Tessie Mobley (Lushanya Vinay) was a world famous Ardmoreite and opera singer that we do not hear about. She was a sister to Ardmore’s Dr. Pepper Bottling plant owner Ben E. Mobley Jr. By the way, Tessie’s father, Ben E. Mobley Sr. (1876-1935) was the first mayor of Wilson, Oklahoma.
https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MO035
Below is Tessie’s grave in Rosehill Cemetery in Ardmore
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19652969/lushanya-vinay
The Dr Pepper Bottling plant, Ben Mobley owner, was located at #21 West Broadway, nextdoor to J.R. Shaw’s Auto Repair and Supply.
“Yes! Delaware Punch! It was bottled by the Dr Pepper plant in Ardmore. Also, they bottled a drink called B-1 Lemon and Lime Soda. Anyone remember it? It was a competitor to 7-Up. Before B-1, Dr Pepper also bottled 7-Up. I don’t know why it was dropped and later replaced with B-1.” -Bill
In the early 1970s when I worked for the ambulance service with my partner and I, usually Robert “Bob” Vernon would go to the plant about every other week and buy a wooden case of 24 bottles of Dr. Pepper for our office.
Several months ago we talked about some contents tucked away in the cornerstone of the Carter County Courthouse back in September 1911. This event took place at the laying of the cornerstone in which about 500 citizens standing in the rain watched the ceremony. This week by searching the Ardmoreite archives I found the contents listed. I assume they are still there hidden behind the corner stone.
Footnote: The above “readings” were held nextdoor to where my great aunt Eva Carmon Randol lived in 1915 at #29 D Street Southwest when she was a milliner (hat maker) employed by Daube Department Store.
Ardmore Michelin Plant closing by end of 2025 or before.
In 2015, 2016 and 2017 I worked in the computer support office of the 19 Million dollar tire making facilty. The home headquarters is in France. Since the announcement I’m reminded of the old adage, “you are just a number”. This will be a terrible economic impact on the 1,400 employees plus the 1,000s connected in one way or another to the plant.
The 3-man team I worked with was responsible for keeping the 900 leased computers/PCs serviced and running, the 450 laptops, the 400 wireless access points in the ceilings, and the security alarm systems.
When an alarm system would go off after hours and weekends (most times it was the TV training trailer located unattached on the west side), one of us 3 would receive a call direct from France. 99.9% of the time it was a false alarm caused by storms/lightening going over the plant. When the guy from France would call me, many times in the wee hours of the night, I knew in my mind it was a false alarm, but I did not repond from home to check it out, I’d be terminated. The guy calling me from France was cold and uncaring. I could barely understand his deep, thick French accent. I knew I was just a number. But let me tell you, I made some wonderful friends during my time there. Both in the tire production area and the office area on the east side of the facilty. They were hard working, dedicated employees.
I guess one reason I quit after 3 years, was my old body couldn’t keep holding up. Many days I’d walk 4 to 5 miles a day throughout the plant. Its sad most of these dedicated workers will soon be lookng for jobs because of plant closure.
By the way, Ardmore’s Michelin plant produced the highest quality tires to be found. No sub-standard tire was ever allowed to leave the plant. I’m proud to have worked there and proud of the guys and gals I became associated with during those 3 years. Pray something better comes along soon for those employees that will be terminated. It is a sad day for Ardmore Oklahoma.
By the way, we’ve been told the rubber (called carbon black) making part of the plant (north end) will remain operational. Michelin ships the black rubber powder several of their other plants in the U.S. who do not make the rubber product.
The Mailbag
I was wondering if any T&T readers have been to Magnetic Hill NW of Springer lately. I first experienced the “magic” about 90 yrs ago when my father took my brother and I, and have never forgotten it. When traveling I-35 south, have stopped off many times since, and always find the magic is still there. Besides in an automobile, has any reader experienced the magic another way, perhaps on a motorcycle, bicycle, etc. If you haven’t experienced Magnetic Hill, I’m sure Butch would be glad to give you directions to the location, plus tell you where to stop your vehicle, etc. Will also explain what seems to happen. You will be glad you made the trip.
-Elisabeth
[email protected]
Q. When I was a kid, my grandparents lived on East Muskogee in Sulphur up at the top of the hill. Just a few blocks away lived an elderly man who trained horses. He told me he trained famous horses, like Trigger! In his house, his walls were covered with photos of all the horses he had worked with. He had a huge fenced in area, and at that time there was a beautiful white horse. He would whistle to the horse and it would come galloping up and do all kinds of tricks! Does anyone know who he was? -Tracy Beasley, Sulphur
A. Charlie Auten of Sulphur. The house is on East 7th and Muskogee in Sulphur. He trained horses for movies.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59052535/charles-henderson-auten
A rare find, brass Palacine Motor Oil and gasoline ashtray, Wirt Franklin Petroleum Corporation. Not many of these are around anymore. Second email will show the lettering on the backside. -Robert Hensley
Below is from my Vol 4 Issue 185
November 4, 2000 newsletter:
The other day I got a photo in the mail from Kenneth Eck of Healdton, Oklahoma. He and his wife had been on a vacation of the NE part of the US and had a pic of a bell to send me! It is a pic of a bell made by Paul Revere of Boston. But the bell located at Newington Town Church in Newington, Vermont. Paul Revere sent them the bell after the first one the town had was cracked and sent to Revere for repair. Paul Revere and Sons cast the first bell made in Boston in 1792. This would be the first of about 100 bells his family would make. Here is a photo of the bell in Newington, Vermont.
I received another photo from a Reader who had been to Cross Point Camp. The camp is run by the United Methodist and is located 6 1/2 miles south of Kingston, Oklahoma. So what makes this camp special to me? It has the most beautiful bell located there on the property!
Yesterday I received a package from Del City. It was a rare photo of the Braziel brothers along with five other hombres in the photo. The photo belonged to Bill Moncrief’s grandmother who recently died at age 104. His grandmother used to tell Bill how Bob and Dow Braziel would come over to her house when a child dressed in the same uniforms. Dow Braziel died looking down the gun barrel of Carter County Deputy Bud Ballew in 1919 at the California Cafe here in Ardmore. The Dow brothers were partners in the cafe, which was located on the corner where Stofa Brothers Hardware is presently located. In the photo Robert H. “Bob” Braziel is the man at top left. His brother Dow is the second top left. Both are in dark suits. Bill Moncrief believes the man at the lower bottom right, is John “Buck” Garrett.
“Butch, I am sorry to say that the person that wrote this account of the original car wash last week is mistaken. I won’t go into the details of this, but please visit with Jack Thompson who is one of the original inventors & patent holder of a “car wash” and yes, it was located on North Washington Street. and the old HW 70 route, now known as Monroe street. Not on P & 3rd Ave. N.E.” -Ernest Martin
“Butch: The first car wash in Ardmore and Oklahoma was located on No. Washington and Monroe invented and installed by Travis Harris and I believe Jack Thompson. Travis is deceased but Jack is still blowing and going in Ardmore, his son has a cell phone business in the mall. The Harrison car wash came many, many years after in fact I believe it was installed in the early 70s the Harris, Thompson wash was the early 60s. Travis Harris’ son Eddie Jack was a member of the Ardmore police dept and one evening while driving with his partner Pete Fair, Eddie aimed his pistol out the window to shoot out the tires of a fleeing motorist and believe it or not shot a hole in his spot light, it was a long while before we let Eddie Jack live this down. The second car wash in Ardmore was located just north and across the street from Dodson’s Floral. My 20 years on the Ardmore police dept between 1957 and 1977 allows me to remember many of our early events.” -Rick Feiler
“Reference: 1st car wash. I think that if you will ask Jack Thompson, you will find that the first coin operated car wash was actually the brainchild of Travis Harris and Jack Thompson and was built on the north side of the intersection where West Main and Broadway come together, across from Kerr & Reavis Drug store (at that time Gravitt Drug Store). The second car wash was what is now Coopers Corner.
Reference: Some time ago, you had someone ask about the “Little Big Stand” restaurant on Main Street. It was owned by Charles Priddy and was know as the “Little Big Place”. It was located on the same site that the Neustadt Plaza is currently on. Henry Keith operated a service station on the corner next to it. -Larry
“I was born in 1921 at Hugo, Okla.- We moved to Ardmore about 1926. I personally knew Joe Dubiel and he and I both were still in rompers when the old Gun Factory was located exactly where Lumbermans Mill is now. In fact, I believe the Gun Factory building was old & likely vacant even then. It is true that Joe was an excellent gunsmith and he may have had a gun shop but the “old gun factory” I think you are seeking predated Joe, a bunch.” -Ernest Martin
“Butch, my grandfather, Ira Butler, owned a custom gun made by Joe Dubiel. It was a heavy barrel .22 Hornet single shot based on a falling block action. It was a beautiful rifle, and was tack-driving accurate. It was HEAVY, too. My uncle owns the gun now. The gun was given to my grandfather by Wirt Franklin in, I think, the early 1940s. I also seem to remember a magazine article in either Guns and Ammo or Shooting Times from the 1970s that featured a new custom rifle from Joe Dubiel. I think they said his shop was in either Sherman or Denison. And the rifle was a real beauty, too. Perhaps we could find out some history behind Joe and his gunmaking.
“Wilson: Okla. Place Names by George Shirk states the following….In SE Carter County. 7 miles SW of Ardmore. A post office from April 4, 1888, to Aug. 15, 1907. No longer in existence. Named for J.H. Wilson. local merchant. …for many years we knew this area to be Wilson Township and since the town of (New) Wilson came into being, in western Carter County it created much confusion. Incidentally Wilson Creek is located only a few miles north & east of Legate (Love County 1905-1921) but Wilson Creek & Legate each have their well kept and separate cemeteries. They were distinct different communities. Mr. Shirk also prints that Wilson, formally (New Wilson) is 17 mi. west of Ardmore. Post office name changed to Wilson on Jan 28, 1920 & name for Charles Wilson, secretary to John Ringling. circus owner. This town is still there…… I think their Cemetery goes by the name of Rexroat which is a close by community.” -Ernest Martin
Butch, the little ice cream place on the east corner on Lake Murray Dr. (that everyone has been writing about) was owned by “Honest John Hubble” and was called Dairy Delight (or Delite). They did, indeed, have a parrot hanging in a cage out front. In addition, their son (might have been John Jr…can’t remember), was a cheerleader at OU. This was before it was the “in thing” for a guy to get involved in cheerleading. I thought it was so neat. His parents had pictures of him in his uniform in the window of the ice cream place and I always carefully scanned them, wishing I could be a cheerleader. (I was in later years at Plainview). I remember that this place had the best milkshakes and malts I’d ever tasted. One that was unusual was a peanut butter flavor…my favorite was butter pecan. I lived in So. Texas for a few years (early to mid 60’s), and when I came back I remember that you could buy a taco at the Dairy Delight. It was one of the few (maybe the only) place in town that offered them. I’d become so used to eating them in TX, that I frequented the DD and more than ate my share. I am writing a journal of memoirs for my descendants and plan on including some of this info. A different topic, but does anyone remember the scrumptious “punch” you could get at Colvert’s Dairy? You could get it in lime (green) and a red (maybe cherry or strawberry). Anyway, whenever we had any kind of get together such as a shower or birthday party, that gave us a good excuse to get some of it… our favorite was the lime. It came in one gallon cartons and we would mix it with 7-up and sometimes add some fruit cocktail for color. UMMMM! I can almost taste it. Don’t supposed it’s even made anymore.
“Norton Bridge. I came up down and ’round those parts as you may recall, but never knew the name of that bridge. My friends and I always called it, “that bridge between Mannsville and Chalk Hills”. Last time I was in town, an old buddy of mine and I sat there at midnight with our feet dangling over the edge of that bridge rehashing old times. I remember being in Drivers Ed and having this fear of bridges, and my instructor at the time made me drive out there and told me that we were sitting there until I crossed the bridge, no one was going to drive for me. Eventually, I got up the nerve to cross it and since that day I have never had a problem driving over anything! Well, I just want to say hello and ask how things are at the courthouse. My grandfather would be proud that the old clock is working again.” -Jerrell
“Some time ago, you mentioned the cabin built by Foster Stoner at Ardmore Lake Club. I snapped a picture of it just for you! I also got the stand of bamboo that is in Stoner’s yard, and the bell that is in the yard of the neighbor there at Ardmore Club Lake. Looks like I hit the jackpot, eh? Lots of changes at the lake. If you’ve not been there in a while, I’ll be glad to give you the full 15 minute tour! (haha)”
“As you know, I am going into my fifth year of being host on my talk show, “Oklahoma Moments” on Wilson, Oklahoma’s very own WNC-TV station, especially, since I had you on it when we were promoting the Gene Autry memorial site for the American Flyers Memorial. Well, for your information I had the Honorable Ernest Martin, our outstanding State Senator for 18 years, out and taped a program with him which will air the second Sunday, Nov. 12 at 8a.m. and Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3:30p.m. I received a note from him where he was sharing some information for one of your readers who requested information about the Wilson Township southeast of Ardmore and some cemeteries. My husband was on the Wilson Cemetery Association Board of Directors for years prior to his stroke in December 1985. I will share some information about the cemeteries in this area and about Wilson, the hometown of our famous “Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris!” Wilson has two cemeteries, one on the west side, about two and a half miles west, named Bomar Point. On the east side, two miles east, and where the township of Hewitt was located, is called Hewitt Cemetery. Hewitt vanished when John Ringling, and oilman Jake Hamons decided to run the railroad through to Ringling. I was informed this week by a lady that her grandfather was stationmaster at a station located just to the west of where downtown of Wilson is now located. All of the excitement of the train caused Hewitt to migrate into the new Wilson, which was named for Mr. Ringling’s secretary/bookkeeper, Mr. Charles Wilson. Another cemetery which most of the people who lived in the Rexroat area, east one mile and north up Dillard Road approximately three miles, were buried in the very old Keller Cemetery, which I think you get to by turning north up the road out by what we always called the Bayou Road.” -Corrina F. Wilson
“Hi Butch, Thank you so much for the “news from home”. In reading one of the articles folks were talking about a place with a parrot out front, if i’m not mistaken that was “honest John’s Dairy Delight, owned and operated by the late John Hubble. He was a friend of my father and a very nice man. I worked there for him when I was in the seventh grade and used the money I earned to buy cars from my father and resell them on his used car lot that was located down the street from Honest John’s in the old office of the cotton gin manager. That”s a whole other story in itself!!! My father’s name is Hurmon Anthony, one of God’s finest examples of spiritual being!!! Thanks again.” -jeffrey anthony
This week I received a beautiful card from Mr. and Mrs. William Newport of San Diego. They had traveled all the way from California to Gene Autry to see the memorial built in memory to their son, Larry Newport, who died in that terrible 1966 plane crash in the Arbuckle Mountains. Here is what Mrs. Newport wrote:
“We visited Ardmore on October 8. We were very pleased with the memorial at the airpark.”
Emails like the Newports makes the efforts of all those who made the memorial possible, worth it.
“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823
