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Below is January 5, 2002 to February 23, 2002.
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Saturday February 23, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 253
Last Sunday afternoon a took a trip south of Lone Grove to Cheek, Oklahoma to snap a pic of that bell a T&T Reader told me about last week. As I passed through Lone Grove I saw a windmill sticking up on the north side of Highway 70 across from the Post Office. I stopped to take a pic and copy the For Sale info on the windmill. There is a Lone Grove number to call if anyone is interested in buying it. 580-657-4541. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/lgwmill.jpg
I used the new telephone number search feature in google.com to find the owner of the Lone Grove phone number. Come to find out I worked with him for 2 years at the ambulance office in 1970! A great friend, Troy Loard! http://www.google.com
Before I got to Cheek, Oklahoma I passed over one of the few one-lane bridges still in the county. One by one they have been replaced through the years. Here’s a pic of this piece of history. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cheekbrg.jpg
Here is a pic of the Cheek Baptist Church south of Lone Grove. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cheekch.jpg
And finally after travelling 6 miles south of Highway 70 on Cheek Road, I came to that bell. You can bearly see it in the pic (see red arrow), it is beside a trailer house. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cheekbel.jpg
During my outing I came across four cows that looked kind of thin. These four cows looked skinny and they’d come over to the fence like that wanted me to feed them. Across the road on the east side was 50 or 75 head of cows, and they looked well feed. A friend told me these were Jersey cows, and they do look underfed compared to most cows. But I took a pic and might go back by there in about three weeks for another looksee. I can’t stand animal cruelty of any kind.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cowpoora.jpg
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cowpoord.jpgAfter stopping and see the cows, I went on east to Rock Crossing. Rock Crossing has been a famous swimming hole since before statehood. And in the early part of the 1900s many people had their picnics there and also during revivals many people were baptized in that creek.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/rockcrka.jpg
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/rockcrkd.jpgAbout a half mile before reaching I-35 and Lake Murray Lodge exit is the McAlester Cemetery.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcacema.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcacemb.jpgJust before reaching I-35 and the Lake Murray Lodge exit is McAlester Baptist Church. I can remember in the 60s and 70s when as many as 1,000 people attended All Night Gospel singings at the church grounds. This was a yearly event. Even though the church was a few hundred feet south into Love county, Sheriff Robert Denney sent me down there to help with security at several all night singings. It was a lot of fun and a lot of talent with so many groups performing. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcachua.jpg
I was just about to drive away from the church when I looked over to the north a 100 feet next to the fence line, and there was an old outhouse, still standing, but barely. Some of the walls had fallen down, and I guess the partition between the Ladies side and the Mens side was gone. This is truly a piece of bygone days and few still around in this part of the country.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcachub.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcachuc.jpgHere is a map of all the sites/photos listed above. The area is west of Lake Murray. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/bullmap.jpg
I received a package in the mail this week! It was from T&T Reader Richard Henry in Allen, Texas. In 1995 he put into book form his growing up years here in Ardmore, the 40s and 50s. Richard talks about living at 408 “C” Southeast and includes a lot of photos in his book. Photos that will make one remember lots of things that used to be: He talks about putting a penny on the railroad track and letting a train flatten it or about capturing horny toads back then and trying to make pets out of them, or shooting the yellow jackets net with a bb gun. As I looked through the book, several things caught my attention. One was his uncle Jack Floyd’s skating rink that was located just north of the Hardy Murphy Coliseum, above the swimming pool dressing room that used to be located at Whittington Park. He’s got several photos of the skating rink and skaters enjoying the night out skating. One man told me he remembers Richard’s father, James F. Floyd, coming to the filling station at “C” street and Lake Murray Drive (northwest corner where a muffler shop is located now) each Fall to put a gallon of coal oil (now called kerosene) in his 1940 something car’s radiator. This friend of mine worked at the station (it was owned by Allie Oxford 1889-1964) and he’d wait on Mr. Floyd, putting gas in that old car, etc. I asked why would James Floyd put coal oil in the radiator instead of anti-freeze? He said it was about a dollar or so a gallon cheaper. Instead of ruining the motor, he said that motor was clean as a whistle. Anyway, if you want to know more about Richard Henry’s book he can be reached at this email….. [email protected] https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/henryr.jpg
A Reader sent me email this week saying she saw a pic on my History CD of a man with curly hair and a guitar. She said she recognized the face and remembered him when she lived here in Ardmore years ago and she even owned the same pic on a postcard. But she couldn’t put a name with the face. She asked me if I remember the pic and who he was. Well, that was my dad, R.V. “Battleship” Bridges back around 1938 when he had a weekly radio broadcast here in Ardmore, a local musician who sang and played country music on his 30 minute broadcast over KVSO Radio. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/rguitar2.jpg
Last week Judge Lee Card received new carpet in his courtroom on the third floor at the court house. And on Monday Scott Mfg Company from Ada, Oklahoma installed nine Red Oak pews, replacing the old movie theater type seats that had been in the courtroom since before 1970. Judge Shilling bought those movie theater seats used sometime before 1970, so it was time for them to go. Scott Manufacturing of Ada has been making high quality church pew since 1957 when Reese Scott started the business. Besides church pews they make alters, chairs, pulpits and lecterns. Here are some pics I snapped of Scott employees Curt and Jody doing the installation last monday.
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This is a link to Scott Manufacturing website in Ada, Oklahoma.
http://www.scottpews.com/T&T photos, since February 2, 2002 can be viewed at the following webshots album.
http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
T&T photos before February 2 are still at the old webshots albums
http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistoryHere is an email I received this week: “Hi Butch, I am interested in the 800 number for my home and I cannot find where it gives the information. I found a place for business and it says a minimum of $40.00 a month charges. I do not need that much in charges, I mainly need it for my granddaughter that is in college and wants to call home. Can you help me with this? Also, I know it says the cost of $2.00 a month, which that is no problem, but are the calls the same 4 cents a minute?”
Yes, they do have toll free numbers available for a one-time $10 setup charge and then $2 dollars a month. At the bottom of the link below is a toll free number to call for more info if you’re in the market for a toll free number! So far this month we’ve reached over 5,400 minutes! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Picture of Sid Gilstrap & his Mary and the tomb stone at Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore, Oklahoma. I think Sid tells a most beautiful love story in his book.” https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/gilstone.jpg https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/giltwo.jpg
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“Butch, I just recieved the issue of T&T. I enjoy it so much and have forwarded it to several people in my family who are now regular readers of it. I remember when I visited my mother and dad in Davis, Oklahoma, every Sunday morning this lovely bell would ring. I don’t know where it orginated from . Do you or any of the readers know? I noticed the names you drew this week, one of them apperaed to be mine but their is only one d in the email address. Often people add the other by mistake.. It should be [email protected] Again thanks for all the hard work that you put in to the newsletter. I look forward to it every Fri. My family lived in the Arbuckle, Ardmore area since the 1800’s. Sulphur park and Turner Falls were our favorite places to spend the weekends. Thanks again.”
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“Butch, in the early forties my grandfather would take food over to the Cornish Orphans Home. He would get a letter asking for food and money and we would get in the 38 Nash and go. It was a two story brick building(I think) and had a sheet metal tube for a fire escape from the second floor. We would get to go up and slide down thru the fire escape, a scary ride for a five/six year old. I would appreciate any information about the home, it may have been operated by the Methodist church. After the carload of food was delivered we would have lunch which was potato and meat stew, pinto beans, onions, and lots of bread. It was an all day affair to get over and back from Brock. Also, I am curious about a rock quarry that is a little north and a couple of miles west of Ardmore. We swam there in the summer. As I remember, it was quite deep and had a bright blue/green water color. Does anyone know where it is and who owned it the early fifties? What was the material removed from there (maybe limestone)? Keep up the good work Butch, I really enjoy your writings.”
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“Hi Butch, I seem to remember that the shi water cans you mentioned carried the brand name “Shimaid” with a picture of a young lady on the side of the can. Thanks for sending T&T each week.” -Roy Miller, Oklahoma City
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“He had a slogan which simply stated “Shi Maid” with a picture of a young girl (the way I remember it). I went to school in Ardmore with a girl by the name of Barbra Shi & I think she lives in Sulphur.”
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“Just an idle thought– David Boren’s wife’s maiden name was Shi.”
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“Hello Butch, I remember the water cans you mentioned in your T&T. I think they had a sticker on them that read “Shi-Made” or maybe “shi-maid”. And didn’t it also have a picture of an Indian Maiden as part of the logo?”
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“Hello Butch, I just love your newsletter; it gives me some insight of the area where my mother was born. I wish I could get all the back issues. I’m sure I missed a ton of information. My mother was born in Healdton. Her father worked for the oil company. Do you have any information about Jim Severline – he was with the oil company. His wife, Mary, was my grandfather’s sister. Later, my mother and her family moved to Cement and there she attended school for a couple of years before the family was brought to Ohio. My grandfather, Gilbert Vermett was originally from Ohio and my grandmother, Vida Emily Bradford Vermett, was born in Killeen, Texas.”
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“Hi Butch! Always enjoy your T&T Newsletter. Someone mentioned tamales in the Feb. 16th issue, and this may not even be ‘newsworthy’ or of interest to anyone else but, had to be about 60 years ago, when my grandmother, Mrs. H. J. Dixon lived at 126 E. N.W., and my folks and I lived behind them in a small house, just a block west, must have been in the one hundred block of ‘F’ Street, I recall there was about a 4 room frame house that someone opened up the two front rooms of, and sold tamales. They had 4 tables with red/white checked ‘oilcloth’ table cloths on them. (There were no plastic back then), and they would serve you tamales by the dozen and that’s all they served, along with crackers and catsup and cokes. I still remember the smell of those tamales! They smelled almost as good as they tasted. You could eat there, or take them home and enjoy them, for about a quarter a dozen! Those were the days!” -Bob Taylor, Rocky Top Ranch, Urbana, Missouri
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“”Oklahoma Place Names,” by George Shirk, says Cornish was a post office from July 10, 1891, to March 15, 1918. It was named for John H. Cornish, rancher.”
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“Thanks for T&T Newsletter..Good to hear from Al Geurkink’s son. I worked for Al at Tom Coopers farm. Remember it well. As the horse-drawn milk delivery wagons were replaced by trucks we got to use the horses on the farm. What a pleasure to drive the big horses to a bundle wagon or fertilizer spreader. I worked summers of ’43, ’44. I can remember the ice cream mixer at the farm..Mushy ice cream, goooood..My team was named Buck and Rowdy. Happy Trails,” -Bud
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“Dear Butch, It is late, but as usual I stayed up late to read T N T. I have just copied and sent to 50+ people the quote from Waylon: Revelations 1972. Charles and I have a friend who is a fairly well-known singer, song-writer named Steve Young. Waylon’s theme song: “Lonesome, ‘onery, and Mean,” was written by Steve Young. One of Dolly Parton’s latest hits, “Seven Bridges Road,” was written by Steve. The “Eagles” did it some time back. Waylon once commented about Steve Young, ” If he gets any better, I’ll have to kill him.” When I asked Steve about this, he replied, “Well, Waylon was doing a lot of drugs in those days.” Steve Young has one of the most “hard-driving, but softly sentimental singing voices,” I’ve ever encountered. The songs he has written, so far in his life, touch my heart so much that I cry when I listen….and I have listened to them probably 1,000 times, and more….. (My own special favorites: The Angel of Lyon, which Steve performed at my request, at a huge teaching “gig”, and “Black Land Farmer”, which reminds me of my dear friend, Don Brittin’s father, Bill. When I listen to it, I still see Don’s dad out on that tractor, plowing up the fields on his black-land farm….north of Davis, south of Joy….)The Steve, as I call him, came to visit us in our Smoky Mountain cabin. We ate supper at a local cafe, then took Steve to our cabin….way up in the Smokies. Steve stayed a long time at our beloved cabin, but if he had stayed for weeks…the time would have been too short…He has traveled over this entire earth, many times, and has much knowledge and wisdom and insight into human nature… And that’s what comes out in the songs he writes and sings. After The Steve’s visit at our Smoky Mtn. cabin, Charles and I followed “The Steve” to Tennessee and into Kentucky. The Steve lectured at colleges, with enormous crowds, avid to hear of his wisdom. He performed in rowdy places he did not like. He prefers a quiet, interested and introspective crowd…He has wisdom to share…. and he told me, “I love, most of all, those teaching gigs.” I have not written to “The Steve” yet about Waylon Jennings’ death….I don’t know “The Steve” well. But, I think I know him well enough to know that he is not ready to talk about his friend’s demise…. The Steve’s ex-wife and mother of his son, Jubal, is from Oklahoma. She wrote a beautiful song which The Steve performed on one of his albums, called, “My Oklahoma.” (The Steve’s ex-wife, Cheryl, known as Terrie, still lives around Lake Eufaula.) Jubal is now really making himself known in Nashville…..we are so proud and happy for our adored friend’s son….Looks like he’s got some of his “old man” in him, plus some of his own. Hope your readers will ask for music by Steve Young. He is real, down to earth, and brilliant in his words and music.”
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“Butch, you bring back memories of the hot Oklahoma summers in the ’50s and ’60s hauling hay. That ice cold well water from a metal can was the best there ever was! The insulated plastic water jugs we have now can’t compare. I don’t want to haul hay like that again, but sometimes long for a cold drink of water from one of those tin cans.”
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“Have you run across any of the books about early lawmen in the area that were written by Elmer Leroy Baker, who was undersheriff for Enoch Watterson in 54-55 while I was there? We used to chat about them when I was covering the courthouse; as I recall they were all published by Vantage Press, a notorious vanity publishing house, but they should be of interest to one and all. And have you run across anyone who remembers the exploits of “Uncle Billy,” an Indian constable for one of the J.P. courts, who ran afoul of the KKK during the 1920s and engaged in a running gunfight from Lone Grove to Ardmore, according to some of the stories told by deputies in the sheriff’s office? It might have been Tiny Sparger who told me about that.”
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“In one article in this week’s paper some mentioned a beer joint south of the Avalon Club. The joint called The Cattle Club about a mile south and on the east side of the highway. I don’t remember the round house there where Montgomery Wards store was located. I remember very well the place. The train came through and I think took on water. There was a water tank on the south side of Grand I think there is an Arby’s there now. There was what we called the tar pit along there and as kids we would play out on it and wait for the train to come by and get the engineer to blow his whistle for us. I remember well the Geurkink Dairy Farm on 12th NW. If Nathan was the one who wrote the one article. He and I went to school together. Back then if you went out to the farm they would give you all the ice cream you wanted what ever kind they were making, but you had to stay there and eat it.”
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“Hi Butch, People keep coming up with names of places that I had forgotten about. Another restaurant on Hyw 77S was Carlton’s and on farther South was a “honky tonk” called the Alamo.There were two buildings alike and the North and South ends of the buildings resembled the front of the Alamo. Someone else mentioned a roundhouse. There was also a roundhouse in SE Ardmore. I think along C St. and maybe 4 th. Somewhere in that area. When I moved to Ardmore in 1942 it was still in use and there was also a cotton gin nearby and another on South Washington owned by a Mr. Jones. Wasn’t Mrs. Jones a secretary at the high school? I think at that time Ardmore had three cotton gins. I don’t know where the other one was located. THe cotton compress was in the 3 and 4 hundred block on S. Washington and there was a cotton field on the West side of the street. I think the idea of putting T & T in book form is great. I would certainly buy one. Think about it.”
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“Howdy, Butch! Took a little trip to Guthrie this weekend just to poke around in the antique and junk shops. I’ve never seen so many bells for sale. I was surprised at the prices! Most were fairly small – bases about the size of a dinner plate – but all were priced well over $100. If I said it once, I said it a dozen times…”Butch would sure like to have this one.” Were I a wealthy person, you’d own one today. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts, right?!”
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“The Backup Training Corporation is now offering the Effective Courtroom Testimony eight-hour course free! For more information visit” http://www.thebackup.com
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“The restaurant on the east side of the highway just south of the Club Avalon was called “Carleton’s ” It did a great business especially late at night with all the nightowls leaving places like the Glider Room etc.. The tavern on south a few miles was called Jim’s Alibi. It too was located on the east side of highway 77.Jim used to be located across the street from the Tivoli theater during the big ww2..I believe the place across the street from Randolph’s saddle store was later called the Top Hat, rather than the Rendezvous.If people are really interested in the history of the Club Avalon,Bill Boone still lives in Ardmore and would probably be willing to answer any questions anyone might have.” -Bill O’Heran
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“Hi Butch, I’m still enjoying your T & T columns every week, and wondered if anyone had told you this one about the Presbyterian Church Bells. At the end of l947 or so, the bells began to ring about 2:30-3:00 A.M. By the time the neighbors got the Minister and police there, they found a returned serviceman “enjoying” his first night after discharge from the military. I don’t think any charges were filed – they just got his brother to take him home to sleep it off. By morning, a very penitent culprit with a very real headache had to apologize to a good many people. Keep up the good work.” [email protected].
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“Check it out Butch http://www.boxfrog.com Free Anonymous Email!”
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“Hi Butch, I am writing in response to one of your reader’s letters in last weeks T&T “I found the one of Cowboy Slim Rhinehart”. If the person interested in it a few months ago will let me know I will be glad to make a copy of it…” You are very kind to make the offer, a copy of that would be great! Please email me at [email protected]. And Butch, keep up the good work.” -Steve Riner.
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“Here are the bells of Sandford (California).” http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/02/20/MN157473.DTL
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“I have not saw hardly any hawks this year. We saw a few on the way to Dickson Saturday but not nearly like we used to see. One year we counted 32 in the 13 miles from Ada to Stonewall. Now, I may see one or two on the same stretch. They were usually on fences and telephone posts but now I see them most in trees back away from the highway.”
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========================================================================We are still drawing two winners for my “History CD” each week. Here are the two winners!
[email protected]
[email protected]“Chickasaw Choctaw Cherokee Creek, Ardmore High School can’t be beat!” -Cover of the 1915 Ardmore High School Criterion.
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday February 16, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 252
Back in the 60s when I was a teen and accompanying my grandfather Carmon to building sites during the hot summer months, one thing we always took with us was this tin water can with a block of ice inside. We’d either get the block of ice from Roy Pylant or from the ice plant at the railroad tracks and “D” street Southeast. With temperatures over 100 degrees many summer days, we all got a drink from that tin water can to quench our thirst. I still have that old tin water can in the rafters of my garage next door. I told in my T&T last week about Wayne Vaughn going to work at the courthouse. This week we were talking about things long ago and Wayne mentioned how he used to work for a man who made water cans in the late 40s when he was a teenager in Ardmore. The sheet metal shop was located catty cornered from Cashway Lumber Company at 3rd and “A” Street Northeast (NW corner – north end of the building). The proprietor of this tin shop was an Indian named Garvin Shi and his motto was, “The World’s Largest Indian Sheet Metal Company in the World.” Mr. Shi operated his tin shop in Ardmore from about 1947 to 1953. In 1953 he closed his operation here and moved it to Sulphur, Oklahoma where he continued business just a block or two north of Highway 7 and Highway 177. I have a lot of Readers in Sulphur, and maybe someone will remember Shi’s Sheet Metal and know if any of his kinfolks are still living there. I’d like to get a photo of Mr. Shi and his tin shop for scanning if possible. Garvin Shi lived south of Sulphur on Highway 177 near Buckhorn Road. Here is a pic of a Shi Water Can that was made in Ardmore. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/shican.jpg
A T&T Reader let me borrow her copy of “Precious Memories – How they Linger”, a book written by Ardmoreite Sidney Gilstrap (1914-1995). Sid describes in the 169 page book his experiences of growing up in Ardmore and surrounding areas. Before moving to Ardmore at an early age he lived in Ringling, Cornish, Nebo, and even east Texas for a couple of years. Settling in Ardmore in July 1923, Sid and his family lived in a couple dozen houses. Several were in my stomping grounds on 3rd and 4th and “I” Northeast. Most of his growing up years was at their house on “L” Northwest (behind Homeland). Some of the things that caught my eye as I scanned through this very interesting book was mention of the “roundhouse” on Grand Avenue where the old Montgomery Wards was located. The railroad came west from the Ringling Depot at North Washington and 3rd street down Grand Avenue. The “roundhouse” was a big metal building used to house railroad cars, especially locomotives, inside while doing repairs. Sid mentions postman Carl Jenkins who I knew as a child, went to church with his family in the Northeast. Sid tells about selling newspapers for eight cents each and keeping 3 cents for himself as a child of 13. A Gypsy family coming to their house in Ringling and later stealing his dad’s wallet. He said if you came to Ardmore in the 20s and didn’t go to the old Kresses Store on Main Street, then you might as well not have came to town. Sidney Gilstrap completed his book in 1988 and there was a Second Printing in 1992. I do not know if there are any copies to be bought today, but if you find this book, get a copy, it’s great reading! Maybe someday there will be a Third Printing! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/sidgil.jpg
A T&T Reader in Sapulpa, Oklahoma has taken photos inside the court house in that city and created a photo album of them on her worldisround.com website. We need more people like her with cameras! http://www.worldisround.com/articles/8981/
A Reader told me she saw a nice bell at the end of Cheek Road, south of Lone Grove this week. It was in front of a trailer house. That means I’m heading that way pretty soon with my camera! I now have over 100 bell photos from 33 Oklahoma counties on my Bell Page! Thanks to all of you who help make it possible. And keep looking! hahaha https://oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
In last Sunday’s Oklahoman newspaper I read Kathleen Parker’s column about the loss of common sense at airport security since 9-11. After reading Kathleen’s horrible flying experiences since September, my mind flashed back to March 23, 1775 when Quaker and U.S. patriot Patrick Henry asked at what price safety and peace? Here is Kathleen’s story that was in last Sunday’s newspaper. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/kathleen/parker021102.asp
Ever wonder when someone’s birthday is? Well, it’s all pretty much databased at anybirthday.com which claims they have the birthdates on over 135 million Americans. But you need to play around with the search engine to get the best results. Say you want to look up a birthdate of someone in Lone Grove. I got the best results by using only the partial zipcode of 734 and not 73443. Also I got better results by using only a last name and a zipcode. I still question their claim of 135 million people. I know a lot of people are like me and quit having birthdays years ago. hahahaha http://anybirthday.com/
For those of us participating in the Heartland Share Program, here is the items that will be in the February 23rd delivery:
Sausage Links – 12 OZ.
Tyson Chicken Drums – 1 1/2 LBS.
Sirloin Tips – 1 LB.
Deli Sliced Turkey Breast – 1 LB.
Sea Gem Fish – 1 1/2 LBS.
Potatoes – 6 or 1 bag
Lettuce – 1 Head
Carrots – 1 LB.
Cherry Tomatoes – 1 Pint
Red Delicious Apples – 4
Texas Grapefruit – 2
California Naval Oranges – 5
Red Pears – 5
Cheese Idaho Mashed Potatoes – 16 OZ.For more information contact Carole Ellis at 580-223-5287 or visit the Heartland Share website at http://www.heartlandshare.com
T&T photos, since February 2, 2002 can be viewed at the following webshots album. http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
Many of us continue to save money on our long distance calling. I’m using their 4 cents a minute plan. Since February 1st our group has talked over 3,600 minutes! And my $2.00 a month Toll Free number is nothing to sneeze at! Check out all their plans at, http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Hi!! I really enjoy t and t !! Wish I took pictures like you!! Johnnys bbq down at the RED RIVER was popular when I was a kid and actually ran in to him at the Elks at Gainesville with Dad and Mom, Knew me cause I look so much like my mom!!”
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“Hi Butch I saw June Maxey’s note about the tamales Mrs. Bennett made. If June knows anything more about Mrs. Bennett I would love to hear the information, thanks.” [email protected]
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“Well, Butch, you outdid yourself this week.The person who wrote about the Avalon, Randolph’s Saddle Shop and the Rendesvous sure brings back memories. When I was just out of high school, all my friends and I dated OFFICERS from AAFB. On Saturday nights we’d go to the Avalon and dance. In summer, we’d dance outside on the dance pavilion. Never did go to the Rendevous. I was really too young but if you’d park and sit long enough, you’d see somebody’s mother or daddy going in…….. What was the restaurant South and across the highway from the Avalon? Used to go there a lot. Also there was a real beer joint even on south of that but I forget the name of it. It was on the east side of the highway just before the curve in the road where the Randolph’s lived in the big ranch house (on the west side of the highway). I couldn’t get away with much when I was in high school and just out because my mom was a nurse at Hardy Sanitarium and she knew what I did before I did it!!! Thanks again for the fun TnT.”
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“One of your fans was asking about the 100 acre rock that was around here some where. I know about a 10 acre rock that is located in Troy, Okla. When I find the picture I have I will send it to you.”
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“Butch, in one of your recent T&T’s someone mentioned “1000 acre rock”, from which part of the OK State Capitol Building was built. It is actually the “Ten Acre Rock” and is located in Johnston Co, in the Troy OK area. My mom and her family grew up in that area and we have a number of “kin” buried in the Troy Cemetery. When I was a child we used to look forward to regular trips to the cemetery to “visit” the family. We would take a picnic lunch or go into Millcreek and stop at the little store there and buy food to eat for lunch. Anyway, when we got thru at the cemetery, we would drive east from the cemetery and about a half mile down the road (maybe a mile) there was Ten Acre Rock. We would eat on top of it a lot of times. The place is pretty grown up around it now and you have to be careful because copperheads and rattlesnakes love that area…all that brush and the rocks. Just before you get to the rock, there is a concrete slab crossover that goes over a little brook. When we were little the water was clear and off to one side it was about knee deep with a clear sandy bottom. We would get to wade around in it during the summer and looked forward to those romps in the water. It, too, is in bad shape…green, murky water – probably full of cottonmouths. Anyway, many years ago, there was a cotton gin (or something like that) right next to Ten Acre Rock and someone built a rooming house so that travelers could have a place to spend the night. I don’t think it was used much and there isn’t much left of either of those. All this reminiscing brings back fond memories that are dear to my heart. Thanks, Butch, for your interesting columns each week. God bless and take care. Your OLD friend, Di.”
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“Hi Butch, Here I am again. The Hole-in-the-Wall belonged to David Shellenberger, former rodeo contestant and a member of the Shellenberger family in Marietta. He died almost two years ago. Camp LeGrande was located on the corner of Myall and Hwy 77 which is now S. Commerce St. The “tourist cabins” formed a U shape with the office in front. While going through my tapes I found the one of Cowboy Slim Rhinehart. If the person interested in it a few months ago will let me know I will be glad to make a copy of it. It is a tape of several of his radio programs. He was singing and promoting the sale of his latest and possibly last song book. Since people have been reminiscing about the “bars, clubs and honky tonks” does anyone remember the Green Frog next to the First Methodist church. They would not allow that now. Parking was in back and car hops took your order.
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To the person that asked if anyone remembers the bakery on N. Washington.When you went to school at the high School or Jr. High how could you not remember. Sit in class and smell the bread about 10 am and you could just taste it. Many times someone would collect nickels and go and get donuts.” [email protected]
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“enjoyed your description of your trip to fittstown, ada and francis, my neck of the woods.”
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“Butch, In the early 1950s, when I owned the Konawa Leader, I had an employee who lived in Francis, and I was there a number of times. I do not understand, however, your reference to “we all know the railroads were living on borrowed time.” The Burlington Northern Santa Fe line through Francis (and Ada) is still in existence and is a busy railroad, a major link between Tulsa and points north and east on the one hand, and Dallas-Fort Worth and points south on the other hand. Francis was once a division point on the Frisco (which became part of the BNSF) and had shops there. In a pattern which has become more familiar in recent times, the railroad chose to move the division point and move the work of the shops to somewhere else. That was the majorpayroll in Francis and when it moved the town went into decline. But the railroad did not die, and in fact it was a busy railroad in the 1950s, but the shops and train service employees had long since been relocated somewhere else and it was already almost a ghost town by then. It remains a busy, and profitable, railroad, and the idea that railroads are in demise is not borne out by reality.”
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“Butch, One of your readers asked who owned the “ranch” where all the castle looking houses are that can be seen from the Turner Falls overlook. The name he was looking for is Ellsworth Collins. Collins at one time owned the land where Camp Classen is today, all of Turner Falls, the land where the resturant and motel is today and across the road where the water slide is. He also owned a couple hundred acres of river bottom that now is part of Arbuckle Wilderness. I believe the “castles are on Turner Falls land. Most folks who look at those “castles” from the overlook think there was a ranch over there. I think that’s what the sign says. Not true, according to Bill Geis. Bill is the grandson of Ellsworth Collins and did some of the work on those building when he was a youngster. First of all there was never a ranch there, no cattle, no farming. Collins built the “castles” just to look at. They are not full size. Not tall enough to stand up in. Sort of a trap to get people to stop. Ellsworth Collins was professor at OU. A Dean when he retired. This was his summer project. He donated the land where Camp Classen now is. The family gave Turner Falls to Davis. Bill traded the house, motel, the land across the highway and the bottom land to the original owner of Arbuckle Wilderness for a “dude ranch” in Colorado. As a side note I believe the barb wire collection at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame is primarily a collection that Collins made and donated. The family also donated an original Remington bronze to one of the museums in Tulsa. But there was never a ranch.”
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“Hello Butch: I enjoy reading This and That so very much. It brings back so many memories. Your article about my ole friends Sheriff Robert Denny, Bud Hunt and Skinney Stewart turned back the clock. They made me think of Sheriff Gerald Cobb, who machinegunned the front out of a gas station at Wilson or Lone Grove to convince a wanted man to give up. (Probably with the very machine gun you have written about) I liked Gerald. He enrolled in Law School at O.U. when I was there and he was Sheriff. He would drive to the Arbuckle Mountains each day so he could radio his office to see if he was needed. As I recall, Gerald’s dad was the first highway patrolman killed on duty. It was in northwest Carter County where he was hit by a car. Oddly, it was also west of town where my very good friend Trooper Howard Crumley was murdered while on duty. “Possum” Clark, a Love County Trooper, was also later killed north of Marietta near Shiggin Hill when a car ran over him. The article about the Avalon and other places in Ardmore reminded me of a couple of other forgotten places in Carter County. Pat’s Place, which was just east of Dickson on in a pasture on the south side of the highway. It was a small (maybe 8 by 10) room with only an old cokebox with lids on the top and an icebox. They sold beer and saltydogs and the patron would then go back out the screendoor, down a couple of wooden steps onto the dirt parking to watch or partake in the fighting, lovemaking, dancing, etc., to the tune of about a dozen car radios. There was the Blue Room in northeast Ardmore, which had a couple of booths, dirt/sawdust floor and the bar was a couple of wooden barrels with two boards for the counter. There was a lady that would go around and offer to pull up her dress for a quarter, and when she did, she had bloomers on, and everyone would laugh at the fool who paid the quarter. Do you remember Ricks Roost south of town down the hill from the Chicken in the Rough Cafe across from the Avalon? Also Butch, I might add that I have had a lot of people having trouble finding my book, “The Red River Prosecutor”. One person in Gainesville even ran an ad in the newspaper trying to find a copy. The reprint is now available at most bookstores and at the Bookseller in Ardmore, or by calling the publisher toll free at 1-800-777-3454. Since your articles on Brown Springs started, there have been a lot of people trying to find the book. Have you thought about putting This and That in book form? So many people, myself included, would love to have all of the back issues in book form. Keep up the excellent work and have a nice day my friend. And I will make an all out search for the picture I have of the cave that is below Tuckers Tower taken before Lake Murray filled up and get it to you.” -Ken Bacon
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“Will the person who said that they met their husband while working for Jake Hollenbeck please email me. He was my adopted dad you can reach me at [email protected] or during the day at [email protected] Also Butch JJ Hamilton is alive and well here in Ardmore Ok.”
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“I have been doing family history and I just found out I have family links to Ardmore , Ada and several other places in Oklahoma. I would enjoy receiving your newsletter. I have been told that the town of Cornish Oklahoma was named after a relative John H Cornish. Don’t know if that’s true or not. Sincerely, Crystal (Cornish) Craig. High Ridge, MO.”
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“Last weekend I was up at Mountain Lake enjoying the scenery and noticed an old bell up on the dam. Wondered if its purpose was to call in the boats at closing time? If you are interested I will get a picture the next time I’m there — which may not be until warmer weather. I also wanted to know if anyone was doing any fossil or relic hunting in southern OK, and if so, could they recommend any good sites for some amateurs to poke around.”
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“This was a nice surprise when I opened my email. Wayne Vaughn is my oldest brother. Great picture!”
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“The tire plant is on the big meadow on the south side of 12th NW where thousands of bales of hay were made. None of the baling crew would ever work without a long sleeved, buttoned collar shirt, hat with a decent brim and a bandana tied inside the collar of the shirt. Sturdy high top shoes and overalls completed their work clothes. I can still remember the wonderful aroma after the farm crew filled the two tile silos adjacent to the big u shaped milking barn. My Father, Alvin Geurkink was a Guernsey breeder and managed the farm for about 30 years. Looking back I realize now how fortunate my brothers and I were to have lived there when we were growing up.”
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“I did find this great church BELL mounted out front of the “Elm Flat Independent Christian Church” (Major County). If you go to Cleo Springs (downtown), take the county blacktop (not the highway) road north out of Cleo… Go approximately (or maybe more) 3 miles… On the Eastside of the blacktop, SE corner of the milesection is the Elm Flat Church with this magnificent bell hanging on some sort of metal stand & cross.” https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/cleobell.jpg
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“Hi Butch. Thanks for the tidbits on Fittstown. I grew up in Fittstown and graduated from McLish HS. There wasn’t much to do there -except play basketball – and it was a big deal on Saturday nights to get to drive to Ada and drag Main Street. I wrote a feature length screenplay and several short stories in which the setting is Fittstown (I called it Fire Creek in my movie script). Many of the colorful characters who lived in Fittstown are represented in the script and short stories. There was Rufus and Fanny Lee, who ran the local morter and rock swimming pool, which was called Lee’s Park. And the Spit and Whittle Boys and Hannah, the Fire Creek Witch – she is a character in the screenplay that is a combination of my first grade school teacher, Mrs. Doolittle, and my bus driver – Homer (who didn’t have any ears..just holes in the side of his head!!). Hannah’s character is scary…but lovable. The pool was filled with water from the creek. Rufus was in charge of pool and grounds maintenance and Fanny ran the concession stand and rented inner tubes. I lived across the road from Lee’s Park and every morning Rufus would shoot the turtles and snakes swimming in the pool. I’d fish them out with a long pole. I also helped whitewash the pool with a lime mixture every two weeks. This was our only method of algae control. For my work, Fanny would let me swim free all summer. I have many many wonderful memories of Fittstown. Funny though, when I was young, I couldn’t wait to get out of Fittstown…now I want to buy a retirement home there. I’m tellin ya…Fittstown was awesome.” -Joh Mann, Ardmore
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“Just been reading through your T&T earlier (last week’s) and the thought struck me… Do you not have roundabouts over there to help you through busy junctions, rather than every man for himself. If there is no traffic light’s there, then you give way to traffic approaching you from the right of the roundabout, and it all works out pretty ok.”
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“Dear Butch, We would drive to Gainesville in our Buick touring car to visit my father’s family, the Woodson Stonums, when I was a little girl. When it rained my father would snap yellow curtain like protectors over the windows to keep the rain out. Mainly I remember the sandy road before we got to the Red River. Many a time we would get stuck in the sand. I think this road later became Hwy 77. I remember how scared I was everytime we crossed the rickety old wooden bridge that joined Texas and Oklahoma. One time I remember a cow had gotten stuck in some quicksand and men were trying to pull it out with ropes. The Stonum home had a storm cellar where everyone took refuge if a cyclone was coming. These storm cellers had other purposes; they were also used to store meat and canned goods. When I was a teenager a fun thing to do on a moonlit night was to cram as many couples in someone’s car as we could and drive to the new bridge on Hwy 77. We would turn on the car radio and get out and dance all over that bridge! Not much traffic in those days!” -Tweed Stonum Machock
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========================================================================I haven’t said in months how I appreciate everyone’s interest in my little newsletter. I tell people it’s not “my newsletter”. It’s all of you who make it possible! Since just after December 1st of last year, hardly a day goes by that someone somewhere in the U.S. emails me and asks to be put on the mailing list. Sometimes two or three a day. Again, thanks goes to everyone.
We are still drawing two winners for my “History CD” each week. Here are the two winners!
[email protected]
[email protected]“Revelation” 1972, by country music singer Waylon Jennings (1937-2002)
“Somewhere in Vietnam a 19 year old soldier walked out of a barroom
and he said I must be seeing things, that bourbon hit me like a baseball bat.
In Belfast Ireland a little lady dropped her shovel in her garden
she raced across the yard and asked her neighbor Mrs Clancy, what was that?
In Memphis Tennesee a teacher raised the window closest to the river
and the children in her classroom swore they heard a choir singing down the street.
In Washington DC a private secretary’s lips began to quiver
and the president just put aside his papers and rose quickly to his feet.
I lay in a cheap motel in the arms of someone else’s woman
when a loud explosion rocked the room and turned the morning into night.
I jumped out of bed and ran into the street with hardly any clothes on
as the sky lit up my heart stood still and I could feel my face was turning white.
All at once the clouds rolled back and there stood Jesus Christ in all his glory
and I realized the saddest eyes I’d ever seen were looking straight at me.
I guess I was awakened by the penetrating sound of my own screaming
and it didn’t take me long to stumble out of bed and fall down on my knees.
As tears rolled down my face I cried dear God I’m thankful I was only dreaming
and if I never go to hell Lord it’ll be because you scared it out of me.”See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday February 9, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 251
Last Saturday I decided to head out to Ada, Oklahoma by way of Fittstown, Oklahoma. Fittstown is about 25 miles north of Tishomingo. A Reader told me there was a couple of bells at an Indian church about a mile north of Fittstown, then a mile west down a county road. Before I made it to Fittstown I saw a bell at the First Baptist Church in Connerville, Oklahoma. Connerville is 18 miles north of Tish (Johnston County). As I was leaving Connerville, on the north edge of town, I saw a couple of bells at residences on the west side of the highway, but didn’t get pics of those two bells. But here’s a pic of the bell at the 1st Baptist Church of Connerville. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/connerb.jpg
Upon my arrival in Fittstown (pop 759) I immediately saw a bell at the Fittstown Baptist Church. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/fittsb02.jpg
Fittstown is a small town but on this Saturday morning it was a busy place. The townspeople were all over each side of the highway visiting all the little stores and gas stations. But my biggest surprise was yet to come 10 miles on down the highway north at Ada, Oklahoma. But like I said earlier, as I left Fittstown, I went about a mile or so north, and saw the sign that read: “Hickory Hill Baptist Church” and turned west toward it. After a long very winding mile west, there was the new church (the old one burned down not long ago). Like the Reader told me a couple of weeks ago, there was a white metal gate, and she said in that first email I could either crawl under it, or over it. Well, the openings in the gate was big enough that I could slip through, and when I did, there in front to the church was not one bell, but two! So I snap a several pics. Two bells, now that is a church really after my heart!
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/hickbd.jpgBut like I said a while ago, my biggest surprise was yet to come on down the highway 10 miles north at Ada, Oklahoma (pop 15,691)! I knew it as going to be my kind of town when I saw on a sign on a building at Main Street and Constant Street that Cokes were sold everywhere for only 5 cents! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/adacoke.jpg
But I will admit I did have a test to take before reaching downtown Ada, I had to go through the infamous “Ada Mix Master”. It’s a multi-directional set of intersections in the Northeast part of Ada where several streets and highways, and even a railroad come together. Everyone has to take their turns proceeding from all the stop signs (no signal lights), and I imagine when a train comes through, its every man for himself. hahaha. And to think I safely made it through this tricky set of intersections several times!
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/adamixb.jpgI arrived in Ada about 11am, and I was so surprised at all the people everywhere, downtown was like the big city, but with a friendly small town charm. The streets for blocks were filled with people, with nearly every parking space taken! All the stores and shops were in full swing with business booming on every street. And Main Street is two-way traffic, Yeah! You don’t have to drive around in circles trying to get back to where you were! When I came to Main and Townsend Streets, there was that same marque, The McSwain Theater just like it was around 1960 when I first saw it. Back then me and my great uncle, Louis Pritchard, walked from their house on 12th street to watch a show at the McSwain Theater on a Sunday afternoon. Here’s a photo I took of the famous McSwain theater in Ada. BTW, they have a talent show every saturday night! Suffer Branson! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/mcswaint.jpg
I don’t want to mislead anyone, Ada is not the perfect example of a perfectly engineered town. Their Main Street runs pararell between 10th and 12th streets. Not being from Ada, I would assume there is some little known historical fact explaining this most unusual place for a Main Street to be situated. All things considered, I have to say Ada, Oklahoma is one of the most fun places to visit. I would encourage anyone who has a free Saturday to visit downtown Ada for a great time and see all the goings on. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!!
Oh, before I forget, I found a big bell at the Catholic church on the east side of Ada. Not only did they have this Number 28 Yoke bell, but a tall, almost futuristic, tower with three bells way up at the top. I didn’t see any clanger in those three bells, so I guess they were just for decoration, but they were beautiful. They were two high up in the air for any one to ring, which brings me to another story I’ll tell in a minute. But here is some pics of the bells at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ada!
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/adacathc.jpgTalking about those bells being too high up to ring, reminds me of the story my neighbor on the other side of the block told me a couple of years ago. He said back around 1940 when he was in the National Guard, they had exercises on certain Saturdays on “D” street and 2nd Northwest (behind the present day OG&E office). It was during those trainings on Saturday he told me he’d take his rifle and aim it at one of the bells on top of the First Presbyterian Church, pull the trigger and hear the bullet hit the bell, ringing it. What people used to do in Ardmore years ago, when laws were not so strict about guns. Here are the bells of Ardmore’s First Presbyterian Church.
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/fstbellc.jpgAnyway, after thoroughly enjoying several hours in the fast paced town of Ada, I decided to head a few more miles north to the much slower paced Francis, Oklahoma (pop 430). First, my grandfather built a red brick school there around 1930, and secondly, I had kinfolk in that fair town at the turn of the century, namely my Murphree line. A couple are buried in one of two Francis cemeteries, and I tried to find their burial spot, but no such luck on this trip. But I did find out the school my grandfather Carmon built, I think, burned down around 1935 and another built. Here’s a pic of that Francis school, but even its closed down now. There is a brand new Francis school to the west, closer to Byng, Oklahoma.
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/francc.jpgThere is not much left in Francis, Oklahoma. Not like it was around 1900 when Francis was headed toward being a hot spot of commercial business. It was even a larger town than Ada! But the city fathers made a mistake, they put all their faith of future growth in the railroad. The railroad came right through town. But as we all know the railroads were living on borrowed time and with the demise of the railroads, so the demise of Francis, Oklahoma.
There is just a few buildings left on Main street in Francis nowadays. They do have a new post office, a gas station, a volunteer fire department, and a cafe where all the old timers meet to talk about the past. But even that County Cottage Cafe of Francis was not born there. It was moved to main street from a location in Ada several years ago. At its previous location in Ada the foundation was made up of those beautiful old red Ada bricks, like my grandfather used in the schools he built for the State back in the 30s. The owners of the County Cottage Cafe used those red bricks to make the outside porch and entranceway for the cafe. Here’s a pic of the cafe.
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/francaf2.jpgEven though I didn’t find the graves of my kinfolks Louis Pritchard and Fannie Sanders at Francis, I did find a piece of history that made the trip to that wee town worth the miles travelled. If one turns north off the Main Street and travels along the railway about four blocks, there was an old wooden viaduct arched high over the railroad tracks. It is not a long viaduct, but still beautiful. It allows cars to get from one side of town to the other when a train was on the track. But then if you were just passing through town, got stopped by the train, you would not know this little piece of history and gateway to the other side was just north of you!
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/franviad.jpgThe Daily Ardmoreite had a nice write-up this week on the laying of the cornerstone at the Carter County Courthouse in 1911, revealing a time capsule was set inside that same time. http://www.ardmoreite.com/stories/020602/loc_courthouse.shtml
A Reader snapped a photo last December of a big ole bell in front of the First Baptist Church in the town of Butler, Oklahoma, that’s northwest of Clinton, Oklahoma in Custer County. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/butler02.jpg
Another Reader called to tell how beautiful the court house dome looked with this week’s snow gently layered over the top of that copper.
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https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/dome206b.jpgWe’ve got a new face working around the courthouse this week. He is Wayne Vaughn. A lot of you will remember Wayne with his years of service to the Ardmore Fire Department. Wayne will be the director of the Community Service office, overseeing the community service obligations as order by the Court for clients. He is temporarily officed in the Annex Building next door to the court house, but soon he’ll move into another office just down the hall. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/vaughnw2.jpg
Camp LaGrande. A Reader mentioned Camp LaGrande an issue or two back. I talked to a friend who remembers well where Camp LaGrande was located, because he lived nearby. On South Commerce is Catfish Corner at 10th street. Camp LaGrande was a complex of buildings just south of where Catfish Corner is located now. Presently there are some petrified rock cabins, and a tanning salon. This is a mention of this same complex of buildings from one of my January 20, 2001 T&T: “Here’s a photo of taken back in the 1930s of Stonewood Courts on South Commerce here in Ardmore. The stone was petrified wood. Some of the stone buildings are still rented out to families while others are used by business.” https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/stonwood.jpg
My neighbor Bill Landrum brought by an American Flyers memento this week. Its the business card of J.J. Hamilton, Directory of Training at the American Flyers school at Gene Autry, Oklahoma. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/afcard02.jpg
We had a lot of excitement in Ardmore this week! I can’t remember our little city receiving so much national publicity since Ardmore born Hinkley shot Reagan on March 29, 1981. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hinckley/HBIO.HTM
In summary, four Texas murderers escaped jail in Texas and ended up a couple of weeks later in Ardmore, taking a conviencence store owner, George West, hostage. No one hurt, but nerves were frayed for 4 days while those 4 hid out in the woods near Lake Murray. Here is are the stories!
http://www.ardmoreite.com/stories/020702/loc_fugitives.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/02/07/texas.fugitives/index.htmlThere is another webshots.com site set up to view future T&T photos, starting February 2, 2002. http://community.webshots.com/user/MokaXprs
Our little group continues to rack up money saving minutes using worldxchange.com with over 2,300 minutes so far this month! Invite a friend to save on their long distance calls too! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Butch, Please enter my name in the drawing for the Free “T&T” Photo & History CD.” I really enjoy reading your newsletter each week. I have known George Hunt for over 20 years. I worked with him at the Uniroyal tire plant, also. I use to go to Bosco’s to grab a delicious hamburger for lunch when I worked at Stromberg-Carlson. Thanks for bringing lots of memories back to my mind.”
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“Friday evening Shreveport, La. Butch….does Mrs. Lutzke have an E-mail address? I flew with Yvonne quite a bit before her death and would like to correspond with her family. Regards, Lee H. Hilton III, Flight Engineer, American Flyers Airline”
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“Butch, I saw the article on what businesses were torn down for the Wal-Mart store. Just south of the Westward Motel was a skelly station. At one time Cal Fine had it, then Jake Hollenbeck. I am sure alot of people remember those two. I remember it very well because that is where I met my husband. He was working there for Jake at the time. I also have a picture of Boscoe Leigh somewhere. I will try to find it. It was taken at the Gene Autry Roping Club barn. We had a birthday party for Boscoe and Clyde Walker. It was taken around 1976 or 77.”
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“Butch the writer about the club west of Boscos was the Pink Elephant club. It was owned by Lester Colbert who was Boscos brother-in-law. You could get illegal whisky there and it was rumored that he also had ladies of the evening working there for a price. (never tried that though) haha. I remember you could but a 1/2 pint of Old Granddad for $2 (I did buy that) haha.”
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“I have an original 45 RPM of the songs “Grandma’s Lye Soap and It’s in the Book” along With the other songs. It was one of my Dad’s favorites.”
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“Does Beth Gunn (or anyone else) know the full name of the principal Mr. Cisco? I’d love for her to e-mail me his name and a copy of the picture. I have Cisco’s married into my family lines.” -Bud Caudle, e-mail [email protected]
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“Tell your readers that anyone that wants to know about the Avalon Supper Club could contact me. My grandparents ran it from before the time I was born in July 1957 until it burned the last (second) time when I was about 12. I still have one of their old match books and a menu. I even have just a few of the bar items. I had such a great time there when my grandparents had it. The menu would amaze you. You can’t get food like that now at those prices!” [email protected]
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“You can find the Chuck Wagon apple dumplin recipe on my web site.” http://www.brightok.net/~ironsides
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“Butch: The recent reminiscing in T&T about the beer joints and honky-tonks in and around the area brought to mind “Hole-in-the-Wall”. It was located a few miles north of Marietta and east of old highway 77 down in the Hickory Creek breaks. I was there only a few times in the mid-1950’s. I have no idea who owned the place. It was always after dark when I went there so I can’t give a real good description of the place. But, it was a small wood frame building with outside vertical wall planking. I’m not sure, but I think it was probably supported on stacked flat rocks at the corners. It may have been an old early 1900’s house converted to a beer joint. It had a wood plank floor, a few tables and chairs, and a stand-up bar. No electricity. Kerosene lamps. There was a bullet hole through the wall behind the bar, thus the name “Hole-in-the-Wall”. I was never there when it was raining, but I’d bet a dollar to a hole in a donut the roof leaked. There were no steps. You just stepped up about fifteen inches through the front door and directly into the bar. I don’t know if it was a daily practice or not, but the few times I was there someone had always cooked some beans in a big black pot over a wood fire out in the yard. If you wanted some beans you went out and ladled them up for yourself. There was an old good-sized dog always laying around. One time when I went there the dog had a nasty ugly bloody wound in the skull at the top of his head. I asked, “What happened?” Someone said, “He got shot”. I thought, “Good grief. That poor dog must have a terrible headache”. My wife went with me one time and that was the last time I ever went there. I have no idea what happened to Hole-in-the-Wall.” -Don Davidson, Brenham, Texas
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“There are now a few places in Cooke County that are wet– Lindsay, Texas, a few miles west of Gainesville, and an area six or eight miles east of Gainesville. There are, as you might expect, liquor stores in each place. You’d never know it going north and south through Gainesville, which is indeed still dry.”
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“My dad was staying with me last weekend and he was reminiscing about the good molasses that he had back when he was young and growing up near Davis. I am planning a trip back to Oklahoma to do some research this summer and sure would like to surprise dad with some Oklahoma molasses. I don’t know a good one from a “bad” one. Dad talks of eating molasses on biscuits and such. That sure doesn’t sound very appetizing to me, but I was hoping that one of your readers might be able to relate to dad and know of some local molasses that I could either stop by when I visit or order from out here in California.” Candace Gregory, [email protected]
htpp://www.familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/g/r/e/Candace-L-Gregory ————————————————————————
“does anyone remember the ardmore rosebuds minor league baseball team? my dad used to take me to games back in the early-mid 60s. i remember some really good players and seem to recall names that ended up in the big leagues.” -skip joers
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“Butch I recently was going to take all of my emails in my sent items and inbox and drag and drop each individual email onto a CD-R that I am using with direct-cd much as you would a floppy disk. When it became full I would use another one. The problem I am having is when there are emails that have the same subject line (numerous replies back and forth with the same person), it either prompts me to override the existing file or not, so you can only get one of the emails saved. I read on the net where supposedly when you do that it will just save it as the subject line and add some sort of a counter number to it. Do you or any of your readers maybe have a solution to this? Dragging a dropping the emails is a neat way to keep emails since all you have to do is just double click on the email on the Cd and it just pulls it up as an email. thanks. Oh and I think that the Madill prefix 795 used to be Ingersaw? I’ve heard my Mom talk about it. ” ~Jayson Pruitt [email protected]
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Butch, Here is a brief introduction to my work in progress on Ardmoreite Perry Maxwell at this time. I unfortunately, do not have a publishing house at this time. But I haven’t finished writing the book yet either. If anyone would like to contact me they can reach me via this e-mail address or they can contact me by phone at either of the following numbers. I am not a professional writer so this is not just another project for me if that is something that may worry or put off some of your readers. If there is anything else you would like let me know. I will keep you updated on the progress of my book. 317-817-7652 (work) 317-770-1739 (home) Thanks again for your help.” [email protected]
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“Butch, the name of that business was Jo-Kay’s. When I was in high school in the early 70’s, Mrs. Hann, our home ec teacher at AHS, would get scraps from Jo-Kay’s and we girls would use them to sew purses, belts, and a couple of the girls even made fringed vests. It was fun and we got some “in” fashions for nothing, as well as learning to sew leather. We had loads of fun in Mrs. Hann’s class, too. She was one of my favorite teachers and taught me well. I’m still sewing and am now making clothes for my baby granddaughter.”
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“I see you have received a number of responses regarding the best BBQ in all of Oklahoma – I still contend that the best buy for your money was out a Tatum on the West end of town just off Highway 7. Open air pit – nice music – excellent Ribs and Chicken. Every time I passed through, I would stop and get a batch to take to Davis for the weekend where I visited family and friends and then on the way back to Lawton and Fort Sill where I was stationed where again I would share with family and friends. The mid-60’s, the early 70’s, the early 80’s – man were they good. Do not know if the place is open now or not, but it was good when it was.”
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“My name is Linda Novak I live in Shallowater,Texas just out side of Lubbock.The reason I am writing this is because my father Damon Noah is looking for his mothers family. In the years some where between the late 30’s or 40’s your police dept.had a man named Cleo Williams employed there, this is my fathers uncle by marriage.If we could track down this mans records and find out his wifes name and the name of his children we could find out about my dads mothers family. I know you probley think I am crazy to try and find old records but we have tried everything else and nothing. I know they lived in a small town called Wilson,they had a son killed in W W 2,they also had daughters.If at all possible will you let me know what you find out,my family also have officers in them, my son in law is a DPS for Eastland County in Texas and my brother is working in the DA’s office. Thank you so much for your time.” -Linda Novak [email protected]
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“Am really enjoying your T&T. I am really going to date myself but here goes. Does anyone remember the Estes Bakery on North Washington. Will Estes owned it. Also what about Mrs. Bennet’s Hot Tamales? She lived on Broadway. My grandfather, J. B. White, used to go by there and bring them home. They were wrapped in newspaper and smelled scrumptious. Other times he brought real, honest to goodness liverwurst from the Davis Grocery on D St. Also does anyone remember the Sunday night entertainment at the Central Park– dance recitals, schools bands,etc?” -June Maxey
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Here’s another shot from Devil’s Den. I still have a few more. -glen burke https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ddenb02a.jpg
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“Hello again Butch. I’m like the proverbial bad penny, eh? Yes, I do need your help again and yes it is about the ghost stories. If you have been reading my column you know I was very busy getting in shape for the transplant surgery , which by the way went beautifully and Nancy and I are both in excellent health. Now that it’s over I can focus on my book and would really appreciate it if you could remind your readers that I am still gathering material. I have also decided to expand the area of interest to the entire U.S. as I myself have many stories from Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, the last being a close encounter with Louis Dupuy, a turn of the century hotel owner in Georgetown, Colorado. I would also like to hear from the folks who wrote last year , even if its just to say hi. Keep up the good work Butch and know that we all enjoy the historical information you share with us as well as your bell sightings. Take care.” -Dianne Rankin [email protected]
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“Butch… While on the way down to the NWTF banquet, we stopped at Hickory Hollow for refreshments. Grapette was there! When the last drop was gone, I read the bottle. Check this out. http://www.grapette.com Now if we could only find the Nehi orange. ? ? ?Well, if Grapette.com worked you would think Nehi would…right? You have to check this out. It is there but wow! It’s fun to look through. May we need to have a taste testing party or a ” POP” shop of our own? LOL! http://www.nehi.com Never in your wildest dreams! It never ceases to amaze me what you can find.”
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“Hi Butch. I just finished putting up photos of 140 stones from the Russett, Oklahoma Cemetery. I have half the cemetery to go, but thought that maybe some of your listers would be interested in seeing some of the stones, maybe finding some loved ones, or possibly helping me identify some of the stones and names. Thanks!” -Paula http://www.stoutgenealogy.com/index2.html
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“Butch, This week we had so much snow in Dallas and it brought back more memories of Ardmore and my childhood. My Daddy would always have a big sled and would pull us through the snow with it hitched to the back of the car. Of course in the 20’s there were not that many cars! On the back of the sled our Dad would have a ladder also attached and the older children in the neighborhood would ride on this. I remember being so cold and we would have on our long underwear that we had to put on in November and could not take it off til a certain day in spring. It was a daily attire along with long cotton stockings and high-buckled shoes. Also there was a certain day in springtime when we were allowed to begin to go barefoot. We always looked forward to that certain day that we would call “Barefoot Day.” As we all know, the weather is not like it use to be. We looked forward to every Christmas season to going to the country and chopping down our Christmas tree. Other fun outings were when Dad and Mother would take us pecan and persimmon hunting. Those trips to the country were always such fun. Will write again.” -Tweed Stonum Machock
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“HELLO BUTCH! THANKS FOR THE T&T. (IF YOU WERE SENDING FROM LAS VEGAS IT WOULD BE MISTAKEN FOR T & A.) (HUMOR) I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW HUNGRY I WAS FOR HOME NEWS AND MEMORIES. I READ WITH INTEREST AND FIND MYSELF LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT. ONLY THING IS I ONLY SEND AND RECEIVE DURING THE WEEK AT WORK. LOOKING FORWARD TO MONDAY. SOMEONE MENTIONED THE AVALON. SOUTH OF TOWN AND THE ONLY PAVILION FOR DANCING I AM AWARE OF. HUGE DANCE FLOOR. PLUS AN AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. BILL BOONE’S DAD OWNED AND OPERATED THE AVALON AND THEN BILL TOOK OVER. MANY MEMORIES. JUST NORTH OF THE AVALON, ACROSS THE STREET FROM RANDOLPH’S SADDLE SHOP WAS A PRETTY TUFF PLACE CALLED THE RENDEZVOUS. PARKING IN FRONT AND BACK. THE BACK PARKING LOT WAS USED MOSTLY BY PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN’T BE THERE. ANYBODY REMEMBER? JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. DO I SUBSCRIBE TO T&T? IF SO TELL ME WHERE TO SEND AND HOW MUCH. (ITS WORTH A LOT TO ME.)”
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“In Re: the barbeque place near Red River. It was Metzler Bros. and they moved to Lindsay, TX. We still went down there to eat after they moved to Lindsay. I think the place is still there but now when I go down there we eat at the Smokehouse. We never did drink but we sure liked the barbeque. It was good to see George Hunt. He also has a little snow on the mountain. Otherwise he looks the same. I do wish you would quit showing all that food. It makes me hungry and you can see that I need to lose some weight. Now when I say TGIF it is because I am looking forward to T&T. Love you for doing this.”
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“Hello..The Woman’s World magazine weekly issue is out today. There is a story about my family and my book on page 20-21 feb 19th issue. MY PERFECT SON HAS CEREBRAL PALSY by Marie Kennedy www.mariekennedy.com . I wanted to share with all of you because I am very excited, They have 5 million readers. I feel like Steve Martin in “The Jerk”. “The new phone books are here.!!!. The phone books are here…” (something like that).”
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“Hi Butch, I found some great old Ardmore post cards today and I need your help! Where were the cotton yards located in 1912? Also was it Drakes or Strasmicks jewelers at 10 West Main? I have a post card dated 1919 ? of 10 West Main, the interior of Walter C. Dean Jewelry store. Just trying to figure out which building it is. Also I have a pic of the Veteran’s center dated 1912 when it was called the Oklahoma State Confederate Home. What was the name of it say in the sixties and now? oh yeah, one other thing, even though I lived just 1 mile from Turner Falls for many years, what ranch had it’s headquarters at the rock castles inside Turner Falls? It’s on a plaque out front of them, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what it said. Also I have a pc of the KVSO radio station in 1942. Do you know where it was located then? It looks like an adobe type house with tile shingles flat roof. I think I’ve seen the building, but I think it’s a house now. I think it’s Nortwest Blvd. But I may be totally off base. So am hoping you know. Thanks in advance for your help!” [email protected]
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“This comes from my newly found cousin, Gretchen Hart. I found her through Butch Bridges’ weekly newsletter: This N That. We never knew the other existed UNTIL BUTCH GOT US TOGETHER! GOD BLESS BUTCH!” http://community.webtv.net/grethart/gillian
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========================================================================We’re still drawing two names each week for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a History CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday February 2, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 250
I received a letter this week from Mrs. Lutzke in Wisconsin. Her daughter, Yvonne, worked for American Flyers at the Airpark as a stewardess back in the 60s. Yvonne was killed in a automobile accident on her way back to Ardmore from Dallas Love Field on February 14, 1968. There was 4 inches of snow here in southern Oklahoma that Valentines Day and the roads were slick, the car she was in slide into a southbound truck near Denton, Texas. Mrs. Lutzke mailed me some photos of her daughter. Even though it’s been 33 years, I know she must miss her so much. Sometimes we just can not explain life.
This is a photo with Yvonne on the left of Reed Pigman. Pigman was president of American Flyers and the pilot of that ill-fated flight back in 1966 that took 82 lives near the Airpark. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne6a.jpg
This photo is Yvonne (on right) with her co-worker Eva. Eva is the lady who called Mrs. Lutzke to tell her of the old 1964 photo in Readers Digest last October with the Beatles. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne6b.jpg
Here is Yvonne in an American Flyers yellow uniform next to a Lockheed Electra II. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne6c.jpg
This photo is Yvonne standing beneath the nose cone of an AF plane https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne6d.jpg
Here is Yvonne Lutzke wearing an American Flyers gray winter uniform. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne6e.jpg
On Monday January 28th, a friend from way back prepared a BBQ feast for some of us employees at the Annex Building. First, lets go back to 1965 or so. I lived across the street from Hunt’s Food Store on 3rd Northeast. George’s parents, Herman and Alice Hunt, owned the store, and George managed the meat market section. Here is a pic I took of George back when I was in my teens. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/huntgeo.jpg
Here is a photo I took of the now closed Hunt’s Food Store a couple of years ago. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/huntsg.jpg
At lot of time and miles have passed since I took that photo of George. But one thing has not changed: George can still make delicious chili and BBQ. George fixed up a mess of smoked brisket and served it to us last Monday in the Annex Building. It was sooooo good! Here is a photo of Commissioners Dale Ott and Joe McReynolds standing in line with George (center) waiting their turn at the brisket! About once a month at noon we have some kind of get together, eat some good home cooked food, have some fellowship and a few laughs. I work with some of the best people in the world at the courthouse. The following photos is just an example. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/geohunt7.jpg
Here are some various pics I snapped at noon Monday when George was getting ready to serve up that brisket and all the trimmings! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/geohunt5.jpg https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/joyce02a.jpg
And here’s a pic of that delicious BBQ brisket George served last Monday! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/bbqmeatg.jpg
We had an uninvited visitor in the basement of the courthouse this week. Fortunately he was captured within a couple of hours and there were no problems. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/squir02b.jpg
I remember back in the 60s when a S&H Greet Stamp store was at 12th Northwest and “E” street. My mother saved every green stamp she could, filled book after book, and then took the filled books in a paper sack to the S&G Green Stamp store and redemed them for products. I think a full book of stamps equaled $18.50 or something like that. She’d get a new toaster, or a coffee pot, and other products. One time I remember she redemed quite a few books for a beautiful set of gold plated silverware in a wood box. I still have that set, never been used. Here is a pic of the only green stamps I have that was my mother’s. Sure brings back memories. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/s&hgrn6.jpg
An email in this week’s Mailbag talks about the beer joints of decades ago just north of the Red River and Highway 77 south of Thackerville… now I-35. I remember going down there on a saturday night with my grandparents Carmon just to get a BBQ sandwich at those joints. It was good BBQ too! My Grandfather Carmon would get him a beer too, and we’d sit in the pickup out in front of whatever joint we stopped that night eating BBQ. The reason that strip of beer joints was so popular is because Cooke County, Texas (Gainesville) was “dry” and Love county, on the north side of Red River in Oklahoma, was “wet”. Cooke county is still “dry”.
We had 9 new people start using the 4 cents a minute plan in January! The word is getting around how to save money on your long distance calls WITHOUT changing carriers, paying monthly fees, or required minimum usage. Check out the details at the link below! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Butch, Maybe you can help me locate the man who was at the rescue sight (1966), he emailed me and before I could respond, the puter somehow wasn’t set right and tossed it out. Thank-you. He is now in Texas, I believe my wife said. I went to email him back and it was gone.” -Nick Leone, 1966 American Flyers crash survivor. [email protected]
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“Hi Butch, Just finished reading T & T for this week..It is thr first email I open each Friday night. Thanks for your efforts in getting it out each week…I grew up in Sulphur and worked for 13 years for Dolese Bros. Co. at the Big Canyon stone quarry near Dougherty.. In fact, my wife and son and I lived at the quarry for several years, so we were in Ardmore a lot.. One of the things we enjoyed was eating at Eden’s on main street and also the Chuck Wagon on US 70 on the east side of town. The Chuck Wagon had the best Apple Dumplins I have ever eaten..I was wondering if any of your readers remember them as fondly as I..If anyone on earth has the receipt for the Chuck Wagon apple dumplins, I would sure like to hear from them…Keep the T & T coming . I sure do enjoy reading it.. -Roy Miller, Oklahoma City”
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“posted Friday, July 17, 1998 in The Daily Ardmoreite”Arthur O. ‘Skinny’ Stewart
WILSON — Services for Arthur O. “Skinny” Stewart, 71, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 1998, at the Wilson Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Jim Gillum and Gary Labeth officiating. Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery.
Born Nov. 16, 1926, at Wilson, Okla., to Ollie M. and Callie Mae Shaw Stewart, he passed away July 16, 1998 at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Ardmore.
Raised at Wilson, he received the Jim Thorpe Award before he graduated from Wilson High School in 1945. He graduated from Southeastern State College with his degree in education and physical education. While in college he was active in basketball, baseball and track, and was named All American football player. He later received his master’s degree in counseling.
The Army veteran of World War II played professional football for the Washington Red Skins and was also in the Canadian League.
He was inducted into the Southeastern Hall of Fame and Coaches Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
Skinny worked for the Tom Tipps Insurance Agency, was employed by the Carter County Sheriff’s Department 12 years, then taught and coached football at Wilson schools before his retirement in 1996.
He is survived by a brother, Billy Ray Stewart of Sweetwater, Texas; a sister, Frances Phillips of Wilson; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Lea “Betsy” Stewart on Oct. 26, 1968; his mother, Callie Mae Stewart, Jan. 30, 1971; father, Ollie M. Stewart, Feb. 22, 1973; two sisters, Esteen Stewart Sales, June 12, 1938, and Virginia Stewart, March 3, 1921; and two brothers, Forrest Stewart in 1960, and Ollie Stewart Jr., Nov. 16, 1993.
Alexander Funeral Home will direct services.
Pallbearers will be Michael Paul O’Daniel, Sammy Goff, Mike Hyder, Butch Adams, Brad Sullivan and Ronald Giles.
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“Butch, Flat iron bldgs are called that in New york City and San Francisco because they have a triangular shape like the old fashioned flat irons that were heated on the top of a wood stove. It is in much the same shape as a modern steam iron. I would guess that is the shape of the buildings in Tish. They were built that way to make maximum use of the space where streets cross at an odd angle (Not 90 degrees).Here is a pic of the New York flat iron building.” https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/nyflat.jpg
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“Butch if I remember right the old honky-tonk outside of Gene Aurty was Bosco’s. Have spent a few times there myself. The man who owened it always had a pistol on his hip. It was a place for good music & fun, but Bosco would not have any trouble.”
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“One of your readers mentioned a honky-tonk out toward Gene Autry. I never spent a lot time out that way, so I don’t recall any of the juke-joints, but I remember one bbq place. I think it was “Brown’s BBQ” and the stuff I would get there was delicious. Of course, during the 50’s & 60’s, there were a lot of bbq joints around in OK and TX. I left the area in 1962, but frequent visits offered me the opportunity to visit as many of those roadside eateries possible. It wasn’t long before the health departments of TX and OK decided that the slow cooked food wasn’t safe (I never heard of anyone dying of tainted bbq back then), so those places started melting out of our lives.”
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“Butch, This is the first issue of T&T that I have received on my local ISP Email (Outlook Express) I am a member of AOL and what a difference there is in the details. On AOL none of the links to pictures and other sites can be used as “click-ons”. You must “sweep, copy & paste each link to visit. This is even after setting my preferences to show URL address as links. With Outlook Express, it shows every URL in “blue” and as a “click-on” link. I live in the small town of Pahrump, NV and have been using a local ISP to access AOL for about seven years. I just never bothered to use any other than AOL email service until now. I was getting so much junk mail on AOL I even went in and changed my AOL mail announcement from “You’ve Got Mail” to You’ve Got Junk Mail” (Ha Ha). Last week I changed my “Email Controls” to “Block all Email” except from myself ([email protected]) using my local server. In one week I have received absolutely no “Spam” or any other unwanted Email on Outlook Express. It was very easy to transfer my more than 300 email address to Outlook Express. If any of your subscribers are on AOL via TCP/IP and need any assistance in making the change I described above, just email at ([email protected]) and use “Ted’s Help” in the “Subject” window”
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“Butch the guy that wrote about an old night club at Gene Autry was talking about Boscos or as it was named Last Chance. It was named that because it was the last chance to get a beer before you went into the Air Force base. Melvin (Bosco) Leigh owned it and there were mostly black people there. But you always felt safe going there and there was never much trouble.”
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“Yes, I am sure. Bob Smith’s Service Station & Grocery Store was on the North side, just across the street from Bosco’s. Bosco lived next door to his place. He originally had a little service station etc, located next to his home . Also I do not believe it was called Hwy 53 in my day. It was a different road, and I am not sure even if it was a highway. It changed to HWY 53 years later when they ran the road from Hwy18 which I think is now 177 to I-35. The part of 53 that is now on the South side of the Base did not exist in my day. The only way over to Hwy 18 was to go North of the Base entrance and then go around the Base and come out next to Conway’s dairy farm at the river bridge and cross there. After you went across the river,Pug Crosskell’s ranch was on the South side and then the road went on the Hwy18. It was a dirt road when I moved away. A little more info is that the bridge was burned out for several years and all the kids on that side of the river ended up going to Dickson School, because there school bus could come in from Hwy18 and pick up the kids. The bridge was re-built by the Air Force when they reopened the Base. Did not mean to get so long winded. In the mid 50’s there was another “colored” place that opened up for a short while on the North side of the road about a mile west of the Base entrance. I had forgotten about it and given enough time I could probably;y remember who the owner was.”
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“Dear Butch, Readers have written in your column about doctors of the past, so I thought that perhaps I could turn to your readers for help, if it’s alright with you.I sent the required $10. to Okla. Vital Statistics Office, requesting a copy of my grandfather’s death certificate. They have gone through their records twice and still haven’t found anything. I wrote to the Carter Co. mail list, and several people wrote to tell me their experiences. It seems that in the old days, some doctors just didn’t fill out the proper papers and turn them in, or for one reason or another they didn’t get entered. I’m hoping that someone will recognize the name and will remember something that could help. For one thing, our name was misspelled by many, and I’ve seen it spelled half a dozen ways. It is correctly spelled on his tombstone in Ardmore. Here is the info that I have. I hoped to find out where he was born and what he died of.”JOHN FRANCIS HOLYBEE was born November 22, 1886, and died December 31, 1920. He married ROSA ETHEL MEEKS May 22, 1905 in Ardmore, Carter Co., Oklahoma, daughter of J. C. MEEKS.
“I don’t expect you to enter this whole letter in your column, if you enter it at all, but if you could just put in this last info on him and ask if anyone at all remembered anything about him, please? I would appreciate any help, and thank you.” [email protected]
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“BUTCH: This information is correct….. the place was very active during WW 2. The Blue Front Beer Joint was located on Caddo St. – west side of street – attached to north part of the old Drug store building on the corner.”
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“Thanks for the photos of Devil’s Den. I used to take the children there for picnics…the exploring and the clear Pennington Creek were wonderful adventures. Sorry to hear about Dr. Boyd’s house. He helped my sinus and poison ivy. No one anymore can do that!! Bob Allen, who attends First Presbyterian Church, used to take OU classes on geological tours of the Arbuckle Mountains. We went out near the Devil’s Den and found the 1,000 acre rock. Bob said that marble from there was used to build the capitol building in Oklahoma City. On public radio Saturday, the town honored was Tishomingo and they interview a lady about Devil’s Den. A man called in who lived in Michigan, and said that any robber places up there are great tourist attractions and money makers for their state. He thought we should do that when he heard about Bell Starr’s cabin. But I think I agree with those of us who can keep a park clean, that since other’s can’t, it should not be opened and destroyed.”
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“The lady that owned the Skyview Drive Inn, her name was Rose Gaskins.”
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“This writer has a valid reason for not opening the Devils Den area to the public. The public just will not honor the request to not litter. It appears to me that the people of Oklahoma are pretty bad about littering our streets & highways. At one time in my experiences I happen to know that a member of the State Legilsature made an effort to generate interest in the State of Oklahoma buying the property and making it into a State operated park. The plan was not developed.”
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“Butch – thanks for the good work you do on T&T. I do enjoy it. I was remembering the cigar factory that was in a house a little west of lst ward school. It was about 1924 or 25. We lived near and I used to go in and watch the men handroll the cigars. I don’t know who owned it, but the name DeWitt comes to me. (May not have anything to do with it.) I went to 1st Ward School, and have a large picture of it with all the students in front with the principal Mr. Cisco. Don’t know how old I was then – maybe the 5th grade. I graduated from high school there in ’31. Keep up the good work.” -Beth Gunn, Arlington, Tx (Mary Elizabeth Kendrick)
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“Re: Leather manufacturer in Ardmore. I worked in the office at Western Supply while going to college in Durant in the mid ’50’s. The business was owned by Clifton Wood and two partners. They made hand tooled belts, purses and brief cases. Many people did “lacing”,the leather strips that held the item together, in their homes for a per piece wage. All of the items were not sold to Sears, Roebuck & Co., as we sent many to trading posts and other “old west” stores in Colorado, New Mexico & Arizona. The building in which this business was located is still standing on south Lake Murray Rd.”
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“Butch: I want to hurriedly tell you that so many people are coming into my life through contact with you …. I am learning much and meeting relatives I didn’t even know I had, and I am being welcomed with love and open arms. GOD is so good. More later. I’ll keep you posted. Many, many thanks. Dios Le Bendiga (God Bless You).”
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“Butch, Thank you for forwarding the T&T to me. The article about Dr. Boyd brought back memories. He was there long before 1966. My sister and I were taken to him for everything from croup to emphantigo. This was in the 30s. I knew Skinny Stewart. He played football in college at Southeastern where my dad coached. Also knew his wife. I also knew someone who worked for Tanya Tucker in her early days. What a small world! Looking forward to your next issue.”
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“Butch… I hear there was an old town that was a “black” settlement that was somewhere north and west of Cleo Springs (Alfalfa County). We believe the town existed in the early to mid-1900’s. As the reader recalled all that is really left of the town is a cemetery. Would any of your readers happen to know of this Ghost town… OR… know of anyone who might? Thanks!” [email protected]
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“Butch, The lady in the photograph with Dr. Boyd labeled as his receptionist, I don’t think she is his receptionist. If she is, then my Mother-in-law has a twin. I think she is Helen Alford, an old time Beauty Operator, who visited Dr. Boyd often. She is my husband’s, Artie L. (Bill) Blalock, Mom, and he was really glad to have me print this picture of her for him She is still living, 98 years old, and in the Woodview Nursing Home. Unfortunately, she has Alzheimer’s Disease but otherwise in good health.” Wanda Blalock [email protected] https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/boyd1.jpg
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“Butch, I was in Oklahoma this past two weeks. I can remember when, as a child, there was what we called the “glue factory” or the “rendering plant” on the Plainview road, west of Camp LaGrande. It would have been a few hundred feet west of the present day, I-35. Do you have any history on that?”
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“Butch, I think that Camp La Grande was a small motel, on the east side of Hwy.77 and, I beleive Myall Street. Is that the name of the street going to Plainview? On the west side of Hwy. 77, was Lasleys Grocery and Saddle shop. The “glue factory” is what I remember the factory being called. They would go to the farms and retrieve dead animals and return them to the factory, for rendering. I know it sure did not smell very nice. Of course these are childhood memories, of over 60 years ago.”
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“added more photos in my cushing okla page where my mom, and her dad were from. I was born there too. my great grandpa Simon Cockrell settled in cushing okla on the land run.have more photos to get out of my movie film and put up, and make and album, used this one up ,only can put 36 pictures in each album, have lots more since I figure out how to save the house pictures to show the whole town , just don’t name the streets, have the area where my mom grew up, where her aunt and grandma lived, the cemtary where my grandpa and grandma and his parents are burried, and where my grandparents lived when i knew them, so it just getting the stills from my movie camera. thank you for looking at my pictures.” http://cards.webshots.com/cp-15043520-MWLt-album/15885082EgXkphPqEC
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“Having read some of the e-mail regarding the Blue bonnet, my brother and I passed by it every day going to school. It was on the north edge of town just about the distance of 1/2 of a city block north of a motel that was owned and run by the Scott family. I can visualize it, sort of a cream color and if my memory serves me correctly it was 2 story. My brother and I lived at the SEA Ranch where my Dad was foreman for 20+ years. I have many fond memories of Ardmore, and hope to get back there within the next 5 to 10 years. Love reading your T&T.”
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“While in Ardmore Saturday night, a friend and I drove around looking at past memories. We drove by where the Blue Bonnert used to be on N. Commerce. Her father-in-law bought the Blue Bonnet and remodeled it. Later they tore it down and built the Westward Motel. They tore that down to build Wal-Mart. After she told me that it was on Hwy 77 North it came to me clear as day as I knew it would. There was also a AAA root beer stand along in there somewhere. I can remember going there in the 50’s.”
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“Hi Butch: Although I am not a ‘subscriber’ I anxiously await for the weekend to get here so I can go on your website and read the latest installment of T&T. Just a few thoughts: I was very pleased to see a note from Mr. Glen Burke. For those who may not recognize this gentleman, he was the general manager for radio station KSEO-750, AM, in Durant, for many years. He has a very recognizable and pleasant voice. I remember him well from the 1960s and 1970s. His voice was on just about all the commercials the station did. I’ll have to look around as see if I have an old tourist guide or a map of Devil’s Den at Tish. Seems like I have something or other. Went there with the family in 1965 or ’66. Great place to go to and wish it was still open. Maybe it will be some day! Someone was wanting current pictures of Main Street in Ardmore. For just about any town, you can find a postcard on Ebay, at www.ebay.com . You don’t have to buy the postcard–just put the mouse pointer over the picture, right click, and select “save picture as” and you have it on your hard drive…and it didn’t cost you a thing. I have seen quite a few school annuals, photos, books, etc. there. Some time back, you had an article about area town’s telephone prefixes. I don’t remember what Madill’s was but Tishomingo’s 371 prefix used to be ES1, which stood for ESmond1. Likewise, Durant’s 924 prefix was WA4, which stood for WAbash4. And my hometown, Milburn, has 443, which used to be HI3, which stood for HIckory3. I have to agree with you on Cranmore’s Honey, as he is an acquaintance and a local source! Lots of folks used to get their honey from Novak Bullard, in Durant. Does anyone know is he is still living and is he still producing honey? I also know him and his late wife Jean. Someone, in a past issue of T&T, mentioned Reagan, Oklahoma. The Milburn 5th & 6th grade classes went to Round Robin Ranch, during the Spring of 1966, to go skating. (Actually, I did more falling and wall colliding than successful skating!) I remember a jukebox playing “These Boots Are Made For Walking” by Nancy Sinatra and I think of RRR when I hear that song. RRR was a nice, long building, as I recall. Some of the boys took fishing poles, so they could go fishing. Tommy Brown threw out his hook and his got snagged on bushes on the other side. Our substitute teacher, Mrs. Paul Park, took off her shoes, and slid her way down the creek bank and freed his ensnared hook, so he could continue fishing. Not too many teachers would have done that for a student for whom they were only substitute teaching! The old water wheel was turning around as the water, from the creek, poured over it. A year or so later, we heard Round Robin Ranch had burned to the ground. Today, all that remains is the concrete slab and the water wheel is stilled. Thanks, Butch, for letting me reminisce!” -Larry Rowland, Milburn, Oklahoma “butch i sure enjoyed this and that my sister in washington state had you to send me. i was raised at wilson oklahoma. i played football for wilson and in 1936 we played ardmore on the turf at the new walker stadium. we beat ardmore tigers 14 – 12. i think it was the only time wilson ever beat them. i still have some clippins from the daily ardmorite i have the clipping where we beat the tigers. i also graduated from high school 30 miles north of devils den state park they are all writing you about. please keep sending me this and that.” -si williams alto,texas
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“I noticed someone in your last T&T mention a plastic thimble that had Rudd’s name on it….I just noticed I had a plastic comb given me by Sheriff Rudd when he was running for re-election, it says “Re-elect Rudd Sheriff” would you believe I found several others that will bring back memories….all plastic combs….”Thank You * Lonnie L. Abbott * Dem Dist. 25″ — “Elect L.D. Buck Assessor” — “W.D. “Bill” Bradley – State Representative” — “Re-Elect Joyce Taliaferro Commissioner Dist. No. 2” and “Carl Pevehouse for Couny Commissioner Dist. No. 2″ Interesting isn’t it, some made the grade and others didn’t. I’ll never run out of combs.”
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“Butch, For the reader who wrote in last week about the Honky-Tonk. The place was called “Bosco’s” after the owner. It was located about 200 yards west of the entrance to the Air Park on the South side of the road. It was there from the late 40’s until I left Gene Autry in 1960, so I am not sure when it finally closed. Bosco was also the local “bootlegger” so you could always get a “half-pint” when you wanted it. On another subject, your readers have been writing in about the Club Willow, but I haven’t seen anyone mention the Club Avalon, which was located south of town.”
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“Butch, Obert Arnold was my grandfather’s uncle. Rayburn Ritter, Otilla’s brother, still lives in the Ringling area, if your reader would like to contact him.”
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“Mr. Bridges, I am currently in the midst of researching the life and career of Perry Maxwell, the designer of the Dornick Hills Golf Course. I ran across your website that had some deadlinks to several photographs. I was wondering if it would be possible to attain copies of the those photographs to include in my research. I think they could be very beneficial and informative if I were to get something published. Any help in this manner would be greatly appreciated.” https://oklahomahistory.net/photos/maxwell3.jpg https://oklahomahistory.net/photos/maxwell5.jpg
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========================================================Last Tuesday a terribile ice storm hit northwest Oklahoma, especially the Hennessy and Enid areas of the state. Geary, Oklahoma may be the hardest hit (just NW of Oklahoma City). Over 250,000 people were without electricty according to OG&Es website. By Friday night there were still over 100,000 Oklahomans with electricty, and over 2,000 electic employees working around the clock trying to restore the power as fast as possible. I still remember the day after Christmas 2000 when the Ardmore area was struck hard with ice (I was without power 6 days). My heart goes out of those people in the northwest part of Oklahoma. It’s the worse ice storm in this state’s history. If you are a praying person, they need your prayers. You can check the places and number of people without power on OG&E’s website, it’s continually updated. Just click on the “system watch icon”. http://www.oge.com
On a sad note. I have reached the limit to the number of Albums I can have on my webshots.com website. The last album is for the last saturday of December. We need to start another Album for January, but someone else will have to create the site and upload the photos each weekend. Anyone want to volunteer for the job? It is best to be someone who does not need a webshots.com website, and will devote “their alloted space” to the new Album. Let me know if you can help in this. There are lots of future pics to put on webshots.com! http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistory
We’re still drawing two names each week for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a History CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]I remember well my great grandmother Ida Miller making lye soap around 1960 in that big black iron kettle over a fire in the her backyard at 6th and “H” Northeast. I received a letter this week from Tulsa. The party was inquiring if I knew the words to “Grandma’s Lye Soap”. I did find some info on it at http:/wwww.countryoldies.com
Grandma’s Lye Soap was written by Johnny Standley and Art Thorsen. It is BMI catalog #504938. They also wrote sever other novelty songs, which were recorded by several artists, However, no other recordings are listed in my directory. The song was recorded by Johnny Standley (with Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights as part of a comedy/parody on fundamentalist preachers) entitled “It’s In the Book” on Capitol records (Capitol #2249) and released in January, 1952. Standley plays a revival preacher whose topic is “Little Bo Peep”. At the conclusion of the “sermon”, Standley instructs his congregation to sing the “hymn”, which turns out to be “Grandma’s Lye Soap”:
(Verse 1):
Do you remember Grandma’s lye soap
Good for everything in the home
And the secret was in the scrubbing
It wouldn’t suds, and wouldn’t foam.(Verse 2):
Now little Herman and brother Therman
Had an aversion to washing their ears
Grandma scrubbed them with the lye soap
And they haven’t heard a word in years!(Verse 3):
Mr. O’Malley down in the valley
Suffered from ulcers, I understand
He swallowed a cake of Grandma’s lye soap
Has the cleanest ulcers in the land!Now let us sing right out for Grandma’s lye soap
Good for everything; everything in the place
The pots and pans, the dirty dishes
And for your hands and for your face.The song is published by this company:
Magnolia Publishing Company
Contact Phone: (818) 995-6827
14155 MAGNOLIA BLD SUITE 47
SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91423-1112On this “Big Hits Of The 50s” CD, the song “It’s In The Book” contains “Grandmas Lye Soap.” Purchase it from Amazon.com for $10.49 which includes many other original hits of the 1050s. 5-7283945
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday January 26, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 249
A piece of Ardmore’s past was lost to fire about three weeks ago. I heard on the news about a fire in the northeast part of Ardmore where an Ardmore firefighter was hurt, but didn’t realize at that time it was Dr. J.J. Boyd’s old office and home. Dr. Boyd was renown around the country for his “sugar pill” medicine and especially his medicine for poison ivy. I remember when I was 16 or 17 years old I was down on East Main by the old fire station one evening, when a pickup with a camper shell on the back drove up. The man driving was wanting to know if it was all right for him and his wife to park beside the fire station for the night. Early the next morning they were going to Dr. Boyd’s to get their 6 month supply of “sugar pills”. He said they had been making the trip every 6 months for 15 years. They had driven all the way from California for Dr. Boyd’s homeopathic medicine. Dr. Boyd’s office was located at 127 “F” Street Northeast. The doctor’s office was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning on December 30, 2001.
Here is a photo I took back in the 70s of Dr. Boyd’s house
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/boydhse.jpg
Here is a pic of Dr. Boyd with a visitor
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/boyd1.jpg
Here’s pic of Dr. Boyd visiting with a patient
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/boyd2.jpg
Here is the pic I took last Tuesday of the burned out house
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/boyd02.jpg
Here is the article from The Daily Ardmoreite about the house fire
http://ardmoreite.com/stories/010202/loc_fire.shtmlI received a phone call last Monday night from one of the survivors from that 1966 American Flyers airplane crash near the Ardmore Airbase. His name is Nick Leone, he was from Tom’s River, New Jersey at the time of the crash, but he lives in Florida now. Nick said his wife stumbled across the webpage on the crash and he just read every word, trying to learn more about the accident. Nick was one of the last ones to be removed from the crash site by rescuers, he was shipped to the Army burn hospital near San Antonio, Texas and spent nearly 3 years recovering from the burns and injuries he received that Friday night in 1966. He was unconscious when rescuers removed him from the crash, so he remembers nothing of what happened that night. Nick would like to hear from any one connected to the crash, especially any people who helped in the rescue efforts. His name is Nick Leone and his email address is [email protected]
I received an email this week for a Reader who has not been in Ardmore since 1967. He wanted to know if I could take some pics of Main Street, so he could see how its changed over the years since he was last here. I took a few with my digital camera, but they didnt turn out nice and clear like I wanted them. Maybe someone here in Ardmore wants to take some pics of Main Street area and pass them along to everyone.
I was south of Lone Grove, at Brock, Oklahoma this past week and got a pic of a bell a Reader told me about a few weeks ago. It’s a nice little bell, but sure in need of some Rustoleum paint on it to keep it from rusting.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/brockc02.jpg
This is a photo of the Brock church. You can barely see the bell on the white poll in front.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/brockb02.jpgIn past issues I’ve talked about my grandfather Carmon’s old lumber yard on 3rd NE. A couple of weeks ago my Cousins sold it to a man named Tracy Oakley here in Ardmore. He told me he planned to rent the old house out and fix the front part of the lumber yard office up for his office. He has put a nice metal fence around the front. Here’s a pic I took this week.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/carmlbr2.jpgA lot of people have asked me what to do about the ever growing problem with junk email. Most of the time I just say there is not a really good solution. But I did find a website that has a free program that might do the job, eliminate junk mail and spam from your inbox. This program does not work with hotmail, and other web based email.
http://www.abreuretto.com/anti-spam/indexi.htmIf you like to learn more about Windows, wugnet is the oldest and largest users group on the Net. You can find out all kinds of stuff there about Windows, but the best section to me is the Tips section. http://www.wugnet.com/
Last week I mentioned about a phone conversation I had with a lady in Wisconsin and the connection of her daughter’s death in a automobile crash to Ardmore in 1968. Mrs. Lutzke’s daughter, Yvonne, was an American Flyers stewardess back in the 60s. The night of the car crash, which took place north of Denton, Texas, she and her two friends were on their way back to Ardmore where they lived, since their headquarters was at the Airbase at Gene Autry. Mrs. Lutzke told me in the November 2001 issue of Readers Digest, there was a photo of her daughter with the Beatles back in 1966 when American Flyers Airlines were carrying the group around the country on their American tour. Mrs. Lutzke did not even know the photo was in the Readers Digest until another x-stewardess with American Flyers, Eva in Texas, and co-worker with Yvonne called her to tell let her know about the article. In the photo, Yvonne is the stewardess on the right.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/yvonne3.jpgA GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
Stewardesses Die in I-35 Car Crash
Wednesday, February 14, 1968
The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, OklahomaTwo American Flyers stewardesses, Joan Watson, 28, and Yvonne Lutzke, 25, were killed on their way to Ardmore this morning. Officers said Miss Watson’s car slid sideways on an icy overpass on Highway I-35E in Denton into the path of a southbound truck which hit them broadside. The two vehicles then plunged down a steep embankment into Highway 24.
Another stewardess, Linda Brignolo, 22, who was a passenger in the car was seriously injured and was in fair condition in Flow Hospital in Denton. Miss Lutzke and Miss Brignolo had returned by commercial airliner to Love Field in Dallas after an American Flyers charter flight and Miss Watson had gone to Dallas to pick them up. All three of the stewardesses were based in Ardmore.
Miss Watson had been a stewardess for about a year and was from California. Miss Lutzke had been employed by American Flyers for four years and her hometown is Keil, Wisconsin. Miss Brignolo was in the last graduating class of AF stewardesses in November. Her family lives in Torrington, Conn.
The truck driver, Carl Cunningham, 25, Oklahoma City, was treated in a Denton hospital and released.
Our webshot.com Photo Albums continue to be very popular. There has been over 1,100 hits the past 7 days! All the pics in my T&T each week, are uploaded to webshots.com for viewing too! http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistory
Wow! Since January the first our little group has talked over 6,000 minutes long distance!! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
“Hi Butch, It seems as if T&T gets better and more interesting each issue. We just returned from a two week trip to Ardmore and Ringling area, mission, to help out with sick folks. Got my Wife’s sister signed up on the heartland share program.Pinto Store was located on the southwest corner of the intersection of what is now Highway 89 and Highway 53. We moved to the Pinto area on Christmas Day 1942. The store was then operated by Olbert and Otella Arnold. They were in an airplane crashed and only their baby daughter survived. The store sold staple groceries, feed for livestock, gasoline and oil, nails and fence staples and about anything needed. They bought cream and eggs, and pecans in season. I even sold Olbert a rick of wood one time. This was before the days of rural electricity, and the power for the store was furnished by a Delco Lighting System, which consisted of a bank of glass storage batterys and a gasoline generator. The unit would start and stop automatically. I used to slip into the lean-to shed where it was housed, and wait for hours, so I could see it start and stop by itself. The shed also housed the coal oil, which was in a container with a pump on top. The gasoline pump was a hand operated pump with a 10 gallon glass container on top. You pumped the gasoline into the container and then drained it into your car with a hose and nozzle. There were markings inside the glass container to represent one gallon and 1/2 gallon. You paid for the amount you drained out. The Store changed proprietors to Rayburn Ritter and then Mr. and Mrs Newt Sitton. On this trip, I tried to contact some of the Old Timers and get some of the dates, But found no one who could remember. The store was torn down in the late sixties. Maybe some other reader knows.” Jim Brown Odessa TX. [email protected]
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“the person who wrote in about Devils Den being near Wilburton has it wrong. They are thinking of Robbers Cave over there. Devils Den is definitely seven miles north of Tishomingo. Also, why are these buildings called flat iron? I am 72 years of age and never heard of flat iron buildings. I live in Madill and enjoyed the black and white pictures. The buildings are brick and I don’t know about any others. please educate me.!!”
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“My grandmother lived in the Madill area all of her life and I found a plastic thimble in her things that says Re-elect Rudd for Sheriff. Does anyone remember anything about Mr. Rudd?”
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“Butch, Regarding leaches…I remember getting a leach between my toes while wading in the creek below Turner Falls in the 50’s. I just pulled it off, but it did spoil the pleasure some. I also remember picnics and walks around Devil’s Den. My mother collected some cactus there that were supposed to be unique to that area. Does anyone remember Hundred Acre Rock? Was it part of Devil’s Den, or just part of the same outcropping.”
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“Hey Butch, I remember the old Club Willow too, I believe it was owned by a man named Eperson. He raised several of the most beautiful daughters I ever saw. I went to school out at Dickson with a couple of them. It definitely was across the highway from the old Skyview drive in. Does anyone remember Rose. She and her husband owned the drive in. I went to the movie there very often. She got to know me and would give me enough of those suckers they passed out to last a week. Those were the good old days. It breaks my heart to see that old screen standing forlorn with all the weeds and grass growing around it. I spent some wonderful and occasionally educational evenings in that lot.”
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“Butch, Reading about the old clubs and hot spots in Ardmore in this last issue made me think of my trip through the area this summer. On the return from 10 months of working back east, I parked my motor home at the old KOA south of Ardmore and did some exploring for three days. One of the places I remember so fondly was and old honky-tonk on the road that takes you to the Ardmore Airpark. A couple of friends, John Deskins and Wynn Roring used to drop in sometimes on a Friday or Saturday night. It was one place we knew, even being under age for drinking, we could get a cold beer and listen to some great blues and jazz. There was always live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and I have the fondest memories of sitting there taking in the vibes! The crowd always welcomed us and made us feel comfortable, even though we were really out of place, being three white kids from the west side of the tracks in Ardmore! Anybody out there remember this place? I’d love to have a name for the club and a picture of the old house this placed lived in! The era was 1964-67. Last summer when I visited Gene Autry area, I couldn’t even locate the old house or where it used to sit! Must have been long gone.”
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“Now that i’ve got every one trying to locate the Blue Bonnet, which i’m told had a dance floor and I don’t believe it was on Caddo street, i’dalso like to know where Earls was located. I’m told that it had dancing on the second floor.I’m talking about around 1942.I have the impression these places were on either highway70 or 77.”
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“A set-up would also include a 7-Up, Coke, club soda, tonic water, fruit juice or whatever the customer wanted, and the same procedure was followed in all kinds of establishments from honky-tonks to nice restaurants and upscale clubs. Some people may remember when then-U.S. 77 just north of the Red River was lined with beer joints and places selling canned and bottled beer. Most of North Texas was dry–bone dry–while 3.2% beer was allowed (as it still is) in Oklahoma. The same thing, I believe, was true along many highways just north of the Red River. Texas has local option, with all alcoholic beverages prohibited or just beer or beer and wine, or spirits, and on- or off-premises. It can vary even within the same town; much of Dallas is dry, which liquor stores in Dallas are often clustered just on the wet side of the wet/dry dividing line.”
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“Here’s a mystery for you… Tonya at [email protected] wrote on my message board the following…..”“I live in Okmulgee and we have tunnels under the city that were there around the time of WWII i know people who have been in the tunnels. And have heard many stories concerning them. I would like to locate a map of some kind of the tunnels and i’m not having any luck. If anyone could help me with this or give advice i wold appreciate it. Thank you.” — Tonya
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“BUTCH; I BELIEVE THE BLUE BONNET NIGHT CLUB IN ARDMORE WAS LOCATED NORTH OF ARDMORE ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGHWAY 77 NOW KNOWN AS NORTH COMMERCE. IT WAS SITUATE ABOUT WHERE THE PRESENT WAL MART IS LOCATED. IT WAS THE PLACE TO GO IN THE LATE ’40s AND EARLY ’50s. I ASSUME IT DISAPPEARED WHEN THE HIGHWAY WAS FOUR LANED.”
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“Dear Butch, Thank you so much for your T&T newsletter – enjoy it each week and appreciate your work on it. The Healdton High School Class of 1952 is still trying to locate its class members in preparation for our 50th reunion on June 1, 2002, Sat. If any of your readers know where any of these people can be located, please ask them to send the names/addresses to me so we can add them to our mailing list, and let them know the details. Thank you.” Jo (Fronterhouse) Long, [email protected]
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“Good morning!! I have a feeling this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I just gotta say what’s on my mind. Everyone has been talking about Devil’s Den the last few weeks, and I have to agree it’s one of the more beautiful and interesting natural places of Oklahoma. Like many others, I spent time there as a child during the hot Okie summers. However, I don’t think it should be opened up for public use. There are precious few, if any, recreational areas around here that remain clean and uncluttered. Even the areas that are well maintained are generally damaged just by heavy use. One such example is the Blue River area. It is absolutely beautiful there, and for the most part it is clean and orderly. But if you really take a close look, the rocks, trees, and paths are badly worn and beyond restoration. The last time I camped there, I noticed several areas had been roped off in an attempt to keep campsites confined to designated areas. The remaining sites are devoid of grass, and the trees have been stripped of lower limbs and are badly burned from lanterns hanging in them. Heavy fishing traffic has worn the vegetation from the banks, causing them to erode away. This is not just a problem here in Oklahoma. I’ve read several articles and seen some TV coverage about Yellowstone and other national parks closing areas to the public in order for the land to “heal”. Perhaps that’s what the person who owns Devil’s Den is doing…letting the land heal from years of use and abuse. I’m getting long winded (like that’s anything new!), so let me just say that I don’t really have an answer to this problem. I don’t think we should be denied the enjoyment of our natural surroundings, but perhaps there should just be some tighter restrictions if the Devil’s Den area were ever to be reopened. Everyone might also be interested to know that Cranmore (the honey folks) also make a good molasses. I bought some to make gingerbread men during the holidays. Had some left over so I ate it on biscuits the other day. YUM!!!!!!!!!”
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“Hi Butch, Graduated high school and left Ardmore in 1951 but still have kin and friends there so visit frequently. On my last trip to Ardmore I decided to find Red Everett’s Store out near Hoxbar. My dad was an ice man and we used to deliver ice all through that area. Well, I couldn’t find the store because it has been converted to a residence. The lady who owns the place commented that she’d love to have photos of how the place looked originally – late 40s and early 50s. Can anyone help?” Ted Pylant [email protected]
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“While I have you on the line, here is something else. Bill Hamm has done a wonderful job on the burial records of Carter County up to year 1999. Is he or anyone else going to keep these files updated? I realize this is a huge job but it has helped so many people with their family and friends records.” Bobbye Smith – [email protected]
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“Friends, a couple of photos I thought you might like. I shot these last summer with Elite Chrome 100 and scanned with a Canon FS-2720 slide scanner. As you know I’m always trying to get in a plug for the Heartland Flyer and this photo with the Flyer passing a pump jack was taken south of Marietta Ok. late evening at sun down. (Please help us keep the train running, funding runs out this spring, thanks!) The Carter County Court House photo speaks for itself. Looks nice doesn’t it with the new dome and new arbor on the front.” Dwane Stevens [email protected]
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“Butch, I read your This and That for this week 1/19/02 and saw the article on Devil’s Den. I performed a land survey for the entire Devil’s Den Tract in 1998. At that time I took photos with my survey helper who is seen in some of the pictures. John Bruno bought this area in the 1990’s and is making it his home.”
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“Hi Butch, I received the cd and wanted to thank you. I have briefly looked at it and can see you did a fantastic job on it. I thought I might return the favor. I have intended to send this to you anyway ever since I took them but just never got around to it? This is a bell in Greenwood Arkansas at the Old Jail Museum. The reason I took the picture at the time was the story a very nice gentleman told me about it. I am not sure if I can remember it right but if you are interested in it I am sure someone there would be glad to tell you about it. I think he said the bell was in a school yard and someone took the bell to Oklahoma. It was returned to them by someone at Tinker AFB. Should have written it down, sorry. Anyway, nice bell, nice museum,and very nice people there. Thanks again.”
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“I recall someone asking about a leather plant a few weeks ago. I don’t know if this is pertinent or not, but I remember in 1950 there was a small plant out on the lake murray road as you left town right next door to Uncle Beau’s restaurant. The plant was owned by a man called Clifton Wood and the word was that the entire output of leather wallets and purses was committed to Sears Roebucks and company. By the way the restaurant didn’t make it,and Uncle Beau became the manager of Dornick Hills Country Club. The restaurant had a great juke box and the big tune was Johnny Ray singing “cry” and Khatachurian’s “Sabre Dance”. I was still a bachelor and enjoyed dinner there quite a few times. Good Lord that was over 50 years ago.”
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“Hi Butch, re: Ballard Park, I don’t recall, but the description the person gave about the swimming pool, and skating rink sounds like the one at Reagan, north and west of Tishomingo. The rink was built over pennington creek, which flowed into the pool, over a water wheel and on to Tishomingo. There was and still is a fish hatchery just south of this “park” I don’t know about the devils den he referred to, but there definitely is or was, a Devils Den north of Tishomingo, and that area is now owned by John and Elaine Bruno. I don’t know them, or anything about them, but they are the current owners. Also, go down to Lake Murray Drive, at Springdale Road., southeast corner, and try his sliced brisket sandwich. I have had 2 and they are delicious, and i will try Eugene’s at City Produce. I bet the stories he has to tell has the word fish in there somewhere. See ya.”
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“Butch, This is for the person that was wanting some info on Skinny Stewart. His sister-in-law told me that he was born Nov. 21, 1926 and passed away on July 16, 1998. He is buried at Hewitt cemetery next to his mom and dad. I forgot to ask about Betsy, his daughter, but I went to school with her and I think it was late 68 or early 69 when she passed away. She was killed in a car accident on Lake Murray road. Skinny Stewarts sister-in-law lives in Wilson. Her name is June Stewart. She was married to his brother, Junior. She said she would be glad to give any info on Skinny.”
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“Notre-Dame in Paris, France is 130 meters long, 48 meters wide and 35 meters high. Its pillars have a diameter of up to 5 meters and its rose windows 10 meters. The twin towers culminate 69 meters and 386 stairs (I climbed them all) above the ground. The south tower houses the 13 tons Emmanuel bell. It only rings on great feast days and for national ceremonies. It was from here that Quasimodo protected Esmeralda by pouring melted lead through the gargoyles.”
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“As promised, here are three more pictures from Devil’s Den. At one time I had a picture of the famous Bell Starr cabin, and if I find it, will pass it long also.” Glen Burke, Durant
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“BUTCH: I READ WITH INTEREST THE TWO ARTICLES.. SOME COMMENTS BROUGHT BACK FOND MEMORIES… THE SKYVIEW WAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE WILLOW CLUB… JIMMY AND ROSE GASKINS OWNED AND OPERATED THE DRIVE-IN I, AS A HIGH SCHOOL KID SPENT SOME TIME THERE. THEY WERE GREAT PEOPLE (THE GASKINS) SOME OF THE KIDS WOULD LOAD PEOPLE IN THE TRUNK AND NOT PAY. THE GASKINS KNEW WHAT THEIR GAME WAS AND WOULD SMILE EVERY TIME A CAR CAME THROUGH WITH EXTRA WEIGHT IN THE TRUNK… THE CLUB WILLOW WAS KNOWN AS THE WAGON WHEEL WHEN I WAS SHERIFF. (I THINK) IF I AM MISTAKEN I WILL CHANGE THAT SECTION OF MY “RANDOM THOUGHTS” TO THE PROPER NAME. I, LIKE MY DAD, SPENT SOME TIME PARKED IN THE OUT BOUND LANE AT THE TICKET OFFICE AND VISITED WHILE WATCHING FOR THE GOINGS ON ACROSS THE HIGHWAY (HWY 70).”
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“In “This and That” you asked about leaches in the streams. A few years ago, a child swimming in the Travertine Creek in Chickasaw National Recreation Area at Sulphur got a leach on the foot. It must have been a very small one. It was described by the parent as a “worm.” A pair of tweezers was used to remove it.”
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“By the way, that sandwich looked good. I miss the old Farmers Market. We don’t have anything like that here in Fayetteville (AR). We are subjected to Wally-world or Sam’s unless you go to the smaller grocery stores and they’re not much better and are more expensive. I also miss Winn-Dixie. One more thing I forgot to tell ya. South of Fayetteville we have our own “Devil’s Den”. It’s between West Fork and Winslow. I haven’t been there, but my son has. It’s got streams and caves and lots of hiking and stuff. Everytime I drive by the sign it always reminds me of the Devil’s Den near Tish.”
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“I am trying to find authentic information regarding the shooting of Officer Byrd in Kingston. What info I have is that his friend shot him by mistake during a raid. He was my husbands father. Do you know anything about this? Thanks in advance.” -Ruth Byrd [email protected]
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“My mother, Ruth Byrd, wrote you in the last few days concerning my grandfather, James Alexander “Coot” Byrd. He was a Marshal in Kingston, OK. He was killed by a Mr. Kizziar while on duty. He was married first to a Rena? Hoggard, and then to Grace Greer. He left one son, Pete by Hoggard, and 2 sons by Greer. I believe Hoggard’s father was a lawman also and several other relatives. I have a very poor copy of the newspaper article concerning the incident. I would love to know more about the family, especially any school records of the boys. If you have any time to do any researching on this it would mean so much to us. I remember the family had very close friends named Tinkle that in my memory helped raise the two younger boys. I read your “This and That” each week hoping to see something that will give me a bit of information of my family. I am amazed in the amount of information dispensed by you and your followers. My mother’s lived in the 1920’s30’s in Madill. Thanks for your help.” [email protected]
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“Butch, Last year I asked you about a round barn northeast of Ardmore on the Merrick Ranch. I still haven’t made it out that way to get a picture. I hope it is still there. I have heard that there is supposed to be a round (maybe octagon) barn in (maybe near) Muskogee, OK. Do you know anything about this barn? If it exists or did exist?” -Dale Travis daletravis at bigfoot.com www.dalejtravis.com
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========================================================================We’re still drawing two names each week for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a History CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]The Ardmore Shrine Club Rodeo brought more famous entertainers to Ardmore then any other organization. About 1976 the Shrine Club brought to Ardmore Tanya Tucker. Born in 1958 in Seminole, Texas, she was about 17 years old and I was assigned to be her bodyguard. Sheriff Robert Denney told me when her performance was over and she went to the south wing of the Hardy Murphy Coliseum, to stay right beside her (and her dad) the entire time, making her safety my number one priority. The fans loved her, and with the excitement, the push of the crowd, and her doting dad, it was a wild photograph signing time in that south wing to say the least. She’s still belting out Number One songs.
“So love me like you used to when our love was brand new
And Darlin’ when we’re through, you can love me again
And hold me like you want to instead of like you have to
Love me like you used to love me when you used to love me”Here is her July 1987 song, “Love Me Like You Used To” (need RealPlayer)
http://www.geocities.com/sheree053/lmut.ramSee you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday January 19, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 248
When I’m traveling around southern Oklahoma, I’m always on the lookout for that perfect barbecue sandwich or smoked brisket sandwich. For many years a lot of folks in this area has known one of the best places to buy fresh vegetables is Farmers Market down on Mill Street SE. When I was down there this past week picking up a few things, I stopped by the meat market section and visited with my old friend Eugene Justice. I was looking over the meats and seen their sign for smoked brisket sandwich, and told them to fix one to go. When I got home and opened that sack up, I think its the biggest smoked brisket sandwich I ever saw! In fact, it was so big I cut the thing in half and saved the other half to eat the next day! Boy, you talk about the tenderest brisket you ever ate, it just melted in my mouth. Here is a pic of Eugene working in the meat market section of Farmers Market here in Ardmore:
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Here’s a pic of one of Eugene’s co-workers, Vickie, she is the one who actually fixed that delicious sandwich for me.
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This is a photo I snapped for those of you who have never been to Farmers Marker on Mill Street:
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And I was saving the best for last! ummmmmmmmmm!
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And their $1.99 Chopped BBQ Sand, I don’t see how anyone can eat that whole thing, its huge. So if you’re down that way, stop in and tell Eugene hello! He’s always got a story to tell. hahaA few weeks ago The Daily Ardmoreite ran a feature story on my neighbors Darrell and Donna Householder. They own a company called Bridge Messaging, an answering service here in Ardmore. If your a business owner, and need someone to answer your phones while your out of the office, after five, weekends or whenever, I give this couple and Bridge Messaging the highest recommendation. I know Darrell and Donna not only as professionals in the answering service business, but as friends and neighbors. They will answer your phone with the dependability and professionalism you would want in an answering service. Give them a call for more info at 580-220-9939
http://ardmoreite.com/stories/121601/mon_bridge.shtmlI’ve received several emails this past week expressing the desire to help scan the McGalliard Photo collection at the Ardmore Library. I even received emails from Readers many miles away, and wished they lived closer so they could help. Here is an example of one of the emails:
“Butch, I would love to volunteer to scan the pictures at the library. Anne (Mac’s daughter) told me there were around 2,000 pictures. I had several copied about a week ago, and you can’t do this without Anne taking them to a copier. It’s a shame people can’t enjoy them. That is why I would like to see them copied. Just let me know.”
So, Daniel and I would like some more feed back on this proposed project. Maybe we should set up a meeting and get those who are interested in one room, and throw around some ideas. If you would like to see such a meeting take place, let me hear from you. We’ll set one up! [email protected]
A Reader told me this week she took her son swimming at Devils Den back in the 60s, and he got a leach on his leg! She said it scared her to death, rushed home, and asked her mother if she should take him to the hospital. Her mom said that was not necessary, and to just pull the leach off her son’s leg. It bled. What an experience. Does anyone know if there are still leaches in this areas creek or ponds? I didn’t know we still had them around here.
If you live in the Ardmore area and not taking part in the Share Program, you’re missing out on some great food stuffs. Here is the list of groceries arriving on the truck January 26th.
Corn King Bacon – 12 OZ.
Chicken Breast Tenders (Fully Cooked) – 1 1/2 LBS.
Hamburger (4 – 1/4 Patties) – 1 LB.
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs – 1 LB.,br> Chicken Thighs – 3 1/2 LBS.
Yellow Onions – 4
Potatoes – 6 or 1 bag
Lettuce – 1 Head
Celery
Broccoli – 1 Bunch
Pink Lady Apples – 4
Texas Grapefruit – 2
Arizona Oranges – 5
Oreo Pudding – 6 PK.
Egg Noodles – 12 OZ.If you want to know more about how the Share Program works, and where the nearest pickup site is in Oklahoma is located, check out their website or give Carole Ellis a call, 580-223-5287 http://www.heartlandshare.com
I talked to Mrs Wilson of Wilson Monuments at Lone Grove a couple of days ago. Her son is waiting for some nice weather to go get the monument at Mill Creek for the memorial that will be set at the Airpark in memory of those who died in training exercises at the Airpark back in the 40s and 50s. Joe Brown Company has brought them the loads of sand they will need to pour the three concrete picnic tables too. They will be placed around the memorial area. I keep everyone informed as we moved closer to that day the memorial stone is ready with the 53 names on it.
Speaking of memorial stones, Healdton, Oklahoma is getting closer to having a memorial stone to honor any Healdton and Wilson area people who served in any war or who died in any war. If you know of anyone from that area of Carter county who served or died during WWI or WWII or the Korean Conflict, or Vietnam or Desert Storm, let the Healdton Chamber of Commerce know about those names as soon as possible. They are looking around the middle of February to start sandblasting the names on the monument. If you know of any names, let the Healdton Chamber know immediately! http://www.healdton.org/
Looks like more and more of us are using the 4 cents a minute long distance service. Just this week I received an email from a Reader in another state, asking if the 4 cents a minute works in other states, or just Oklahoma. It works nearly everywhere in the 50 states not just Oklahoma! Since January the 1st, we’ve added five new users and talked a total of 4,500 minutes! And don’t forget if you need a toll free number, you can get one for a one time setup charge of $10 and then $4 bucks a month, plus the minutes used at 4 cents per minute. Check out all the details here: http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Butch, Someone wrote and asked where Club Willow was. If my memory serves me right it was right across the street from the Skyview drive in. In fact I think it is where the SOWC water maintence building is now. I remember coming out of the Skyview after watching Your Cheating Heart and it seems that Hank Williams Jr. was playing there.”
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“Club Willer” used to be one of the more notorious honkey-tonks around. It was north of town, pretty much across the highway from the drive in movie. It isn’t there anymore, the new parkway probably goes through what was the front parking lot. I started going there when I was about 13. Oklahoma was still dry at the time, so the club sold ‘set-ups.’ You had to keep your bottle covered and off of the table, so everyone had paper sacks sitting beneath their table. A set-up was usually a bowl of ice, lemon wedges, etc. I think the “cover charge” was $2.00. Clientele often included residences from several surrounding states on a hot and heavy Saturday night. “The Willow Tree” was most generally packed with all kinds of action taking place for hours and hours.”
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one of my bells is just like the mary niblack bell. it s up in my belfry here at the house Its a 1886 no 4 bell. I own 15 very old bells. one has a spiral wheel and is 22 inches across but m surprised at its high pitch but it s a beautiful toned one. i also have one that is very rare made by the baltimore plow company. instead of a no2 it has a b on the yoke and the company logo on the bell also one from cincinatti has its logo on the bell. i have a very old horrioblly cracked tuba (a bell that is narrow at the top and widens out like a tuba horn. i think they called them type of farm bells morning glorys because of their shape. most were made before the civil war) shaped 18 inch one with no logo. are there foundrys that would recast it making it as a pattern and melting it and repouring it back to its shape? [email protected]
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“I am moving to Ravia, Oklahoma from Houston, Texas when school ends this year. I am interested in any information about Ravia and the surrounding locale. Thank you.” [email protected]
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“Funny you should mention Devil’s Den. Just a few years ago a real estate lady in Tishomingo took me in there for an afternoon of picture taking. I’ll send you three for now, and if you want more let me know. At the time I was there they had some big plans for the place, but apparently nothing developed.” Glen Burke [email protected] http://www.olympusguy.com
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“It is a shame that Devil’s Den is closed. It would be a nice place to go if the people who owned the land would allow it. Does anyone not know who owns it? My dad had tried to find out long time ago, but all he ever found out was that it was owned by an older lady who didn’t want anyone on her property. It’s probably so grown up now that no one would recognize it. But I do know as a kid, that those creeks sure felt good in the summer time.”
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“This displaced Okie always looks forward to your newsletter. The items this week about The Devil’s Den reminded me of a favorite fishing hole of my husband’s at Tishomingo–The Butcher Pen. Our children and I were less than enthusiastic–it was usually littered with broken glass,trash, buzzing with flies–no place to play or picnic–but my husband loved it, had loved it since his parents took him there in the 30’s. He claimed he could catch more fish there in 30 minutes than anywhere else all day. After we moved to the Texas coast, he convinced us to take a camping trip to Lake Texhoma. He promised he knew a place we would all love, wonderful camping, etc. etc. We drove long into the night and when the sun rose–guess where he had parked–at the Butcher Pen! Is it still there? Do husbands still love it as much as wives hate it? Truthfully, I’m so homesick for Oklahoma at the moment, would welcome a trip to the Butcher Pen. (But don’t tell my husband.)”
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“Hey, fantastic job. And as usual, I have to make a couple of comments. That Chinese Bell, Instead of putting it in your front yard, put it in a vacant lot and move in. That thing is bigger than some houses I’ve lived in. ha. And, Devils Den, went there many times while growing up in Milburn. Bet you went swimming the same place we did, sans clothes. My understanding is the place was sold and became private property. I really enjoyed the article from James Clark. I was a member of APD at that time, although not on duty that night. As James stated, if it had not been for Sheriff Denney, Deputy Hunt would have been shot, possibly killed. I, for one, hated the day James retired as our district attorney. He was one of the great ones. And, then Mill Creek. My cousin takes pretty good pictures, huh? Fortunately for us, he wasn’t in any of them. ha. One of the deacons of that church, is Keith Dodd, who is also the Supt of Mill Creek schools. He is also originally from Milburn. His dad had a Pharmacy there. As you can see, this weeks article has sparked many memories for me. Keep up the good work.”
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“Hey Butch. It’s been a while since you’ve received an email from me. I noticed James Clark’s letter about Robert Denney and Bud Hunt at the Mulkey Hotel at the Oklahoma History link. I would like to somewhat clear some of this up. Although you would need to check with my brother Larry to get the actual facts. If I remember correctly Larry was returning home to Ardmore via Myall road from south Meridian road in Lone Grove. The four people were in the ditch and he gave them a ride in his VW BUG to the bus station. He later saw the 10.00 PM news about the robbery in Marietta. I think he called Robert Denney and told him that he had let the four people out at the bus station. He would probably have been in bad trouble if he had had a larger car with more gas in it. You could ask Larry and get the actual happenings of that night.”
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“Butch, just can’t help myself but have to comment on the picture of the cow with Lazy S ranch photo. Cows are she and bulls are he. The writer called the cow a he.”
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“I grew up in Madill and have recently started a web site about flat iron buildings. Can anyone on the list tell me where to find more information about the two flat iron buildings located in Madill? Any information about when/why they were built etc? Here are the photos of the two buildings.”
http://www.flatironbuildings.com/Oklahoma/madill01.html
http://www.flatironbuildings.com/Oklahoma/madill02.html“I would also like to know about any other flat irons in Oklahoma etc. I would like to travel to each, much like you do with bells, and photograph them. 🙂 Just a reminder that I have a Russett, Oklahoma section of my STOUT genealogy site that I have been working on.. if anyone has any information about the town or any photos or articles they could add, I would love to continue building the site up. I will give full credit for all submissions.” http://www.stoutgenealogy.com
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“Butch, my friend and I are avid metal detectorists, and we have been wondering about the history of the fairgrounds by Hardy Murphy Coliseum. Does anyone have any pictures to post of where the carnival, old buildings, the zoo, racetrack, etc were located? We noticed several slabs and remnants of old foundations, and were curious about what structures were originally there. If anyone has information to share regarding where the activities took place, we would appreciate receiving email at [email protected]. We recently found some wheat pennies and a silver Walking Liberty half-dollar (1917) there, which really got our attention and inspired us to learn more about the history of the fairgrounds area. Thanks so much.”
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“Butch, the Blue Bonnet was on Caddo about 150 feet north of Main street. It was a beer bar about 1950/53. Thanks for the good write up this week.”
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“Butch, the old timers were right in telling you that you should use local honey because of it’s ability to combat local allergies and stuff. Edgar Cayce, the prophet, said that everyone should eat food that’s been grown in their local area for that reason. My husband and I built a retail nursery and were in business for 19 years, and had a really big clientele because we raised our vegetable and herb plants, whereas the grocery stores and florists got plants brought in from a different area. Everyone told us that they sure hated it when we closed our business (health reasons), and they really missed our plants because they did so much better than anyone else’s. Good feeling when one can help others, isn’t it? By the way, I bought some Twinings English Breakfast tea for my husband, and he loves it; said nothing else compares.”
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“that does not look like a 3ft alligator…. looks more like a lizard!”
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“Hi Butch, It is me again! I have several pictures taken at Devils Den in the 50’s. One place was called Fat Man’s Misery. I used to be able to walk through it but I couldn’t get through now if I was covered with lard. I am 73 years old and my daughter has the Singer that my mother used to make my baby clothes. I pedaled many miles on that machine. I think my brother and I wore out more belts than mother did with her sewing. Also loved filling the bobbins. I would fill every bobbin I could find. It still sews but like the other lady Melody and I use later models. Club Willow was located east of town on the north side of the highway almost across from the old drive-in theatre. Was it the Skyview? I remember the Blue Bonnet but for the life of me I can’t remember where it was. When someone tells you then it will all come back to me. Looking forward to the next issue.”
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“butch, I really enjoy your T &Y each week. Look forward to it every Sat. I want to question the park near Tishomingo. We use to go to a Ballard Park near Tish. It was a fun place to go and picnic and it had a skating rink and swimming pool back in the 40’s and 50’s. Devil’s Den is over near Wilburton, Ok. It is still in operation. We had a family reunion there a few years ago. Also, back when my daughter was in the 2nd or 3rd grade, she was ask at school who our family doctor was. She told them Dr. Boyd. I had recently been to him for poison ivy–at $1:00 for a bottle of his special medicine. Thanks again for your time and effort.”
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“Mornin’ Butch, Took a trip to Tulsa this weekend and came back the “back roads”. Found several bells to add to your collection. The bell at the Coal County Courthouse appears to be cast aluminum rather than iron. Hope you enjoy.”
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“Wetumka, Oklahoma bell at City Hall”
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“The highschool was on Hwy 75 just South of I-40. It was near a little settlement called “Pharoh”? It had the inscription High School over the front door. Note the two turrets over the front door. I wonder if they at one time held a bell or chimes of some kinds.”
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“Butch, The Devil’s Den area is privately owned and they closed it down about 20 years ago. It has some very unusual rock formations. I remember going there as a child and have several black and white photos of the area. I also went there in the 70’s when I was dating my ex, but when I tried to take my son when he was little (in the mid-80’s) I discovered that the owners had closed it off to the public. I don’t know who owns it, but I feel like someone should locate them and if they can’t persuade them to allow folks back in, then possible someone could convince them to sell it. There was also a cabin on the property that was supposed to belong to Belle Starr.”
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“Butch, I was glad to come across AAAF/AAFB’s website. I had discovered the old base while travelling in the area several years ago, and had surfed the net several times since trying to find out about its history–up until I found Gary Simmons’ website, I saw only a few bits and pieces. The site is great! It answered all of the questions that I’d had.” http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
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“The Oklahoma City Police Department has finally gotten around to creating one of their own website just recently and have it online. It can be found at: http://www.ocpd.org/
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“Dear Butch, I am writing in response to a woman wanting to find someone who knew her g-grandfather, Dr. Von Keller. I want her to know that Dr. Von Keller was our family doctor. Those were the days when doctors made house calls and delivered babies at homes of his patients. He was a dear, dear caring man. He delivered all my mother’s five daughters (the Stonum girls) with his Irish nurse, Miss McCabe, assisting him. He owned the “Von Keller Hospital,” a large, red-brick building. He and his family had a large home right next to the hospital. I do remember he had a daughter and I believe her name was Helen. She was older than I, and I believe she was the age of my older sisters. I am now eighty-six years old. I remember when my younger sister, Mary Frances, was born. I was around five years old at that time. Our old cook Lilly had taken my sister Lena and me next door to our Aunt Lena and Uncle Will Potter’s house because it was time for mother’s baby to arrive. As we watched out the front library window of Aunt Lena’s home we saw Dr. Von Keller running up the front walk with his satchel and his nurse running behind him. I remember one of my older sisters saying that mother’s baby was in the satchel. He was German and spoke with a definite accent, and Miss McCabe was Irish and also sounded different. She was always attired in her starched white nurse’s headdress with a big red cross on it. Her navy blue, rather long cape also had a big red cross on it. I remember other things about him too, because I had very bad asthma as a child and he was at our home quite often. I spent one year out of school around the 2nd or 3rd grade and was in his hospital off and on. I really loved him as a child; he came by to see and visit me frequently. He was a dedicated humanitarian and a brilliant man. God bless you, Tweed Stonum Machock Contact me through my daughter” [email protected]
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“The “Zip” in U. S. postal zip codes stands for Zone Improvement Plan. It came into use in 1963. It helps the Post Office deliver more mail in a day than FedEx does in a year. The Post Office also maintains a fleet of more than 200,000 vehicles.”
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========================================================================This week I had an interesting conversation with a couple in Wisconsin. They are 90 years young but have a connection to Ardmore. In 1968 their daughter died in a car crash near Denton, Texas. Then in last November’s Readers Digest, there was a photo of their daughter taken a couple of years before that fatal car accident. They didn’t even know the photo was going to be in the Digest or where they got the photo. I have not had time to work up the story for my T&T, but I will have it in next week’s issue! If anyone has last November’s Readers Digest, please let me know. I will need the article to see what it was all about, and tell everyone next week. Just send me email if you have last November’s Readers Digest.
We’re still drawing two names each week for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a history CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]One of the most requested and downloaded songs on the Internet the past couple of weeks is “9-11 Silent Night”. Below is the words to the moving song, and there is a link below also where you can go and download the mp3 file, or just play the song from their website, if you want to hear it.
9-11 Silent Night
“You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say, “Good-bye.”
I held his fingers steady as he dialed
I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK…I am ready to go.”
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out for Me for help.
“I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!” I said, “Of course I will show you the way home – only believe in Me now.”
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name – though not all know Me. Some met me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; “Come to Me…this way…take My hand.” Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are “ready to go.”
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
Remember…I love you.”http://www.kygo.com/index.jhtml
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday January 12, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 247
The following email was receive that week about a Garvin county bell! Beautiful! “Butch, My husband and I have been reading this and that for years and we enjoy it so much. We live in Pauls Valley, OK. I have found a bell at the White Bead Methodist Church in Garvin County on Highway 19, just west of I-35. I took these pictures of it today. Continue the good work and I’m looking forward to the next issue.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/wbead2.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/wbead3.jpgA Reader shared with me some photos of the biggest bell I could ever imagine! Its huge, and the sound of it carries for miles! Where you ask is such a monstrosity to be found? In China, its called the Morning Bell of Pagoda. I searched the Net and didn’t anything about it, and I sure didn’t find a photo of this ancient piece of Chinese history. Now here is a photo of this magnificent bell and the story behind it, thanks to a Reader who wanted to share her experience. Maybe next time she goes to China she will bring this bell back for me to go in my front yard!
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/pagoda2.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/pagoda3.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/pagoga4.jpgYears ago a popular swimming hole was Devils Den at Tishomingo, Oklahoma. I went there a few times in the 60s and remember it being a great place to cool off in the hot summertime. When I was by there about five years ago, I turned down the road west off the highway that goes to Devils Den just to see what I could see. There were “No Trespassing” signs posted along the fence, and it was so grown up with weeds and trees, you could see much past that fence. Maybe some one has heard lately if there are any plans for Devils Den. Here is an email I received this week:
“Butch, do you know anything about a place north of Tish. called “Devils Den”? A friend of mine from work said she used to go there as a kid and camp and she was wondering if it was still there/open ect.????”I found about three mentions in past T&Ts about Devil’s Den along with photos……
“Several readers have been talking about Devil’s Den the past few weeks. My mom pulled some old photos that show some good views of the rocks, and I thought you might enjoy sharing them. They were taken in May of 1966.” https://oklahomahistory.net/photos/dden1966.jpg
“Butch, Here is a picture of Devil’s Den (Tishomingo, OK) taken early 50’s. You can see in the background that the “ROCK” is almost round and quite large. The folks in the foreground didn’t want their picture to show so I “fuzzed” their faces, but wanted to be able to show the difference in the size of people to the rock.” https://oklahomahistory.net/photos/d_den.jpg
“Devil’s Den, north of Tishomingo, has been closed down since 1980. 1 remember going there as a child to picnic and swim. Leroy McDaniel let me borrow several pics he took in 1950 of Devil’s Den.”
We had a little excitement this week east of Ardmore on Mayer Road. Someone found a three foot long alligator in a creek. It’s since been moved to another home! https://oklahomahistory.net/photos/ali01a.jpg
This week The Daily Ardmoreite did a feature story on the Carter County Assessors Office here in Ardmore and Sam West’s mapping department on the fourth floor. Employee Sheryl Wood does nearly all the tedious work putting the mapping information into the computer, and digitizing every foot of this county in her fourth floor office. http://ardmoreite.com/stories/010902/loc_county_net.shtml
A couple of weeks ago a Reader requested any info on a bottle they had with the word Salute on it. I had never heard of it, but they did find a website that shed some light on Salute and other old beverage bottles. http://www.gono.com/vir-mus/museum.htm
My Oklahoma Bell Page has had some technical problems off and on for several months. This past week I moved it, and re-done the Page. It’s has links to over 100 bells scattered all over Oklahoma….. and more being added each month! https://oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Speaking of old photos, many of you know that the Ardmore Public Library has the MacGalliard Collection of photos for viewing. These were taken of many historical places in this area through the years by Mac, an almost treasure throve of history on film. Daniel (at the library) and I have talked several times the past year or so, about how to get those thousand or so photos scanned and on hard drive or CD. We think a team of volunteers could probably get the job done in a few months. What does anyone else out there think about this idea? Is it feasible? I for one would volunteer some of my time each week to help scan the MacGalliard photos. Let’s hear from some of you, should we try it? Does someone want to help coordinate such a project?
A few of weeks ago I talked about the story of how our local sheriffs office came about those three submachine guns they had in their vault. Bud Hunt was able to provide us with the story, how undersheriff Pat Battles went to an armory in Texarkana, Texas and brought the guns back in 1960 for use in riot control. In this same story, I went on to tell about the shooting that took place at the Mulkey Hotel back in 1972 when Deputy Bud Hunt almost lost his life. A prisoner grabbed his gun, and would have shot Bud, except Sheriff Robert Denney intervened. This week I received an email from one of our former District Attorneys here in Ardmore, who also had a first hand recollection when Sheriff Robert Denney was forced to shoot that man at the Mulkey Hotel. He was DA at the time and remembers well the things that happened that night back in 1972 and some interesting play of events that followed in the hours and days afterward. Actually he sent the letter to my friend Correna Wilson in Wilson, Oklahoma, but since I was the originator of that Bud Hunt story back in November, former DA James Clark emailed me a copy too, allowing me to share it with all of you. James has been a good friend since 1970, and what many people do not know about him, is that he’s an avid history buff with an excellent knowledge of this area’s historical past. Some of you will remember James playing a G-Man in the 1977 movie Dillinger, where parts of the movie was shot around Ardmore. I want to share this truly piece of Ardmore history that James has so graciously shared with everyone. As Paul Harvey would say…. “and now the rest of the story.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/budhunt5.htmlSOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
Butch, Kelly Haney is also a State Senator. He came to office soon after I left office in 1982. It is my understanding that many artists submitted models that could be chosen for this statue but the interesting thing is – Haney’s model was chosen and the committee that chose his rendition was not even aware that he was a member of the legislature. – I don’t think he accepted the money that was to be awarded for that purpose.
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“Butch, I also read in the Ardmoreite about the renovation of the Tivoli Theater. For those who may be interested, the origin of “Karaoke” is from the Japanese language. “Kara” as in Karate (most know about that sport), means open or empty hand. “Oke” is a shortened Japanese pronunciation of orchestra. The result means that there is no orchestra present, only the TV monitor on which people sort of “follow the bouncing ball” as we used to do during intermissions at the Tivoli.”
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“Hello Butch, I stayed up to read T&T last night. I read the mail to you from someone who inquired about SKINNY Stewart. I didn’t know him but I know his sister. She still lives in Wilson. Really a great person. Skinny passed away a few years ago in the Veterans Home in Ardmore. Time goes by so fast but it seems like four or so years ago. He lived in Wilson and when he went to the VA in Ardmore his sister went there daily and took him lunch. She is the most giving person in the world. I think Skinny’s only daughter was killed in a car wreck quite a few years ago. I don’t usually give out info on the internet but just for you I will give you a name and address. Frances Gail Phillips. Drawer 380. Wilson, Ok.73463. This is his sister. I think from all I have heard SKINNY would make Carter County History in every sense of the word. You may want to check out these people. I don’t know anyone of then who use internet. Her Phone Number should be in the book. Thanks for the time you spend on the articles each week. I enjoy them even though I don’t live in Ardmore.”
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“Hi Butch, I am looking for information on the Jo-Kay mfg. co. that was in Ardmore. Need to know when and how long they were in business in Ardmore. They made leather coats and purses. Would appreciate any information you have, or can find out. I have collected several coats that they made and would like a little history behind them. Please email me. [email protected]. Thanks a lot I sure do enjoy your T&T, Keep up the good works.”
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“I REMEMBER DR. BOYD. MOTHER SENT ME THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I COMPLAINED OF “STOMACH ACHE”. HIS OFFICE WAS IN HIS HOME; THE LINOLEUM FLOOR WAS SO SHINY CLEAN IT SPARKLED. THE SHELVES WERE FILLED WITH SMALL VIALS OF VERY SMALL SUGAR PILLS. AFTER THE PATIENT EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM DR. BOYD PONDERED A MOMENT, OPENED A VIAL AND POURED IN A CLEAR LIQUID. POTENT STUFF; VAPORS ROSE IN THE AIR DURING THE PROCESS. HIS FEE AS I RECALL WAS $2.”
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“Butch, I also read in the Ardmoreite about the renovation of the Tivoli Theater. For those who may be interested, the origin of “Karaoke” is from the Japanese language. “Kara” as in Karate (most know about that sport), means open or empty hand. “Oke” is a shortened Japanese pronunciation of orchestra. The result means that there is no orchestra present, only the TV monitor on which people sort of “follow the bouncing ball” as we used to do during intermissions at the Tivoli.”
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“Hi Butch: This is an answer to the Skinney Stewart question on today’s T&T. Skinney passed away several years ago would have to research the date , about 4-5, We have his collection in the Wilson Historical Museum, He was indeed much loved, and we were honored to house his collection. Our Museum had our ribbon cutting on Nov. 3rd.2001, and we are open Tues.Thur. and Sat. 10-4.”
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“Hey Butch, If you haven’t done so before, try baking some delicata squash. Then butter and honey them like you do your sweet potatoes. Another tasty dish. I even use honey in my hot tea. Keep them T&Ts coming. I do enjoy them. Mr Martin sure is good with that camera.” -Harold in New Orleans
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“You ran the spool on your mom’s Singer!! I have 2, one portable 1956, Mom and daddy bought my Grandma before I was born in ’57 , and only thing I asked for when she passed away in 1990, and another from Scott King’s widow, who, I worked for many years, when Luvene King passed away, Max, her son gave me a 1943 Singer in a cabinet, which, I cherish!! Both still sew like charms and I have the manuals!! Zipper foots and old metal bobbins!!”
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“Still enjoying the T&T Newsletter. I appreciate Bill Landrum introducing me to it and for all of your hard work. I have been reminded of a lot of things by reading it. I have seen a few names I recognize as well, like Dr. Hathaway, the old VonKeller Hospital, Dr. Boyd, even a girl I used to work with at the Telephone Company. One thing-my older sister once told me that there was a room, now under water below the Tucker Tower that at one time was known as the Devil’s Kitchen. My older brother worked on that lake with the CCC’s. I wonder if any of your other readers know of the Devil’s Kitchen? Thanks.” -Nellie Fox Loughridge Combe
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“Butch….Help me again. Phone for tickets 223-4753 or email [email protected] …Thanks! The banner didn’t tell how to get the tickets! You want one too, don’t you?” https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/nwtfso.jpg
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“I found your Website in the course of searching the Web for information about bells. I was delighted to discover that one of the things you do is to locate all of the bells in your area. I’ve been doing the same thing in the Saint Louis area for several years, though perhaps more intensively, as an outgrowth of research into the history of the St.Louis bellfounders. If any of the bells in your area were made in St.Louis, then I can tell you something about the foundry which made them. I’m also a member of the Tower Clock Chapter of NAWCC as of last summer, not because of horology but in hopes of making some contacts who could inform me about the bells connected to tower clocks. Along that line, I can tell you that the clock bell in the Carter County Courthouse in Ardmore your photo at
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/photos/chbell.jpg
is made of iron, not bronze. It probably doesn’t have any identifying information on it, but I can tell you from the shape that it was made from the pattern developed by the Cincinnati Bell Foundry Company (Blymyer, Norton & Co.). However, it could have been made by someone else, because in the 19th c. there were a lot of small iron foundries doing anonymous knock-offs using the work of the more famous firms for patterns. The bell at the Presbyterian Church in Bennington, OK is also of iron, in the style of C.S.Bell & Co. of Hillsboro, Ohio. Ditto the bell at Geary, OK. Too bad this photo wasn’t taken from the other side of the bell, or we’d know for sure. Iron bells were mass-produced, and so aren’t very interesting compared to bronze bells. (There are some rare exceptions.) I’d be interested to learn more about your bell interests.”Carl Scott Zimmerman, CCP
Certified Computing Professional (ICCP) Campanologist
Assistant Webmaster: http://www.gcna.org/
Avocation: tower bells / Recreation: handbells / Mission: church bells
Voicemail: +1-314-361-5194 (home) E-mail: [email protected]
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA – 19th c. home of up to 31 bell foundries
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“Hi Butch, Hope your New Year is good so far. Thanks for all you have sent us on T & T this last year. We do enjoy it out here in Nevada every Saturday morning. Just wanted to say a good word for Dr. Hathaway (God rest his soul!), since he delivered me in 1931, my brothers in 1942 and 1945, respectively. He was always there when you needed him and at the very last when he was in the rest home, he helped me out again. My Mother had never bothered to get me a birth certificate and so my birth was never recorded. Then when his office burned down…..well, you know the rest. So, when my husband went to work on the Nevada Test Site for the government, I had to have a birth certificate for a security check. My Mother found out where Dr. Hathaway was and he signed the application for me to receive a birth certificate! He was 99 years old at the time, but he remembered my Mother and our family and signed for me. God Bless him. They don’t make them like that anymore. We also remember Dr.’s Higgins, Boyd, Von Keller and Hardy. They always managed to pull our family through a crisis or two. Thanks for the memories! Have a good year.”
————————————————————————“Hi Butch, Wow, Your old Singer commentary brings back memories. The pictures you showed could have been my Mom’s old Singer. In fact, I still have it tucked away in a closet, because I use a more up to date Singer. I don’t sew much any more, but I really value being able to when needed. I appreciate your “This and That” news letter. Thanks for your hard work on it.”
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“Hi Butch, enjoyed your newsletter. My brother reminded me that your previous letter said Freeman Baker sang tenor in the church choir, but he sang bass. Thanks for all the memories.”
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Happy New Year Butch, Well, I got a nasty Christmas Present on Christmas Day. Some jerk sent me a virus! Thank You for the information about http://www.grisoft.com. It found it fast, and took care of it, no problem!!!!! So, I sent all my friends the link, they Thank You also. Your the greatest! Didn’t you also have in one of your T&T’s some tip about finding out if someone was sneaking through the back door of you computer? Seems as if there was a file you could check for. I can’t find it, Please help.
http://www.pctuneup.com
Note: http://www.symantec.com/ can check your computer for security risks
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“Good morning Butch, Here are some pictures of an old bell if you are interested. Monday, My son James & I were visiting with our former pastor Claud Williams and some of the Church Members, who were getting things out of the building before it was to be dozed down to make ready for a new one. Here are some pictures I took of the First Baptist Church`s 100 Year old bell, as it was removed, Monday, January 7th to be placed in the new Church building, when it is completed, at Mill Creek, Oklahoma.” -Bill Landrum
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchba.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchbb.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchbc.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchbd.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchbe.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/millchbf.jpg
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“I heard some news this morning I just had to share with you. Last week I wrote you about the scanning of the records at the Carter County Court clerk’s office. Well I heard that as soon as the Later Day Saints mission group that has been at the Marshall county court house for the past 2 months finish scanning their records, would be moving to Carter county as soon as they finish in Madill. This should be in about 30 to 45 days. They originally thought they were coming to Carter county and they rented an apartment here is Ardmore. They have been commuting back and forth to Madill all this time. The information I heard was that they have several mission groups going all over the U. S. doing this scanning and putting the info on film. Now how about them apples?????”
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“Butch- This is a recent picture of the Lazy-S barn north of Springer, not visible from Highway 77 and an almost mad cow.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/lazys01.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/madcow01.jpg
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“I need help, where was the Club Willow and the Blue Bonnet? It has just occurred to me that the old street car tracks are still in place down the center of Main Street, I assume they were taken up in N.W. Ardmore along Chickasaw Blvd out to Lorena Park. Lorena Park was located approximately where Roy Johnson and Wirt Franklin houses are at present. In fact the small lake on the Roy Johnson property was a key part of Lorena Park in the early 1900’s.Just wanted you to know that about three years ago I asked my niece in Ardmore to take pictures of downtown Ardmore, starting at Caddo and Main, up the north side of the street to the First Methodist church,cross the street and take pictures of the south side of Main back to Caddo. She did this on an early Sunday morning with no cars on the street, she used one of these new wide angle cameras. Then she and her mother sat down, made a map or chart and listed the names of all the businesses thy could remember who occupied the discreet buildings from the mid thirties to the present. It makes quite a collection of memories. My explanation of procedures is lousy, as she actually was on the opposite side of the street in order to get a good shot of the other side. I’m sorry I didn’t make the request years ago. You ought to try it, I guarantee you will refer to it many times as the years roll by and the memories fade. As always I enjoy receiving your weekly epistle.” -Bill O’Heran
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“Butch, I don’t know if your T&T reaches anyone from Comanche, OK. or not, but I’m trying to gather email addresses for anyone who graduated from Comanche High School in any year. Your readers can reach me at [email protected]
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========================================================================We’re still drawing two names each week for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a history CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)”
By Alan Jackson, Country Singer“Where were you when the world stop turning on that September day
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cryI’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love”Video and audio clip…. http://www.alanjackson.com/cma2001.html
See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
PO Box 11
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Saturday January 5, 2002 T&T Weekly Vol 6 Issue 246
I remember as a kid back in the 60s playing with my mother’s Singer Sewing Machine. It was electric, not like the old treadle Singer my great grandmother Ida Miller had at her house. I think I tore our machine up so many times, my mother ban me from touching it. But since it was mechanical, I couldn’t keep my hands off it. What I really liked was re-treading the bobbin. I’d take that little wheel, drop down the rubber roller against the bobbin, and when I’d pressed my knee against the electric throttle, boy would it take off. That thread would come off that spool on top, and travel down to the bobbin at lightning speed. hahaha. Anything fast, I loved it. I own this old 1941 Singer Sewing Machine operation manual I’d like to share with everyone. It’s kinda neat to look through this 3 inch by 5 1/2 inch book, and remembering it back in the 60s. The first photo is the cover page. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/singer4a.jpg
This next photo is pages 1 and 2, including a pic of the sewing machine. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/singer4b.jpg
This photo shows the bobbin mechanism that I liked to play with. You know, I got to where I could even sew up a tear, or sew my ambulance uniform patches on myself. But then when I found out I could take my uniforms to Ardmore Cleaners on “E” NW, that was the way to go. They only charged One Dollar per patch to sew them on. Using them made sure the patches would not be higher on one shoulder then the other. hahaha. But I will have to admit that sometimes I paid Mrs. Mac MacGalliard to sew patches on for me too. She was did excellent alterations. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/singer4c.jpg
A few weeks ago I told about Ernest Martin sending me a couple of photos he took on the construction of the new dome for the Capitol building in Oklahoma City. Ernest was up there on November 25, 2001 with his digital camera and here’s the photos he took.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/capdome2.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/capdome3.jpgSome of you who know the history about this project, that our capital building in Oklahoma City was suppose to have a dome when it was first built back around 1910, but because of money shortages, completion of a dome was postponed. The past several months construction crews have been putting the new steel dome together, getting it ready for final completion. And an Oklahoma artist was commissioned to create the statue that will go atop this dome. It’s been talked about in the newspapers and television stations, but most of us have never seen this statue closeup and the detailed work of the artist. The actual statue is over 17 feet high, made of bronze, and weighing over 4 tons. Here is a photo of a 2 feet high clay model of the statue, and it’s creator, Oklahoma Seminole-Creek Indian Kelly Haney. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/haney01.jpg
Like most of you, I’ve received a number of emails the past few months, pointing to websites with photos of the 911 tragedy. But I think this one is probably the best I’ve seen so far, regarding photos and videos taken that day. http://www.nonesovile.com/wtc/
I read in The Daily Ardmoreite this week about plans to renovate the old Tivoli Theater on Main Street to host live music entertainment in the building. That will be great, I know Ardmore needs a place for Karioke singers….. we have some really talented singers in this area! Not to mention all the guitar pickers and other musicians! http://ardmoreite.com/stories/010102/loc_tivoli.shtml
I know all of you who started using the 4 cents a minute plan are glad you did before December 31st. It is still 4 cents a minute for the first 10 minutes, but now, after the initial 10 minutes, the 2002 rate is 4.9 cents a minute. But those of us already using it, we’ll stay at 4 cents a minute no matter how long we talk, talk, talk! http://www.worldxchange.com/agent/228072
This past week I was in the mood for baked sweet potato. I popped a couple in the oven, and when they were done, I had them on my plate, preparing to butter these two yams. Next to me was a jar of Cranmore Pure Honey, and I thought, hum, yes, do it. Boy, not my mother, nor my granny Carmon, not even my granny Miller told me about this delectable combination! From now on, every time I eat baked sweet potato, I’ll be dribbling honey all over them! ummmmmmm!
A Reader wrote in this week to tell about the National Wild Turkey Federation holding a banquet at the Turner School Gym at Burneyville, Oklahoma on Saturday February 2nd. Its their second annual membership drive banquet, maybe some of you can make it down there. I’m know there will be lots of good food and fellowship and door prizes! https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/nwtfso.jpg
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Hello Butch, I stayed up to read your newsletter last night & when I came across Dr. Hathaway’s name, brought back memories. He was my mother’s doctor when I was born & stayed my doctor until he retired. He was very kind & loved to talk. I miss him.”
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“Butch I remember Dr. Boyd. I also remember Dr. Higgins. His office was in his home and it was on E. St. N.W. About 8th or 9th Ave. I remember I could walk from my house and I even went by myself by the time I was 8 or 9. He mixed his own medicines mostly and used some of the old standards. If you were not eating as well or your stomach was upset he would say you were “bilious” what ever that meant. Back then it was easy to get “impetigo”. The treatment for that from Dr. Veasey was to use “silver nitrate” and if anyone ever had to do that they never wanted to have it happen again. It turned black on your skin and made a scab and that scab had to go for the next treatment. I got it my first year of school almost the first day because I had never been around other kids or hardly out of my yard and God forbid if I touched dirt. My mother didn’t like dirt. But Dr. Higgins could mix an ointment that took care of it. I remember Dr. Higgins well.”
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“Butch, Dr. Hathaway delivered me in 1937 out in the country west of Ardmore just off the highway close to (just south of) Jay Norman’s place. I hadn’t thought of him in a million years. My mom and Grandmother used to talk about him all the time when I was growing up”
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“Hey, Butch. This is a question for the person who said he is working in Calgary with the TV movie “Johnson County War.” The article on the mentioned web page says that Burt Reynolds plays the part of the cold blooded killer. My question is “Is this cold blooded killer supposed to be Tom Horn?” Tom was a hired killer for the cattlemen’s association at that time and was convicted and hanged for the murder of 15 year old Willie Nickell. Willie’s father was a first cousin to my great grandmother who came to the Ardmore area from Kentucky in 1900. I hope this person or someone who knows the movie will contact me.” Bud Caudle at [email protected]
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“BUTCH…….. That’s me in the white swim suit!!!!!!!!! I forgot to tell you that!!!!!!!” -Danna Goode Rice in Texas
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“Happy Holidays to you. Thank you again and again for all the lovely memories!!! All the pictures and notes take us back to our youth, and things that we took lightly, or for granted. Ardmore is a wonderful place to call home. Maybe we should name it Ardmore USA!! Thanks again, and hope to see you one of these days.” Jo Summers
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“In your current newsletter there is a message from a reader whose 88 year old mother grew up in Ardmore. Could you let this reader know that I am searching for any information regarding my great grandfather Dr. Frederick Von Keller, his family, his hospital, any local stories or information regarding same. My grandmother was Helen Von Keller born in the early around 1900’s, I think, or so. Her daughter, my mother, Fredericka Von Keller Sullivan (born 1923) was raised in Ardmore also. If your correspondent or her mom has ANY information or stories or gossip at all, can you ask them to contact me, please? I really crave, need, desire, anything about any of them. I am gathering stories for a book and any input is desirable. Anyone else out there in cyberland who has even the tiniest bit of information about the family, the hospital, their home, births, deaths, suicides, etc., Please Notify Me and fill me in. Thanks so much.” [email protected]
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“Hi Butch — My grandson in Texas found a pop? bottle, 10 oz., that has Salute on it with a red strip under that saying Beverages. I don’t recall ever seeing that brand. To the right top of Salute it has four white stars. Do you know anything about this? Wish I had a digital camera so I could show you exactly what it looks like. We enjoy your newsletter each week, keep up the good work!”
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Butch-Several months ago there was a discussion on T&T about a lake somewhere east of Ardmore where people in the earlier days would go to have picnics. I don’t believe the place was ever identified for sure. Someone thought it was out around Mary Niblack Road or in that vicinity. I grew up in the Springdale community and the only lake of any size that I was aware of was King’s Lake. If I remember correctly, it was on the place called King’s dairy farm just SE of 3rd Avenue and P Street intersection. I think I remember a silo, maybe two, that could be seen from 3rd. I never visited the lake as it was on private property and don’t know if anyone was allowed entrance by that time. The attached aerial photograph of that area was taken in 1949 and shows the lake and the area along 3rd Avenue and P Street Northeast. Perhaps someone will know the history of the King place.” Gary Simmons https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/kinglke1.jpg
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“Butch, I really enjoy reading TNT. I also signed up for the 4 cent a minute long distance calling. It works great for me. Thank you for sharing that information with us. I remember my old telephone number in Ardmore before dial, it was 3088. I worked for Southwestern Bell in 1958 and 1959 before dial came in. Nora Jackson was our chief operator at that time. My Aunt Pansy Jobe also worked there. My name is Saundra Kay Brooks, Hickey, Herriott. E-mail: [email protected] if anyone wants to E-mail me. Thanks for all your hard work, Butch.”
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“butch, back in the late 50s and early 60s i had a little league baseball coach named skinny stewart. i believe the stadium in wilson is named after him. he had been a major league ball player, but had become paralyzed in a car accident. also, his sweat glands had been damaged, so he couldn’t sweat to cool his body. he had to coach us from a wheelchair out in the 100 degree weather dabbing water from a cooler onto himself with a hanky. i just worshipped that wonderful man and wonder if you know if he is still in the area. i would love to see him again.”
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========================================================================I’ve changed the label on my History CDs. I’ve decided to put a new photo each week or two on the history CDs from my photo archives. I want to make them more Oklahoma. So let’s draw another two names for a free “T&T Photo and History CD”. Each CD has over 2,000 photos, text files, stories, and my website Pages. https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/ttcdb.jpg
Here are the two winners of a history CD this week!
[email protected]
[email protected]See you all next Saturday!
Butch Bridges
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Oklahoma History
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“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us,
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