. The pickup had a contract with the U. S. Post office to pick up and deliver mail as far as 1940 through the war years. In the afternoon, the "mail hack" would leave Ardmore with the afternoon mail and retrace his morning route back to Durant. The pick up was equipped to carry passengers also. The price for adult to ride was 25 cents and for a child that occupied a seat was 10 cents. Anyone who may have a picture of the vehicle, or who may remember the "mail hack" or any decendents of the driver, I would appreciate their memories."
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"This Magnetic Hill is the most amazing thing I have never heard of. I was born at Milo as were all of my brothers and sisters. I had grandparents and aunts and uncles there for a lot of years and none ever mentioned this. I wonder if they never knew??"
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"Butch, the Con Tike was a restaurant at the Clayton House Motel, the motel is still there under the name Economy Inn Motel at 1212 S Commerce."
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"Dear Butch, I read with interest about Moran's grocery in NE Ardmore. I do have fond memories of the Morans', and really appreciated them being so good to us school kids from Washington School. I remember every bit of information the writer told about in the last issue of T&T. I also remember the Colvert's milk bottles, and only just this past week saw one in an antique store. I must find out why they made those in the bronze color in the late 50's or early 60's. When I was a small boy in the late 40's, I remember that Colvert's milkman made his rounds with a horse drawn cart. I am positive that research will prove me to be correct on this matter. You would put your money in a bottle as well as a note to the milkman to inform him of your order on your front porch unless you wanted to do business with him personally. He also carried other Colvert's products on his delivery truck. Those were the days to live in. Life was a slower pace. I also remember kids would say they were going to Kings' Lake, and would invite me to go along. They would tell of seeing cotton-mouth snakes in the lake, and I just had to go see for myself, but being only a small boy at the time, I quickly found out that I could not go along with the others. There used to be a two story house on 3rd NE called the Kings' place, and it was later used a as nursing home which was ran by Mr and Mrs Sloan. Later, Woodview nursing home was built closer to the street. History is a great interest to me, and I do enjoy it so much. Keep up the T&T."
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Hi Ya Butch! Can I pick your brain? My husband remembers hearing it in the late 50's - early 60's. He was raised in Oklahoma so it may be just a short lived local song?? All my husband remembers of the song is this..."99 miles across the Turner Turnpike
Some say it's a hundred and two
But it's not too far across the Turner Turnpike
When the hangman's waiting for you."
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"Hey, Butch, just thought I'd let you know that my family lived on the corner of 3rd & S NE and we would walk down to King's Lake to goof off, fish, catch crawdads. My dad's friends owned property near there and we could walk down to King's Lake all the time. I know I've got photos from there, too. If I can find them, I'll try to send you copies. But the photos you have sure make the lake look a lot smaller than I remember it. It must have dried up some this past summer."
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"A barber shop in Ardmore, OK. It may have been on Washington Street. Does anyone know these people or who owned the shop? I have 3 other photos of this business." -Barbara Warthen Wallace
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/barber9.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/barber9b.jpg
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"Hi Butch: I am an avid reader of T&T, thanks. Wish I could be there for that seminar about the old lawmen and outlaws. Do you know a web page where I can do some research on the subject? I had a great-uncle, Oscar Morgan, who was quite famous in his time, the 30's. He was a U.S. Marshall who lived in Blanchard, OK. I know he received a gold medal and commendation from then Vice President John Nance Garner. He was also written up in the Daily Oklahoman. If you can help me I would appreciate it. Keep up the good work. From deep in the Rio Grande Valley." -Frank Lightsey http://www.ionet.net/~okhombre/dcordry.html
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"Butch, see if you could find a picture of the old Ferry that ran on Red River." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/reedferr.jpg
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"Butch, you're right -- back in 1999 we talked about King's Lake, and I sent you the old family photo of the shuttle for women to the 4th of July picnic there. You identified me as a relative of Dr. J. J. Boyd living in Florida. You're half right: I'm a grandson of Dr. Boyd, but I live in Nashville, Tennessee, not Florida. During my childhood, at least once each summer the pumper from the downtown fire station came barreling down Third Ave NE. I knew it was heading for King's Lake and that another boy had drowned out there. That was the truck that carried the pulmoter. I often jumped on my bike and headed out there, but it was all over by the time I got there. The sight was chilling to a boy. Access to the lake was a narrow dirt road off Third Ave, past the huge, empty white house, and on down to the tree and brush-lined lake. I hated the place." --- Lorenz Boyd
http://www.histanestrea-france.org/docs/rea/pulmotor/PULM/pulmotor.html
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"Hello Butch, I was just wondering if you or any of your readers might have a photo of the old Washington School (2nd ward) that shows the old Fire Escapes they had? They were like a silo with a spiral chute inside to slide down to ground level."
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"Hey, Butch, my brother and I went to Washington Elementary back in the 60's, but the building looked nothing like this photo. What happened to the original building??" http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/wash1908.jpg
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"Also I am enclosing my great-grandfather and family picture for you. From left to right it is Simon Pittman, Barbara Pittman Sampley, Adino, Alice Pittman Edwards and Mary Jane Gross Pittman. Adino Griffin Pittman came to Baum, Oklahoma (northeast Carter county) in 1901. Baum at that time was named Nickle Hill. Adino became the first postmaster. Adino was also a Methodist minister. He died in 1940 and is buried at the Lone Cedar Cemetery in the White Hills east of Baum. He was the namesake of his grandfather Adieus Adino Griffin who was the first sheriff of Pickens County, Alabama."
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/adino.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/adino2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/baum3.jpg"Young School near Baum, Oklahoma 1935: The names on the back of this old picture are: Mable McLaughlin, Pearl Cavner, Carrie Setliff, Hattie Cavner, Adolf Garner, Ollie Sadler, Zelda Brock Hudson, Mable Sadler, Floyd Sadler, Zelma Carrell, Thelma Roundtree, Murel Skinner, Chambless Carrell, Oather Roundtree, Clint Carrell, Elvie Edwards West, Charlie Harlie (Doc) West, Kiness Croskell, Ruby Edwards..... Rozetta Patton, Nadine Cowan, Opal Cavner, Ona Kirby, Jessie Johnson, Linda Jane Garrett, Lucille Cavner, George Pittman, Margaret Cavner, lorene Billings, Aubrey Duncan, Jessie McClure, Willie Blain, Johnny Stephens, Marvin Billings, Edd Billings, Jim Shells, Ed Vineyard, Frank Roundtree, John Cavner, Newt Skinner, * Connie Bell Young, Lucy Cavner, Euniece Roundtree, * Evelyn Young, Edgar Vineyard, * Tullie Vineyard, * James Roundtree Jr., Urcia Roundtree, Wilma West,**Juanita West, Berniece Roundtree,***Reginald West, Tommy Gene Roundtree, Linden West,*******Loy Wynn, * Mike Croskell,* Lon Cavner. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/youngsch.jpg
"Thought you might like some pics. Skinny Stewart (in wheelchair) and Charlie Harold (Doc) West (my daddy) are pictured at the old Sheriff Office at 106 Hinkle Street in Ardmore back in the 60's when my daddy was the county jailer." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/skinnys.jpg
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"This Madill, Oklahoma drug store was owned by Mr. Keller." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/madilld.jpg
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If there are any Oracle Program experts out there, I need to ask a technical question. Send me an email and I'll tell you want I want to do. I may be getting in over my head. haha
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 4,100 files totalling over 400mgs! If you have not entered the drawing for a Free CD, and want in, just send me an email! Here is a pic of those history CDs. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/t&tcd.jpg
And here are those two winners for this week!
charlenw@texhoma.net
nancy2189@aol.com
"Shine On Harvest Moon"
By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth - 1903"Shine on, shine on harvest moon up in the sky,
I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or July
Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on harvest moon,
For me and my gal."
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday September 14, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 282
All you history buffs, mark your calendars for Saturday September 21, 2002 for Konawa, Oklahoma. My friend Herman Kirkwood of Oklahoma City will be Master of Ceremonies at the Oklahoma Renegades Fall Rendezvous on that date! Herman Kirkwood just may be the Number 1 authority on Oklahoma lawmen and outlaws. This meeting will be at the Konawa High School, and its all FREE!!!! So take advantage of this opportunity if you can make it. Konawa is about 15 miles north-northwest of Ada, Oklahoma on Highway 39. Highway 39 goes east from Lexington, Oklahoma off I-35. If anyone from Ardmore area plans on going, let me know.... I may catch a ride and share expenses. Here is the intinery Herman sent me of the day's activities. Start time is early.... 8am that Saturday. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/konawa9a.jpg
In 1999 we first talked about King's Lake east of Ardmore when a Reader in Florida sent me an email telling about going to picnics around 1905. He also sent me a photo of the shuttle that was used to carry ladies to the picnic area at the lake. Here is that email: "Here's a 1905 Shuttle Service for women, to deliver them to King's Lake for the 4th of July festivities in Ardmore. Men are (L to R) Charles Fraley, lumberman and contractor who built the original 4 grade schools, the Confederate Home, and for whom Fraley Park is named; Dr. Julius Herman Peterman, a homeopathic physician (his wife was Carrie, whom I bet you knew); Henry T. Hunt, planing mill owner and father of Herman Hunt Sr, grandfather of the 5 Hunt boys. The horse is Dolly."
Another Ardmoreite told me last week exactly where King Lake in northeast Ardmore was located. Its on private property, but I was able to go to the end of 3rd off P Street Southeast and get a pic. First let's look at that old photo of the shuttle taken at King Lake in 1905. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/shuttle5.jpg I took these two photos of King's Lake last weekend. I could not get a full view, but its there. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/kinglk9a.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/kinglk9b.jpg Here is a map showing were King Lake is located in east Ardmore. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/kingmap.jpg Here is an aerial view of King Lake. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/kinglke1.jpg
By next week I hope I can find a photo of the "King's Castle" just north of the lake. If I can't I'll still tell everyone where the "King's Castle" was located.
This is a 1908 photo of the old red brick Washington School on 5th Northeast here in Ardmore. My grandmother, Addie Wilson, was in the 6th grade in this school when her husband to be, Stanley Carmon, passed a note through the window to her, asking her for a date. The girl next to the window was Mrs. Ella Bone, she passed the note on to my grandmother. Stanley was laying brick on the outside of the building. He quit school in the 5th grade after his mother and father died of natural causes in Gainesville, Texas. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/wash1908.jpg
In the Mailbag this week a Reader wrote in saying he had an ashtray with the name Earl's Cafe stamped on it. In doing a little research I found that Earl's Cafe started about 1929 at 127 West Main here in Ardmore. The cafe only stayed at 127 West Main for a couple of years or less, then the owner, Earl Kesselring, moved it to 205 West Main were it remained until the early 40s. About 1945 the cafe became Priddy's Fine Foods and Restaurant.
1930 Earl's Cafe, 127 West Main
1932 Earl's Cafe, 205 West Main
1939 Earl's Cafe (Opal) 205 West Main, Earl Kesselring, owner
1939 Duke & Ayers 111 West Main
1939 Ritz Theater 117 West Main
1939 Thompson Cafe, 200 West Main
1939 Reavis-Frame Drug Store, 125 West Main
1941 Earl's Cafe, 205 West Main
1946 Priddy's Fine Foods, 205 West MainCarl Zimmerman of St Louis, Missouri looked at the bell's I had in last weeks T&T and gave his professional opinion of each bell:
"Summerfield Baptist: definitely a bronze bell, on a locally-made yoke and frame. But I'm a bit baffled by the shape--I'd love to know what the inscription on it says." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/summerb2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/summerb3.jpg
"Krebs: bronze, on original iron fittings and with original wooden wheel; almost certainly made by Henry Stuckstede of St.Louis. But 1887 seems a wee mite too early for the style (note that there are NO beads around the shoulder). Inscription (with date) should be on the opposite side of the bell, near the shoulder." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/sybilc.jpg
"Yanush: iron, original fittings, about 30" diameter, style of C.S.Bell & Co. (maybe on opposite site of yoke?) -- looks to be in good shape, so the price may not be out of line." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/yanush2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/yanush3.jpg
"Goddard: iron, probably original fittings, probably anonymous--not C.S.Bell style." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/goddbel2.jpg
"Bartlesville: iron, original fittings, style of C.S.Bell & Co., diameter 26" if yoke is any indication." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bartbel2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bartbel3.jpg
"I do wish people would do a better job of photographing inscriptions! But good stuff!"
--
=Carl Scott Zimmerman= Co-Webmaster: http://www.gcna.org/
Voicemail: +1-314-361-5194 (home) csz_stl@swbell.net
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - 19th c. home of up to 32 bell foundriesIn last week's T&T only one Reader wrote back and said the most important line of the poem "The Road Less Traveled" was not included. Where are all those lovers of poems out there!
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth."...I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
--Robert Frost, Two RoadsOur little history group looks like its going to set another record month if my projections are correct. People are realizing WorldxChange has some great long distance rates, and NO SWITCHING! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"Hilltop Cafe was there on Commerce just out of town on the East side of the road because a "car smoke / whistle" thingamagig was put in Jimmy McNutt's old Model A convertible one night in '56 or '57. It wouldn't start when we were about to leave one weekend night so a bunch of us kids started pushing it and the smoke started pouring out and it was a very loud whistle noise then everybody scattered. That was so funny then! I still get a smile and a chuckle out of it." -Thomas Hardy Murphy - Class of '57.
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"Butch a lady from our church owned the Hilltop Cafe back in the 60s and she is still a spry 83 year old. Her name is Martha McClanahan and she is a peach. We used to go there because it stayed open all night. Remember then there was no Interstate and 77 was a busy highway. Remember the motel south of town called the Con Tiki and it had a large stone head in front of it. Also Butch the 14th of September next Saturday the Amish are having their yearly auction and their homemade quilts sell for $1,000s and up. It is located 13 miles north of Wapanucka in a town called Clarita. You go around the curve and head toward Colgate and follow the signs. If anyone has never been you should go just to try their homemade ice cream and they sell homemade noodles and pies. MMM good. The Amish men built our new fire station at the airpark and just finished Bill Coleman's auto repair shop across from the Boys food store." scheryl@brightok.net
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"Dear Mr. Bridges, My sister and I have been trying to find out some information on the ferry boats that ran across the Red River back in the early 1900s. Our great-grandfather owned and ran one of these ferry boats. We know a little about the location of where it was located. The ferry was in Love county somewhere close to Love valley. The name of the Ferry was Tuck Ferry. Our great-grandfather was killed in 1904 while operating this ferry. Maybe one of your Readers might have some information that would be helpful to us in finding our where exactly the ferry was located. We have been trying to find out more for another reason as well, he is suppose to be buried not far from this area. Right now we have no idea where to locate his grave." bswhitton@gbronline.com
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"Hi Butch, Enjoying your production. Got more education from T&T than I did from Plainview. I must study it more. Enter me in the drawing, please. Happy Trails." -Bud
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"Butch: Jim Miller still lives in Carter County, about 10-15 years ago he married a fine lady named Emma Bolles. Jim I'm sure still paints and I know he does sculptures, his works are often on display during western promotions. Another good sculpturer is Jim Dodson related to the flower shop Dodsons he has since moved."
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"Hi Butch. I just moved, and my mother in law lives with us and she has been using 10-10-220 before when she calls her son in Clinton, OK but has been unable to get through after the move, so I thought I would sign up on your WorldxChange, but they do not service the 657- Chickasaw phone company? so I started hunting for others and could not find any one that services 657-Chickasaw, would you or any of your readers know why might service 657- Chickasaw?"
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you left out the MOST IMPORTANT line in Robert Frost's poem.. "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." --Robert Frost
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"Hey, Butch...whoever wrote you this week about the skating rink out Whittington Park didn't go into detail! I remember (I was just a child, you understand) the skating rink upstairs and the swimming pool downstairs (the skating rink was above the dressing rooms). The swimming pool had a big round thing in the center you could get on and sit, jump, whatever. I didn't go to the skating rink much but I did go up there occassionally. Whittington Park was a neat place to go as I recall......gosh, that's a long time ago.......... good work this week on TnT as you do every week."
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"Butch, I'm a mural artist who has enjoyed painting historical murals in several areas. Two are located on outside bldgs. in Yukon, OK where I lived for 18 years. One is at 4th and Main, titled "The Chisholm Trail", the other is one block east titled" The Interurban Railway". I also paint murals in homes and restaurants. These are too many to mention, but many may be seen on my website, http:www.muralsbyjoy.com I now live in Medicine Park, OK where I own and operate an art gallery/gift shoppe, called the Purple Parrot Art Gallery and such. This lovely town (of 400 or less) is booming and is being renovated. It brings in visitors from all over the world to see our cobblestone cottages and Bathe Lake swimming hole. We're located just outside the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge just north of Lawton. My cousin sent me Vol 6 and I enjoyed it so much that I decided I should subscribe. Thank you." -Joy Willingham
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"Speaking of Colvert's... I've been meaning to send you a pic of my two Colvert's milk bottles for a while now. I bought these in Madill at a garage sale back in the 1980's. I know nothing about them but thought they might spark some memories for some of your readers. Here is a close up of them: http://www.stoutgenealogy.com/okhistory/colverts_bottles01.jpg Here is a pic of where they sit now... I live in a tiny little town in Kansas called Halstead. My house is 125 years old and these just go perfectly in my dining room window: http://www.jrmints.com/house/kitchenwindow.jpg Maybe some of your readers can tell me why the bottles are different colors?"
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"Good morning, Butch! As I've been reading about the disappearance of the old Mom-n-Pop stores, I've been thinking of other establishments that are becoming rare, one of them being old-fashioned barber shops. Other than Mitchell's Barber Shop on 12th street, are there any others left in Ardmore? It seems everything now is a "salon". By the way, Mitchell's shop is one of the most entertaining spots in town. If you want to know what's going on in the area, just ask one of the Mitchell brothers, Marshall and Larry. The Ardmoreite did a great article on them a while back. They just don't come any finer than those two! I remember going with my dad to a barber shop downtown and talking to the shoe shine man. I think his name was T.C. The combined smell of shoe wax and shave soap is something I guess I'll never forget...not to mention the cold pop and bubble gum which was always free to the kids! Hope this puts some memories in motion. Keep up the great work!"
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"Good Morning Butch. I will have to come down and check out the Megnetic Hill. Before the cafe on south commerce was Hilltop Cafe It was Evelyn's Chicken In The Rough. From the Livestock sale barn going north there was a truck stop gas station ( Bell Gas ) Then Evelyn's Chicken In The Rough , Then another truck stop gas station ( Phillips Petroleum ) This was in the 50's . These were on the East Side Of The Road . Hyw 77. Now known as Commerce. Around 1958 or 59 another Truck stop was built on the west side of the hwy. and it was called the Hilltop Truck Stop .It was some time after that , that the name changed from Evelyn's Chicken In The Rough to Hilltop Cafe. Many Of your readers may never have heard of Bell Gas , The refinery is now the Total Refinery. And by the way their emblem was a Bell seems like it was orange colored. Keep up the good work."
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"Butch, I remember a couple years back that you wrote in T&T about someone telling you how to predict the upcoming winter weather by looking inside the seed (pit) of a persimmon. I have heard that the Farmer's Almanac (probably thru your column) says that we are going to have a much colder winter this year. However, I believe that is what it said last year and it was a very mild winter for the most part. I don't have access to any persimmons, nor would I know how to "read" the inside of the pit, but thought one of your readers might. If I recall correctly, what you wrote about the persimmon "prediction" was that the winter of 2000 was going to be a colder winter, and that was the year that we had the terrible ice storm right after Christmas. My sister and her husband moved to Ardmore this summer (from Corpus Christi, TX) and she is hoping for a snowy winter so I am hoping we will at least have a few meaningful snowfalls. Anxious to hear from you or your readers in relation to this."
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"Hoffman Arms used to be where Lumbermans Mill is at now."
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Dear Butch, I still don't know much about this computer, but somehow my request for your newsletter managed to get to you so that I could receive the information which I really do enjoy. I noticed the mention of neighborhood groceries in NE Ardmore, and I wondered if any one mentioned Pittman's on the corner of 4th & M NE. The store was later ran by Mr. Lamb and his wife Edna. I remember a lot of history of our old stomping grounds which I still walk upon. Yes, I am a local history buff as well as a railroad fan. I wonder if anyone has ever mentioned the Frisco/Rock Island roundhouse which was located in SW Ardmore on and around the current Frisco Lane. I remember the turntable was still there until I was nearly grown. I remember all that was left when I was in junior high was the turn table which the Frisco railroad used to turn their A unit engine around. This was several years after they quit using the steam engines. I do remember their steam engines coming in daily from Madill and later in the evening around 6:00 PM the dinky would come in from the east also. At that time they used the depot on Caddo which was torn down a few years ago. Also regarding rr's the Ringling RR had a roundhouse and turntable where the former Montgomery Ward store is located as well as the other shops. They used for several years after they quit using the steam engines which I do remember very well. Book by the late Angie Debo of Marshall, Oklahoma are of great interest because she touches so many subjects in her books. Also, if you can receive the info from me, I remember that you mentioned a Cisco School SE of Ardmore. It is located or rather some of the foundation was visible several years ago at Lake Murray down the Cisco Road, and then the road to the right which almost leads to the edge of the water. Mrs. Eula Galt was known by us as Mrs. Eula Sherman who taught at Washington School for many years as a second grade teacher. Also, another teacher from Washington School who grew up in our neighborhood was Lily Chandler, Mrs Cox, to us in school. I heard several people call her the Chandler girl down the street meaning 4th Ave. NE. I wonder which house around 4th & H NE did she grow up in. She was a 1927 graduate of AHS. Mrs. Sherman was a 1917 graduate of AHS. Also I learned that Mrs. Julia Sparger who taught at AHS was once a teacher at Washington and later junior high before going to the high school. She wrote a small book regarding early day history in and around Ardmore, and copies are available in the libraries as well as the SW Oklahoma Museum. It is rather interesting. You may be able to write a complete book one of these days. That would be great because of the information you have gathered before as well as since you started the T&T newsletter. I treasure the information that I learned while growing up in NE Ardmore especially the first hand information that many elderly folk could tell. I remember being told about the Big Explosion. I also remember how an elderly woman told me of seeing the first "iron horse" which came through Overbrook. The Santa Fe railroad built into Indian Territory from the South, and connected which the Northern branch at Purcell, Oklahoma. I want to find out about all the railroad info in and around Ardmore that I possibly can."
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"In 1966 we were living in Springer, OK and my dad and I went dove hunting, we were in a Volkswagon and we parked on the side of this gravel road (your Magnetic Hill) and got out to shoot dove and we heard gravel crunching and looked and our car was going backwards up the hill we had to run to catch it, the smaller the car the faster it goes, was very spooky as we were the only two on the road, this brought back a lot of memories .... Also the beauty shop on the west side of Washington street that Sonny McClanahan was talking about was owned and operated by RueNell McClanahan the mother of Rue Mcclanahan the actress. My wife remembers being there when Rue and some of her girl friends came in so Rue could get money from her mother so they could go driving around , they were still in school at that time."
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"Butch, the man who owned the cannon, was Mr. Jeffers. I don't know what happened to it."
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"My aunt and her husband, John Jeffrey and Monte Worley Jeffrey, lived in the house during the late 30's and early 40's. My aunt passed away in 1940. The cannon was there then. Uncle John worked for Pure Oil at the refinery. I was told that the cannon was to be used in case of a fire in one of the big oil tanks. They would shoot a hole in the side of the tank to get control of the fire. Perhaps a better technique had been developed and the cannon was no longer needed thus it wound up at the house. It may have been there before my aunt and uncle moved there. After my aunt died uncle John remarried and continued to live there."
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"just bought a painting/drawing of a place called the airlines cafe here in westhampton beach, ny - this was the only reference I pulled up on google - could it be the same place? mine was done by a lady named elsie w. breihof - there are people sitting around a bar with a dog lucky, and two cats, rusty and misty on the floor - the slogan says "Lazy daze in a local tavern" sound familiar? thanks."
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Thanks for the info in Vol. 6 Issue 281. I enjoy reading This and That. Butch, I found a ash tray (glass},with the name EARL'S CAFE'S, 107 west main Street, Ardmore.Okla. on the bottom of the ash tray. I was told this cafe was around in the 30's & 40'. No info on when it open or closed. Do you know??"
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"Butch, this guy makes bells from gas cylinders (bottles) that you see in any welding shop. They sound pretty good too. I remember seeing a couple in Ardmore in the fifties around a machine shop, maybe a play called Sies or something like that. really enjoy your writings, keep up the good work." http://www.ImakeBells.com
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"Butch I was looking in a May 1962 Ardmore telephone book and remembered that the Whitehurst Truck Stop used to be across from the Hilltop Cafe. I too could not find Hilltop Cafe in the same phone book. Whitehurst Truck Stop showed an address of Highway 77 South. The only cafe I could find with same address was Bob's Cafe, Highway 77 South, owner Bob MacManahan, CA3-9193 formerly Evelyn's Chicken In The Rough. Could this be the Hilltop Cafe?"
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http://www.healdton.org/
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"Hi Butch, To the person who mentioned Jack's Roller Rink at Whittington Park, operated by Mom and Pop Floyd. I skated at least a few thousand miles there. That is where I met my husband. He put his heels together and skated sideways. On Monday nights if you had your own skates you got in for 20 cents. In the Summer we looked out over the swimming pool. I used a shoe ration stamp to get my skating shoes at Klien's on Main Street. I still had them when I sold my house in Ardmore 10 years ago. Had to replace the wheels a number of times. I skated until I was almost 60 years old. Would not have stopped but I moved to Ada and couldn't find anyone to go with me. Went back to Ardmore and skated a few times. Some of the skate boys in my day were Norman and Rusty Cross, Joe Day, C.C. Wilson and Red Coe. Little Cheryl Cochran performed like a professional. Loved to watch Red Coe skate and liked skating with him even more. Jackie Rawls was also a very good skater. There were lots of good skaters including Rusty and Norman. Wonderful memories. Richie Henry wrote a book about the Floyd family and was kind enough to send one to me. Hi, Rich, I know you are reading this."
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"If you haven't already heard, the AHS Class of 1967 is having a Cookout/Picnic/Gab Fest! October 26th, 4-10pm, (or however long you can stand!!) Martin's Landing Pavilion, east side of Lake Murray. Bring picnic, bag of burgers, KFC, etc...some of us are taking hot dogs or hamburgers & cooking out...fire will be furnished by Chris Ridley. The price is right, FREE!! Any class members are invited, joining classes too! Bring the entire family if you like. Be sure to bring food & drinks for your bunch...comfy clothes, jeans & sweat shirts??? We MAY have some music, (if anyone has a portable stereo & some oldies). Mainly, just good company & visiting. If you think you will be coming, please email & let me know, I'm hoping we will have a lot attend that didn't make it to the reunion. PLEASE COME!!!!" -Nancy Wages Chadwell crenan@swbell.net
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"Dear Butch: I have changed addresses and have been missing T&T lately...I mean really missing it. I grew up in Ardmore, graduated in 1944, joined the Navy, and have been away ever since. However I see so many people I know in T&T and so many places I remember. Thanks for the great job you do. Thanks again." -John Graham
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"Hi Butch. In last weeks T&T I saw a letter from someone mentioning Mom & Pop Floyd and the skating rink. I would like to correspond with them because Mom & Pop Floyd were my grandparents. They used to take me to the rink when I was a baby and I would sleep through all the noise. My uncle Jack played the records for the skaters and would announce "couples only" or "men only" or "women only". I eventually became a skate boy at the rink. Ah, what fond memories. Keep up the great work as I always look forward to each issue of T&T." -Richard Henry, rhenry44@attbi.com
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"I still would like information on the roundhouse which was located on Frisco Lane in SW Ardmore. I remember all that was left when I was in junior high was the turn table which the Frisco railroad used to turn their A unit engine around. This was several years after they quit using the steam engines. I do remember their steam engines coming in daily from Madill and later in the evening around 6:00 PM the dinky would come in from the east also. At that time they used the depot on Caddo which was torn down a few years ago. Also regarding rr's the Ringling RR had a roundhouse and turntable where the former Montgomery Ward store is located as well as the other shops."
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"I read in the Daily Ardmoreite on Wednesday, 9/11/02, that Basil Moran had passed away. I attended Washington School in the late 50's and early 60's and remember Mr. Moran & his store which was north of the school. During lunch (and sometimes after school) my friends and I would go to the store. At lunch we would order the "lunch special"...a bologna sandwich, chips and a pop, all of which costs about a quarter. Mrs. Moran would slice the meat in the electric slicer, spread mayo on the bread and we would have a delicious, freshly-made sandwich. If I remember correctly, there was a wooden porch at the front of the store and we would sometimes sit there and eat. Those were very happy, secure times for us kids. Some of you readers may remember the red container of peanuts that you could buy, some of which had money in it. One of the kids I knew found a dollar bill in one. The most I ever found was a nickel, which back then would buy me a candy bar or bottle of pop - that is until pop went up to 7 cents. Man, I was about ready to give up soft drinks forever. Imagine, going up 2 WHOLE CENTS a bottle. We also bought Lucky Suckers, which would sometimes have a little white strip of paper stuck to the back of the sucker which said "Winner", then you got a free sucker. The cherry was my favorite but I sometimes would get the grape. I had 3 winners in a row one time and Mr. Moran said he'd never known anyone to be so lucky. We'd buy them and take them to the movies with us. Before we bought our movie tickets, we'd stop at Kress and get a nickel bag of popcorn. We also would buy a pop but am not sure if it was at Kress or another store...just remember that we went into the theater with our movie snacks in hand and no one said anything about it. It was okay to bring stuff in to eat back then. Didn't cost you 3 times the price of a ticket to get a box of popcorn, a drink and maybe some candy, like it does now. Anyway, about Basil Moran. His picture was included with his obituary in the paper and he still looked the same, just older."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/moran.jpg http://ardmoreite.com/stories/091102/obi_moran.shtml
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"Butch,...My wife, Susan Baucom Nance, has been on your mailing list for quite some time. Recently, she showed me some of the references to Hill's Shoes. My name is Charles Nance. I graduated from Ardmore High School in 1959. Then, from OU Pharmacy School in 1963. Susan & I were married on 4/15/82. On December 19, 1971 I went to work for Raymond Hill @ Hill's Shoes. I was quickly made manager for Mr. Hill at the shoe store. ....In 1933, Raymond Hill & Guy Shipe opened Hill and Shipe's shoe store at 123 West Main St. in Ardmore. Over the years they also expanded to have stores in Norman,OK and Corsicana,TX. Ada, Ok....and maybe others I can not recall. They always remained very good friends, but after WWII, Raymond stayed in Ardmore... owning Hill's Shoes. Guy Shipe chose to move to Ada and own Shipe's Shoes. The other stores were sold to various managers, etc. The store in Norman was bought by the manager, James Moomau. It was downtown Norman at that time, as no "malls" as we know really existed. The fluoroscope many have mentioned was in many stores nationwide who carried Buster Brown Shoes. They were eventually removed, at the request of Brown Shoe Co....due to concern to the increasing lawsuit fad rising in the states of our country. I seriously doubt anyone suffered any problems from these machines. It simply became a matter of precaution. The Hill Family consisted of Raymond and his wife Maureen...they had 3 children, Nancy, Jimmie and Tom. I was allowed to buy into Hill's Shoes in the mid-1970s. Raymond passed away in 1980. Maureen Hill and I had a going out of business sale for Hill's Shoes in Oct-Nov. of 1981. Mountain View Mall opened early in 1980. History shows most downtown stores could not compete with the Mall Invasion. Ardmore was no exception. Naturalizer/Buster Brown Shoes opened in September, 1980....It was owned by myself, EJ Erhlich (son in law) of Guy Shipe, and Jim and Bob Moomau. The Moomaus were the sons of James Moomau who by then had moved the Norman store into Sooner Fashion Mall. The mall store in Ardmore had many years of great business....but as the Shoe World changed in the early 90s....we closed the Ardmore, Norman and Longview, Tx. stores. Susan & I moved to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. Jim Moomau moved to the Raleigh/Durham area & opened a SAS store. Bob Moomau continues to direct sales for a major chain in East Texas. Jim Moomau has now also opened a SAS store in Winston-Salem...he is thriving very well. Jim and I are co-owners of the two "San Antonio Shoe" Stores in Oklahoma City. I welcome any inquiries from you or any of your readers. Jim Moomau and Charles Nance dedicate our success to the following: Our wives....Shirlee T. Moomau...and Susan B. Nance without whose guidance, assistance and unfettered support, Jim and I.....as most men....would be TOTALLY LOST." -Charles Nance cnance19411@yahoo.com
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"Butch, Lots of queries RE: the hilltop cafe....My cousin, Bob McClanahan,owned and operated the Hilltop for several years during the '60's. He and his brother, Louis, had quite a successful business there until age and illness overtook them. Bob's wife, Martha, still lives in Ardmore. Best to you." -Sonny
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"Thanks for all your good work Butch. My Dad was Jim Kendrick in Ardmore, and he was a salesman for the Ardmore Milling Co. for 28 years until he died in 1943. Mr Gwyn was the head of the company, and Mr Maupin and Mr Underwood were in the office. The telephone number was 73. Jim travelled in Carter Co., & in the surrounding towns. When gas was rationed in WW 2, he sometimes had to ride the bus to make his rounds."
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Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 4,100 files and 400mgs! If you have not entered the drawing for a Free CD, and want in, just send me an email! Here is a pic of those history CDs. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/t&tcd.jpg
And here are those two winners for this week!
jawalker@1starnet.com
mariealece@yahoo.com
THE FIGHTIN' SIDE OF ME - Merle Haggard
(Top Chart Position: #1 on February 7, 1970)I hear people talkin' bad
About the way we have to live here in this country
Harpin' on the wars we fight
An' gripin' 'bout the way things ought to be.
And I don't mind 'em switchin' sides and
Standin' up for things they believe in
When they're runnin' down my country, man
They're walking on the fighin' side of me!
Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me
Runnin' down the way of life
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
If you don't love it, leave it
Let this song I'm singin' be a warnin'
If you're runnin' down my country man
You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me!
I read about some squirrelly guy
Who claims, he just don't believe in fightin'
And I wonder just how long
The rest of us can count on bein' free.
They love our milk and honey
But they preach about some other way of livin'
When they're runnin down my country, hoss
They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me!
Yeah, walkin' on the fightin' side of me
Runnin' down our way of life
Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep."
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday September 7, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 281
On Sunday afternoon September 1, 2002 I had an experience I'll never forget. I traveled out NW of Springer (northern Carter county) to Magnetic Hill and watched my truck roll uphill at 10 miles an hour! Magnetic Hill is located 1 1/2 miles west of I-35 and Highway 53 West to Pioneer/Pitt Road, then turn north and go about 1/2 mile to the bottom of the hill (Pitt Road is NW of Springer, Oklahoma). When you get down to the bottom of the hill (you'll be heading north off Highway 53) you will see a lot of gravel that has washed up on the blacktop road from the rains. Stop your car at this point, put it in neutral, let off the brake, and something will pull your car backwards (south) at 10 miles an hour! Here are 3 photos I took. The first one is looking north and the last two are looking south toward Highway 53. Optical illusion? Darnest illusion I have ever saw. With only a few magnetic hills in the world, this "illusion" may put Carter county on the map. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/maghill2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/maghill3.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/maghill4.jpg
This is a map showing how to get to Magnetic Hill in northern Carter county http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/magmap.jpg
Bill Dixon of Healdton, Oklahoma went to Tuska Homa, Oklahoma this past weekend to see the Choctaw Festival. Since he was on a few miles from Krebs, Oklahoma he went on there and the priest at St Joseph Catholic Church let him take some fantastic photos of that old bell named after Sybil Rex back around 1887. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/sybilc.jpg
Bill Dixon also took a photo of a bell at Yanush, Oklahoma. Yanush is by Lake Sardis in far southern Latimer county, south of Wilburton, Oklahoma. This particular bell is at a lady's house and is for sale too. She told him "whoever comes across with $700 can take the bell home". http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/yanush2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/yanush3.jpg
1949 Sheriff Howard Johnson was located on the second floor of the Carter county Courthouse.
1949 Carter county jail was at 107 1st SW next door to the Courthouse (Annex bldg is today)
1951 Helen Carmon was employed as a sales clerk by Klein's Ready to Wear Shop at 109 West Main in Ardmore. Edward Klein 1897-1953 was the proprietor. Helen was married to my uncle Pratt Carmon.
1950 Corral Restaurant was at L and 12th NW. Proprietor was Loyd Hardin
1960 Corral Restaurant was at 1611 North Commerce. Proprietor was Milton T. Scott
1960 The Avalon Club was located at 1223 South Commerce in ArdmoreI could not find any mention of a Hilltop Cafe on South Commerce in the Cross Reference books. But I remember it being there in the 60s. It might have had another name beside Hilltop Cafe.
Otterville, Oklahoma was one mile west and one mile south of Woodford in Carter county.
Lawrence A. Sprekelmeyer (b.1886-d.1966) was the founder of Sprekelmeyer Printing in Ardmore.
I received a couple of pics this week from Yukon, Oklahoma that were really a glimpse into Ardmore's past! The photos were taken from 425 K SW and shows a horse drawn Colvert's Milk truck in the background. With that snow on the ground the driver didn't need to worry about the milk getting hot and spoiling! http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colvert4.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/colvert5.jpg
A Reader reminded me this week of a cannon that used to sit in front of a house between Ardmore and Springer near Caddo Creek bridge. The last time he remembered it being in front of the residence was about 1973. It used to be across the highway on the east side at a service station the man owned, and when he closed the service station, he moved the cannon over to his house next to a pavilion he had on his property. I remember the cannon sitting out by the highway on the west side, but I can't remember who owned the cannon or where it went to. One rumor said it ended up in Durant. Does anyone know about this cannon or the details of its owner?
A Reader gave me a photo of a bell at the Campfire Girls Camp Cimarron near Coyle, Oklahoma. Coyle is 10 miles northeast of Guthrie, Oklahoma in Logan county. Like many bells, there is a story behind this one at the Campfire Girls property. The bell is across the river from Coyle, and is only used for emergencies to summons the Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel at Coyle. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/coyle2.jpg http://www.campfireusa-ok.org/camping.html
Only 18 counties to go from which I need a bell photo. Lots of yellow on the map now, but still some white scattered around. Lots of white in No Mans Land (Oklahoma panhandle). Also I do not have a bell photo from Muskogee County. I got so excited I yellowed in Muskogee county. hahaha http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bellmap.jpg
I received an email this week from Dallas Morning News columnist Kent Biffle. Kent is a regular in the Texas-Southwest Section of the newspaper. He ran across a song written in the 1920s about Carter county deputy sheriff Bud Ballew. It's title is "Bud Ballew's Last Draw". http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/textfiles/biffle9a.txt
A Reader in Pauls Valley told me about a new sport or hobby or fade or whatever you want to call it this week. The object is to Log In to their website and find instructions to a hidden cache somewhere in your area. But you have to have a GPS device to find the cache, since the only way to the location is by using the GPS readouts in the instructions. So if you have a GPS unit you can check out all the details at this website. http://www.geocaching.com
A Reader mentioned to me about a local artist who lives or lived near Wilson, Oklahoma by the name of Jim Miller. He would be up in years now. Does anyone know if he is still living at Wilson and where some of his paintings might hang?
For those of you who use Outlook Express, there is a quick and easy way to delete those junk emails in your Inbox instantly. When you have the email highlighted, hold down your SHIFT key and hit the DELETE key. A box will pop up asking "are you sure you want to permanently delete this message?" Just click Yes and its gone byebye... straight to email heaven, bypassing the Deleted Items box completely! Sure saves time having to clean out that Deleted Items Box later.
Saving incoming message as a file. It is possible to save Outlook messages as stand-alone files that can be stored in a Folder along with other documents related to the same subject. To do this, select or highlight the message in your Inbox. Use the Edit pulldown menu and select Copy. Then navigate to the folder you would like to save it in through My Computer or Windows Explorer--use the Edit pulldown menu and select Paste (or a right click on the folder and select Paste.) This will copy the message into that folder. The subject or RE: field will be used as the filename with a file extension of .msg. It will also have an envelope icon to identify it as a message. When you double-click on the file, it will open up in Microsoft Outlook with all the message information including date and time sent, etc. You can even forward or reply from there.
What are they going to come up with next. Now you can buy a small portable Lie Detector for personal use. Its electronic and can be used in person or through the cell phone. But to me the Norton Utilities 2002 they sell for five bucks is really a good deal... everyone should have it to help keep their computer running smoothly! It has saved me from a crash several times! http://www.clickcooldeals.com/
Our little group closed out August with over 13,700 minutes and over 1,000 calls! People are learning we have some great long distance rates, and you won't be saying, "can you hear me now" to the party on the other end! Check out all their plans at.... http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG
"To the person that wanted to know if there was another Theater by the Kress store. No Saturday afternoon was complete with a shoot em up western at the Ritz. Hop-A-Long Cassidy, Roy & Dale, Gene Autry. And there was also a new episode of Flash Gordon or some other serial. 25 cents would make a good time. 10 cents for the show then an RC and candy and chewing gum. Those were the days 60 years ago."
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"Dear Mr. Bridges, Just about the time I decide to unsubscribe to your newsletter, I find a tid bit that keeps me coming back!! This week in the comments about the "bone machine" someone wrote about Nancy Hill's dad owned a shoe store and they thought Mr. Byrd (Pete's dad) worked there. My father's half brother was Pete Byrd, his father was James Alexander Byrd. J.A. "Coot" Byrd was the Marshal of Kingston in 1927 and was killed while a Marshal. I would love to know who the person was who wrote these comments and communicate with them to see if we are talking about the same people. It was through your column that we met Mr. Dennis Lippe of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Memorial and our grandfather was honored. If you can connect me to the people who wrote you I sure would appreciate it. By the way, I and many others will be in the area in October for the Artherholt family reunion to be held in El Reno Oct 19. We plan on going to the Cordell area to visit various "old home" places. We would to look you up at that time if time permits. If there are any Artherholt decendents who haven't heard about this, please feel free to come on by. Butch, Thanks again for your newspaper, and for any help you might be able to be in connecting me with your reader." galegg@yahoo.com
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"I was delighted to see the picture of Mr. and Mrs. Senter's house. They were good friends who attended my church. I enjoy all of your issues but some are special to me. Say, that is a great camera. Hope I can get one some day. Take care and take lots of pictures."
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"I am very interested in making contact with the owner of the "cornish12.jpg" picture. There are six ancestors of mine as signers at the bottom of the picture. One signer. Roy Edwards, is my father. I knew that three of the family had been put in that orphanage but did not ever expect to find a picture with actual signatures. I would like to contact the owner of that picture to see if I can pay to have that picture restored and provide me with a better copy. This is a very important find for me. Keep up the good work so others may find connections through your T&T." -Ted Edwards tebear0001@aol.com http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/cornish12.jpg
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"Hey Butch, Good job. Really do enjoy your newsletter. The x-ray (sic) pix sure brought back memories, and I think Hill was the name at that time. And in my opinion, your glasses are just fine. Appears to me there is a spoon sticking in the ice cream and Joe is indeed holding a knife. Just a coincidence you snapped the pix about the time the knife lined up with the spoon. Have a good one." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/mcreyaug.jpg
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"Thanks for adding me to your T&T. I love hearing about Ardmore where I spent my teen years. My dad was Walter Bowden Miller who had the watch repair shop. I am still in touch with a dear friend that used to live in Ardmore. She is a friend, however, I call her 'Mother' inasmuch as she is always giving me advice. Keep up the good works." -Janice Miller Brasher - Copperas Cove, TX
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"Butch, the way to fry green tomatoes is roll sliced green tomatoes in flour and salt and pepper to your own taste. Fry in hot oil and brown slightly. They are delicious then."
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"Butch, your newsletter is really great and I enjoy the historical references to Ardmore and the surrounding communities. I never lived in that part of the state but had ancestors who did. I think that possibly my dad's two uncles, James and Thomas Kendrick may have lived in Ardmore many years ago and at least one of them ran a store for awhile. I think that one of them worked at a "farmer's co-op" at one time. My dad was a Kendrick twin born at Lindsay, I. T. just before statehood in 1907. The reason I'm writing though is to try to answer the map printing problem for Bob Elliston (see your article above). If you'll right-click on the map (or a picture) and save it to a file (such as "My Documents"), then you can go to that file and print it out normally I think. It's been several months since I had that problem but as I recall, that solved the problem. Also, I'd like you to enter my name in the drawing for the History CD. I've been a fan of Oklahoma and territorial history for many years." -Roy Kendrick antqmall@perryisp.net
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"Hello, Butch: The above was extremely interesting. I tried to contact Bill Hamm bhamm@brightok.net at the web site, but it came back undelivered. (No such user). I would have asked Bill if he knew of an old Cemetary Called "Boiling Springs" near Tishomingo. Anyone else know? P.S.I really enjoy T&T--Thanks a lot" Note: Bill Hamm's email is bhamm10@swbell.net
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"Hey Butch, I was up in NE part of the state this week and saw three bells in front of an antique store on Highway 75 in Dewey. I did not have a camera with me to take any pictures. They were mounted on posts and I think two different sizes. Sorry could not get pictures."
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"The historical records of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (don't know if those records still exist) had an entry about some Texas promoters building a telephone line from Texas into Ardmore or Durant or perhaps both without ever seeking approval from the tribe. When the Chickasaw Council heard of this they ordered the Chickasha Indian police to go out and chop down the poles, which they did. The Texas promoters then appeared before the council, hats in hand, and applied for permission to build the line, which was ultimately granted with certain conditions."
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"I always understood fluouroscopes *were* X-rays; that's what they called them when they watched my digestion in real time while I was swallowing some potion that showed up well. That was long after the machines were removed from shoe stores. Those machines were very common and shoe stores which had them extolled how they would allow them to fit you better. Like your reader, I too enjoyed getting up and looking at the X-rays of my feet in real time. Regular X-ray photographs, captured on film, were pretty much a standard tool of doctors before the foot machines came out, so they could hardly be called forerunners of X-rays."
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"Hi Butch: I just started receiving your newsletters and find them very interesting. I wonder if the old Sperry grocery store on 3rd NE has been mentioned. The building is still there. My grandparents were Dr. and Mrs. J. Jay Boyd and my mother was Thelma Boyd Roberts. When I was a child I used to walk to Sperry's grocery store from my home on F St. NE to get something cold to drink on a hot summer day. I also spent a lot of time sitting on the steps of Hunt's Grocery Store on 3rd NE drinking a pop with friends. I have a lot of nice memories of those "good 'ol days" spent at the Community Swimming Pool. Since we didn't have air conditioning at home, most of the time we were either at the swimming pool or outside doing something. I also remember walking with my grandmother to a store on East Main St, I think it was called Fraser's."
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"Would you happen to have a picture of 1922 Moss School class picture, Sulphur, Oklahoma??"
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"Butch, my husband and I were riding around, playing with his new GPS, we were looking for geocache and came across a bell at Goddard Youth Camp in Murray county." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/goddbel2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/goddbel3.jpg
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"Life is full of clocks, getting ready for my next auction - and it's clean, clean, and clean on some lovely clocks." -Stephen Nelson in Edmond, Oklahoma. http://www.snclocks.com
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"Butch... several people have written in about the shoe store on N. Washington...yes! It was Hill & Shipe's Shoe Store on the east side of the street just off the main drag in downtown Ardmore. My aunt had a beauty parlour across the street behind the barber shop on the west side of the street. The Hamburger Inn was and still is just a few steps from where most of Ardmore came to be primped and trimmed. Today there is a decorator/antique shoppe in that location. I spent most of 1997 playing Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly!...went through several Dollys on the tour...but my favorite Dolly was Sharon Hill, of the shoestore family and a native of Ardmore. We played "Dolly" for over 18 weeks together... Sharon's first "drama coach" was Jimmy Brady, the Ardmore rodeo queen. My dad, Joy McClanahan, built her grandparents home out near Dornick Hills....We had so many opportunities to know each other as kids in Carter County, but we never met until we worked onstage together. Small world." -Sonny McClanahan
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"Hi Butch, I took 5 pix at Sipokni West at Reagan, Oklahoma (Johnston county) Labor Day. The first 3 showing the Marietta Gunfighters, to two, and a man making indian bow and arrows."> http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/sipokni2.jpg"Top pix in this is KKAJ's Terry Bell broadcasting live, and the bottom a shot of the Sipokni West General Store. This is an entire western theme town at Reagan, Oklahoma and is worth the drive to check it out. There has been 1 movie (Black Marshal) filmed here and a few commercials. The movie hasn't been released as yet." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/sipokni2.jpg
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"Hello butch, While visiting my son and his family in Bartlesville, Oklahoma this past weekend I went across the street and took a few pictures of a bell for you. this would be Washington county. The bell belongs to Jim Clingenpeel at 116 Ramblewood, Bartlesville Oklahoma. He acquired the bell from "Chicken Creek" Marina. He said he didn't know which school it came from, but it was now under lake Tenkiller. He has had the bell for about 12 years. It had a piece broken off and he repaired it. He has it in his back yard. He is retired and was active in the boy scouts. My son has helped him with camp outs for the last few years." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bartbel2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/bartbel3.jpg"Also, on the way home I took the scenic route and stopped by the cemetery for the town of Hominy (Osage county). They have several "Native American" graves that are unusual. They put a pipe (looked like 1" galvanized) in the ground on top of the grave for the spirit to escape. They were about 6 feet tall above ground. Most of the graves appeared to be from the 1920's through 1950's. They are visible in the last picture." -A Loyal Reader, John Lashbrook, Stonewall, Oklahoma http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/homcem.jpg
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"This bell is in front of the Summerfield Baptist Church in Summerfield, Oklahoma about 5 miles east of LeFlore (Southwest of Poteau). It has been at the Church for as long as I can remember and I've gone to church there for 36 years." http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/summerb2.jpg http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/summerb3.jpg
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"Hi I found you in the archives, I have a very ill cousin that had seen a railroad photo when he was a young teenager that the family had and somehow has been lost. It was of a group of men my great grandfather Gray and others don't know if they were all related but their oxen had to pull a locomotive out of a pond. My family resided in Marlow, OK Provence, OK and Fort Sill, OK have you any pictures like this. I would appreciate your help. I so want to get it for my cousin before he dies. thank you so much."
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"Hey Butch. I need a little help. Do you know anywhere I might obtain maps and/or globes for Oklahoma, United States, or the World. I would like to use them to decorate my classroom." kblanton@brightok.net
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"Butch, Have you tried uploading any more images to webshots? The unlimited membership has a limit of 50 albums with 60 images each. This is new. Just a couple of weeks ago it wouldn't let me put more than 36 to an album, now it is 60. That is great news! Especially for the This & That fans."
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"Thought it ironic about the piece you had about the governor of the Chickasaws wanting some undesirables removed from Indian Territory, as I am reading a book by Elmer Kelton a western writer who writes fiction based on factual info. It is called Hanging Judge, a story about Judge Isaac Parker who sent some federal marshals into Indian territory to apprehend bootleggers and murderers, at the request of the federal government. Very interesting."
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"When our son Chris was younger (1988) he had been to work with "PaPa" at JD's DX service station in Ratliff City. Upon his arrival back home he was so excited to tell us about the new kind of coke machine PaPa had, you had to open the bottles with a bottle opener that was attached to the machine!"
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"Hi Butch. I was going back thru the T & T July 26th and reading the 1958 Ardmoreite Paper. Also about the old corner grocery stores. All of them bring back lots of fond memories. Then I thought about Mom & Pop Floyd, they ran the Skating Rink when it was out by Hardy Murphy Coliseum. Just thought I would see if any of your readers remember it.I think it cost 25 cents to get in and you could rent skates if you didn't have your own I think that cost 25 cents.one night a week we would play hockey for about 30 minutes. There was a half circle at each end for the goal and we used plow handles for the hocky sticks and a big pine tree not was the puck. Now those were the days. I will be watching to see if that takes any of the T&T readers down memory lane."
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"Hi Butch, I have finally cut down my article on the Warthen Station in Ringling, Oklahoma from 2 pages to 3 paragraphs. I have attached the article but if you feel it is too long for the T&T don't worry about using it. I needed to put that information in my computer anyhow. Wish I had a good picture to send along with it but can't find one. Thanks." -Barbara Warthen Wallace http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/textfiles/warthen9.txt
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In May 1999 I talked about King's Lake in east Ardmore. Next week I'll tell more about this almost forgotten lake from the 1920s. I know a relative in Florida of the late Dr. J.J. Boyd will be glad to hear the info I stumbled across this week.
Here are two more winners for my free "History CD" this week! Over 4,100 files and 400mgs! If you have not entered the drawing for a Free CD, and want in, just send me an email! Here is a pic of those history CDs. http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/t&tcd.jpg
And here are those two winners for this week!
wmcross@mediaone.net
sssuther@brightok.net
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
--Robert Frost, Two Roads
See everyone next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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