Ardmore, Oklahoma
Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net
11:11 PM 3/22/2022
Phone: 580-490-6823
If you’re looking for a certain article I wrote in a past issue of “This & That” you might find it faster by doing a “search” with your browser. With Netscape just click your mouse at the top at EDIT and then FIND and type in the word or words you’re looking for. If you use Internet Explorer, just click on EDIT and then FIND ON THIS PAGE to do a search.
Below is November 2, 2006 to November 30, 2006.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 30, 2006 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 10 Issue 514
Old man winter came in hard last night with ice and snow covering all Oklahoma by time the sun came up today. Here is south central Oklahoma it wasnt nearly as bad as other parts of the state. Hopefully if the weatherman is right, we will have a clear sky Friday morning and warm back up into the 40s by Friday afternoon. Here’s a pix I snapped at 7pm Thursday evening November 30, 2006 at Central Park. Click Here
Mr. Albert Cullum lives south of Ardmore a few miles at Overbrook, Oklahoma. There is not much left of Overbrook anymore… just a Post Office and two or three businesses, and a few homes. My grandmother Addie Wilson Carmon lived at Overbrook before statehood with her mother Ida Murphree Wilson Miller. Here is an old photograph of them standing in front of their home at Overbrook with the horse and buggy. This photo was probably taken about 1905. Click Here
Anyway, back to Albert Cullum….. he was in town this week and brought by 3 nice pieces of Grapette history. Some of you will remember we talked last week about a special made Grapette bottle in the shape of a clown and it held Grapette syrup. Grapette made 3 shapes back in the early 50s, a clown, an elephant and and a kitten. It just so happens that Albert has all three in his collection. And he also had a copy of a letter he received in 1970 from the Grapette Company in Camden, Arkansas where he had wrote inquiring about these specially made bottles. Below is a scan of the letter and a pix of the three bottles. Click Here – Click Here
Now if the above was not joy enjoy to see in person, years ago Albert found along the railroad tracks a small bottle (about 4 and 1/2 tall inches) that reads:
Edison Battery Oil
Made in USA
Thomas A. Edison
Incorporated
Bloomfield, N.J.
U.S.A.On the side of the bottle, is Thomas A. Edison in script writting. These kind of bottles were once filled with oil that was used to operate the railroad crossings. I found several of these bottles for sale on ebay for about $3 each, but if I owned this bottle Albert has, I wouldn’t sell it for three times that. Click Here – Click Here
If you want to see the above bottles in person, during the month of December they will be on display at the Calico Country Crafts at 103 West Main here in Ardmore. Click Here
Remember, Friday night, December 1st at 8pm the Main Street Show Case entertainers out of Sherman, TX will be performing their Christmas special at Washington Street Theater. Jill and I got a taste of this sing group two weeks ago, and what a fantastic singing group they were, we can hardly wait to see and hear them again on the evening of December 1st. Friday afteroon is suppose to be around 45 degress and a clear sky, so maybe the weather will be ok. I called the Washington Theater (580-223-5821) just before 5pm today, Thursday, and as far as they knew the show would go on. If you have any questions, call them around noon Friday to find out for sure. Hope to see some of you there! Click Here – Click Here
Susan Whitten in Louisiana sent in some really nice photos this week. But one really caught my attention, its of the old highway sign north of Tishomingo that pointed the way to Devils Den. Click Here
And then another one of Devils Den Coffin. (More photos from Susan in the Mailbag below.) Click Here
We been busy the past week or so sandblasting 18 glass panes so they are frosted. I am replacing the old yellow plastic ‘windows’ around my front and side doors of the house. This is a pix I took after I had installed only the right hand side with frosted glass. Looks much better, we think. Click Here
I am going to need some input from everyone on another project I’ve been thinking about doing for 2 or 3 years, but only until lately has there been an affordable way to do it. I am now able to broadcast live from my home computer and anyone on the internet (worldwide) can listen in to the broadcast. It can be live talk or recorded music or whatever we choose to send out over the Net. I guess the first step would be to set up a broadcast time. Say 9pm Tuesday evening or something like that. I would think 1 live broadcast a week would be ok as a start. Next we have to decide what we are going to broadcast….. maybe someone has some ideas, or it maybe be the ideas from the days before the broadcast that will determine what the next broadcast will be about. Anyway, let me know you thoughts and suggestions on this one. I’m willing to try it if there are enough of you out there that shows an interest.
Jill and I have been married two weeks and I wanted to add her on my health insurance (HealthChoice) at the courthouse, but when I checked, what a shock we both would have. It would cost around $550 to add Jill to the medical insurance, that would reduce my monthly check by about one-third, I can still hardly believe it would cost that much to add a spouse. Needless to say, Jill is without hospitalization and medical insurance still…. we couldnt afford $550 a month out of my county check. So, we been checking out other available insurance coverages. If you know of an affordable one, let us know. Last monday there was a 1/4 page ad in the Daily Ardmoreite about some kind of medical coverage by a 23 year old company located in Dallas. Its called PS Family Health Care and cost $59.93 a month for “coverage”. I am going to get more details. Has anyone heard of this company, or used it? Instead of “insurance” its a PPO?? Here is the website: Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“hi butch. if you can stand more old pictures, here are more from alma francis collection. here are some comments: does anyone recognize the men in deer hunt in davis picture? ; in turner falls picture is my greatgrandfather samuel williams francis, alma francis, cliff (o.c) francis, percy francis, littlest boy is my father sam, older boy is his brother oliver (daddy looks about 10 y/o); in postcard is maybelle ledbetter & ? (alma’s sister); do you remember the greer conoco station on curve south of davis? that is alma. she used to climb that tree when she was a child. i used to slide down the concrete patch; is the ellis store in picture in davis or sulphur? if anyone knows, you will settle a family argument. enjoy!” -susan whitten, baton rouge Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Hey Butch, Congratulations to you and the new Mrs. I know that you two were made for each other and will be very happy together. I would like to express my gratitude for all of the wonderful pictures, info, and the stories by other folks that is shared by your readers. I was raised in the Madill area and the family came into the territory from Gainesville, around the turn of the century and I have always been a local/state history buff. I do miss “old” Devil’s Den as it was where I learned to swim, in the 50’s. Old Fort Washita has a lot of history and I am sending you a picture of the reconstructed south barracks. Keep up the good work, and remember, your Boss will always be right!” -Aubrey Tiller Click Here
————————————————————————-
“My family always stopped at the old Field’s Restaurant at Pauls Valley (Fields pies) on the way back from Denison, Texas, for the pecan pie. That was my dad’s favorite. I remember the restaurant being in an old house, however. This would have been the early 1960s. There was a bathroom upstairs, which my sister had me convinced was haunted. Is my memory playing tricks on me?” Click Here
————————————————————————-
Butch, A gentleman — Steve Roesch — has written to the Arbuckle Historical Society asking us to send us some seeds of the Ashe Juniper trees. I guess you must have said something about these trees in one of your recent T&T Readers, as we know nothing about this tree nor where seeds may be gotten. His address is Steve Roesch, 14870 Kingsway Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151.2) I’ve read your very interesting paper for quite some time and always wonder how you have the time or energy to pull together all the information, letters, etc. I presume your new wife has now assumed her proper title of EDITOR OF THE CHIEF!
3) Sometime back you mentioned something about the Luke Music Store in Ardmore. We are fortunate here at the Sulphur Museum to have a piano sold by him. I have taken photos of it to send to you via email but procrastination keeps getting in my way !!!
Enjoy the season. That’s what freedom is all about.” -C Roland Earsom
————————————————————————-
“Butch, I’m responding to your article newsletter you talked about an airplane that crashed that was owned by the Halliburton family. I’m doing a family tree search and find that I’m related to Richard Halliburton and possible Earl Palmer Halliburton. Does anyone have any information?” -Tony Sanchez PROPDOC98@aol.com
————————————————————————-
“Butch, I’ve seen these (go to #832 on web site) on several traffic lights around Ardmore. Are they TV cameras or optical turn sensors as the web page states?” Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Just thought I’d share some fall pics from Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is only a 35 minute drive from the Oklahoma state line? Some are from around town and from the Univ. of Arkansas campus. And a couple from the Prairie Grove Civil War Battlefield Park. Hope you enjoy these, Butch, even though they were taken a month ago. Perhaps when you & Jill visit the eastern part of Oklahoma, you might decide to take a side trip into Arkansas.” -Kathi G. Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Hi Butch. My son has sent me his pictures of our upside down tomatoe plants. Only one plant so far. I saw it last sunday, good colour and flowers look healthy. I am doing mine this weekend, I will keep you posted. Our weather here in Sydney has been variable. One extreme of 30o C plus to mid 20’s any day of the week. My son Stephen lives in the “Hills District” which is a new outer suburb growing very quickly. Lots of new gardens and he is keen to hang some more plants soon. Our growing season will go through to say April if there is good warmth. All the best from here. Regards.” -Peter Clothier in Australia pclothier@admfp.com Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
3rd Annual Springer Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 2:00 PM
All entries be at Springer School parking lot at 1:00 PM
————————————————————————-
“Butch, Congratulations on your marriage, you have a lovely wife! I hope you are both happy for the rest of your lives. I don’t always get to read the mailings all the way through, but I saw a message from a reader in Little Rock this week mentioning the “Pig Trail”. It is indeed a beautiful drive especially in the fall when the colors change and in the spring when the dogwoods and redbuds bloom. There are a lot of those on this highway, and also what we call sargus or sarvus. It’s a white blooming tree or shrub that blooms right before the dogwoods bloom. But you do have to be careful, it’s a winding mountain road and sometimes people tend to drive right down the middle of it! If you drive this highway from I-40 going north, it comes out connecting to Highway 16. If you take that highway to Fayetteville, you go past a little town called Crosses. It mostly consists of a combination gas station, store and the Pigtrail Café. If you are by there, stop for a burger there, they cook a mean burger. The Hooshburger is especially good! There are always some local folk there to talk to.” -Janet, Fayetteville, AR
————————————————————————-
“This URL is a good source of old radio programs or just about anything else. I’m listening to Dragnet right now, circa 1954. Type Old Time Radio into the search area.” Click Here
————————————————————————
“Tax Time – Everyone is Due a Refund! It isn’t much, but the phone excise tax controversy is finally being settled. Anyone who has paid phone bills during the last three years can claim a refundable tax credit of $30. Up to $60 based on no. of dependents and possibly more if actual charges are tabulated from the bills. This refund is available even for folks not otherwise required to file.” -Elizabeth Dyer. See this Snopes report: Click Here
————————————————————————
“Ardmore High School class of 1946 will meet for a luncheon on Dec. 7th at 1:00 p.m. at Two Frogs. It has been 60 years since we walked across the stage at the Civic Auditorium with our gray caps and gowns. I still have the tassel from my cap along with my Criterion. It was the first year book published since WW II began due to the paper shortage. There were 117 in our class and 5 special graduates. These were men who returned from serving their country and continued their education. I believe that Edwin Willingham is the only special grad who is still alive and living in Ardmore. We have lost many members of our class and several have declining health problems but those who can have a lot to celebrate. If you were a member of this class and have not been called, contact Frances Long Dunlap at McLoud, OK. 405/964-2274. If you had friends in this class and would like to join us, contact me so that I can give Two Frogs an approximate count of those attending. You do not have to send money ahead of time but we do need a head count. Hope to see a lot of you there.” -Frances Dunlap dpdrinker@sbcglobal.net
————————————————————————
“Butch, my neighbor and pilot, Casey Smith, recently purchased a vintage 1943 Boeing Stearman byplane. He and a fellow pilot, Gary Thompson, picked up the byplane in North Carolina and flew it to it’s new home near Springer, Okla. I was there when they landed from the trip on a private runway owned by Casey and his Dad Larry and got a few shots of the event. As you can see from the photos it’s a beautiful aircraft and in excellent flying condition. Open cockpit flying may not be everyone’s cup of tea but Casey sure knows how to make the Stearman perform. In the photo marked “a” is Gary Thompson in the first position and Casey in the pilot’s (or rear) position. The rear position is actually the main pilot cockpit so if you fly solo you must fly from the rear cockpit and Casey said it not very easy to see from that position. Notice the “don’t do anything dumb” reminder in the cockpit. A very rare aircraft indeed.” -C. Dwane Stevens Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————
“Hi Butch and congratulations on your marriage to such a nice lady. I know you two will be very happy together as both of you are terrific people. My wife and I will have been married for 34 years this coming Dec 2nd and you well know she has put up with a lot from me during all those years! It’s certainly wonderful to have such a close companion and soul mate and I’m so glad the same is happening to both of you. I know you have gotten plenty of beautiful fall photos and I just wanted to add a few more. Some of the photos are of Tulip Creek on our farm near Springer. I’m surprised we have had such a nice fall, especially with the dry weather and all. Best Wishes to you both.” -C. Dwane and Terri Stevens Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————
“My family and I went to see John Anderson perform at Winstar last Saturday night. I am a fan of his music and had looked forward to it for about a month. I don’t know who had control of the decibles but it was way too loud. We could barely make out his singing and witnessed several people leaving early in the program. We stayed until the end by partially covering our ears, but wished we hadn’t. We had been to two other shows by Ray Price and Don Williams. They were fantastic and we enjoyed them so much. I wonder if anyone else at your site thought the same about the show?” -Dennis
————————————————————————
The Wilson NewsJan. 1915
Wilson is to have a skating rink. Mr. Brimer has ordered the roller skates and his hall will be used for skating.1-28-1915
Mr. Brimer opened his skating rink for roller skaters Monday night. There was a nice crowd present and all appeared to be enjoying themselves in a very orderly manner.2-4-1915
Wilson is to have another skating rink in the Carmichael Building on East Main Street. A new floor is being laid.2-4-1915
Roller skating craze seems to be reviving. Some years ago it was a very popular form of amusement, but recently the popularity of roller skating seemed to be confined to the children on the pavements. Now, however, the sport seems to be again becoming quiet a favoriet with the older ones, and skating halls are becoming quite popular again.3-4-1915
Church Notes:
Bro. G. W. Thompson will preach for the Church of Christ Saturday night, owing to the fact that he building we used has been turned into a skating rink, we will have services across the street in the Phillips and Mansur Building.3-4-1915
Bunk Allen fell last week while on roller skates and broke two bones in his left forearm. -submitted by Mindy Taylor
————————————————————————
========================================================================Every mile is two in winter.
George Herbert 1593 – 1633See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 23, 2006 Thanksgiving Day Circulation over 5,000 Vol 10 Issue 513
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner compliments of the Rexroat Baptist Church last Saturday evening. The dinner was held at the Wilson school cafeteria and what a nice fellowship was had by all who attended. Jill and I ate to our hearts content, and enjoyed the evening was so many wonderful people….. many who I recognized from bygone years. I know we really do have so much to be thankful for in this land of plenty. Here are a few pictures I took while eating in the Wilson, Oklahoma school cafeteria. Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
Most of you can guess what a lot of people have been asking me the past week or so……. “what is married life like?” Or “has Jill got you trained yet?” Or the best one is… “how’s the old married man?”….. and since I’ve only been married a little over a week, I know what the “old” is referring to. lol Well, I want to report life is great with a wife and partner, and Jill is like the icing on the cake! But I’m still going to be wondering the Hamburger Highway every now and then, take a pic before I chow down on a burger, and share that picture with everyone. lol. The emails and cards and well wishes are still coming in, and Jill and I want thank every one of you for being so nice to us….. we both have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
When Jill and I were on our honeymoon in the Wichita mountains in western Oklahoma last week, it was Friday morning, we were in Lawton, and it was breakfast time. I asked a guy at the motel where was a good mom and pop type cafe and he said right down the street about 6 blocks east…. called Sunrise Omelet Grill. Boy was he ever right. I knew when we drove up and the parking lot was full and the overflow of cars was parked in the rear behind the cafe, it was going to be a good place to eat. We ate a great home style breakfast, eggs and sausage and hash browns plus they bake their own bread (plain or raisin) which is used for toast… delicious, all for about $3.25 each including the coffee! The actual location of the Sunrise Omelet Grill in Lawton is 1529 NW Cache Rd, just west of I-44 and the Cache Road exit. Click Here
Rick Feiler brought by an interesting piece of history he collected this week. It’s a Grapette bottle bank, in the shape of a clown. At one time, these Grapette bottles held a concentrated syrup, and when diluted with water, it made a tasty non-carbonated drink. By mixing 1 part syrup to 7 parts water, a person could make 1 gallon of drink from the 1 bottle of syrup. And, to make it even more desirable, when the syrup was gone, it became a bank! There was a slit in the lid, covered with a waxed cardboard liner. There are 3, possibly 4 of these figures, the cat was first in 1948 to be produced, but it’s shape was such that it could not be machine filled, so it is the most scarce, then there came the elephant which there was a problem with also with the first one, whose ears were too thin, and easily broken, thus came one with thicker ears, probably around 1949-50. Next was the clown in 51, and he is the most plentiful of the bottles. This clown has Grapette Products Co., and #9 on the bottom. It also has Camden, Ark. on it. I decided to be a nice guy, and I offered Rick $2 for the old grapette bottle, but he wouldn’t take it. lol Click Here
The Denison Mainstreet Showcase entertainers is headquartered in Denison, Texas and if you got to see them sing and perform last Friday night at the old Ardmore High School Auditorium like we did, then you know what I mean when I say they were fantastic! The group sang and played the 50s music for two hours at the Washington Theater and I’m telling you, for all the fun coupled with lots of music we got for the $10 admission fee, it was worth every penny. I can hardly wait to see them again December 1st when they return to put on their Christmas Special. Hope to see some of you there. Remember, after the show, most of the entertainers will be out front to shake hands and give out their business cards, sign autographs, etc.
Just a few of the names in last friday’s performance were Shawnda Rains ( she’s the head of production), Charlie Shearer, Angie McWhirter, Kyle Harris, Archie Shearer, Donald Fuller, Frances Byers, Jacob Lynn, Gracie Brown, Jessica Boyer, Robert Hurst, Kayla Rummell, David Griffin, and Smitty. There were several others but I didnt get their names.
The group will be in Ardmore again Friday night December 1st at 8pm with their Christmas Special. This is a link to their website with more info on the group and photos. Click Here
I found there is still some old fashion service available in this area like the mom and pop places that have fallen by the wayside over the years. If Stolfa Hardware was still in business, I would have just went there and got the brass orifice I needed to convert my 1970 Dearborn heater (now out of business) from natural gas to propane. I was want to have it handy in an emergency this winter to keep the pipes from freezing in my unattached garage, if the need arises. I called several places in Ardmore and no one had the orifice by itself for sale. One man told me I could go to Gainesville and get it converted, so I called this big propane supplier in Gainesville to check it out. The conversion would cost $40 but they would not sell me the orifice by itself, that I would have to bring the entire heater to them, and they would install it for me. Heck, if I had the part, I could change it myself in ten minutes.
Another person said call a propane company, they can do it for me. Well, the first one I called in Ardmore said they dont change the orifices anymore and to call a plumber. I finally called Payne Propane in Lone Grove and Richard Payne was just like that old fashion service I talked about above. He said even though I wouldn’t get there til after 5pm he would wait on me, and change the orifice out and the total cost would be $4. That’s right $4 bucks. People like Richard are almost extent in todays world. Thanks Richard.
Here’s a pix I took of the new propane orifice in the cut-off valve. That’s a quarter underneath the old natural gas orifice to give you an idea of the size. The hole in the natural gas orifice is larger than the hole in the propane orifice because propane is under greater pressure than natural gas. Richard had to use a chart since my heater was 12,000 BTU and the new orifice need to match the heater requirements. Click Here
My T&T Readers never cease to amaze me and this past week was no exception. Steve Hamm here in Ardmore is a programmer extraordinaire and sent me a program he made that will really be nice for agencies and organizations needing such a program. The program compile a database of inmate listing from the sheriffs website and builds a database with the info and photos of all those in jail. So, say you download the program Steve made and install it on your computer. Whenever you want to update your data, you just click on Steve’s program and it goes to the sheriff’s website and gets the newest inmate info and pics listed, downloads them to your computer and add them to the database already present on your computer. So over a period of time, what you are doing is building a database of all those incarcerated and you can go back and look at the info and pixs. I could see this being a very handy database for certain businesses and area law enforcement who want to maintain a database of people held in the Carter county jail on their own computers.
This is a FAQ file that will help explain more about Steve Hamm’s Inmate Database. We will be updating it on a regular basis. Click Here
In this folder you will find the CarterCountyInmate zip file and the above FAQ file. Click Here
I can envision this program being very handy for some businesses and organizations in this area including area law enforcement agencies and officers who want to build a database on a computer in their office for future referencing.
And one more thing before going on to the mailbag. I reported a couple weeks ago the Carter County Assessors website reaching the 1 million mark in pageviews. But there is one more statistic that really is an accompliment for our little county….. the assessors website just passed the 2 million mark for property searches. That’s a lot of searching by a lot of people. Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Hi Butch. I know I am not the first to say congratulations! But I bet I am the farthest away! Congratulations from Afghanistan. May God richly bless your marriage. See you in a few weeks.” -Jon
————————————————————————-
“I wish I could see some of that Oklahoma foliage everybody is talking about! We don’t have much fall foliage here in SE Florida, and there are so many lizards in the garden lately that it looks like Jurassic park when I walk outside in the morning (only in miniature!). Last week I was driving near my home on A1A and had to stop to let a huge iguana cross the road. He was certainly in no hurry! Different world here. Happy Thanksgiving!” -Cindy
————————————————————————-
“Hi Butch, Thanks so much for all your hard work in putting together and sending your T & T and allowing those of us who’ve moved away the opportunity to keep in touch with home. Below is the link to a remarkable antique radio collection put together by an acquaintance out here who is a ham radio operator which some folks might enjoy looking at. It is a very extensive collection and most of the items are viewable on line now. Keep up the great work!” -Terry Drake in Monterey, CA Click Here
————————————————————————-
Mr. Doubletalk. Durwood Fincher, aka Dr. Robert Payne, is a comic and doubletalk expert who specializes in ambushing unsuspecting corporate audiences. Known as “Mr. Doubletalk”, Fincher’s well-honed comedy schtick has brought smiles and laughter to thousands of stressed-out suits across America. The website, DoubleTalk.Com, is an introduction into the wonderfully warped world of this unique comic entertainer. Watch video clips of Dr. Robert Payne in action, read testimonials, learn about his wacky style of corporate comedy, and tell your boss to book him for your next event. Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Hi My name is Tony Zappone, and I live in western New York in summer, and Jupiter Fl. form October through April. I have an upside down tomato planter in both places. I have not had good luck in either place. Usually the plants go crazy, with few blossoms. (this is the problem I am having now in Florida) I have fertilized with a 15-30-15 in an attempt to get more blossoms. Any advise that you might be able to give me would be very much appreciated.” candtz@yahoo.com
————————————————————————- “Butch, this was sent to me by June and Kenneth Miller of Ardmore, Lone Grove….We went all thru school together at Franklin Elem., the old Jr. Hi and finally, AHS….so we’ve been friends for a 100 years!!!! By the way, your new wife is such a pretty girl….and I certainly enjoyed the wedding pictures…you clean up real good!!!!!” -danna Click Here
————————————————————————-
“This Highway 23 in Arkansas is what we Razorback fans lovingly call the “Pigtrail”. When folks would drive up from Little Rock to attend the Razorback football games, most of them would drive up Highway 23 to Fayetteville. It is an extremely beautiful drive right smack in the middle of the Ozark Forest. It’s also a very curvy drive with lots of winding, dangerous turns. There have been so many terrible accidents on that highway. You don’t want to drive it at night when it’s stormy or icy. They’ve actually shut down parts of it before when it’s been extremely icy and nasty.” -Kathi in AR
————————————————————————-
“Thanks to everyone that shared fall colors with us. I have made several trips around Lake Murray to enjoy what God has blessed us with this fall. Thanks for sharing.” -Janice
————————————————————————-
“Gainesville TX- A fitting memorial – “A Call To Duty” is memorial monument to the 103rd Infantry Division that trained at Camp Howze during World War 11 that was unveiled Saturday at the Texas Travel Information Center. More than 50,000 infantry troops trained at Camp Howze before their combat duty in Europe. Since 1998, World War 11 veterans Lejeune “Rabbit” Wilson and Mel Wright worked on the Texas World War 11 Historical Monument Fund project. The memorial behind the bronze statue commemorates the 847 soldiers from the 103rd that we killed in action. This is he caption accompanying the picture in the Weekly News of Cooke County 11/16/06. Those entering Texas will appreciate this beautiful monument. Camp Howze played a big part in the lives of many people in this area. I feel certain it had an impact on many folks in Ok as well. Know you’ll want to come see this. Thank you.” -Carol Kiesel Click Here
————————————————————————
“Butch, thanks for your work to communicate all the interesting things that go on in Oklahoma. I live in Charleston WV and get your T&T forwarded from my cousin, George Landrum, in Oklahoma City. This November one finally pushed me to write to you. I was so thrilled with the Sulphur and Turner Falls pix that I became almost teary. My parents and I lived in Sulphur from 1936 till 1942 when my dad joined the army. The park, then called Platt National Park, was a central part of my life and the lives of my friends. We’d ride our bikes there for a picnic, taste all the mineral waters and make faces. What a fabulous place to spend one’s childhood. The pictures I’m sending are paintings that were done as part of a WPA project (it was depression times). Our teacher was from the northeast somewhere; her name was E. Noble Lukens. My friends and I were taught to work in pastels and Mrs. Lukens also taught adults, but in oils. The first picture, an oil painting, was a gift from Mrs Lukens and was painted on site at one of the picturesque bridges in the park. The second is an oil painted by my mother, Helen Rose, who also was Mrs. Lukens’ pupil. And the third is a pastel that I did in the park, under Mrs. Lukens direction, in 1938. My dad, Dr. Ernest Rose, practiced medicine there in Sulphur until WWII. He delivered a lot of babies. I wonder if any of them are still around.” -Rose Marie Rose Pfeiffer rosebudwhimsey@charter.net Click Here – Click Here – Click Here ————————————————————————
Springer Christmas Parade.
Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 2:00 PM.
All entries be at Springer School parking lot at 1:00 PM
————————————————————————
“Hi Butch, The Wilson Historical Museum celebrated its 5th anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Along with the celebration came a face-lift. There is a new center aisle and a new display case on the south wall with “new” items on display. Also, a great library with table and chairs for anyone interested in genealogy or history of the area. Hours are: Tues. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving.” -mindy taylor
————————————————————————
The Wilson News
March, 1915
“Would Create New County”
There has been an agitation started at Wilson and in other portions of the county, and in some portions of Jefferson, Stephens and Love counties, to cut off enough territory from each of the counties named and form a new county with Ringling as the count seat. Just what the movement will amount to is not known at the present time, but the argument is advanced that with McCrory as Speaker of the House, he might wield the big stick with sufficient force to bring the change about and add another county to the list already claimed by the state. County Commissioner Taliaferro today stated that he had heard this talk principally at Wilson and while he was not disposed to take the matter seriously, still it might amount to something more than talk unless the people of this county were awakened to the fact that such a thing might be accomplished. Those who are interested in the scheme have gone so far as to suggest three names to be submitted for the count: Wilson, Williams (after the present governor), and Ringling. In order for a new county to be formed, it must contain a taxable area of 400 square miles. My note: The “new” county could not fill that criteria with out taking land from other counties who would have then, not met their requirement of taxable area.” -submitted by Mindy Taylor
————————————————————————
“I graduated from Thackerville High School in 1984. We used to go 4-wheeling, hunting and such in that area. The lore about the area is widely known. There have been bodies found in the spring. There was at one time an elderly man, a hermit, who lived somewhere in the woods. From time to time he would come out of the woods to fill a bucket from the pipe that was jutting from the side of the hill. That water by the way was a very sweet water. I myself have been to the grave yard at the top of the hill and found some of the graves dug up with small bones scattered about. There are tales of witchcraft, sacrifices etc in that area. One night, while “sightseeing” with a female friend (I was still in high school), I got the eeriest feeling and left very quickly. Not sure what it was, but a combination of feeling like I was being watched and imminent danger. There are many tales of supernatural occurrences to include lights moving about in abandoned farmhouses where electricity does not exist.”
————————————————————————
========================================================================For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
-Ralph Waldo EmersonHope everyone is enjoying the Thanksgiving holidays….. See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 16, 2006 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 10 Issue 512
With this issue I am writing to you as a married man! Jill Bernardy and I tied the knot last Thursday afternoon under the pavilion at the courthouse, and everything was so beautiful. With Judge Charles Tate officiating and so many of my co-workers and friends there, it made the ceremony the best a couple could want. Jill was a little nervous when she found out instead of just a few attending, a group of over 50 were going to show up to witness the event and send us off on our honeymoon to Medicine Park, Oklahoma. There were people from every floor and ever office at the courthouse and the Annex Building next door, and the sheriffs office, not to mention the friends who drove and walked to the courthouse to see this event take place. The weather was perfect too. Several people took photos and I have placed the pixs in a Folder on my website, so everyone can go there for a look-see. Doug Williams even put his digital camera in ‘movie mode’ and made a 20 second clip of that embrace and kiss. Everyone got a big smile and laugh out of that! If you have high speed internet, you should have no problem downloading the clip, but give it several minutes, its over 7 megs. If you are on slow modem dial up, you probably wont be able to view the video clip. Click Here
Here is just a couple of examples of the many emails Jill and I received:
“Congratulations! What a lovely lady she is! You picked a wonderful date for your marriage. Earl and I were also married on Nov. 9th. I wish you both the greatest of happiness. Lou Harper”
“Butch the best wishes and prayfully the Lords blessing on your wedding to your beautiful bride. Jesus first miracle was at a wedding…..your friend Jack”
I have quite a few pictures to share from our honeymoon at Medicine Park, Oklahoma. Medicine Park is about 8 miles northwest of Lawton in those beautiful Wichita mountains. There are so many pictures so share with everyone, I’ll probably have to spread them out over the next few issues. But one thing that happened in Medicine Park I want to tell…. so interesting. There was a man working on three native rock houses he bought in Medicine Park so we stopped to talk to him about the work. I asked if he was from that area and he said no, I’m from Grandfield, Oklahoma (southeast of Lawton). So I told him I have a T&T reader by the name of Minnie Lou Whittington, and he smile and said yes!… I know her well, and her mother when she was alive. Most of you will remember in last weeks T&T Minnie had a pic of she and her mom back in the depression years in California. Anyway, here are some pics of Bill Hampton of Grandfield and the ‘cannon ball’ houses he’s restoring for rental property. Click Here – Click Here
This is a couple pics of the “old plantation” in Medicine Park that is being restored. Click Here – Click Here
This is a pix of Jill standing in front of this beautiful falls that’s in downtown Medicine Park. That’s Medicine Creek that runs through the center of town. Click Here
Another view of Medicine Creek Click Here
And yet another view of Medicine Creek from the Highway 49 bridge south edge of Medicine Park. Click Here
This is the Folder I mentioned above where I dumped the photos taken at our wedding ceremony, plus you will see that huge 7 meg video file (mpg file) Doug made with his camera. Click Here
Since a lot of people collect bricks all over the world, I had to snap a pix of this brick I saw in front of a ‘cannon ball’ house in Medicine Park. The brick reads: Acme Wichita Falls Lumberman’s Special Click Here
One more thing before we move on….. we were overwhelmed and humbled by all the emails, phone calls and face to face contacts we have received from so many of you with congrats to Jill and I, I was unable to answer them all. But we both appreciate each and everyone who wrote and for those of you who want to send an email to Jill, please send them to jill@oklahomahistory.net
The moonflowers we planted a few months ago finally are producing seeds. Several of the seed pods are dried and bursting open. Some pods are still green, so more seeds are on the way for those of you who said you wanted some. Plus the pink Four O’Clocks are just now starting to produce seeds. Here is pix I took this week of the dried moonflower seed pod. Click Here
Since I dont have a green thumb and Jill does, I am leaving the flowers and seeds in her hands, so email Jill if you want seeds. jill@oklahomahistory.net
Monroe Cameron was in town last week from Houston and stopped by to visit. Cameron’s dad owned a service station, and I stress the word service, since his dad hated the word filling station, he gave service at his station….anyway his dad’s station was across the road from the Skyview Drive in back in the 30s and 40s and 50s. But the Cameron clan goes back further then that, back to the days when Ardmore’s first refinery days. Cameron Street used to be the entrance to the refinery at the north edge of Ardmore before the entrance was changed to they highway. I really enjoy talking to Cameron and listening to the stories he told about his dad and this history. He promised to try and get us some photos scanned and sent in! Click Here
With the cold snap this week and a wife to make coffee, its seems that Okie Blend coffee tasted better then it ever has before early in the morning. As most of you know Dan and Susanne Jolliff roast and grind their Okie Blend coffee in western Carter county in the little town of Wilson, Oklahoma. If your out that way stop by and get a pound. That local southern Oklahoma taste is put in every bag! Click Here – Click Here
I see from an email below there is going to be a “Fabulous Fifties” music this Friday, Nov 17th at 8pm at the old Ardmore High School auditorium at North Washington and 3rd. If all goes ok, Jill and I are planning to attend…. maybe we will see of of you there.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Butch; Congrats on your impending marriage which is the best most sacred institution in life, other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Just wanted to relate to you the trip my wife Nettie and I took last weekend to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We left last Friday evening, 03 November, and drove to a condo located in the Brushy Creek area just south of Branson, Missouri. It rained almost all the way. Saturday evening, we attended a concert at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand featuring the original, “Comets” who sang the International Song of Rock & Roll: “Rock Around The Clock”. All of the remaining original members are over 70 years of age, including the first original member, their drummer who is 83 years young. Oh yes, my wife, bless her heart, allowed me to watch the Sooners beat the T A&M Aggies, on Saturday night. Sunday morning, as we left the condo, to head home, it was still raining, foggy, and quite cool. I decided to drive over to Eureka Springs and head south down hwy 23 to Ozark, Arkansas. I tell you, it was just like driving through a rain forest; because, of the many, many vibrant fall colors. Just marvelous, to say the least. Will attach some photos. Congrats to you and the young lady, again.” -Scott Bumgarner sooner1944@verizon.net Sherman, TX Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“The picture of Clu Gullagher brought back memories. He is a Muskogee native and that family and my dad’s were friends and neighbors. Clu grew up just a few doors from where my Grandmother lived for years.”
————————————————————————-
“Does anyone know why Devil’s Den closed? I was only there once in about 1968 or 1969. Keep up the great work.”
————————————————————————-
“This Hickory tree is right out my back door, we are having the prettiest foliage I have ever seen this year.” -Doug Williams Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Our beautiful Chickasaw National Park here at Sulphur has donned her spectacular dress for the season. Here is a mere sampling of what she offers.” -Joh Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Like a lot of other people, I have been out recently enjoying the fall colors. I was out Tuesday afternoon around Turner falls and the Chickasaw National Recreation area. Was a great looking day. Shot a few photos.” -David Cathey Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Butch- Turner Falls and all of southern Oklahoma has been blessed with beautiful fall colors. This view on November 10th would have been even more showy had the sun been shining.” gsimmons@brightok.net Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Mr. Bridges; While searching the web I located your site and have enjoyed reading the old stories. When I was a young teenager I worked around Judge Mathers home and ranch… mainly on weekends and more during the summer of 1969. I understand there was a James Mathers Sr. and not sure which (if there were 2 of them) may have had the $8000. “Judge Jimmy” was old when I was working for him and wife “Mary?”. Actually what I am trying to locate is…. what happen to their estate? The Judge had an old xcrome or nickle plated colt peace marker that always interested me. He had it with him in the weeks that Lawrence Factor was being hunted. The Judge tried to stay close to town or any quick arrangement but we just had to get up to the ranch a couple of times to care for the judge’s cattle. On one of these trips I saw the old gun and have ever since been intrigued by it. (I am a grandson of George and Mildred Whatley Alexander of Tishomingo, a great uncle was Bud Whatley of Davis) Any and all information would be appreciated.” -C. Ray Wiseman in Commerce, TX craywiseman@netzero.net
————————————————————————-
Ardmore Live Music Revue presents Fabulous Fifties on Friday, November 17, 2006. Friday, December 1, 2006 is Country Christmas. Friday, December 15, 2006 is Winter Wonderland Christmas. Location- Old Ardmore High School Auditorium at 221 North Washington in Ardmore, Oklahoma. All shows start at 8:00pm. An evening for the entire family!! www.Washington-Theatre.com
————————————————————————-
“Three generations of descendants my great grandparents William T. and Sarah E. Cain made a visit recently to the Earl Cemetery, north of Mannsville in Johnston County. We did some cleanup of the site, and placed fresh flowers near their markers. What was sad about the trip is how little of the cemetery is being maintained by caring families who have loved ones buried there. I would guess that perhaps 20% of the area has been mowed this year. Elsewhere, shoulder high grass, toppled headstones, brambles and sand burrs are the norm. It’s sad that our small rural cemeteries don’t get better care. Some of our family members have pledged to return to clean up an even larger area. I can only hope that other caring individuals will join us.” -Jim Dyer j3d2@arbuckleonline.com Click Here
————————————————————————
Our Africam channel, is live streaming video right from Nkorho Pan in South Africa. Nkorho Pan is a natural water hole in the prestigious Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, in South Africa. Here you can see many animals including but not limited to lions, giraffes, gazelles, elephants, jackals, hyenas, water buffalo and wildebeests along with many species of monkeys, owls and rabbits. Click Here
————————————————————————
Two hundred yards from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London stands the Old Bailey courthouse, where criminal justice has been dispensed to Londoners since medieval times. Now this old guardian of English justice has its very own website, complete with a searchable archive of criminal proceedings. Browse through the proceedings by “Name”, “Place”, or “Crime, Verdict, and Punishment” to find over one hundred thousand criminal trials held between the years of 1674-1834. The proceedings, which are from London’s central court, comprise one of the largest collection of texts on the lives of “non-elite” citizens that has ever been published. -Charles Kessler http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ “> Click Here
————————————————————————
“We Didnt Start the Fire” -Billy Joel (a lesson in history through 125 images) Click Here
————————————————————————
“Congratulations on your marriage! We wish you much happiness. This sunset was taken Monday evening from our porch. Notice the cross at the bottom. Certainly reminded me of God’s eternal sacrifice and love.” -Ruth Bellamy Click Here
————————————————————————
========================================================================I, Stanley Bridges, take you, Jill Bernardy, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 8, 2006 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 10 Issue 511
There will be a memorial service this saturday, November 11th at the Confederate section of Rose Hill Cemetery. The start time will be 1:30pm. I hope to see some of you there who can attend. Its going to be a great lesson in history besides the new marker dedication and remembrance of those who fought in the Civil War. Click Here
Doug Williams has all the new markers neatly arranged on his smugmug website. There is a before and after for easy viewing. The way Doug has them arranged sure makes it easy to see what a terrible shape some of the markers were in, and now what they look like today. Click Here
I was needing 6 panes of glass, frosted, to replace some yellow plastic sheets in a wall of my house this week. I called every lumber yard and hardware store in Ardmore and no one carried frosted glass. So I had read and heard you can make a piece of glass frosted by sandblasting it. I tried my sandblast unit on a glass jar and was amazed how beautiful it came out… a perfect frosting. It ordinary glass jar turned out so beautiful, I hated to throw it away. So I have decided to just take 6 plain glass panes, 24X30 and frost them on one side with my sandblaster. I will take some pixs of the finished product, so wish me luck.
Minnie Whittington sent in a pix last week of her and her mom, but the pictures was so small, it was barely visible. Minnie re-scanned it so below is her email and picture again.
“This is me and my mom just before we went to California in 1942. I was 8 years old, my mom 28. See how skinny we were. We were starving. My dad worked from sun up to sun down for 50 cents a day. Later he got a job with the WPA and made one dollar a day. Mom even has on a shoe with a hole it the toe, probably the only ones she owned. I probably didnt even own shoes. There were 4 of us kids and mom and dad. We went to California just like ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. But never had the kind of trouble they had.” -Minnie Lou Whittington kenco@pldi.net Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
‘In looking at the pictures of Talimena Drive, we took a trip last weekend to NE Oklahoma and it was absolutely beautiful for hundreds of miles. We went from here to Tish, Filmore, Wapanucka, Atoka, up 75 to Muskogee, then to Ft. Gibson (which was breath taking in colors plus we saw wild turkeys, deer, grey squirrels, and chipmunks), and drove all around the West side of Tahlequah. Then when we left Tahlequah we went down Indian Hill Road to Keystone Lake, Camp Gruber and back to Muskogee. I know that the Eastern States could not have been any prettier. We had lots of persimmons but we have a visitor who climbs the trees each night and steals the big ones. We think it is a raccoon and we have seen coyote tracks under the trees and in the garden! The persimmon seeds have spoons in them again this year. Hope all is well at your domain.” -Pat Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“On the Rodeo Guests I am sending a picture I had taken with Clu Galager, and one that my mother had taken with Johnny Crawford. I dug around til I found these pictures. My mom was Jackie Johnson. Keep up the good work, I still can’t hardly wait for the next issue of This & That.” -Karla Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“In response to Monroe Cameron’s letter last week. The Accountant that worked for Mr. Luke was Grace Lawrence. Many of us remember her brother, John Lawrence who was our teacher at Lincoln school during the late 30’s and early 40’s.” -J. V. Harris
————————————————————————-
“Dear Butch Bridges,This former Ardmoreite happened on to your web page while looking for my Ardmore High Class of 1956 web page. I was in town last weekend for our 50th reunion. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed looking at your site. In the grocery store section I found our neighborhood store, Heartsill’s grocery. That brought back a lot of memories of the Hearstill family and my schoolmate, Gary Heartsill. Has anyone mentioned the Greenfront Grocery? It was in the 200 block of W. Main. I remember it and the A&P well because our family business, Stroman Motor Supply Co, was originally in that block. Both my grandmother and mother shopped at those two stores. The owner’s name was Mr. Williams, if I remember correctly. Thanks for compiling such a great web page.” -Josh H. Stroman, Richmond, TX
————————————————————————-
Johnny Crawford recorded the following singles in the 1960s:Daydreams / So Goes The Story (1961)
Your Love Is Growling Cold / Treasure (1961) Patti Ann / Donna (1962)
Cindy’s Birthday / Something Special (1962)
Your Nose Is Gonna Grow / Mr Blue (1962)
Rumors / No One Really Loves A Clown (1962)
Proud / Lonesome Town (1963)
When I Fall In Love / Cry On My Shoulder (1963)
What Happened To Janie / Petite Chanson (1963)
Cindy’s Gonna Cry / Debbie (1963)
Sandy / Ol’ Shorty (1963)
Judy Loves Me / Living In The Past (1963)
The Girl Next Door / Sittin’ And A-Watchin’ (1964)
Am I Too Young? (with Bobby Fuller) / Janie Please Believe Me (1965)
————————————————————————-
“Hi Butch. I wonder if your readers remember the old cabin at Devil’s Den? It was an old one room cabin and had a sign on it that said “Belle Starr’s Cabin” Last time I was there was over 30 years ago and it was falling down then. I believe if there is a Belle Starr cabin it is probably farther east near Younger’s Bend. I wish Devil’s Den was open to the public again.” -Jon Lofton
————————————————————————-
“Butch, The Ardmore High School Class of 1962 is in the process of planning for our 45th Class Reunion next fall. We have a list of classmates we can’t find. Could you print the attached list in your next volume of “This N That Newsletter” in hopes of getting some response. Also, we are trying to think of new ideas to interest people in coming to the reunion, and my husband (Dennis Medrick) had the idea of getting the Trolley and taking tours around Ardmore of things that used to be there when we were teenagers, i.e., Luke’s Music Store on Main Street, The Super Dog on Commerce, etc. I have called about the Trolley, but don’t have a commitment from them yet. However, I would like to see if you would share your knowledge of Ardmore with us some day so we could pass it on, OR we would love it if you would like to be our tour guide. Our reunion is going to be October 12th and 13th, 2007. We are planning a Brunch at the SW Historic Museum on the morning of the 13th and hope to get the Trolley to pickup 20 people at a time, take them on a tour, and bring them back to the Museum. Probably 2 or 3 tours would be all. Thank you, Butch, for helping us try to locate the classmates listed below and for considering being our tour guide.” -Darlene (Curry) Medrick JDBDB@aol.comSearching for:
Donna Adair
Elaine (Anderton) Lisle
Deward Bannister
Pati Brown
Bill Carpenter
Nancy (Heigle) Duncan
Willene Jaggers
Bob Graham
Johnny Johnson
Billie (Jones) Fronterhouse
Gary Jones
Barbara Kennedy
Stellene Lambert
Duane Marler
Tommy Martin
Mary Miller
Linda (Minzes) Conrad
Donna Neasbitt
Richard Walner
John White
Wanda York
Joyce (Young) Briggs
————————————————————————-
“Hi Butch, I have a couple of pics I want to share with you. The first is a fall view of Little River at Honobia, Oklahoma. Our fall colors were just beautiful and the 13 inches of rain we’ve gotten in the last 10 days has been such a blessing. The second pic is really special to me. My 4 year old daughter and I were walking along the river looking at all the deer tracks when I saw this perfect obsidian arrowhead. My very first! I was so excited to have found it and it was right next to one of the tracks so I had to take a pic.” -Karen Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————
“In case you haven’t heard, I received my real estate license today. So, I can now list and/or sell homes, businesses, anything commercial, farms, ranches, etc. My most immediate need is acreage for hunting-one parcel 50-60 +- acres, and another 300-400 acres. Both should be at least 50% wooded. If anyone hears of anything anywhere close to that, would appreciate letting me know. Take care.” -Jerry Landrum, Ardmore. jl71743@cableone.net
————————————————————————
========================================================================This week’s T&T is a little short….. I been busy planning my marriage to a special lady….. so I havnt had much time to devote to my newsletter this week. Judge Charles Tate will perform the ceremony at 2:30pm Thursday (tomorrow- Nov 9th) under the pavilion in front of the courthouse. If anyone lives nearby and wants to attend at 2:30pm Thursday, feel free to do so. Her name is Jill Adela Bernardy. I will have a lot more pictures and info in next week’s T&T. Just so everyone won’t be in total suspense until the next issue……. here is a picture of Jill taken last month with her granddaughter Belle in Decatur, IL. Jill Bernardy
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2, 2006 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 10 Issue 510
A Reader brought by an interesting book this week titled: ‘The Men and Women in World War II from Carter County’. The book was printed by Vanguard Publishers 129 NW 3rd Street, Oklahoma City. I enjoyed looking through its 132 pages (10 photos per page) and recognized many of the names. Next to each person’s photo is a short paragraph about the individual. The book is divided into two parts, with the last 14 pages displaying the 134 blacks who served their country in World War II from this county. A couple of weeks ago we had a 1975 photo of the Carter County Sheriffs Department employees and one deputy in the picture was John Sigler. I noticed John is one of those listed in the book and this is the description along with his picture: John J. Sigler, Pvt, son of Guy H. Sigler, Graduated from Ardmore High School and attended OMA and Oklahoma A & M College. Husband of the former Della V. Porter. Entered Army in 1939, trained in Sheppard Field Texas; Ft Monmouth, NJ and Greensboro, NC. Served in Italy and was honorable discharged in September 1945. Awarded ETO Ribbon, nine battle stars, Am. Def. Ribbon, Certificate of Merit, Twin Oak Leaf Clusters, and Pres. Cit. Click Here – Click Here
The pixs below are scans from the book. Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
Doug Williams has been busy this week setting about 12 more new markers I poured for the Confederate section of Rose Hill Cemetery. That brings to 60 the new markers now installed. This is an example of the before and after this week. Click Here – Click Here
Halloween we had a lot of kiddos come though the courthouse looking for treats, and they found plenty all over the building. There were even some employees dressed for the occasion, so I snapped this photo of four of them on the first floor. From left to right is Janice Robertson, Lori Cain (Treasures office), Kim Cain and Jammey Howard (Assessors office). Click Here
I need to make a correction from last week’s T&T. The 700 Ranch House located at the Greater Southwest Historical Museum in Ardmore is a reproduction of the original that was located in SE Ardmore. The original was in such bad shape, it was unable to be moved to the Hardy Murphy Coliseum (and later moved to the museum).
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“I may have the only copy of this rare photo of the interior of the original Kendrick Grocery of Britton, Oklahoma and I’ve not sent this one to very many folks but thought you might like to see it. Appearing left to right are: my grandmother, Martha Elizabeth (Burdick) Kendrick; my dad, John Chasteen Kendrick; my grandfather, Ernest Chasteen Kendrick (hiding the end of the arm that had the hand removed because of lead-paint poison); unknown, but appears to be Roy Avey (for whom I was named); 2 more unknowns and then; my dad’s identical twin brother, William Chester Kendrick. I wish I could read the date on that Buick calendar on the wall. It appears to be the same as a 1928 Perry, Oklahoma Buick calendar in my possession. I do NOT know where in Britton this was located but presume that it was somewhere between Western Avenue and the interurban tracks near the highschool, and probably on Britton Avenue. This would have been taken before mom and dad were married, perhaps before they’d met.” -Roy Kendrick Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Colorado has its snow but we have a beautiful fall. The creek is Pennington Creek in Tishomingo, Okla.” -Doug Click Here – Click Here – Click Here – Click Here
————————————————————————-
“We all appreciate your photos very much.The picture of the old store on Dillard Rd reminded my sister and I of a few we visited often as kids in the late 50’s. One we called Pepper’s Store around Utica, Oklahoma and another was on the highway in Bokchita (spelling?) near my grandma’s place. We have lived in California over 45 years and were wondering what ever became of Peppers. Would anyone have a picture to share?” -G. Whitley GwennaKay@aol.com
————————————————————————-
“Butch, Just wanted to share this photo that some friends sent me. They took this photo while they were on the Talimena Drive in eastern Oklahoma. Thought your readers might like to see how pretty the colors are our “neck of the woods”. -Kathi Click Here
————————————————————————-
“I came across your newsletters while researching for information on my Cheek family. We were wondering if Cheek OK might be connected with our family line of Cheek. We know that George Cheek, married to Artimissie Trotter, was in Oklahoma Indian Territory at one time. They were born in the 1830’s. Their sons were Joseph Walton Cheek and George Milton Cheek born 1867, 1871. We have been told both Cheek and Trotter had a Cherokee Indian bloodline, but we have no documentation of this except they are supposed to be on the Dawes rolls. We came to the area where Cheek Ok was located but could not find any information of the way the town got its name or who it was named for. We also found Cheek Baptist Church,Cheek cemetery, and Cheek Road. I understand there was also a Post Office there at one time. It is a very pretty area. Any information you can give me on this area and its Cheek connection would be appreciated. I live in Carroll County Mississippi. Most of my Cheek family lives here, but I am really interested in my Oklahoma roots. Thank you.” -Rachel Cheek Grones
————————————————————————-
“Dear Butch, I had t go out on the web for last week’s edition and I’m glad I did. I read the story that mentioned Luke’s Music Store and thought you might like to see a photo my dad took of Ed and his wife when they were a young couple. He and my dad, Ossian Cameron, were best friends all of their lives and some of the best stories I remember involved Ed Luke. Many of my fondest memories growing up in Ardmore involved the music store. In the front of the store was the glass enclosed display case that you walked around to enter the front of the store. There was a model of Nipper, the RCA dog, inside the store window at the front door. The front of the store contained appliances and the record department was in the middle with listening booths on the left hand side of the aisle. It seems like there was a mix of band instruments and pianos there also. Back toward the back of the store were the sporting goods. Every Christmas we always wanted to see Daube’s window, but I always wanted to spend as much time as possible in Luke’s. My mother bought Tennessee Ernie Ford’s record, SIXTEEN TONS, for me there. My first Lionel train came from Luke’s and I bought equipment there until I went to college. I got a .410 shotgun on my 10Th birthday from my parents that came from Luke’s. Later I discovered the fun you could have with a carbide lantern and cannon. I bought my first LP there which was Hugh O’Brian singing the theme from the Wyatt Earp TV show. It was also where I had my first charge account. I would allow myself to buy one train car at a time, but only if I knew that I would have the money within a month. Ed had a bookkeeper at the store who was there as long as I can remember. I don’t remember her name, but I remember the large accounting books that she worked with all day in the back of the store. Ed and his family lived on the corner, across the street and west of Miller’s Dairy Queen. They had two labs for pets. I would bet that you can probably still see the date the story was started painted on the back of the store in the alley. Looking back, it’s funny that I never hunted with Ed and my dad in all those years. Fond memories and then some. Thanks, Butch.” -Monroe Cameron Click HereAdditional Note: In 1893, E.B. Luke came to Ardmore from Detroit, Michigan. At the time, his brother, Jack Luke, operated a music and school book store in Oklahoma City. He urged E.B. to open a similar store in Ardmore. In 1895, Luke’s Music Store opened on east Main Street near the Whittington Hotel. Following the rail yard explosion in 1915, the store moved to 212 West Main. In the early years, the store delivered pianos via horse and buggy throughout the Chickasaw Nation. Over the years, the scope of merchandise increased. Appliances were added during World War I, and a complete line of sporting goods was added after World War II. Following the death of E.B. in 1942, the store was operated by his son, Ed, until it closed in the early 1980’s.
————————————————————————-
“Now folks I hate to be a I told you so Grandpa, but really have you ever seen such a beautiful face? Present Grandparents are exempt from answering that question. Signed one proud Grandpa.” -Doug Williams dougwilliams@cableone.net Click Here
————————————————————————-
Butch, please put this in the next T&T.The Washington Theatre Ardmore Live Music Revue presents:
Friday -November 3 – Country Gold
Friday -November 17 – Fabulous Fifties
Friday -December 1 – Country Christmas
Friday -December 15 – Winter Wonderland ChristmasBranson, Missouri style music and evening. The location is the old Ardmore High School Auditorium at 221 North Washington in Ardmore. All shows start at 8:00 PM. Family fun for all ages. For info: www.Washington-Theatre.com or call 580-223-5821.
————————————————————————
“Butch I wonder if anyone would have early information on a Indian Lady named Mattahoya. She died in 1911 and is buried in the Lot 5 NE 1/4 – Blk 117 – Ave B. Her name was Sallie Hawkins on the 1910 census, but her house name was Mattahoya and this is what she went by. She was the mother-in-law of Overton Lavers. She was not buried in his plott but in a plott with the Chase family. Does anyone have any information on her.” -Kathleen Stoner Kwlittlefoot@aol.com
————————————————————————
“I remember as a little girl visiting my mother’s mom in a nursing home in Pauls Valley and we would always take her a can or jar of W.E. Garret Snuff. I always thought it was gross, but it was the only thing she’d ever request even though we’d take her nicer gifts like gowns, robes & slippers. No matter when we would visit, she always had that little jar of snuff sitting on her table next to her bed. She continued to use it, too, until right before she died a few years ago.”
———————————————————————–
“700 Ranch House in Ardmore. In 1880 Alva Roff, who had been living in the Hickory Creek region of Love County, purchased stock, cattle, fourteen ponies and one colt from E.N. Stevens of Cooke County for $9,500 to stock his 700 Ranch, which was at the branch of the West Fork of Anadarche Creek. The 700 Ranch house was occupied from time to time as crews of cowboys moved in and out of the area handling herds of cattle. By 1885, a third room had been added to the ranch house. Alva Buckingham Roff m,1-1867 to Matilda Bourland, who died 1868 in childbirth in Coesfield, Cooke County TX, but baby Matilda lived and married George Edward Clary of Missouri. They had at least 3 children: Leonard B. Clary, Eula Fay Clary, and Edna S. Clary. Alva m,2-1869 to Henrietta Davenport and had 4 more children. I would like to know more about this Clary family.” -Patti Adkins-Rochette of Duncan OK prochette@Juno.com www.bourlandcivilwar.com
————————————————————————-
“I was at the Shrine Rodeo in Ardmore in 1962 when Lorne Green was there. If I remember correctly, Dan Blocker was supposed to be there but he couldn’t come so Michael Landon showed up with Dan Blocker. I was just a kid but remember that. I also remember seeing Johnny Crawford there when my dad took me the following year. The teenage girls were all going nuts over Johnny. I think he had recorded a song or two at that time.”
————————————————————————-
“This is a painting of the 700 Ranch House that my uncle, Bunt Crosby, did some years ago.” -Grover Wells Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Butch, I couldn’t remember if I sent you this picture some time back. I took this picture of Ira, James Anthony, & Matt Meyer, at Lake Jean Newstadt shortly before Ira retired as Lake Ranger for the city of Ardmore. I took his over as Lake Ranger when he left.” -Grover Wells Click Here
————————————————————————-
“Butch: As you know Doug and I recently had a grandson, Zan Gabriel Williams. He was named after his great-great-great-great grandfather, Joshua Franklin Gabriel. I am looking for information on this man and a dairy he once owned in Ardmore. This was probably in the late 1800’s. Just wondering if any of your readers have any information on this dairy run by Josh Gabriel and his sons. Thanks a lot and I enjoy reading your T & T.” -Scheryl Winter Williams scheryl@cableone.net
————————————————————————-
“For those of you who are unfamiliar with the device known as the Scopitone, it is a essentially a “film jukebox” that was invented in France in the early 1960’s. Learn more about this esoteric pre-cursor to the modern music video (which was made out of surplus World War II airplane parts) at this cool website. Browse the site and you’ll find articles on this TV/Jukebox hybrid, and then watch the original films that used to play on Scopitone’s and the women who starred in them. There is a fascinating NPR article on the website, and even an auction for a fully-functioning Scopitone you can buy online!” -Charles Kessler, Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter. http://scopitones.blogs.com/
————————————————————————-
“I have started a geneology website for my family. I would like to invite anyone named ” Holley or Lasiter ” to check this out, and get back to me with any corrections, or additional info they would like added. Thanks, Kirk Holley Smith ( Tater Hill Holleys ).” http://home.earthlink.net/~kirksmith
————————————————————————-
“I am hoping that you might be able to help me. I am searching for information on a murder trial. I started with a newspaper clipping from the Ardmoreite newspaper from Sep 11, 1906. I have not been able to find a follow-up on this story. I have been told by another researcher that at least one of the men or maybe 2, died in prison. All I had to start with were the names and date. I contacted the National Archives in Ft Worth and they did find this in an index. They gave me a docket #5812 and the correct spelling on the names, but I was told that they do not have the records. This index covered the years 1895 -1907. They problem seems to be where would the trial have been? Was it Federal or State? The shooting was Sep 10,1906 and since Oklahoma became a state in 1907, I am beginning to think the records might have been transferred from Federal to State. I have contacted the Court Clerk for Carter Co. as well as Love Co and no one has been able to help so far. This is what I have:Docket #5812
Murdered man was James (Jim) Martin Shot and died September 10 1906.
shooters were John Banks, Eldridge Gassoway and W.S. Aderholt
Place was near Oswalt, Indian Territory
The newspaper clipping stated that the “Marshals from Ardmore” were called.I have checked the web page for Oklahoma Court System and the oldest cases listed there was for 1908. Also, they only list the State courts and I do think this would have been Federal. I once read (can’t remember where) about a trial from Indian Territory that took place in Paris TX. Does this sound right? Or even possible? I will greatly appreciate any tips or idea’s that you might have.” jocox@arkansas.net
————————————————————————-
“Dear Friends, I would like to remind you of three engagements coming up soon, as follows:1. On November 18, I will be appearing at the Community Building in Grenola, Kansas to help raise money for the Grenola Elevator Museum. The dinner/concert begins at 6:30pm. For reservations, please call 620-358-3241.
2. On December 2, my band and I will do our annual concert at the Poncan Theatre in Ponca City, OK. Please note that this is a change in our schedule. The original date of November 11 had to be changed. The concert begins at 7:30pm. For reservations, please call 580-765-0943.
3. On December 9, my band and I will be at the Quail Valley Fun Barn in Winfield, Kansas for the annual Cowboy Christmas Ball. The concert/dance starts at 7pm. For reservations, please call 620-221-1894.
-Les Gilliam, The Oklahoma Balladeer www.lesgilliam.com
————————————————————————-
“This is me and my mom just before we went to California in 1942. I was 8 years old, my mom 28. See how skinny we were. We were starving. My dad worked from sun up to sun down for 50 cents a day. Later he got a job with the WPA and made one dollar a day. Mom even has on a shoe with a hole it the toe, probably the only ones she owned. I probably didnt even own shoes. There were 4 of us kids and mom and dad. We went to California just like ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. But never had the kind of trouble they had.” -Minnie Lou Whittington kenco@pldi.net
————————————————————————-
========================================================================“How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can’t scare him–he has known a fear beyond every other.” -The Grapes of Wrath, 1940
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
