The Jenson Railroad Tunnel – submitted by Larry Paul
Most People Have No Idea This Unique Tunnel in Oklahoma Exists
Jenson Railroad Tunnel is the first and only railroad tunnel in the state of Oklahoma. It was constructed through Backbone Mountain, which is a part of the Ouachita, Mountain Range in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma during 1885-6, by the Fort Smith & Southern Railway (FSSR) when they built a north–south line through what is now Le Flore County. The line was sold the next year to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad (“the Frisco”). The line eventually became part of the Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS).
KCS had the shortest north-south rail route between Kansas City, Missouri, and several key ports along the Gulf of Mexico.
Canadian Pacific Railway purchased KCS in December 2021 for $31 billion U.S. Dollars. On April 14, 2023, the railroads merged to form Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Railway (CPKC) the first and only railroad to directly serve Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Jenson Tunnel is located on private property northeast of Rock Island, Oklahoma and is the only known railroad tunnel in Oklahoma.
The tunnel was built on the east side of the Arkansas-Indian Territory border, but that a subsequent realignment of the border put it entirely inside the present state of Oklahoma.
The tunnel is 1,180 feet (360 m) long and has a single track. The deck width is 14.0 feet (4.3 m) and the clearance above the deck is 20.0 feet (6.1 m). Its elevation is 600 feet (180 m) above mean sea level. The tunnel has various lengths of lining and arching. 624 feet (190 m) of the interior is unlined and has no arching. About 324 feet (99 m) at each end are lined with stone and have a brick arch. 62 feet (19 m). The rest of the length (118 feet (36 m)) has timber posts and arches.
Note: I wrote about the Jenson tunnel many years ago But for the life of me I could not find the article on my computer. I guess it floated away into cyberspace. Thanks Larry for reminding me so all my Readers can read about it. I watched one youtube on the tunnel as the train went through. Scary.
At the end of this month Sheryl Warren will be retiring after 25 years of employment at the Carter County Assessors Office and service to the public. Sheryl was a dedicated employee and appreciated by so many. I remember when Sheryl came to work at the assessors office in 1998. She had not been at work a month when on a Saturday she was up at Davis Oklahoma feeding hay to cows at her sister’s place and somehow fell and broke her leg. She ended up in a full leg cast. And guess what? She came to work anyway, cast and all. The U.S. needs more dedicated workers like Sheryl Warren. Congratulations Sheryl, enjoy your retirement years!
The pictures below were taken today at the dedication of her retirement paver I made for Sheryl. After Kalub Miller in maintenance installed the paver in the walkway in front of the courthouse, her fellow employees got together for a photo op.
Downtown Healdton, Oklahoma 1954
A couple of scenes of Healdton including Armstrong Tool and Supply, Gail’s Lady’s Ready to Wear store, and the Healdton Lake.
Healdton, Oklahoma recreation area
Pecan trees are looking good this year. -Darla Peery Parkhill
Our cat, Henry, loves to take naps in the spare bathroom, especially during this hot weather lately.
Below is a photo of my friend Bob Lantrip. He was a computer nerd like me in the 80s and 90s. One time I decide to post on my website some pictures I took of the old 1928 Seth Thomas clock in the dome of the courthouse. Bob called me to say how much he appreciated the uploading of those pictures.
You see, when Bob was 4 years old he contracted polio and could never walk after that without steel forearm crutches. He was given the nickname “Ironsides” which stayed with him during his adult life. Bob and his parents lived at Wilson when he was a youngster. About once a week they’d come to Ardmore and his dad would stop at the courthouse and go up in the dome to see that magnificent clock. Bob told me he always wanted to go up and see it, but never could because of his disability. But years later I posted pictures of clock and Bob was so excited. Said he wondered his whole life what that clock looked like since he could never climb those stairs to the dome. Bob made my day. Sometimes its the little things that can make a big difference, like it did in Bob’s case.
Link to a webpage I made on the history of the 1928……. Seth Thomas clock
The Mailbag
Hi Butch, Just a quick note to say thank you for your valuable contribution to our chicken coop ideas article! 🙂
The article is now live and can be found here: https://www.wirefence.co.uk/chicken-coop-ideas/
Thanks again for being a part of this project!
Best regards, -Dora Pista
Chicken coop ideas https://www.wirefence.co.uk/chicken-coop-ideas/
HAM Radio Talk
A reader shared this old poster of HAM radio crib notes and info.
Below is from my Vol 4 Issue 171 July 29, 2000 newsletter:
I took a picture of that bell out on Burns Road, SW of Ardmore. It’s Owner, Roscoe Campbell (1918-2007) told me he obtained the bell in 1949 while working on an oil lease near Lindsey, Oklahoma. It’s owner in 1949 was about 80 years old and told Mr. Campbell his mother called him with this bell when he was a kid. He said if Mr. Campbell would promise to keep the bell forever, he’d let him have it free of charge! So to this day its in his front yard on Burns Road southwest of Ardmore (today named Gateway Road.)
In front of Mr. Campbell’s home is a mini oil well. Unique,
Here’s a pic of a bell in the backyard of a house at 702 11th NW here in Ardmore
“Hi Butch, I just read the article last week about the Morris chair. Would you believe it is the same Morris family that owns the newspaper in your town and also the newspaper here In Juneau. Mr. William Morris the III is here in Juneau this week.”
“I just talked to my mom on the phone. She grew up in N.E Ardmore, and recalls the old brick yard. She says it was located north of 7th Northeast on the west side of the train tracks. We’ll see if we can come up with a picture of it.”
“Something you might want to check out. Out near Gene Autry there is a house made of old tires.The house was built by Dale Dixon and his wife. Dale would more than likely let you take pictures of it to share with your readers. They did an excellent job on it and it is recycling at it’s best, plus energy saver.”
806 Saybrook Road, Gene Autry, OK
“Every now and then my brothers and I talk about things and places you used to see in downtown Ardmore before the “mall era”. Does anybody remember or have photos of a little eating establishment called “The Little Big Stand”. Seems like it was on the north side of Main down around where Noble Affiliates’ office building is now. I’d also like to find a photo of the locally famous “tamale cart” and the fellow who ran it. Thanks.”
However, we did come out with some interesting old pictures of Hudson-Houston Lumber Yard. The original Houston Brothers Lumber before it became Hudson-Houston. The pic was taken in 1900. Notice the guys up on the phone pole.
The Hudson Houston Lumber Company in Wilson, Oklahoma. My grandfather, Grover Wells, started that yard. He was the purchasing agent for Hudson-Houston. He is the young man standing on the threshold of the doorway.
Notice the lumber storage sheds to the right. I remember when I was a wee teen my grandfather would wake me up in the middle of the night, “Get up, get up, it’s fixing to rain. We got to go out and use tarps to cover up the lumber.” -Butch
Below is the Hudson Houston retail store. Grover Wells is on the far left. The other men are unidentified. My mother still has one of those old wooden chairs you see behind and on the left. Taken in the 1920’s
Below is my grandfather, Grover S. Wells Sr, at his desk. This was taken not long before his death in 1934.
Below: A semi-pro baseball team from the Ardmore area. The only one we know in the picture is Grover Wells, back row, second from right in the Ardmore shirt. Probably taken in the early 1920’s.
The above photos submitted by Kerry Smith Tully
“Butch, I was reading my book (“Ghost Towns of Oklahoma” by John W. Morris) and spotted an interesting little town in your neck of the woods. The name of the town is Woodford (a.k.a. Bywater), 11 and 1/2 miles north, 9 miles west of Ardmore. According to this book that was written in 1975, Woodford (Bywater) had a Post Office from February 4, 1884 thru November 22, 1974.”
I just want to say I did not intentially ignore anyone who wished me a Happy Birthday. I received about 1,900 best wishes and there was no way I could answer each one personally. But each and everyone was appreciated. Thanks everybody!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823