Tuck’s Ferry operated just south of the Winstar Casino in Love County. In the early 1900s it brought traverers back in forth across the Red River. The following account is about a mysterious murder of the ferry’s operator by the Red River Historian website by Robin Cole-Jett.
https://www.redriverhistorian.com/post/murder-mystery-tuck-ferry-love-oklahoma
Wirt, Carter County, Oklahoma
I took these photos below at Ada, Oklahoma on April 19, 2009 attending a history Rendezvous conference conducted by Herman Kirkwood of OKC. The mob hanging took place on April 19, 1909.
Note: The above granite memorial was moved from inside Ada to 7 miles north of Ada in 2015.
Click here for an in-depth look at the memorial and story—–> The Daily Oklahoman story on the memorial’s move. Includes a brief interview with Herman Kirkwood on the injustice done on these 4 men hanged.
The month of October is about halfway through and we’ve been making great progress finding people with unclaimed insurance at the State Treasurers Office in OKC. I appreciate all you who have been helping make the connections. https://oklahomahistory.net/unclaimed-property-in-oklahoma/
From this week’s Mailbag
Love the milk bottle story last week, I remember driving by there when Pa Bridges would drive us over to your Dad’s to visit. There were a couple of milkmen in our family; Uncle Ted and my Dad. -Ralph Ford
HAM Talk by KC5JVT via Echolink
Yesterday we had maybe a record number of HAMs check-in to the Boredom Breaker Net out of Claremore, Oklahoma repeater. The 73 check-ins came from all over the US and overseas.
Below is from my newsletter archives dated
January 4, 2007 – Issue 519
Below is Harold Pittman’s bio page from his book. Many of you who knew Harold in high school will remember him by his ‘other’ name….. Sherrod.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/HaroldPittmanBio.jpg
The front cover of Mr. Pittman’s brand new book. Such beautiful colors front and back.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/HistoryInYourHand7a.jpg
I made several attempts to find Harold’s book for sale on the internet, but did not find any.
This week Mae Scott dropped by the Annex Building next door to the courthouse and left those of us who work out of that building one of her delicious Banana Bread loaves as she does from time to time. Her banana loaves has to be one of the best I’ve ever tasted and are really quite famous around the courthouse, so we really appreciate Mae when she stops by with one. I snapped this pic of the one this week.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/BananaBread010307.jpg
Now don’t all of you email Mae asking for a Banana Nut loaf. Mae gave me her recipe to share with anyone who wants to try their cooking skills:
Banana Nut Bread by Mae Scott, Ardmore, Oklahoma
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 sticks melted or softened margarine
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup well-mashed, overripe bananas
If you want a glaze on it mix the following:
1 cup confectioner sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two(2) 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 loaf pans. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add beaten eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. (I beat eggs all together and then pour into other batter) Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately. Beat batter for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla, nuts and bananas. Spoon into loaf pans. Bake about 50 minutes or until a tootpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before adding glaze. For the glaze,stir confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over cooled loaves.
This week Ardmore resident Dee Ann Burris (1947-2020) bought by some wonderful old photos taken back in the 30s and 40s of some of Ardmore’s history, mainly Caddo establishments. One of the photos is of a lady named Lee Wood. Lee was probably the first female barber in Ardmore. She operated her barbershop inside the Roundup Cafe on Caddo street.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/LeeWood7a.jpg
Here are two photos taken inside the Roundup Cafe. The cafe was owned by Dimple and Bill Ford. In the second photo are 8 people, maybe someone will recognize a face.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/RoundupCafe7a.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/RoundupCafe7b.jpg
We’ve talked about the Caddo Variety Store owned by Myrtle Mayhall in past issues. Dee Ann Burris has a wonderful photo taken inside the store with several others. Mrs Mayhall is standing in the center.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/MayhallVarietyStore7a.jpg
This is a closeup of the photo showing more detail of the items scattered around the store at #47 Caddo Street. I see the tin ceiling just like was in so many stores around Ardmore, probably made at Berryhill’s Tin Shop. I also see several leather harnesses hanging up in the background. Also on the walls are several fedoras and even some brooms leaning up on the left hand side. Who knows, the brooms might have been made by Mr E.D. Crites in his Ardmore Broom Company at 6th and I Street SW. He got his broomcorn in the 1920s from Pauls Valley and Lindsay, Oklahoma area, and using the most modern equipment, manufactured over 50 dozen brooms a day, which were sold by distributors in 7 states.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/MayhallVarietyStore7b.jpg
“For a brief time in, I think 1943, ex-Oklahoma Governor “Alfalf” Bill Murray lived in the Mulkey Hotel on the corner of Washington & 2nd NW, just across the street from the High School. On pretty days he would sit in an a rocking chair on the sidewalk and invite conversation from any and all passers-by. It really wasn’t conversation because ole Bill did all the talking. He was usually on some tirade about the sorry state of affairs in Washington and how the War was being conducted. He hated FDR and what he called “The Creeping Socialism” that was taking this country (this in spite of the fact the he, himself, had helped to establish a Socialistic commune in Bolivia, which failed). Cal Shipman’s Cafe was next door to the Hotel and many of us High Schoolers ate lunch in there, which meant that we had to pass Gov. Murray’s perch twice during the lunch hour. To do so without getting caught and subjected to a lecture was difficult and you really had to watch out where you stepped because the old guy chewed that “twist” tobbacco and was totally indiscriminent as to where he spit. You know, I really wish I had had enough sense then to stop and really pick that man’s brain; so soon we’re old and so late we’re smart.” -Tom Meason, Tulsa, OK
I’m sure enjoying this cooler weather and glad those 105 degree days are gone.
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma
580-490-6823
