PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Email: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net, Phone: 580-490-6823
A Glimpse Into The Past
Community Backing Builds a Golf Course
The group of men meeting in 1954 liked the town of Healdton, agreed with the statements made by the area’s most ardent boost in their recreational afternoons off they all had found themselves walking in circles and mumbling, they were golfers. And Healdton, with more than 15,000 persons living within a 15-mile radius of the busy community, had no golf course.
Somebody remembered how the pioneers once got cemeteries cleaned, churches and barns built, how the women had their quilting bees and such. They decided to adopt a modern times old custom of everybody pitching in for a common good.
Soon a tract of land south of town was secured and golf architect Floyd Farley was called in to draw up the plans.
Healdton, in the middle of one of the Oklahoma’s largest oil fields, was well suited to the task ahead. Trucking Companies, oil companies and dirt moving firms brought in equipment and volunteer workers came from all directions. Some of these workers had never held a golf club and got a lot of good-natured kidding about “cow pasture pool” and “little boy executives” who had to have their toys. Many of these golfers are now golfers with a vengeance, and more of the uninitiated of the community are joining the sport every week.
The Oilfield Recreation Association Inc., has a $90,000 golf course that cost $20,000 and a fine $10,000 Clubhouse. No more lost feelings and mumblings on afternoons off.
The club had 120 members who invested $100 each to get the project rolling. They get their money back at the rate of $20 per year.
Yearly green fees cost $100. This is paid by the original backers as well as the late-comers. Non-members pay a daily green fee of $1 which is raised to $1.50 on weekends and holidays. The golf course is maintained in the best traditions of the golf course science. Everidge Gosney, who served as president of the Oilfield Recreation Association, is credited with much of the push that got the ball rolling and added yet another bragging point to an already fine community.
Strong community backing pays off today just as it did for the pioneers.
-Carter County History Book 1957
1957 – Healdton, Oklahoma Fire Department
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/HealdtonFireDepartment1957.jpg
August 1950
Shot through the fleshy part of the right thigh and with deep cuts to the upper and lower lids of his left eye, Howard Johnson, Carter County Sheriff, is reported in good condition. Johnson was injured when he was attacked by a mental patient, he and a deputy were returning to the hospital in Norman. The sheriff and the prisoner grappled for Johnson’s gun. The gun went off with the bullet plowing through the Sheriff’s thigh. The sheriff’s glasses were broken during the struggle, and the fragments made deep cuts in the sheriff’s eyes. The incident occurred on the sidewalk of the County Courthouse. A bystander, Wilson Wallace, rushed to the aid of the sheriff and his deputy when their lives were in dire danger.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/HowardJohnsonSheriff.jpg
August 1950
Members of the Carter County free Fair Board this year are Richard Simmons of Wilson, president, and John Preston Taylor, vice president of Woodford. Directors include Creede Speake of Milo.
August 1926
Crinerville’s new 4 room schoolhouse is nearing completion. The Tatum School, recently erected at a cost of $8,000 will be ready when the fall term begins.
August 1926
The Interstate Commerce Commission today authorized the Healdton and Santa Fe Railway to acquire control of the Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Pacific in the Ringling and Oil Field railroads. It also allowed the Santa Fe to acquire the Healdton Company by purchase of its capital stock and to lease the Healdton lines to the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe.
A grave marker I made this week.
https://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/BarryBlalockGraveMarker.jpg
Q. Where in Oklahoma is the secret cave the Marlow brothers hid in to escape the law?
A. Marlow, Oklahoma
http://blogoklahoma.us/place.aspx?id=581
Q. To whom did Spain sell Oklahoma to in 1800?
A. Answer in next week’s newsletter
Below is from This and That newsletter archives of October 2, 2008
“Butch, that Bow Dark tree is a Bois D’Arc tree. Years ago the trees were used to make the piers under houses. The older they got the harder they got. We used to call the green knobby fruit “Horse Apples”. I don’t know about here in America but in England, Bows were made from Yew trees.” -Herb Linder
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Butch: I have always heard the trees horse apples grow on were Bois D’arc or Bowdark. It is also known as the Osage-Orange.
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“I was reading Bob McCrory’s Email regarding his serving on the Franklin School Jr Police in the Early 30’s. I must have been one of his comrades. As I recall we had the Sam Brown Belts with “Jr Police” stamped on the front. Also, we stopped traffic on E Street (then part of High Way 77). I recall being stationed on the North side and was instructed to stop all traffic except buses. We also acted as hall cops and the only exciting thing I can remember is when I attempted to break up a fight between two girls, a real mistake. As I recall the Jr Police system continued in Jr High and even in high school where some of them wore uniforms, directed traffic on Washington Street and at football games. It seemed to work. Talmedge Moore, class of ’43, served in this capacity all during high school, also did a lot of repair work in the high school during WWII, and later became an executive for the Coleman Corporation in Wichita. I believe the sam brown belts were furnished by a local civic club. I think it would be a good, clean, worthwhile, inexpensive, activity for our youth today.” -F. Miller
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“Some one touched my history when they mention B. L. Owens in Ardmore. My wife and I were married in Ardmore, May 26, 1951 and B. L. Owens sold furniture, five dollars down and five dollars a month. So our first furniture came from his store. Seems like we paid for several years but finally got it paid off about the time it all wore out. We were very grateful to the Owens family for the store and their making it possible for us to have the furniture. On another item in the T&T this week (Sep 24, 2008)…there was a mention of a Bois D’Arc tree…(bow dark) and horse apples…that is the name of it and I know, since I am an Okie…born and raised there. I remember my Dad had the trees around his place in Bryan County and he used the wood for fence post since that post would last close to l00 years. They were tough and only horses and squirrels would eat the fruit or horse apples they produced. The gas price page is great Butch, thanks, we do make it back to Oklahoma occasionally and its nice to know where the best price is located. Thank you and keep up the good work on T&T…I look forward to receiving it each Thursday….I salute you.” -Preston Jameson…Texas
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“I grew up in and around Pottawatomie County. It has more gravel than any other county. I had an uncle, Bill Guinn, who sold gravel to the county and made a darn good living selling it. Even the City of Oklahoma City still today buys their gravel from Pottawatomie County.” -Herman Kirkwood
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Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG…..
Postcard of the Mercy Train that was located at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum, but is now located at Caddo and East Mail at the depot. -Robert Hensley
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/MercyEngineTrainHardyMurphyColiseum.jpg
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Butch, here is a photo of the brick you did for Barbara and I several years ago (10/03/14). We just passed 71 years recently, and the brick is still intact. -Virgil Harris
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/VirgilHarrisPaver092520.jpg
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Butch, I knew Roy Withers from Wirt. I’m from there as well, went to Dundee schools. It’s not a surprise to see Roy driving the mail in adverse conditions. Not much he wouldn’t do. He had the fastest horse around and not uncommon to see him racing guys like Curly Taylor on the dirt roads. His son Bud was an excellent boxer in the 40s. Roy’s grandson Buddy Jack is still in the area.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/WithersMailService.jpg
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Pioneer of State Dies in Ardmore.
Joseph S. McAlister passes away at the home of daughter Mrs. A. E. Douglas, 708 Douglas Blvd. Services to be held here. Burial will be made in McAlester cemetery near Overbrook. Joseph Scott McAlister, 86, one of the early day residents of Southern Oklahoma, died Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A E Douglas, 708 Douglas Boulevard, Ardmore Oklahoma. The funeral will be from Harvey Brothers Chapel at 10 a.m. Friday, conducted by Rev. Elbert M. Whitwell, pastor of the First Christian Church,. Commitment services will be at the McAlester Cemetery. Pallbearers are Jim Lathrop, Clarence Harris, Ernest M. Jameson, M H Lindley, Willis Whittington and James Boone. Born at Terre Haute, Indiana, September 14, 1849, he came to Waco, Texas in 1870 and married Kate Van Cleve. They settled in Overbrook in 1887 on a farm which McAlester operated for many years in connection with a general merchandise store. He was Methodist and Mason. He and his wife joined the Methodist Church at Overbrook under J. C. Scivally, one of the pioneer Methodist ministers. Soon afterwards he became a member of the Masons order at Lone Grove served 8 years as first worshipful master of the lodge and Overbrook. Besides his wife he is survived by two sons, Frank and Roy McAlister, three daughters Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Minnie Criner and this is C. P. Hollingsworth. There are nine grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. –The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore Oklahoma April 23, 1936
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———————————————–“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” –J.K. Rowling
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
“Friends Make Life Worth Living”Lone Grove, Oklahoma
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Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
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Bill Hamm’s Cemetery Database
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/carter/cartercm.htm
American Flyers Memorial Fund – Administration Webpage
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Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
https://oklahomahistory.net/airbase/
Carter County Government Website
http://cartercountyok.us
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